Behind Her Empire

In this week’s episode, we’re sharing a conversation with our friend Amanda Hendy who interviewed us for her new podcast, The Hendy Show. We’re talking all things beeya, seed cycling, hormones and how they impact everything from our metabolism to how we sleep at night.In this episode you’ll learn: * Why balanced hormones are key for feeling good* What led Yasmin to seed cycling* The biggest factors impacting hormones* Why women should rethink daily alcohol use* How to build a plate for balanced blood sugar* Why you wake up around 3am every night* And more…Amanda Hendy is an entrepreneur, venture investor, advisor, and attorney with an endless curiosity and a passion for bringing ideas to life. Amanda advises many early-stage companies and venture-funds, serves on multiple company boards, is an active angel investor, and is always open to new adventures.  Amanda created The Hendy Show to showcase the incredible work of her guests as well as the motivations driving each of them. But more than that, The Hendy Show, is a manifestation of Amanda’s own purpose that is rooted in the belief that with access to information and inspiration, anything is possible. Amanda’s aim is to inform and inspire listeners to envision and pursue the greatest possibilities for themselves and each other.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 Amanda Hendy: * Website: https://www.thehendyshow.com/* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amandahendy/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Melanie Strong is a founding partner of Next Ventures, a VC firm she co-founded with Lance Armstrong that focuses on building the next generation of sports, health and wellness brands. Melanie has spent her entire life in the sports industry. She’s a lifelong runner and started her career as a journalist at Runner's World magazine. She then applied for a position at Nike despite not having the “right” pedigree, college background, and experience. Good thing she did because she ended up having an incredibly successful career at Nike, spending most of her time at Nike building high-performing teams all over the world and holding positions from the VP of Global Brand Marketing for Nike Women to the GM of Nike Skateboarding. After 18 years at Nike, Melanie had the opportunity to break into the world of venture capital. She left her very stable career to start from scratch and become a first-time investor AND fund founder. In our conversation, Melanie opens up about how she faced her fears when reinventing herself later in her career and overcoming the imposter syndrome she felt when breaking into a male-dominated industry.✨ You'll also hear some honest reflections on the founder-investor relationship and who is the right fit for VC funding, along with some empowering advice for founders seeking funding. We also discuss the importance of authentic relationships in life & business, how to build a unique brand in the environment we’re in today, and so much more!In this episode, we’ll talk to Melanie about:* Learning from others' success and embracing self-confidence. [3:18] * Melanie's upbringing and her positive mindset. [7:33]* Melanie's diverse jobs before Nike. [9:26]* Inspiration and starting at Nike. [12:02]* Networking and mentorship's impact. [16:30] * The power of people and true relationships. [17:45]* What she looks for in a founder. [19:08]* Melanie reflects on being an angel investor and why it took her so long to do. [23:23]* Taking the leap to leave Nike and steps to overcome imposter syndrome. [27:18]* Changes in feedback processes and trusted companies. [31:37]* Some top advice for thinking about your company as a brand. [36:15]* Melanie and Yasmin each share the hacks that keep them anchored into their purpose. [41:50]* Diving into greater detail on traits she looks for in a founder and what a founder-investor relationship needs. [45:02]* Impact of exit-focused founders. [47:30]* Suitability for VC funding and fundraising insights. [50:50]* Melanie's comments on due diligence plus some great advice to founders. [54:45]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 Melanie: * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melaniestrong/* Website: https://nextventures.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Yasmin and Kaya here, co-founders of beeya! Join us for a roundup of things we’re loving right now—including all things health, hormones and life as we’re setting ourselves up for the new year.In this episode you’ll learn:* One hack that will transform your workday* Kaya’s favorite planner (she’s tried them all)* The clean skincare products we’re loving* Yasmin’s go-to practice for overwhelm* What goals we’re setting for the new year* And more…Here are the products and brands we mentioned:* MATE (organic clothing): https://matethelabel.com/ * PACT (organic clothing): https://wearpact.com/ * Walking treadmill: https://rb.gy/op0vt9 * Hatch alarm clock: https://www.hatch.co/ * beeyavibe magnesium: https://beeyawellness.com/products/beeya-vibe * High performance planner: https://www.highperformanceplanner.com/ * Peach & Lily (clean skincare): https://www.peachandlily.com/ * The tapping solution: https://www.thetappingsolution.com/ 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 Kaya:* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kayapurohit/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Neha Kumar is a serial entrepreneur and investor. She’s the co-founder of Full Glass Wine, a DTC wine consolidation business, and co-founder of New Money Ventures, a consumer fund and brand studio focused on empowering the next generation of entrepreneurs.Beyond