Behind Her Empire

Monica Royer is the founder and CEO of Monica + Andy, an organic baby clothing and essentials brand. Monica had no intention of becoming an entrepreneur, but after the birth of her daughter, she struggled to find a brand that offered safe, organic clothing and an easy shopping experience for parents. Monica wanted complete confidence that what touched her baby’s skin was the safest fabric available. Inspired by her brother Andy Dunn's success with Bonobos, she saw the potential of direct-to-consumer business models to disrupt and decided to launch her business in 2014. Fast forward to today, Monica has raised millions of VC funding for her company which is now considered one of the country's most celebrated organic children's clothing brands. The company also recently announced a partnership with Walmart and launched M+A by Monica + Andy, which is in 1100+ stores throughout the country.  In this week’s episode, Monica talks about her windy journey leaving her career in pharmaceuticals and starting the business, and how despite having an idea, it took her a few years to bring everything to life. She discusses why managing her psychology was the hardest but most important part of running her business and shares the biggest learnings & takeaways she gained from having a front-row seat to her brother's menswear brand, Bonobos. Monica also delves into why self-awareness is one of the most critical skills you must have as a founder, the importance of resting & resetting for long-term success, her journey in pivoting her business during COVID and so much more.In this episode, we’ll talk to Monica about:* Managing your psychology in entrepreneurship. [02:38]* The importance of rest and reset. [05:37]* Monica’s childhood and upbringing. [09:11]* Expectations of Monica’s parents as an immigrant family. [13:19]* Monica's decade in pharmaceutical industry. [15:51]* How entrepreneurship found Monica. [20:09]* Launching the first physical store and online store. [24:11]* Monica’s way of keeping in touch with her customers. [25:37]* Creating the initial awareness for Monica + Andy. [26:21]* Monica’s parent’s reaction to her taking the entrepreneurial leap. [28:11]* Why building self-awareness is a critical skill. [31:12]* The real responsibility in business. [33:37]* Difference of a female and male founder. [37:27]* Monica's parents boosted her confidence with their parenting approach.. [38:03]* Having that “mom guilt” and how Monica handles it. [40:31]* Challenges and opportunities faced during the COVID-19 Pandemic. [44:39]* Getting a partnership with Walmart. [47:07]* Future plans for Monica + Andy. [52:14]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 BEHINDHEREMPIRE10Follow Yasmin: * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yasminknouri/* Stay updated & subscribe to our newsletter: https://www.behindherempire.com/Follow Monica: * Website: https://monicaandandy.com/* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/monicaandandy/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Have you ever wondered why one week you feel like you’re crushing it in the gym, and the next you just don’t have the energy? Newsflash: women are NOT small men. Our hormones fluctuate throughout the month, which has subtle (and sometimes obvious) impacts on every area of our lives—including exercise.In this episode you’ll learn: * Exercise myths that need to be busted* If women really need to cycle sync their workouts* What women need to know about cold therapy* How to know if you’re eating enough* Why creatine isn’t just for gym bros* And more…Stacy Sims, MSC, PhD, is a forward-thinking international exercise physiologist and nutrition scientist who aims to revolutionize exercise nutrition and performance for women. She has directed research programs at Stanford, AUT University, and the University of Waikato, focusing on female athlete health and performance and pushing the dogma to improve research on all women. Dr. Sims has published over 70 peer-reviewed papers, several books and is a regularly featured speaker at professional and academic conferences, including those by USOC and USA Cycling.With the unique opportunities, Silicon Valley has to offer, during her tenure at Stanford, she had the opportunity to translate earlier research into consumer products and a science-based layperson's book, Roar, written to explain sex differences in training and nutrition across the lifespan. Both the consumer products and the book challenged the existing dogma for women in exercise, nutrition, and health. This paradigm shift is the focus of her famous "Women Are Not Small Men” TEDx talk.