Stay ConnectedBehind Her Empire is focused on highlighting self-made women leaders & entrepreneurs and how they tackle their career, money, family and life.
Each episode covers their unique journey and what it really takes to build an empire with key lessons learned along the way. The goal of the series is to empower you to see what’s possible & inspire you to create financial freedom in your own life.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Copyright: © Yasmin Nouri
Hillary Peterson is the founder of True Botanicals, a clean skincare brand on a mission to deliver nontoxic and sustainable products.
After giving birth to beautiful twins, Hillary was diagnosed with thyroid cancer. A life-changing moment that got her invested in her health in every possible way.
After extensive research, she soon discovered that the beauty care products she used were full of toxins, and no strict regulations around the chemicals existed. Hilary began searching for products free of toxins and chemicals but was unsuccessful. This, along with her diagnosis, motivated her to create the products she wanted. Hillary subsequently founded True Botanicals, a clean skincare brand disrupting the beauty industry by proving that toxins are unnecessary to achieve great results.
In this episode, we talk about Hilary’s diverse career background and what motivated her to follow an entrepreneurial path after many years of working for others. We learn about how the experience gained from past jobs empowered her to start her own business, how she funded the startup, what it was like running a business from her living room, and her approach to marketing her brand. We also unpack scaling and building the company over the last nine years, and a life-changing moment that defined her perspective.
Hear about her opinion on success, why enjoying the journey is so essential, the benefits of a growth mindset, the many lessons she has learned along the way, what it takes to stick to a company’s values, and much more.
In this episode, we’ll talk to Hillary about:
* How to feel empowered without feeling like you need to prove yourself. [02:40]
* Whether her success in business is rooted in her mindset. [05:57]
* The influence of her parents on her mindset and approach to life. [07:26]
* Find out if Hilary had any hesitation about starting her own business. [09:15]
* What motivated her to accept her first job working in the banking sector. [11:12]
* Why she decided to leave banking and go work for Levi. [12:56]
* A quick message about the Beeya Seed Cycling method. [14:10]
* Hilary shares what she learned while working for iconic brands like Levi. [17:40]
* How her life circumstances changed and led her to the wellness sector. [19:32]
* She describes the transition from Levi to the wellness and skin care sector. [22:02]
* We learn how she was able to manage to start a business. [25:24]
* Learn about the early days of True Botanicals and the initial challenges. [26:42]
* The moment Hilary realized the success and potential of the business. [30:42]
* Whether the influence of celebrities helped propel True Botanicals. [33:18]
* An outline of the biggest fundraising lessons she has learned along the way. [35:24]
* The steps that were involved in raising sufficient capital. [37:35]
* Discover what Hilary leverages to maintain growth year after year. [39:02]
* Find out if there were any challenges when hiring people. [41:27]
* Her experience as a founder and building a brand from scratch. [45:32]
* Hilary tells us about the biggest challenges the business has faced. [48:10]
* A takeaway piece of advice that Hilary has for listeners. [53:26]
This episode is brought to you by Beeya:
* If you or anyone you know have been struggling with hormonal imbalances and bad periods, go to https://beeyawellness.com/free to download the free guide to tackling hormonal imbalances and to learn more about Beeya’s seed cycling bundle.
* Plus, get $10 off your order by using promo code BEHINDHEREMPIRE10.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
After dropping out of high school and trying to forge her own path in the world, serial entrepreneur and world-renowned celebrity makeup artist Jeanine Lobell fell in love with cosmetics. Thanks to her try-anything attitude and strong work ethic, she quickly moved up the ranks to work on famous faces like Nicole Kidman and Natalie Portman for the covers of Vogue and Vanity Fair.
When Jeanine founded Stila in 1994, with its professional-grade colors and ultra-wearable formulas in recyclable packaging, it took the makeup world by storm and earned a cult following almost overnight. She saw unprecedented growth in the first five years and had numerous investors scrambling to buy the company, which she ultimately sold to Estee Lauder in 1999.