her reputable banking career, Neha has worked at several startups over the years and, most recently, served as the COO and CFO of Create & Cultivate which sold to Corridor Capital in 2020.Neha shares her unique perspective when it comes to building a successful company as both an operator and investor. In this episode, we learn about how she serendipitously landed in banking, why she chose to leave to start her own business, and how she prepared to do so. She also fills us in on the greatest challenges she faced transitioning from corporate to launching her first business, why it didn’t work out, and what she wishes she knew before going into it.We also chat about why it’s never too late to re-create yourself and your life, what people get wrong with the concept of work-life balance, why you shouldn’t start a business around your passion, and so much more.In this episode, we'll talk to Neha about:* Why Neha believes you have to constantly find yourself to be resilient. [2:49]* How to find yourself without being influenced by others’ expectations. [5:09]* Impact of Neha's parents' values on her life. [7:11]* Advantages of achieving financial independence. [9:57]* What prompted Neha’s banking career. [11:10]* Transition from banking to startups - preparation and motivation. [14:59]* Inspiration behind Neha's entrepreneurship journey. [16:56]* Her greatest challenge transitioning into the startup space. [17:25]* The importance of embracing your wholeness. [20:41]* Insights Neha wished she knew before her first business. [22:00]* Neha's decision to let go of her business. [24:21]* Neha's definition of entrepreneurship. [27:09]* The difference between self-interest and selfishness. [30:03]* Importance of separating business ideas from hobbies. [31:05]* Misconceptions about work-life balance. [37:25]* How Neha balances her priorities. [41:07]* Motherhood in the professional world. [45:32]* Support from Neha's job after childbirth and its impact on motherhood. [46:56]* Qualities Neha seeks in founders as an investor. [54:08]* Evaluating resilience in a founder. [55:44]* Advantages of passion in business. [59:34]* Significance of team building and individual empowerment. [1:03:41]* Lessons from motherhood: letting go and having faith. [1:07:24]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/* Website: https://www.behindherempire.com/Follow Neha:* New Money Ventures Website: https://newmoneyventures.co/* Maie Wines Website: https://drinkmaie.com/* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nehatkumar/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As we navigate the complexities of modern living, achieving and maintaining hormonal balance can feel like an uphill battle. Functional medicine goes beyond conventional methods, focusing on root causes rather than merely alleviating symptoms—an empowering approach that’s slowly becoming the norm, and we're diving deep in today's episode!In this episode you’ll learn: * Easy functional tips anyone can implement * The most important labs to run for hormones* When in your cycle to run hormones labs* Top contributors to hormone imbalances* Why conventional medicine can fall shortDr. Soyona Rafatjah is a board-certified Family Medicine physician and Co-Founder and Medical Director of PrimeHealth. Dr. Rafatjah is passionate about helping her patients reach their health goals. She helps them address the root cause of their issues and focuses on disease prevention in addition to treatment. Her patients feel in control of their health with the knowledge and tools she gives them.Through an intimate, patient-physician partnership, and a whole-body approach, she and her patients develop a personalized treatment plan which adjusts to their needs and environment over time.Labs we talk about in the episode:Go to UltaLabs.com/PrimeHealth and scroll to the bottom to find the "PrimeHealth - Women's Health" panel for a full thyroid panel, reproductive hormones (E, P, T, LH, and FSH), adrenal hormone (DHEA-S), nutrient markers (Vit D, B12, homocysteine), iron studies (iron, TIBC, ferritin), metabolic markers (glucose, insulin, hba1c), anemia markers (Hb & Hct), and inflammatory markers (hs-CRP, ferritin, and reverse T3).2) Inside Tracker - click this link or use code PrimeHealthPro25 for 25% off your entire order. We recommend the Ultimate Panel, which includes a ton of digestible information but keep in mind that this does not include a full thyroid panel (only TSH).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 BEHINDHEREMPIREFollow Yasmin:* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yasminknouri/* Website: https://www.behindherempire.com/Follow Dr. Soyona:* Website: https://primehealthdenver.com/ * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/primehealthdenver/  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Halle Tecco is an entrepreneur, angel investor, and podcast host passionate about fixing our healthcare system. She is the founder of Natalist, a women’s health company focused on evidence-backed fertility and pregnancy essentials, which was acquired by Everly Health in October 2021. She also founded and ran Rock Health, an early-stage digital health venture fund. And most recently, she’s the co-founder and Chair of Cofertility, a human-first fertility ecosystem rewriting the egg freezing and egg donation experience.In this week’s episode, we talk to Halle about overcoming perfectionism, imposter syndrome, and the realities of entrepreneurship. On the hunt for the next big investment, Halle searched high and low to find a company to back that was approaching fertility in a way that she had envisioned. When she couldn’t find the perfect