She faced COVID, cancer, and closing the biggest deal of her life… all at once. Alicia Grande, founder and CEO of Grande Cosmetics, built her beauty empire with grit, fearlessness, and a touch of scrappy brilliance.

In this episode of Superwomen, Alicia shares the story behind GrandeLASH, how she turned her postpartum struggle into a category-defining product. From bootstrapping trade shows to landing Sephora and Ulta, Alicia’s journey is an example of perseverance.

Tune in to hear how she stayed fearless in the face of overwhelming challenges, what she’s learned about balancing ambition with family, and the advice she wants every aspiring founder to know.

Episode Guide:

(00:00) Cozy up with Macy’s

(02:39) Meet Alicia Grande, CEO of Grande Cosmetics

(05:48) Her lash serum “aha” moment at a trade show

(09:11) What it really means to bootstrap a business

(10:11) The childhood survival skills that gave her grit

(12:40) The work ethic of today’s generation

(19:08) The moment she knew she made it

(20:32) Creating a whole new category at Sephora

(25:37) Surviving cancer, COVID, and a company sale

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How Alicia Grande Built a Beauty Empire with $25K in Savings