Now, she is disrupting the beauty industry all over again with her direct-to-consumer brand, Neen, the first-ever subscription-based card that offers new ways to play with makeup and experience tutorials. In this episode, Jeanine speaks to us about how she discovered her purpose as a high-school dropout and someone who was regularly fired from jobs early in her career.
We discuss how Jeanine finally realized her worth, what her superpowers were as a first-time founder when she launched Stila, and the advice she has for women who are looking to make a similar leap in their careers. We also take a look at the importance of having an abundance mindset, owning who you authentically are, finding your own voice, and so much more!
In this episode, we’ll talk to Jeanine about:
* What Jeanine means by the “prisons” we build out of the opinions of others. [03:00]
* Some of the ways Jeanine has stayed true to herself throughout her career. [04:14]
* The dichotomy between her inner wild child and her strong work ethic. [05:35]
* Why Jeanine decided to go to mime school in Paris (and what it taught her). [07:23]
* A look at her first forays into the world of makeup. [10:06]
* What a hot dog stand taught Jeanine about entrepreneurship! [11:15]
* Why she believes that none of the stops on your journey are a mistake. [12:55]
* How Jeanine stood out and moved up the beauty ranks quickly. [17:23]
* Advice for having compassion for yourself as a first-time founder. [18:50]
* Innovations (and happy accidents) in the Stila origin story. [23:48]
* How Jeanine thinks about competition, comparison, and abundance. [28:07]
* The perspective that came with being a first-time mom and a first-time founder. [31:40]
* The conflict that can come from projecting your values and ideas onto others. [34:45]
* A tip for dealing with intrusive thoughts: tell yourself “that’s not true!” [39:50]
* Jeanine reminds us that we are all works in progress. [40:30]
* Insight into the experience of selling her first company to Estee Lauder. [42:45]
* Seasons of hardship in Jeanine’s journey as a serial entrepreneur. [45:27]
* Finding new ways to play with makeup and experience tutorials with Neen. [46:53]
* The unique magic of Neen’s subscription cards. [49:45]
* Expectations of success versus the truth of what you’re doing. [51:15]
* Top mistakes that first-time founders make in their businesses. [54:00]
* How Jeanine holds herself accountable without putting pressure on herself. [59:32]
This episode is brought to you by Beeya:
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Jesse Draper is the Founding Partner of Halogen Ventures, a venture capital firm focused on early-stage investing in consumer tech companies led by female and co-ed teams.
With women making up to 80 percent of household purchasing decisions, Jesse and her team are betting big on early-stage, female-founded companies with billion-dollar potential. Jesse is a fourth generation venture capitalist as well as the creator and host of the Emmy-nominated television series, The Valley Girl Show.
She is a fierce advocate for investing in women and the opportunity for using technology and innovation to solve some of the biggest issues facing women and families today. After creating Halogen Ventures in 2015, she now has more than 70 companies in her portfolio, including theSkimm, Babylist, ThirdLove, and The Flex Company.
Jesse was listed by Marie Claire Magazine as one of the ‘50 Most Connected Women in America’ and she is also a regular investor and tech personality on Cheddar, CNBC, and CNN.
In this episode, we have a candid conversation about why Jesse didn’t think she could be a venture capitalist and how she overcame her own fears and beliefs about imposter syndrome, and she shares her advice for anyone looking to manage burnout: delegate and make time for rest. We also get a behind-the-scenes look at what investors are looking for, from founder traits to the biggest mistakes that founders make, and so much more.
In this episode, we talk to Jesse about:
* Starting on the topic of rejection; why a ‘no’ isn’t necessarily a bad thing. [3:37]
* How Jesse’s upbringing shaped her as a fourth generation venture capitalist. [8:02]
* Her perception of success in her 20s and how it evolved with entrepreneurship. [14:45]
* Find out why Jesse believes more women should prioritize networking. [22:15]
* Overcoming her fears and beliefs about imposter syndrome; just try it! [26:48]
* Jesse’s advice for managing burnout: delegate and make time to rest and plan. [30:37]
* Learn more about her experience of fundraising while pregnant and during COVID. [37:34]
* Three mistakes women are making when raising money: not showing confidence, overcomplicating the pitch, and underselling themselves. [40:43]
* What investors look for, from a willingness to pivot to an ability to problem solve. [43:47]
* Some of the red flags Jesse cautions founders against, including the tendency to overpromise and underdeliver. [48:04]
* Jesse’s suggestions for women to feel more empowered when it comes to money. [52:23]
* Two simple ways to take control: do it yourself and put your money to work. [55:34]
This episode is brought to you by beeya:
* Learn more about beeya's seed cycling bundle at https://beeyawellness.com/free to find out how to tackle hormonal imbalances.
* Get $10 off your order by using promo code BEHINDHEREMPIRE10
Follow Jesse:
* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jessecdraper/
* Website: https://halogenvc.com/
Follow Yasmin:
* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yasminknouri/
* Stay updated & subscribe to our newsletter: https://www.behindherempire.com/
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Suneera Madhani is the co-founder and CEO of Stax, an innovative tech company that radically simplifies the payment ecosystem.
After graduating from college, Suneera decided to work at a consumer goods company and after three years she realized that the corporate world wasn’t for her. She was later recruited by a payment-processing company, and it was then she realized she wanted to do someone on her own.
At age 26, without money, an MBA or any corporate leadership experience…and after being laughed out of her then boss’s office, Suneera began building her now billion-dollar company inside her parents’ Orlando home.
In 8 years, Suneera raised $245M in venture capital and now leads a team of 300+ employees and is committed to helping fellow women and minorities achieve similar accomplishments in business. She also is also the founder of CEO School, which is a podcast and an 8-week program that helps women become entrepreneurs & CEOs – and is on the mission to change the fact that less than 2% of female founders hit $1 million in revenue… and less than 18% ever hit 6 figures. This needs to change!
Suneera gives us the scoop on what it was like to take the leap from a stable corporate job into the uncertainties of entrepreneurship and shares how she manages the ever-looming imposter syndrome to show up as her best self every day.
We explore time management and Suneera’s approach to finding work-life integration, rather than balance, and how she manages running her billion-dollar business while still spending quality time with her two young kids. We also talk about what is missing in the business world: practical advocacy for women’s success, and what she believes is required to change that. Join us to hear a wealth of practical advice and wisdom from Suneera’s story of unlikely success and breaking free of the expectations of others to find fulfillment in living a life that's true to you.
In this episode, we'll talk to Suneera about:
* Breaking free of the expectations of others and living according to who we are instead. [4:03]
* How Suneera’s experience as the child of immigrants shaped her approach to business. [6:58]
* What led her to use her analytical and creative skills to start Stax at the age of 24. [11:00]
* How Stax grew from 5 million in payments the first year to 23 billion in payments per year. [17:36]
* Dealing with imposter syndrome in the early days of launching a business. [22:20]
* Working to keep your psyche in check and show up as your best self as a CEO. [25:33]
* Building habits by repeating activities, and improving with experience. [27:29]
* Combatting perfectionism with the philosophy that ‘done is better than perfect’. [30:33]
* Suneera’s belief in work life integration when managing family life and her company. [37:08]
* How she manages her time, starting with what she calls Sunday Zoom Out. [42:18]
* The statistic that changed the game for Suneera: only 2% of female founders are breaking a million-dollar revenue. [47:45]
* What is missing in the business world: action in advocating for women. [49:40]
* Calling listeners to support the female business owners in their lives. [53:38]
This episode is brought to you by Beeya:
* If you or anyone you know have been struggling with hormonal imbalances and bad periods, go to https://beeyawellness.com/free to download the free guide to tackling hormonal imbalances.
* Plus, get $10 off your order by using promo code BEHINDHEREMPIRE10.
Follow Suneera:
* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/suneeramadhani
* Stax Website: https://staxpayments.com/
* CEO School Website: https://theceoschool.co/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In this week’s episode, we’re mixing things up again! We’re doing a brand new behind-the-scenes podcast on my journey as an entrepreneur and podcast host!
So this week, just like I’ve done before, I’ve handed over the mic to my husband, Dhru Purohit, who’s graciously stepping into the role of host.
Our first behind-the-scenes episode was one of my most listened-to episodes of all time so I’m hoping today’s vulnerable episode brings a lot of value to you!
Here are just a few of the topics we’ll be covering:
As always, I’d love to get your thoughts on the episode, and hear your feedback! DM me or email me at yasmin@behindherempire.com - I’m always looking for ways to add value and help inspire you!
This episode is brought to you by Beeya:
* If you or anyone you know have been struggling with hormonal imbalances and bad periods, go to https://beeyawellness.com/free to download the free guide to tackling hormonal imbalances and to learn more about Beeya’s seed cycling bundle.
* Plus, get $10 off your order by using promo code BEHINDHEREMPIRE10.
Follow Yasmin:
* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yasminknouri/
* Website: https://beeyawellness.com/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Logan Hollowell is the designer, founder and CEO of Logan Hollowell Jewelry. Logan started with little more than a dream board, some affirmations, and the right mindset and manifested her way to a jewelry empire. Her jewelry is a cult favorite and has been spotted on the likes of Rihanna, Jennifer Lawrence, Meghan Markle, and Jessica Alba, among others.
Today she joins us to share her inspiring story with us. She tells us about her early fascination with gemstones, crystals, and spirituality and how this led her to her dream of becoming a jewelry designer. Being raised on the Outer Banks in North Carolina, she explains how the hurricanes she experienced as a child helped her to become comfortable with uncertainty, grow into a risk-taker, and move to LA at the age of 17 to pursue a career in fashion.
We’ll chat about when Logan first discovered the law of attraction and how she used dream boards, mindset, self-love, affirmations, and rituals to create the life she wanted. We also talk about how Logan thinks about fundraising for her business, the role of mentorship in creating a high-growth brand, the challenges she’s overcome, and why she believes that in order to receive, you first have to give.
In this podcast we talk to Logan about:
* How the uncertainty Logan experienced as a child impacted the woman she is today. [3:35]
* The quote that Logan lives by ‘Faith is loyalty to an unseen reality’. [5:11]
* How she always found herself drawn to crystals and spirituality from a young age. [6:58]
* What motivated Logan to leave home and follow her dreams to LA at the age of 17. [8:07]
* The struggles she overcame when she first moved to LA. [9:17]
* How she first discovered the law of attraction. [10:26]
* How reading other people’s stories helped her get into the right mindset. [11:37]
* A quick story from Jasmine about how she overcame debilitating periods. [12:56]
* How self-love and affirmations helped Logan create the life she wanted. [16:12]
* The full moon and new moon rituals she practiced. [19:37]
* The story of how Logan met a jeweler who changed her life and the importance of persistence. [20:50]
* How Logan began designing and creating her own jewelry. [26:14]
* How she got exposure through influencers even before she had a website. [28:43]
* Logan’s belief that in life, in order to receive you have to first give. [29:41]
* How she managed to fund and create her early orders. [30:42]
* Logan’s advice for anyone who has a similar dream but no funding. [32:19
* The importance of following your bliss and how this leads to opportunities and miracles. [32:50]
* Some of the biggest challenges that Logan has overcome as an entrepreneur. [34:57]
* How Logan is funding her business. [37:26]
* The role of mentorship in Logan’s business. [38:42]
* How Logan’s most proud of the alchemy of creating her destiny. [40:09]
* Why Logan believes that wealth means more choices. [41:38]
* The story of Logan’s trip to India and why she believes that the best way to get out of a rut is to help people who are worse off than you. [42:18]
This episode is brought to you by Beeya:
* If you or anyone you know have been struggling with hormonal imbalances and bad periods, go to https://beeyawellness.com/free to download the free guide to tackling hormonal imbalances and to learn more about Beeya’s seed cycling bundle.
* Plus, get $10 off your order by using promo code BEHINDHEREMPIRE10.
Follow Logan:
* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/loganhollowell/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Lisa Odenweller is the Founder and CEO of Kroma Wellness, a functional superfood nutrition company.
Lisa entered the wellness space in 2011 upon founding Beaming Wellness, an organic superfood café concept with locations throughout Southern California. The brand quickly attracted a cult following and was a leader in the healthy grab-&-go food category. After exiting Beaming in 2018, Lisa had a bigger vision with a more ambitious reach: a direct-to-consumer brand that could simplify people’s lives by offering a wide variety of delicious on-the-go functional foods and beverages that easily fit into your everyday life. Out of this vision, Kroma Wellness was born.
However, despite all the success that Lisa has seen with her businesses, it definitely didn’t come easy.
We talk to Lisa about how she launched her first business, Beaming while going through a divorce and being a single mom to three young kids, how she used her scrappiness to get the business off the ground with very little money, and why leaving Beaming was one of the hardest decisions she’s ever made in her life. We unpack the handful of lessons she learned with her first business venture and the work she did to rebuild herself and gain the courage to create her newest business, Kroma.
Lisa shares her multi-year journey of testing different products in her kitchen, the steps she took to launch her second business, and the massive pivot she did that changed the entire trajectory of the company. We also discuss how she went from getting many rejections when it came to fundraising during the pandemic to ultimately raising $5.5 million from well-known founders and A-list celebrities like Gwyneth Paltrow and Amy Schumer, and so much more.
In this episode, we’ll talk to Lisa about:
* Introducing today’s guest, the founder of Kroma Wellness, Lisa Odenweller. [00:48]
* The challenges of entrepreneurship and Lisa’s advice on how to get through the tough times. [03:34]
* Positive and negative impacts of Lisa’s upbringing. [06:07]
* The personal growth journey that Lisa embarked upon when her life began to fall apart. [10:45]
* Lisa’s first job out of college and the origins of her entrepreneurial journey. [19:48]
* Factors that drew Lisa to the health and wellness space. [23:54]
* The founding story and evolution of Beaming Wellness (Lisa’s previous business). [32:45]
* On-the-go learning that Lisa did during her journey with Beaming Wellness. [37:12]
* Mistakes that Lisa made that ended up costing her company. [39:36]
* The difference between running a business with an abundance mindset and a scarcity mindset. [41:45]
* The importance of carefully considering who sits on the board of your company (if you need to have a board). [44:15]
* Realizations that Lisa came to as a result of the devastating process of losing Beaming Wellness. [46:34]
* The motivation behind the founding of Kroma Wellness. [50:23]
* Why Lisa recreated Kroma Wellness after its initial launch. [52:37]
* The value of test marketing. [56:17]
* A story that highlights the importance of trusting your instincts and not giving up when things don’t go to plan. [59:32]
* Factors that have contributed to the success of Kroma Wellness. [1:04:34]
This episode is brought to you by Beeya:
* If you or anyone you know have been struggling with hormonal imbalances and bad periods, go to https://beeyawellness.com/free to download the free guide to tackling hormonal imbalances and to learn more about Beeya’s seed cycling bundle.
* Plus, get $10 off your order by using promo code BEHINDHEREMPIRE10.
Get 20% of your first Kroma order with promocode: EMPIRE20
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Karen Young is the Founder and CEO of Oui the People, a body care brand designed to make you feel great in your own skin.
Karen has always been a problem solver, but one problem plagued her for years - debilitating razor burn which held her back from wearing many of her favorite skirts or shorts that showed her legs. In 2014, while working as an executive for Estee Lauder, Keren suffered a particularly bad case of razor burn and decided enough was enough.
With $1,500 in her savings, Karen launched Oui the People from her apartment in Brooklyn and turned the shaving industry on its head by developing the world’s first safety razor designed especially for women. The company is now the fastest growing Black-owned beauty brand in the US and has been featured in many publications like Vogue, Elle, Glamour, and O Magazine.
Most recently, after self-funding for many years which we’ll talk about, Karen closed an oversubscribed round and raised $3 million dollars for the brand allowing her to continue to push her mission of empowerment and inclusivity - something that she didn’t always see in the beauty industry growing up.
In this week’s episode, we talk to Karen about her very windy journey in entrepreneurship from having a successful corporate career while trying different side hustles with the goal of always starting her own business, the biggest lessons she learned from her first business that ended up closing down, and how therapy has been her biggest tool when it comes to overcoming the darkest of times. We also chat about her unique upbringing as a child of immigrants and what they taught her about self-worth, resilience, and perseverance – all key factors that have helped her in both her personal & professional life.
In this episode, we’ll talk to Karen about:
* Lessons in perseverance that Karen was taught by her grandmother. [03:20]
* The culture that Karen was immersed in while growing up and how it has influenced her. [08:17]
* An overview of Karen’s educational and early career journey. [13:22]
* The founding story of Karen’s first business, Hammocks and High Tea. [21:40]
* Karen shares the biggest lesson she learned through her first entrepreneurial venture. [25:57]
* The motivation behind the closing of Hammocks and High Tea. [29:15]
* How Karen dealt with the emotional and financial stress that came with closing down her business. [32:49]
* The importance of separating your sense of worth from your business. [36:00]
* Pressure that is commonly felt by children of immigrants. [36:37]
* Karen’s experience working at Estee Lauder. [40:00]
* The problem that Karen saw as an opportunity for her next business, Oui the People. [41:41]
* What the early days looked like at Oui the People. [42:33]
* The moment Karen realized Oui the People was much more than just a side hustle. [44:28]
* Karen’s approach to product development and how it benefited her business in the long run. [46:06]
* How Karen’s mindset around funding has changed with her evolving journey as an entrepreneur. [52:25]
* Why Karen is a strong proponent of therapy. [55:24]
* Karen’s advice for dealing with overwhelm. [56:46]
This episode is brought to you by Beeya:
* If you or anyone you know have been struggling with hormonal imbalances and bad periods, go to https://beeyawellness.com/free to download the free guide to tackling hormonal imbalances and to learn more about Beeya’s seed cycling bundle.
* Plus, get $10 off your order by using promo code BEHINDHEREMPIRE10.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Mona Vand is a wellness expert and pharmacist turned entrepreneur who is passionate about making the world a healthier place.
After six years of studying, and only a short few weeks of work as a pharmacist, Mona quickly realized that she was in the completely wrong career. While medication and supplements can be part of the equation for leading a healthy life, Mona believes that food is the key for taking a holistic approach to wellness.
Since then, Mona has spent countless hours building a side hustle that would ultimately become her main focus. And while Mona has managed to build a highly successful wellness brand with millions of followers, the journey has not been without its challenges.
In our conversation, Mona shares what it was like building her personal brand from the ground up and how her passion fueled her through difficult times. We talk about the biggest business mistakes she made early in her career as a wellness expert and her advice to anyone looking to build a personal brand around their passions.
Lastly, we take a moment to reflect on the current situation in Iran and to express our solidarity and support for the men and women who are risking their lives for their right to live freely.
If you’re looking for ways to help create awareness and get involved, the Iranian Diaspora Collective (https://www.iraniandiasporacollective.com/) has gathered resources for you to review and use in a not-for-profit capacity to amplify and support Iranian voices. #betheirvoice
In this episode, we’ll talk to Mona about:
* The current protests in Iran and how Mona is using her platform to support them. [00:51]
* Insight into Mona’s Persian culture and how it has shaped her identity. [03:57]
* The dissatisfaction and unhappiness Mona felt with her career as a pharmacist. [08:36]
* How Mona first recognized that shifting her career was a viable option. [11:11]
* How Mona was introduced to Marki Costello and learned how to build a personal brand. [12:28]
* Mona shares how she entered the wrong business partnership early in her career and how she recovered from it. [19:22]
* How Mona realized she needed to pivot into social media. [23:25]
* The disappointment Mona felt when she had to return to her work as a pharmacist. [24:130]
* How Mona was able to work as a pharmacist while also growing her social media following. [25:14]
* How creating an online course and joining an agency helped Mona’s brand thrive and allowed her to comfortably quit her job. [30:05]
* Mona’s struggle with perfectionism and the work she has done to overcome it. [36:22]
* The huge amount of behind-the-scenes work that goes into creating content for social media and being an influencer. [41:38]
* Why Mona decided to take a break from social media for one year. [47:50]
* How Mona is setting boundaries to avoid burnout. [0:50:57]
* The power of sleep and how the COVID-19 pandemic helped Mona learn to prioritize it. [54:30]
* Mona’s final thoughts on the expectations that are placed on women and her advice to other female entrepreneurs. [56:42]
This episode is brought to you by Beeya:
* If you or anyone you know have been struggling with hormonal imbalances and bad periods, go to https://beeyawellness.com/free to download the free guide to tackling hormonal imbalances and to learn more about Beeya’s seed cycling bundle.
* Plus, get $10 off your order by using promo code BEHINDHEREMPIRE10.
Follow Mona:
* Mona's Website: https://www.monavand.com/
* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/monavand/?hl=en
* TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@monavand?lang=en
* YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0GkEyks1Nnzhsi9bCZTIjA
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Candace Nelson is a serial entrepreneur and a New York Times bestselling author.
Candace is well-known for co-founding Sprinkles Cupcakes, the world’s first cupcake bakery and ATM, and most recently, Pizzana, a fast-growing chain of award-winning pizzerias. She is also an expert in turning one’s passion into a profitable business and has a book launching on November 8th called Sweet Success: A Simple Recipe to Turn Your Passion into Profit.
Today’s conversation is jampacked with actionable advice from Candace, including tips on how to mobilize yourself when you are feeling stuck, questions to ask yourself when you’re looking to find your purpose, and more. Listening in, you will hear the ups and downs of her incredible story of starting Sprinklesand why she describes the process as ‘launching nimbly’.
We also touch on how to combat imposter syndrome, the power of building your personal brand, how to approach competition in your space, the importance of building a network & community while building your empire, and so much more.
In this episode, we’ll talk to Candace about:
* Candace’s relationship with rebellion growing up and how that translates to her work today. [02:21]
* How moving around a lot as a child taught her independence and confidence in new environments. [03:35]
* The story of how Candace overcame one of the lowest moments of her life. [04:42]
* Questions to ask yourself when you are looking to transition to a different career. [07:15]
* Why Candace decided to test the waters before diving into a career in pastry. [08:37]
* What she wanted to perfect before she took her product to launch. [09:51]
* Her husband’s role as co-founder. [10:37]
* What ‘launching nimbly’ looked like for Candace in the early days of Sprinkles. [13:52]
* The benefits of testing the waters with a single product to find your target market. [17:57]
* How she navigated the chapter of her life where every moment was dedicated to Sprinkles. [22:21]
* Bringing a startup mentality to a bakery and finding like-minded people. [23:33]
* Why it’s not constructive to get too focused on your competition. [25:40]
* The role of Candace’s father-in-law in mapping out the business plan. [27:25]
* Why mentorship is important and how Candace includes it in her life. [30:04]
* What she would have done differently to keep her finger in the world of startups. [34:05]
* The problem of lack of confidence and imposter syndrome across industries. [35:10]
* Why Candace is committed to never resting on her laurels. [37:53]
* Why it is important to be aware of your skills and hire for your weaknesses. [39:54]
* How the experience of starting Pizzana has differed from starting Sprinkles. [40:20]
* Why building your personal brand can be a competitive advantage. [42:18]
* Candace reminds listeners that they have exactly what it takes to build their own empire. [44:38]
Follow Candace:
* Candace Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/candacenelson/
* Sprinkles cupcakes Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sprinklescupcakes/
* Website: https://sprinkles.com/
Follow Yasmin:
* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yasminknouri/
* Stay updated & subscribe to our newsletter: https://www.behindherempire.com/
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