company to invest in she decided to create it herself. Natalist was the first company to create a more evidence-based approach to reproductive care. We chat about her journey in corporate, to then investor, and finally start-up founder and the biggest surprises and lessons she’s learned along the way. In this episode, we'll talk to Halle about:* How Halle’s upbringing and family business impacted the way Halle thinks about entrepreneurship. [​​07:27]* The biggest takeaway Halle had from business school. [13:08]* Establishing the VC firm, Rock Health, during business school. [19:55]* How Halle secured partnerships for Rock Health. [24:07]* A hurtful experience when a reporter wrote negative and unfavorable articles about Halle. [26:39]* Experiencing impostor syndrome. [28:29]* Overcoming insecurities and being a people pleaser. [30:15]* Recognizing when people-pleasing hinders success and the strategies to address it. [34:32]* The idea behind Halle's company, Natalist. [40:04]* Identifying the suitable operator and selling the company. [42:24]* Why Halle prefers engaging in work rather than managing people. [45:58]* Serving as a CEO during the first 18 months and the importance of people management. [48:04]* Promoting work-life balance and creating a healthy work culture. [49:32]* Selling Natalist in 2021 at its peak. [52:03]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 BEHINDHEREMPIREFollow Yasmin:* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yasminknouri/* Website: https://www.behindherempire.com/Follow Halle:* Website: https://www.halletecco.com/* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/halletecco/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Did you know that, on average, the peak age for body confidence is 60? It’s surprising but true! The good news is we don’t have to fear changes in our body as we age, and there is SO much we can do to support ourselves as we transition through perimenopause, menopause and beyond—which is what we dive into in today’s episode!In this episode you’ll learn: * Early signs of perimenopause* How to use food as medicine in the transition * Why you might be gaining weight in this stage* How hormones impact brain health* How to get your libido back* And more…Dr. Harper has an understanding of the symptoms and concerns that women face as she herself is one of six sisters and has a grown up daughter. Her areas of expertise include Perimenopause and Menopause, Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, Premenstrual Stress disorder, Healthy Aging and Weight Management. She believes in the early management of symptoms to stay youthful and healthy.She has given educational lectures to GPs on: Menopause, Mood and Sex; Menopause Myths and HRT- Putting the Risks of HRT into Perspective; Mood Disorder during the Menopause Transition; Breast cancer and HRT. She has acted as an Advisor on best practice for women going through the menopause transition in the workplace to companies—such as Coutts bank and Mylan pharmaceuticals, Channel 4 and filmed a webinar for PricewaterhouseCoopers.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 BEHINDHEREMPIREFollow Yasmin:* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yasminknouri/* Website: https://www.behindherempire.com/Follow Dr. Shahzadi:* Website: https://theharperclinic.com/* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drshahzadiharper/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Monique Rodriguez is the founder and CEO of Mielle Organics, an all natural hair care and beauty brand. Monique created Mielle Organics’ first product in her kitchen. Now, the brand has products in over 85 countries – and still pursues the same vision it did from when it operated out of Monique’s kitchen, with the same values.Monique worked as a registered nurse for almost a decade. She pursued nursing initially to please her mother and secure a financially stable career. As a wife and mother of two girls, it was a big risk to leave her stable career path to pursue her passion. Yet she always had a love of beauty and haircare, and once she saw the engagement of her online community with the products she was creating in the kitchen, she decided to bet on herself and launch her own product, and that’s when Mielle Organics was born.In 2021, Monique became the first Black woman to raise a non-controlling nine-figure investment, over $100M, in a deal with Berkshire Partners. In 2023, Monique made history again when Mielle Organics was acquired by Procter & Gamble in an unprecedented acquisition, the largest exit ever for a Black Female beauty founder, in which she will continue to serve as CEO of the company. As part of her deal with P&G, she also established Mielle Cares, the non-profit arm of her company, with a $10M donation that was matched by P&G. In this week’s episode we discuss the many business ventures Monique tried that didn’t work out, why she decided to pursue her nursing career and the biggest skills she learned there that have propelled her when starting her own business. We also chat about her process of building a passionate community through social media, how that helped her create product market fit for her product, and the steps she took to find a chemist to work on her first batch that ended up selling out. Monique also ends on sharing insights on manifesting success, the exact steps she took to bring her ideas to life, her advice on navigating challenging situations both personally and professionally, and so much more. In this episode, we'll talk to Monique about:* Confronting fears and building self-belief. [03:33]* Strong women in Monique's upbringing. [06:54]* Leaving her comfort zone. [19:36]* High-risk pregnancy experience in 2013. [22:16]* Funding Mielle's early stages. [31:02]* Starting Mielle at home and the initial orders. [34:51]* Driving Mielle Organics' launch success.