Superwomen with Rebecca Minkoff

When sisters Tonya Thompson and Sharie Wilson began offering hair services at a young age, they didn’t necessarily think it would become a future career. However, a path that led to college, business and sales ended up full circle as the two launched a business in hair extensions that then morphed into products aimed at helping Black women grow healthy hair. Sharie and Tonya’s wildly successful product line, DreamGirls, seeks to break the stigma and stereotype that Black women cannot grow long, strong hair. Through their salons and products, Tonya and Sharie share the message that protective styles are and option, but never something you have to do. The pair’s inspirational drive, business acumen and vision support women not just in appearance but also in changing their lives as they have begun to mentor women in business. Two Dream Girls themselves, Sharie and Tonya’s sincere passion combines with shrewd business sense to help women achieve their hair dreams and life goals! Thanks for listening!  Don't forget to order Rebecca's new book, Fearless: The New Rules for Unlocking Creativity, Courage, and Success. Follow Superwomen on Instagram. Social Media @dreamgirlshair @hairbytonya @iamshariewilson Big Ideas Key points to consider in order to meet sales goals. Contending with trauma from the past so as not to let it dictate your future. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Maria Sharapova was born in Siberia, raised in Sochi and then, at age 6, moved to the U.S., and she hasn’t really stopped moving since. The tennis sensation who won Wimbledon at 17 and 5 Grand Slam titles in the years since has honed a level of focus so intense that at times she seems more like a Buddhist monk than a star athlete. This stoic concentration has been cultivated intentionally; Maria saw in other tennis players that letting fear or, conversely, pride, lead them on the court more often ended in disappointment rather than a win. She resolved to always look towards the next point, and act as graciously in victory as in losses. It’s a state of being that has bled into other areas of her life, including her work as an entrepreneur. Maria launched Sugarpova, the candy company of which is still 100% owner, in her early 20’s. Though it may seem incongruous for an athlete to peddle treats, as Maria puts it, it’s important to balance hard work with something sweet once in a while. Thanks for listening!  Don't forget to order Rebecca's new book, Fearless: The New Rules for Unlocking Creativity, Courage, and Success. Follow Superwomen on Instagram. Big Ideas The importance of rewarding hard work. [12:45] Balancing vision and branding in a way that leads to revenue. [18:17] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

She’s self-described as “messy” and can play the piano by ear – as long as it’s in the key of C. No, we’re not talking about Katy Perry – Katie Couric is here, she’s caffeinated, and she’s ready to sing for you! A household name for decades, it only makes sense that after years in broadcast news, Katie has finally taken the entrepreneurial plunge and started her own media company. Excited to tackle controversial issues and educate the public, Katie is taking the reins as her own boss to share timely stories in her uniquely sympathetic, yet fearless voice. One of the greatest interviewers of our time, Katie reflects upon the fact that it is the balance between being kind and being tough that drove her career to its success. Now in a new era, Katie continues to inspire women of all ages to ask questions, be fearless, and learn to move gracefully through moments of discomfort. Thanks for listening!  Don't forget to order Rebecca's new book, Fearless: The New Rules for Unlocking Creativity, Courage, and Success. Follow Superwomen on Instagram. Big Ideas The value in bringing positive energy to the workplace. [15:01] Ageism as being socially acceptable, and in contrast, the beauty and gifts inherent in aging. [18:26] The importance of true listening and fruitful communication. [33:05] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Pregnancy can be overwhelming, especially the first time around. Your body is changing,  hormones are shifting, and you just want to know which nail polish won’t be harmful to your baby. CEO Ericka Perry found herself in a pickle when her best friend needed help finding pregnancy and beauty products, but there was not one place where she could simply order a gift bag with the necessary items. At a time when subscription boxes were really starting to take off, she couldn’t believe this was still lacking in the market. Thus was born the The Stork Bag. Almost entirely self-funded, Ericka is a shining example of an entrepreneur who sees an opportunity, works what they know and creates a business for the love of the products and who they serve. Thanks for listening!  Don't forget to order Rebecca's new book, Fearless: The New Rules for Unlocking Creativity, Courage, and Success. Follow Superwomen on Instagram. Big Ideas The inevitable self-doubt that comes with running a business. [15:52] Financial reality of growing a business that is self-funded. Slow growth is okay! [20:43] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Though she is widely known for dressing celebrities on the red carpet, Ali Levine is more of an entrepreneur in stylist’s clothing. This mother of two has worked in nearly every niche of the fashion industry, including corporate design at Coach and Fendi, working as an executive at Target, costume design for film, and, of course, celebrity styling. With the arrival of her two children, Ali’s brand now encompasses not only fashion, but the wildly popular realm of “mommy influencer.” She’s also cultivating partnerships in the health and wellness space, has her own podcast, and has been developing mindfulness and spirituality in the most unlikely ways (hint: it has to do with reality television!). Ali shares the vital importance of following your intuition, and the ways in which the word “no” can take on a positive meaning when we use it to create boundaries, making more room for the things we truly want in our lives. Thanks for listening!  