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 BEHINDHEREMPIRE10Follow Yasmin: * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yasminknouri/* Stay updated & subscribe to our newsletter: https://www.behindherempire.com/Follow Dr. Stacy: * Website: https://www.drstacysims.com/* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drstacysims/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Caron Proschan is the founder and CEO of Simply, a premium confections brand known for its unusually simple and clean products.In 2013, when Caron was switching a lot of her personal, beauty and cleaning products to more natural options, she realized one thing she used often – which was gum – was a category that was never disrupted. She dove into the research to learn more about what goes into conventional chewing gum and was surprised to find that most gum on the market uses a base that has plastic in it, usually called “gum base” on the labels. She also found that the FDA allows gums to have several artificial ingredients like aspartame, artificial flavors, and colors as well. She made it her mission to do something about it, and her first product, Simply Gum was born.The gum was a huge success, and after seeing the demand for Simply’s unusually simple ingredients, the brand has evolved to include more premium confections, including mints, Really Real Gummies, and Chocolate Date Bars. In this week’s episode, Caron talks to us about how she created Simply’s first ever gum from her small NY kitchen experimenting with chicle, a natural alternative to gum base, for over a year. She also shares her experience pivoting from her finance career to running her own business later in life, what it takes to create a strong brand and how she got the product out there through hustle in the early days, which ended up landing her in Whole Foods. We get into the details of how she manufactured the product from her apartment to then expanding to a commercial kitchen and now their own factory, and the biggest learning and mistakes she’s made along the way. Caron tells us how she got into nationwide retailers, the importance of patience, why you shouldn't take rejections personally, and so much more!In this episode, we’ll talk to Caron about:* Building resilience early in entrepreneurship. [03:12]* Transitioning from corporate to entrepreneurship. [06:46]* Conceptualizing and experimenting in her kitchen. [09:26]* Using Kickstarter and working with deadlines. [11:59]* Developing a food product with no industry experience. [13:35]* Establishing brand presence on Amazon. [18:40]* Getting into Whole Foods and lessons learned. [20:05]* Raising capital from angel investors. [25:25]* Lessons from large retailers. [31:32]* Patience and persistence in entrepreneurship. [33:10]* How Caron maintains her mental health. [40:01]* Motherhood and entrepreneurship. [41:54]* The messy truth in starting a business. [43:30]* Creating new products amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic. [47:19]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 BEHINDHEREMPIRE10Follow Yasmin: * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yasminknouri/* Stay updated & subscribe to our newsletter: https://www.behindherempire.com/Follow Caron: * Website: https://www.simplygum.com/* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/simplygum/* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/caronproschan/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Loren Castle is the founder and CEO of Sweet Loren’s, the better-for-you baking company that makes America’s #1 natural cookie dough brand on the market. After being diagnosed with cancer in her early twenties, Loren faced many hurdles with treatment, depression, and her life being turned upside down at such a young age. Throughout the six months of chemotherapy, she dedicated her time to changing her diet, cutting out most dairy, artificial, and highly processed ingredients. She started taking cooking classes to learn how to make healthy and delicious food for herself. One thing that stood out to her at the time was that she could not find any delicious, clean baked goods on the market, so she made it her mission to create her own. After experimenting with hundreds of recipes, and sharing with family & friends, she eventually found the winning combination of ingredients to make her irresistible cookie dough and that’s when Sweet Loren’s was born. In 2012, she caught the attention of Whole Foods through a few unexpected events and a few years later gained national distribution at Publix. They’re now in over 25,000+ retail doors across the country.In this week’s episode, Loren talks about how she found her purpose while battling cancer, how she took her hobby & turned it into a real business, and the steps that helped her validate that she was actually onto something. She also shares the details behind her deal with Whole Foods and the secret sauce that made them say yes, and how she leaned into the customer in the first few years of business to tailor every aspect of her business from the packaging to the recipes. Loren explains her journey in finding the right manufacturer, the highs and lows of running a business over the past decade, and the importance of having solid mentors and a support system. Loren also talks about ways she fills her cup and prioritizes her self-care, advice she has for up-and-coming women founders and so much more!In this episode, we’ll talk to Loren about:* The difference between a great idea and a great business. [02:59]* Loren’s upbringing and her parents as role models. [09:05]* Being diagnosed with cancer at 22. [13:42]* Early interests and work experiences. [20:21]* Transitioning baking hobby into a business. [25:41]* Loren’s relationship with confidence. [33:14]* Importance of over communication in business. [39:21]* Pursuing a passion-driven business. [45:53]* Fundraising strategies as the business expands. [49:47]* Balancing self-care amidst entrepreneurship. [55:15]* Sweet Loren’s future plans. [01:03:49]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 BEHINDHEREMPIRE10Follow Yasmin: * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yasminknouri/* Stay updated & subscribe to our newsletter: https://www.behindherempire.com/Follow Loren: * Website: https://sweetlorens.com/* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sweetlorens/* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lorenbrill/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Do you struggle with sugar cravings? Trust us, you’re not alone. We’re sharing our personal stories and getting expert tips that can actually start making a meaningful impact on your blood sugar and metabolic health today. In this episode you’ll learn: * Top blood sugar hacks from two doctors* How your cycle impacts insulin sensitivity* The impact of sleep on cravings* How your hunger hormones work* Why we eat more sugar now than ever beforeTanda Cook is a naturopathic physician, food expert, published author, international speaker, blogger, health coach and farmer who is wildly passionate about educating and inspiring women to take steps towards health. Dr. Katie Collier is a naturopathic physician with a shared mission. Together, these practitioners work to help people feel their best in both clinical practice and their monthly class, The Soapbox Docs. 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 BEHINDHEREMPIRE10Follow Yasmin: * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yasminknouri/* Stay updated & subscribe to our newsletter: https://www.behindherempire.com/Follow Dr. Tanda:* Website: https://drtandacook.com/ * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drtandacook/Follow Dr. Katie:* Website: https://drkatiecollier.com/ * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drkatiecollier/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Danielle Weisberg and Carly Zakin co-founded theSkimm in 2012, a digital media company dedicated to giving women the information they need to navigate life’s most important decisions. Since hitting send on the first Daily Skimm email over a decade ago, they have cultivated a trusted community that reaches more than 12 million women. As their audience has matured, so has theSkimm, evolving beyond a singular newsletter into an award-winning ecosystem that includes dedicated newsletters in money, wellness, parenting, and shopping, a career podcast, an in-house creative agency, and a commerce arm that performs at 3x the industry standard.Danielle and Carly both grew up with a love for journalism and storytelling. The two met after a summer spent studying abroad in Rome and reconnected after graduation while working in New York City, where they eventually became roommates trying to make it in the media industry. Both news junkies at heart, they quickly realized there was an opportunity to change the way media was consumed and created an outlet that provided its audience with bite-sized and easily digestible news. With $4,000 between the both of them, they decided to quit their jobs and launch theSkimm. In this week’s episode, Danielle and Carly share their love for storytelling, what it means to start their digital media company from their couch, and why they thought it was a bigger risk to not pursue theSkimm than it was to pursue it. They share what it’s like to work with a co-founder and the benefits of having one, ways they applied grassroots marketing in the early days of the business when they had zero funds, and how they thought about growth & monetization. We also get the inside scoop on how they fostered an intensely engaged community through their Skimmbassador program, how they balance their relationship as friends and Co-CEOs, and what goes into producing great content. Danielle and Carly also open up about their biggest mistakes during their journey, how they dealt with rejection when fundraising early on, and so much more. * In this episode, we’ll talk to Danielle and Carly about:* Their lives as journalists prior to theSkimm. [02:53]* Transitioning to full-time focus on theSkimm. [11:15]* No Plan B: Driving force for productivity. [17:33]* Growth propelled by theSkimm ambassador program. [22:01]* Finding the right investors amid rejections. [27:06]* Momentum building and monetization strategies. [29:56]* Fostering their relationship as co-founders. [33:37]* Tips for first time entrepreneurs. [38:35]* Prioritizing self-care basics. [41:39]* Who shouldn’t be an entrepreneur. [48:55]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 BEHINDHEREMPIRE10Follow Yasmin: * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yasminknouri/* Stay updated & subscribe to our newsletter: https://www.behindherempire.com/Follow Danielle and Carly: * Website: https://www.theskimm.com/* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theskimm/* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carlyanddanielle/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kori Estrada is the co-founder of RiseWell, a company that is disrupting the oral care industry with an all-natural, sustainable brand that prioritizes safe ingredients and transparency. The inspiration for starting the company came to Kori when she was undergoing fertility treatments and realized all the toxic chemicals that were prevalent in our personal care items, including toothpaste. Fueled by her experiences with celiac disease and IVF struggles, Kori, joined by her former partner and brother, created dentist-formulated products that didn’t have harmful chemicals like fluoride, sulfates, and synthetic additives.Since launching in 2016, RiseWell has gone from toothpaste to a full suite of products, including mouthwash, floss, and mints. In addition to running RiseWell, Kori is also the co-CIO and co-CEO at Axon Capitol, a New York-based asset management firm.In this week’s episode, Kori openly talks about how she struggles with perfectionism in the early days of the business, what she did to move past it and how she deals with the mental and emotional tolls of entrepreurship. We also talk about how have another career in corporate, and starting a business with work experience under her belt, has only helped propel RiseWell’s success. She also explains the confusion people have about fluoride, why we should be treating toothpaste like food and how she stumbled on the brand’s its key replacement ingredient on a personal trip in Japan. We also dive into the most difficult and impactful lessons she’s learned on her journey, the time & the many iterations it took for her to create their first product and the steps she took to create brand awareness early on with influencers and dentists who became brand ambassadors, and so much more. In this episode, we’ll talk to Kori about:* Kori's evolution in dealing with perfectionism over the years. [03:07]* Influences from Kori's upbringing and childhood. [05:38]* Impact of New York finance lifestyle on Kori's well-being. [11:21]* The inspiration behind founding RiseWell. [15:52]* Initial steps in starting the business. [19:35]* Challenges faced in manufacturing. [24:09]* Crucial pillars before launching the business. [26:39]* Creating market awareness. [28:55] * Influencer and dentist support for RiseWell. [31:21]* Early mistakes and lessons learned. [34:32]* Considerations for toothpaste ingredients. [40:17]* Balancing career and family by rejecting perfectionism. [44:00]* Why starting a company is as much emotional as it is mental. [49:01]* Future plans for RiseWell. [51:30]* Kori's personal blog as a passion project. [52:54]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 BEHINDHEREMPIRE10Follow Yasmin:* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yasminknouri/* Stay updated & subscribe to our newsletter: https://www.behindherempire.com/Follow Kori: * RiseWell Website: https://risewell.com/* RiseWell Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/risewellco/* Kori’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thekokobutter/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We just learned that oral tissue is similar to vaginal tissue, and that a healthy mouth is an integral part of having a healthy body. From puberty to menopause, changes in our hormones actually have an impact on our teeth, gums, saliva and more. Suffice it to say, we’re never brushing our teeth the same way again…In this episode you’ll learn: * How you can reverse cavities* The link between flossing and fertility* Why pregnant women’s teeth can change* The truth about root canals* Best practices for optimal oral healthDr. Leedia is a biological dentist who is revolutionizing the way we think about oral health. Her approach focuses on overall wellness, long-term disease prevention, and empowerment through education.In Dr. Leedia's Beverly Hills office, she offers a range of integrative dental therapies, such as integrative dental extractions, responsible cosmetic dentistry, biomimetic fillings, safe mercury removal and detox, ozone therapies, micronutrient testing, an airway centric approach to dental care and so much more. Dr. Leedia recognizes that over 65% of women suffer from dental disease concurrent with pregnancy, and that inflammation in the mouth is linked to premature labor, low birth weight, heart disease, and more. This realization has prompted her to put a spotlight on the importance of women's dental health and the impact that hormones have on the oral cavity. By educating and empowering women and fostering collaboration between the medical and dental worlds, Dr. Leedia is helping patients achieve optimal whole body health.