349. How Betches Went Viral: Aleen Dreksler on Building a Media Empire from a Blog

Ever wonder what it really takes to build a viral brand and stay relevant in today’s fast-moving content world? In this episode, host Suneera Madhani sits down with Aleen Dreksler, Co-Founder and CEO of Betches Media, to talk about launching one of the internet’s most iconic brands, navigating creative burnout, and embracing the cringe in the name of growth.

Aleen shares how she and her two best friends turned a scrappy anonymous blog into a media powerhouse, landing a book deal, building a loyal audience, and eventually exiting the company while staying on as CEO. From managing friendship dynamics in business to staying consistent with content creation, Aleen gets real about the highs, lows, and evolution of leading a brand through every season of life.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

🧠 How to stay creative in a chaotic world (especially when you’re wearing all the hats)

📱 The smartest way to show up on social right now (spoiler: it’s not too late!)

💬 Aleen’s advice for creating content that actually connects

👯‍♀️ The secret to working with friends without burning bridges

🔥 Why embracing the cringe is your greatest growth strategy

If you’re a content creator, entrepreneur, or anyone trying to make an impact online, this episode will fire you up and give you permission to show up—messy, authentic, and all in.

💬 Your Turn: What’s one piece of content you’ve been scared to share? Tag @ceoschool and @aleen on Instagram and let us know!

📢 Loved this episode? Share it with a friend and leave a review to help more women scale with confidence.

(00:07:42) Building Successful Business through Intellectual Property

(00:09:29) Consistent Branding for Enhanced Audience Engagement

(00:15:23) Navigating Co-Founder Dynamics in Business Success

(00:19:33) Effective Engagement Strategies for Content Creators

(00:22:44) Emotional Connection Through Consistent Brand Voice

(00:31:48) Following Aleen's CEO Journey on Substack

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