[36:08]* Leaving nursing job to focus on Mielle. [37:21]* Manifestation steps and vision importance. [40:08]* Bringing in private equity, alignment with Berkshire. [54:58]* Timeline of P&G acquisition. [57:32]* Journaling and gratitude cultivation. [59:53]* Business sale impact on Monique's life. [01:02:00]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 BEHINDHEREMPIREFollow Yasmin:* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yasminknouri/* Website: https://www.behindherempire.com/Follow Monique:* Mielle Organics Website: https://mielleorganics.com/* Mielle Organics Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thetappingsolution/* Monique’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/exquisitemo/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Have you heard of tapping? It’s a practice that combines psychology with physically tapping on acupressure points, relaxing the body so you can upgrade your thoughts. While it sounds complicated, it’s actually really easy to do—and you can feel a shift in as little as 60 seconds!In today’s Hormone Happy Hour, Jessica Ortner of The Tapping Solution guides us through a quick practice to release stress. We all tried it and we’re never going back!* How tapping can help reprogram the mind* The nine meridian points you need to know* How to reduce stress and anxiety by 42%* The research behind this life changing tool* Powerful stories supporting the benefits of tapping* And more…Founded in 2007 by siblings Nick, Jessica, and Alex Ortner, The Tapping Solution was created to provide people with the opportunity to release stress and find balance in their lives, all at their own fingertips.During the next 15 years, The Tapping Solution became a worldwide favorite for everything EFT Tapping related, namely because of the New York Times Best-Selling books, programs, masterclasses, and annual Tapping World Summits that have reached millions of people worldwide.In 2018, The Tapping Solution App made its debut and now has more than 19 Million sessions played in over 130 countries. The Ortners have guided millions of people across the globe to lower stress and anxiety in the body, and build a happier and healthier life.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 BEHINDHEREMPIREFollow Yasmin:* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yasminknouri/* Website: https://www.behindherempire.com/Follow Jessica:* The Tapping Solution Website: https://www.thetappingsolution.com/* The Tapping Solution Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thetappingsolution/* Jessica’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jessicaortner/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jing Gao is the founder and CEO of Fly By Jing, the fastest-growing direct-to-consumer startup and Asian food brand. Her first product, the Sichuan Chili Crisp, took the food world by storm in 2018, propelling Fly By Jing into the mainstream and spotlighting Jing as a leading expert in Sichuan flavors. Fly By Jing has since sold over 2 million jars of Chili Crisp to date, making it one of the fastest-growing condiments on the market and a household staple for many. Today, Chili Crisp can be found in thousands of grocery stores across the United States, coming a long way from the Kickstarter campaign that first led to its fame, and Fly By Jing has expanded into a multi-million dollar business.In this week’s episode, we discuss Jing’s upbringing, the many countries she’s lived in growing up and how those experiences impacted her life. She talks about how she left her stable tech job to pursue a career in food full time, the way she evaluated her risks when becoming an entrepreneur and how she decided to move to the US without knowing anyone to start her product business. We also talk about the early days of the business when Jing first launched on Kickstarter, the multiple challenges she had when creating & shipping the product to customers, and how she created such an incredible, high growth brand from the power of word of mouth and community. In this episode, we'll talk to Jing about:* Jing’s childhood upbringing and relationship with risk. [2:32]* What helped Jing overcome change and push herself outside her comfort zone. [9:45]* What motivated Jing to quit her tech job and move to Shanghai for a new opportunity. [11:43]* The relationship between food and Jing's personal identity and cultural heritage. [16:09]* The significance of seizing opportunities and staying open to chances. [19:13]* Jing's parents' viewpoint regarding her career journey. [21:07]* Establishing a restaurant and the lessons Jing gained from this experience. [22:21]* Choosing the right business partner. [27:15]* The financial struggles encountered, and lessons learned while operating a restaurant. [28:54]* Jing's shift towards creating her own products. [36:09]* Why entrepreneurship is self-work. [42:34]* The key stages in the launch of Fly by Jing. [45:12]* Jing's latest cookbook and what's next for her and the business. [53:50]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 BEHINDHEREMPIREFollow Yasmin:* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yasminknouri/* Website: https://www.behindherempire.com/Follow Jing:* Fly By Jing Website: https://flybyjing.com/* Fly By Jing Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/flybyjing/* Jing’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jingtheory/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.