* 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 BEHINDHEREMPIRE10Follow Yasmin: * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yasminknouri/* Stay updated & subscribe to our newsletter: https://www.behindherempire.com/Follow Dr. Leedia: * Website: https://rdentalgroup.com/* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drleedia/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sara Cullen is the Founder and CEO of GEM. GEM VItamins are bite-sized vitamin chews made from whole foods that contain over 20 whole plant-derived ingredients, including key vitamins, minerals, herbs, prebiotics, and probiotics.The inspiration for GEM stemmed from Sara’s health journey. When she got sick in her late 20s, she was shocked to find out that she was nutrient deficient. She was taking all her supplements and eating the rainbow, yet she suffered from inflammation, extreme fatigue, digestion issues, acne, and so much more. With a ton of research and determination, she realized that the answer is in food, not pills or gummies made with synthetic fillers and isolated nutrients. She was experimenting in her kitchen and created the product that she needed to support her own health. Fast forward to today, Sara has raised of $16 million in venture capital and has sold over 20M bites and counting.In this week’s podcast, we talk to Sara about her entrepreneurial journey from growing up on a farm in Oregon to working with start-ups and building things that mattered. She shares the biggest lessons she had from her first start-up, why it couldn’t scale despite being an innovative idea, and how that business failure was the biggest gift in her journey. Sara walks us through how she proved the concept for GEM before putting too much money behind it, how she built a community on Facebook to test out her prototypes, and the steps she took to find the right investors to back her. We also talked to Sara about how the company has expanded its product line, how she thought about her subscription-based model, and the common practices she implements daily to help her reset and recharge from the day and so much more! In this episode, we’ll talk to Sara about:* Growing up on a farm significantly shaped Sara's upbringing. [02:55]* Nature's impact on Sara and its integration into her life. [04:31]* Creating her first business and lessons from "failing”. [09:45]* Sara's journey in launching her second business after setbacks.[16:43]* Navigating health challenges and identifying market potential.[20:01]* Consulting experience and funding journey for her company.[24:25]* Strategic considerations for building a scalable business. [27:00] * Significance of word-of-mouth and online communities. [30:09]* Sara's approach to educating customers about GEM vitamins.[34:16]* Exploring product taste and challenges faced. [36:51]* Generating awareness and gaining traction. [39:57]* Challenges Sara conquered on her entrepreneurial journey. [43:51]* Sara's daily routine and practices for nurturing her mind. [47:25]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 BEHINDHEREMPIRE10Follow Yasmin: * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yasminknouri/* Stay updated & subscribe to our newsletter: https://www.behindherempire.com/Follow Sara: * GEM Website: https://dailygem.co/* GEM Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/daily_gem/* Sara's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cullensara/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Have you ever connected how you feel mentally to what you’re eating? Turns out, they are absolutely related, according to a Harvard nutritional psychiatrist. If you’re someone who has dealt with anxiety, depression, panic attacks or other mental health challenges, this episode is for you.In this episode you’ll learn: * The connection between french fries and depression* How to know if you have leaky gut* The impact of blood sugar on anxiety* How food can contribute to panic attacks* Foods to help reduce anxiety* And more…Dr. Uma Naidoo is a Harvard trained nutritional psychiatrist, professional chef, nutritional biologist and author of the international bestseller, “This is Your Brain on Food”, and her newest book “Calm Your Mind with Food”. Michelin-starred chef David Bouley described Dr. Uma Naidoo as the world’s first “triple threat” in the food and medicine space as the nexus of her interests have found their niche in Nutritional Psychiatry.Dr. Naidoo founded and directs the first and only hospital-based Nutritional Psychiatry Service in the USA. She is the Director of Nutritional and Metabolic Psychiatry at Massachusetts General Hospital & Director of Nutritional Psychiatry at the MGH Academy while serving on the faculty at Harvard Medical School. Dr. Uma has appeared as a Nutritional Psychiatry expert on Live with Kelly & Ryan, Today Show, 700 Club, ABC, and been featured in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Fast Company, Thrive Global, Harpers, Shape, Parade, Boston Globe, AARP, and more.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 BEHINDHEREMPIRE10Follow Yasmin: * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yasminknouri/* Stay updated & subscribe to our newsletter: https://www.behindherempire.com/Follow Dr. Uma: * Website: https://umanaidoomd.com/ * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drumanaidoo/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.