Don't forget to order Rebecca's new book, Fearless: The New Rules for Unlocking Creativity, Courage, and Success. Follow Superwomen on Instagram. Social Media @alilevinedesign @everythingwithalilevine Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ellen Bennett didn’t quite know what she was going to do when she landed in Mexico at age 18, ready to explore her cultural heritage and embark on a voyage of self-discovery. Tirelessly working odd jobs, including announcing the winning lottery tickets on TV, a stay of two months quickly became four years, and she was ready for the next adventure. Working as a line cook, it didn’t take long for Ellen to realize that, while she didn’t want to become a restauranteur like she originally thought, she did want to revolutionize the industry. Although her now-ubiquitous Hedley & Bennett aprons are a must-have for chefs and home cooks alike, it took a good deal of creativity, confidence, trial and error to get from her first batch of 40 aprons to the culinary staple they’ve now become. With her bootstraps philosophy and wildly impressive, self-taught marketing skills, Ellen bestows the humble apron with an air of magic that helps chefs of all calibers look and feel the part. Not only that, but she also reveals her personal secrets to overcoming paralyzing doubt in order to make your dreams a reality in her new book, Dream First, Details Later! Thanks for listening!  Don't forget to order Rebecca's new book, Fearless: The New Rules for Unlocking Creativity, Courage, and Success. Follow Superwomen on Instagram. Links Order Ellen’s Book: Dream First, Details Later Social Media @ellenmariebennett @hedleyandbennett Big Ideas The magical moments when you say yes to an opportunity and figure out the details later. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this special encore episode, you'll hear a previously released conversation Rebecca had with her mom, Sue Minkoff, to talk about everything from raising a strong daughter to how she used her voice to stand up for others in the workplace. Sue also reflects on how she's been able to stay married for 50 years and how important intimacy is in a relationship. Thanks for listening!  Don't forget to order Rebecca's new book, Fearless: The New Rules for Unlocking Creativity, Courage, and Success. Follow Superwomen on Instagram. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There was a time when the concept of the Dollar Shave Club was revolutionary. Amy Errett, however, was unimpressed. Even then, the founder and investor of multiple companies had that entrepreneurial hunch that there was an even better way to do things. With unrivaled patience, she spent what most founders would find an excruciating amount of time in research and development before launching Madison Reed, an omnichannel beauty brand challenging industry titans in hair color space. With 51 stores in 2021, and 40 more to come in the next year, Madison Reed’s success only continues to flourish. Amy shares the vital importance of focus and discipline, why it pays to do one thing really well, the importance of maintaining corporate culture through growth, and what she looks for when considering investing. Above all, Amy conveys the value of being fully present and living in a space of tender curiosity to reveal the full extent of your gifts and strengths. Our listeners can use RMSUPERWOMAN for 20% off at checkout on Madison-Reed.com Thanks for listening!  Don't forget to order Rebecca's new book, Fearless: The New Rules for Unlocking Creativity, Courage, and Success. Follow Superwomen on Instagram. Guest Website Madison-Reed.com Social Media LinkedIn Big Ideas How to tactfully approach a solution to a gap in the market. “Focusing on the vital few versus the worthless many.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When Tiffany Dufu says “I am the cumulative investment of a lot of women who have poured themselves into me,” she’s not just speaking of her own accomplishments. She’s paying it forward in droves. Her passion for helping women and girls extends from her role as a board member of Girls Who Code, to the authoring of inspirational memoir Drop the Ball,  to the founding of online community The Cru and beyond. So invested is Tiffany in the welfare and success of women that she has raised over $20 million for women’s charities, and is endorsed by none other than the mother of the modern women’s movement herself, Gloria Steinem. Across her many endeavors, Tiffany’s goal remains the same: to imbue in women the power of affirmation that her mother bestowed upon her, helping each woman connect with like-minded individuals who raise each other up and remind each other of their inherent power and worth. Thanks for listening!  Don't forget to order Rebecca's new book, Fearless: The New Rules for Unlocking Creativity, Courage, and Success. Follow Superwomen on Instagram. Guest Website TiffanyDufu.com TheCru.com Social Media @tdufu @thecru LinkedIn Big Ideas Pronoia – the universe is conspiring to help you! The importance of having a supportive “cru” to help you achieve your goals. Links Drop the Ball by Tiffany Dufu Burn the Business Plan by Carl J. Schramm Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What is Betches, you ask? Actually, you probably don’t have to, and the more important question is what isn’t Betches involved in? What started as a satirical blog between lifelong friends is now a 12 brand, multiplatform media company that spans content across 10 podcasts, multiple best-selling books and popular merchandise, all at the tips of 105 million fingers (thanks to their 10.5 million Instagram followers)! Founders Sami Sage and Jordana Abraham get down to the vital details of how to carefully calculate expansions, keep costs low, create success without investors, and, most importantly, what it takes to work with friends and stay that way. Betches is here to entertain you, but it’s also ready to celebrate knowing yourself, having fun and honoring the individual and collective success of women, one rosé at a time. Thanks for listening!  Don't forget to order Rebecca's new book, Fearless: The New Rules for Unlocking Creativity, Courage, and Success. Follow Superwomen on Instagram. Guest Website Betches.com Betches Podcasts Social Media @betches @sami @jordanaabraham Big Ideas How to successfully parlay friendships into business partnerships. Getting to know yourself in order to live and act in alignment with who you really are. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices