Behind Her Empire

Suneera Madhani is the co-founder and CEO of Stax, an innovative tech company that radically simplifies the payment ecosystem.After graduating from college, Suneera decided to work at a consumer goods company and after three years she realized that the corporate world wasn’t for her. She was later recruited by a payment-processing company, and it was then she realized she wanted to do someone on her own.At age 26, without money, an MBA or any corporate leadership experience…and after being laughed out of her then boss’s office, Suneera began building her now billion-dollar company inside her parents’ Orlando home. In 8 years, Suneera raised $245M in venture capital and now leads a team of 300+ employees and is committed to helping fellow women and minorities achieve similar accomplishments in business. She also is also the founder of CEO School, which is a podcast and an 8-week program that helps women become entrepreneurs & CEOs – and is on the mission to change the fact that less than 2% of female founders hit $1 million in revenue… and less than 18% ever hit 6 figures. This needs to change! Suneera gives us the scoop on what it was like to take the leap from a stable corporate job into the uncertainties of entrepreneurship and shares how she manages the ever-looming imposter syndrome to show up as her best self every day. We explore time management and Suneera’s approach to finding work-life integration, rather than balance, and how she manages running her billion-dollar business while still spending quality time with her two young kids. We also talk about what is missing in the business world: practical advocacy for women’s success, and what she believes is required to change that. Join us to hear a wealth of practical advice and wisdom from Suneera’s story of unlikely success and breaking free of the expectations of others to find fulfillment in living a life that's true to you.In this episode, we'll talk to Suneera about:* Breaking free of the expectations of others and living according to who we are instead. [4:03]* How Suneera’s experience as the child of immigrants shaped her approach to business. [6:58]* What led her to use her analytical and creative skills to start Stax at the age of 24. [11:00]* How Stax grew from 5 million in payments the first year to 23 billion in payments per year. [17:36]* Dealing with imposter syndrome in the early days of launching a business. [22:20]* Working to keep your psyche in check and show up as your best self as a CEO. [25:33]* Building habits by repeating activities, and improving with experience. [27:29]* Combatting perfectionism with the philosophy that ‘done is better than perfect’. [30:33]* Suneera’s belief in work life integration when managing family life and her company. [37:08]* How she manages her time, starting with what she calls Sunday Zoom Out. [42:18]* The statistic that changed the game for Suneera: only 2% of female founders are breaking a million-dollar revenue. [47:45]* What is missing in the business world: action in advocating for women. [49:40]* Calling listeners to support the female business owners in their lives. [53:38]This episode is brought to you by Beeya:* If you or anyone you know have been struggling with hormonal imbalances and bad periods, go to https://beeyawellness.com/free to download the free guide to tackling hormonal imbalances.* Plus, get $10 off your order by using promo code BEHINDHEREMPIRE10.Follow Suneera:* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/suneeramadhani* Stax Website: https://staxpayments.com/* CEO School Website: https://theceoschool.co/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week’s episode, we’re mixing things up again! We’re doing a brand new behind-the-scenes podcast on my journey as an entrepreneur and podcast host!So this week, just like I’ve done before, I’ve handed over the mic to my husband, Dhru Purohit, who’s graciously stepping into the role of host.Our first behind-the-scenes episode was one of my most listened-to episodes of all time so I’m hoping today’s vulnerable episode brings a lot of value to you!Here are just a few of the topics we’ll be covering:How dialing in my morning and evening routine has helped me become a better entrepreneurHow I successfully left corporate and eventually started my own businessAnd lastly, the top three most surprising things I’ve learned from interviewing some of the world’s most successful womenAs always, I’d love to get your thoughts on the episode, and hear your feedback! DM me or email me at yasmin@behindherempire.com - I’m always looking for ways to add value and help inspire you!This episode is brought to you by Beeya:* If you or anyone you know have been struggling with hormonal imbalances and bad periods, go to https://beeyawellness.com/free to download the free guide to tackling hormonal imbalances and to learn more about Beeya’s seed cycling bundle. * Plus, get $10 off your order by using promo code BEHINDHEREMPIRE10.Follow Yasmin: * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yasminknouri/ * Website: https://beeyawellness.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Logan Hollowell is the designer, founder and CEO of Logan Hollowell Jewelry. Logan started with little more than a dream board, some affirmations, and the right mindset and manifested her way to a jewelry empire. Her jewelry is a cult favorite and has been spotted on the likes of Rihanna, Jennifer Lawrence, Meghan Markle, and Jessica Alba, among others. Today she joins us to share her inspiring story with us. She tells us about her early fascination with gemstones, crystals, and spirituality and how this led her to her dream of becoming a jewelry designer. Being raised on the Outer Banks in North Carolina, she explains how the hurricanes she experienced as a child helped her to become comfortable with uncertainty, grow into a risk-taker, and move to LA at the age of 17 to pursue a career in fashion.We’ll chat about when Logan first discovered the law of attraction and how she used dream boards, mindset, self-love, affirmations, and rituals to create the life she wanted. We also talk about how Logan thinks about fundraising for her business, the role of mentorship in creating a high-growth brand, the challenges she’s overcome, and why she believes that in order to receive, you first have to give.In this podcast we talk to Logan about:* How the uncertainty Logan experienced as a child impacted the woman she is today. [3:35] * The quote that Logan lives by ‘Faith is loyalty to an unseen reality’. [5:11]* How she always found herself drawn to crystals and spirituality from a young age. [6:58]* What motivated Logan to leave home and follow her dreams to LA at the age of 17. [8:07]* The struggles she overcame when she first moved to LA. [9:17]* How she first discovered the law of attraction. [10:26]* How reading other people’s stories helped her get into the right mindset. [11:37]* A quick story from Jasmine about how she overcame debilitating periods. [12:56]* How self-love and affirmations helped Logan create the life she wanted. [16:12]* The full moon and new moon rituals she practiced. [19:37] * The story of how Logan met a jeweler who changed her life and the importance of persistence. [20:50]* How Logan began designing and creating her own jewelry. [26:14]* How she got exposure through influencers even before she had a website. [28:43] * Logan’s belief that in life, in order to receive you have to first give. [29:41]* How she managed to fund and create her early orders. [30:42]* Logan’s advice for anyone who has a similar dream but no funding. [32:19* The importance of following your bliss and how this leads to opportunities and miracles. [32:50]* Some of the biggest challenges that Logan has overcome as an entrepreneur. [34:57]* How Logan is funding her business. [37:26]* The role of mentorship in Logan’s business. [38:42]* How Logan’s most proud of the alchemy of creating her destiny. [40:09]* Why Logan believes that wealth means more choices. [41:38]* The story of Logan’s trip to India and why she believes that the best way to get out of a rut is to help people who are worse off than you. [42:18]This episode is brought to you by Beeya:* If you or anyone you know have been struggling with hormonal imbalances and bad periods, go to https://beeyawellness.com/free to download the free guide to tackling hormonal imbalances and to learn more about Beeya’s seed cycling bundle.* Plus, get $10 off your order by using promo code BEHINDHEREMPIRE10.Follow Logan: * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/loganhollowell/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Lisa Odenweller is the Founder and CEO of Kroma Wellness, a functional superfood nutrition company.Lisa entered the wellness space in 2011 upon founding Beaming Wellness, an organic superfood café concept with locations throughout Southern California. The brand quickly attracted a cult following and was a leader in the healthy grab-&-go food category. After exiting Beaming in 2018, Lisa had a bigger vision with a more ambitious reach: a direct-to-consumer brand that could simplify people’s lives by offering a wide variety of delicious on-the-go functional foods and beverages that easily fit into your everyday life. Out of this vision, Kroma Wellness was born.However, despite all the success that Lisa has seen with her businesses, it definitely didn’t come easy.We talk to Lisa about how she launched her first business, Beaming while going through a divorce and being a single mom to three young kids, how she used her scrappiness to get the business off the ground with very little money, and why leaving Beaming was one of the hardest decisions she’s ever made in her life. We unpack the handful of lessons she learned with her first business venture and the work she did to rebuild herself and gain the courage to create her newest business, Kroma.Lisa shares her multi-year journey of testing different products in her kitchen, the steps she took to launch her second business, and the massive pivot she did that changed the entire trajectory of the company. We also discuss how she went from getting many rejections when it came to fundraising during the pandemic to ultimately raising $5.5 million from well-known founders and A-list celebrities like Gwyneth Paltrow and Amy Schumer, and so much more.In this episode, we’ll talk to Lisa about:* Introducing today’s guest, the founder of Kroma Wellness, Lisa Odenweller. [00:48]* The challenges of entrepreneurship and Lisa’s advice on how to get through the tough times. [03:34]* Positive and negative impacts of Lisa’s upbringing. [06:07]* The personal growth journey that Lisa embarked upon when her life began to fall apart. [10:45]* Lisa’s first job out of college and the origins of her entrepreneurial journey. [19:48]* Factors that drew Lisa to the health and wellness space. [23:54]* The founding story and evolution of Beaming Wellness (Lisa’s previous business). [32:45]* On-the-go learning that Lisa did during her journey with Beaming Wellness. [37:12]* Mistakes that Lisa made that ended up costing her company. [39:36]* The difference between running a business with an abundance mindset and a scarcity mindset. [41:45]* The importance of carefully considering who sits on the board of your company (if you need to have a board). [44:15]* Realizations that Lisa came to as a result of the devastating process of losing Beaming Wellness. [46:34]* The motivation behind the founding of Kroma Wellness. [50:23]* Why Lisa recreated Kroma Wellness after its initial launch. [52:37]* The value of test marketing. [56:17]* A story that highlights the importance of trusting your instincts and not giving up when things don’t go to plan. [59:32]* Factors that have contributed to the success of Kroma Wellness. [1:04:34]This episode is brought to you by Beeya:* If you or anyone you know have been struggling with hormonal imbalances and bad periods, go to https://beeyawellness.com/free to download the free guide to tackling hormonal imbalances and to learn more about Beeya’s seed cycling bundle.* Plus, get $10 off your order by using promo code BEHINDHEREMPIRE10.Get 20% of your first Kroma order with promocode: EMPIRE20 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Karen Young is the Founder and CEO of Oui the People, a body care brand designed to make you feel great in your own skin. Karen has always been a problem solver, but one problem plagued her for years - debilitating razor burn which held her back from wearing many of her favorite skirts or shorts that showed her legs. In 2014, while working as an executive for Estee Lauder, Keren suffered a particularly bad case of razor burn and decided enough was enough.With $1,500 in her savings, Karen launched Oui the People from her apartment in Brooklyn and turned the shaving industry on its head by developing the world’s first safety razor designed especially for women. The company is now the fastest growing Black-owned beauty brand in the US and has been featured in many publications like Vogue, Elle, Glamour, and O Magazine. Most recently, after self-funding for many years which we’ll talk about, Karen closed an oversubscribed round and raised $3 million dollars for the brand allowing her to continue to push her mission of empowerment and inclusivity - something that she didn’t always see in the beauty industry growing up. In this week’s episode, we talk to Karen about her very windy journey in entrepreneurship from having a successful corporate career while trying different side hustles with the goal of always starting her own business, the biggest lessons she learned from her first business that ended up closing down, and how therapy has been her biggest tool when it comes to overcoming the darkest of times. We also chat about her unique upbringing as a child of immigrants and what they taught her about self-worth, resilience, and perseverance – all key factors that have helped her in both her personal & professional life. In this episode, we’ll talk to Karen about:* Lessons in perseverance that Karen was taught by her grandmother. [03:20]* The culture that Karen was immersed in while growing up and how it has influenced her. [08:17]* An overview of Karen’s educational and early career journey. [13:22]* The founding story of Karen’s first business, Hammocks and High Tea. [21:40]* Karen shares the biggest lesson she learned through her first entrepreneurial venture. [25:57]* The motivation behind the closing of Hammocks and High Tea. [29:15]* How Karen dealt with the emotional and financial stress that came with closing down her business. [32:49]* The importance of separating your sense of worth from your business. [36:00]* Pressure that is commonly felt by children of immigrants. [36:37]* Karen’s experience working at Estee Lauder. [40:00]* The problem that Karen saw as an opportunity for her next business, Oui the People. [41:41]* What the early days looked like at Oui the People. [42:33]* The moment Karen realized Oui the People was much more than just a side hustle. [44:28]* Karen’s approach to product development and how it benefited her business in the long run. [46:06]* How Karen’s mindset around funding has changed with her evolving journey as an entrepreneur. [52:25]* Why Karen is a strong proponent of therapy. [55:24]* Karen’s advice for dealing with overwhelm. [56:46]This episode is brought to you by Beeya:* If you or anyone you know have been struggling with hormonal imbalances and bad periods, go to https://beeyawellness.com/free to download the free guide to tackling hormonal imbalances and to learn more about Beeya’s seed cycling bundle. * Plus, get $10 off your order by using promo code BEHINDHEREMPIRE10. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mona Vand is a wellness expert and pharmacist turned entrepreneur who is passionate about making the world a healthier place.After six years of studying, and only a short few weeks of work as a pharmacist, Mona quickly realized that she was in the completely wrong career. While medication and supplements can be part of the equation for leading a healthy life, Mona believes that food is the key for taking a holistic approach to wellness.Since then, Mona has spent countless hours building a side hustle that would ultimately become her main focus. And while Mona has managed to build a highly successful wellness brand with millions of followers, the journey has not been without its challenges.In our conversation, Mona shares what it was like building her personal brand from the ground up and how her passion fueled her through difficult times. We talk about the biggest business mistakes she made early in her career as a wellness expert and her advice to anyone looking to build a personal brand around their passions.Lastly, we take a moment to reflect on the current situation in Iran and to express our solidarity and support for the men and women who are risking their lives for their right to live freely.If you’re looking for ways to help create awareness and get involved, the Iranian Diaspora Collective (https://www.iraniandiasporacollective.com/) has gathered resources for you to review and use in a not-for-profit capacity to amplify and support Iranian voices. #betheirvoiceIn this episode, we’ll talk to Mona about:* The current protests in Iran and how Mona is using her platform to support them. [00:51]* Insight into Mona’s Persian culture and how it has shaped her identity. [03:57]* The dissatisfaction and unhappiness Mona felt with her career as a pharmacist. [08:36]* How Mona first recognized that shifting her career was a viable option. [11:11]* How Mona was introduced to Marki Costello and learned how to build a personal brand. [12:28]* Mona shares how she entered the wrong business partnership early in her career and how she recovered from it. [19:22]* How Mona realized she needed to pivot into social media. [23:25]* The disappointment Mona felt when she had to return to her work as a pharmacist. [24:130]* How Mona was able to work as a pharmacist while also growing her social media following. [25:14]* How creating an online course and joining an agency helped Mona’s brand thrive and allowed her to comfortably quit her job. [30:05]* Mona’s struggle with perfectionism and the work she has done to overcome it. [36:22]* The huge amount of behind-the-scenes work that goes into creating content for social media and being an influencer. [41:38]* Why Mona decided to take a break from social media for one year. [47:50]* How Mona is setting boundaries to avoid burnout. [0:50:57]* The power of sleep and how the COVID-19 pandemic helped Mona learn to prioritize it. [54:30]* Mona’s final thoughts on the expectations that are placed on women and her advice to other female entrepreneurs. [56:42]This episode is brought to you by Beeya:* If you or anyone you know have been struggling with hormonal imbalances and bad periods, go to https://beeyawellness.com/free to download the free guide to tackling hormonal imbalances and to learn more about Beeya’s seed cycling bundle. * Plus, get $10 off your order by using promo code BEHINDHEREMPIRE10.Follow Mona: * Mona's Website: https://www.monavand.com/* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/monavand/?hl=en* TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@monavand?lang=en* YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0GkEyks1Nnzhsi9bCZTIjA Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Candace Nelson is a serial entrepreneur and a New York Times bestselling author. Candace is well-known for co-founding Sprinkles Cupcakes, the world’s first cupcake bakery and ATM, and most recently, Pizzana, a fast-growing chain of award-winning pizzerias. She is also an expert in turning one’s passion into a profitable business and has a book launching on November 8th called Sweet Success: A Simple Recipe to Turn Your Passion into Profit.Today’s conversation is jampacked with actionable advice from Candace, including tips on how to mobilize yourself when you are feeling stuck, questions to ask yourself when you’re looking to find your purpose, and more. Listening in, you will hear the ups and downs of her incredible story of starting Sprinkles and why she describes the process as ‘launching nimbly’. We also touch on how to combat imposter syndrome, the power of building your personal brand, how to approach competition in your space, the importance of building a network & community while building your empire, and so much more.In this episode, we’ll talk to Candace about:* Candace’s relationship with rebellion growing up and how that translates to her work today. [02:21]* How moving around a lot as a child taught her independence and confidence in new environments. [03:35]* The story of how Candace overcame one of the lowest moments of her life. [04:42]* Questions to ask yourself when you are looking to transition to a different career. [07:15]* Why Candace decided to test the waters before diving into a career in pastry. [08:37]* What she wanted to perfect before she took her product to launch. [09:51]* Her husband’s role as co-founder. [10:37]* What ‘launching nimbly’ looked like for Candace in the early days of Sprinkles. [13:52]* The benefits of testing the waters with a single product to find your target market. [17:57]* How she navigated the chapter of her life where every moment was dedicated to Sprinkles. [22:21]* Bringing a startup mentality to a bakery and finding like-minded people. [23:33]* Why it’s not constructive to get too focused on your competition. [25:40]* The role of Candace’s father-in-law in mapping out the business plan. [27:25]* Why mentorship is important and how Candace includes it in her life. [30:04]* What she would have done differently to keep her finger in the world of startups. [34:05]* The problem of lack of confidence and imposter syndrome across industries. [35:10]* Why Candace is committed to never resting on her laurels. [37:53]* Why it is important to be aware of your skills and hire for your weaknesses. [39:54]* How the experience of starting Pizzana has differed from starting Sprinkles. [40:20]* Why building your personal brand can be a competitive advantage. [42:18]* Candace reminds listeners that they have exactly what it takes to build their own empire. [44:38]Follow Candace: * Candace Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/candacenelson/* Sprinkles cupcakes Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sprinklescupcakes/* Website: https://sprinkles.com/Follow Yasmin:* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yasminknouri/* Stay updated & subscribe to our newsletter: https://www.behindherempire.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kaisa Keranen (also known as KaisaFit) is the founder of Just Move, a company dedicated to changing people’s lives by showing them that movement isn’t always about weight loss and appearance but rather overall health. Having suffered from depression since the age of 13, Kaisa found movement to be a tool for survival and when she injured herself in college, she knew she needed to figure out how to move her body her own way. In this episode, we discover how Kaisa’s depression and alter-ego helped her become her true self and how she discovered her purpose to change lives through movement. Kaisa fills us in on the problematic fitness industry standards, the steps she took to find her new career path, and how she built a massive social media following with millions of followers. We also talk about the importance of therapy and how it’s impacted both her personal and professional life. Having a north star is essential when running a business and today, Kaisa shares with us her tips when it comes to coping with stress, busy seasons, and how she continues to sustain her energy. We also talk about why leaders need to delegate and have a good sense of self in order to know where their strengths and weaknesses lie. Tune in to hear Kaisa’s story and find out why we need to prioritize doing something for ourselves each day. In this episode, we’ll talk to Kaisa about:* Why Kaisa Fit is her alter ego and how therapy and Kaisa Fit has helped her become more of her true self. [03:01]* Kaisa tells us about her dark depression days and how they helped her become who she is now. [06:28]* How Kaisa’s intense injury affected her life, sense of purpose, and her coping mechanism; movement. [10:00]* How Kaisa shifted away from being a social worker to becoming a trainer. [16:40]* The problems with the misconceptions created by the fitness industry and why Kaisa called her program Just Move. [21:28]* Why Kaisa decided to run her own business and use social media and what made her feel like she needed more. [24:00]* What made it clear to Kaisa that she needed to stand out in social media with regards to movement and fitness. [26:03]* Kaisa tells us about the first business she created and why she needed to find a partner. [27:50]* Kaisa’s bad experience with partnerships and how she overcame that to make Just Move a success. [31:17]* The importance of staying consistent with what your north star is when running a business. [35:29]* How Kaisa sustains her energy, stays healthy, and handles hitting burnout during busy seasons. [38:03]* Kaisa shares some of her coping mechanisms for dealing with stress. [40:37]* How Kaisa handles letting go and delegating as a control freak and how she suggests people who don’t have a team plan their time. [42:32]* How Kaisa has figured out where her strengths and weaknesses lie in her business. [44:35]* How to handle the judgment surrounding not hitting your goals for the day. [49:19]This episode is brought to you by Beeya: * If you or anyone you know have been struggling with hormonal imbalances and bad periods, go to https://beeyawellness.com/free to download the free guide to tackling hormonal imbalances and to learn more about beeya’s seed cycling bundle. * Plus, get $10 off your order by using promo code BEHINDHEREMPIRE10Follow Kaisa: * Kaisa Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kaisafit/* Just move Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/justmove/* Website: https://kaisafit.com/shop/Follow Yasmin:* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yasminknouri/* Stay updated & subscribe to our newsletter: https://www.behindherempire.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week's episode, we're re-airing one of our top episodes with the lovely Noura Sakkijha, co-founder and CEO of Mejuri, a fine jewelry brand that introduces handcrafted, everyday jewelry without the traditional retail markups.Looking from the outside in, entering the jewelry market can seem like a daunting endeavor. Not only is it seemingly saturated, but it’s also exceptionally expensive. Growing up in Jordan as a third-generation jeweler, Noura noticed that traditional high-end jewelry brands always targeted men, encouraging them to buy luxe jewelry for women. In 2015, Noura started Mejuri to change this narrative: A woman doesn't need a man to buy jewelry for her. She can buy it yourself. Noura was able to successfully raise over $40 million for her jewelry brand and shine in a competitive market. Noura’s products have been worn by A-list celebrities like Selena Gomez, Lizzo, Justin Bieber, Ariana Grande, Oprah, and more.We’ll talk to Noura about the difficult lessons she learned early in the business, why self-care and therapy have been game-changing for her in both her personal and professional life, and what it takes to build a high-growth brand & sell over 1.8 million pieces of jewelry since inception. In this episode, we’ll talk to Noura about:* How Noura's upbringing in Jordan impacted the woman she is today. [3:29]* Noura recounts a very busy time in her life when she moved to Canada to be a consultant while simultaneously earning an MBA. [5:30]* How Noura started Mejuri with her husband and what prompted her to pursue it [6:45]* What gave Nourra the confidence to enter a market like fine jewelry production. [08:33]* Noura's decision to join FounderFuel and 500 Startups, two top accelerators, and what she learned from the experience. [10:33]* How Noura changed her mindset around failure and learned from the tech world’s view on failure as a data point. [15:41]* How Noura gained traction during the early days of her company. [17:33]* Attracting in-house creatives without the resources of a larger, more established company. [20:21]* How she managed her mental health during a burnout period while building Mejuri. [21:44]* Advice Noura's mother gave her that has helped her honor self-care. [23:35]* Noura's experience with the demands that come with motherhood [24:31]* How she raised funds for her business while in the later stages of pregnancy. [27:29]* Managing her optimism and resilience during the difficult, early days of fundraising. [30:00]* Insights into ensuring the foundation of your business in the early stages. [31:10]* The time it took to find product fit and transition to the PR stage of their business. [32:45]* How Noura's family reacted to her starting Mejuri. [33:57]* One of the surprising things that Nourra is most proud of. [35:14]* What wealth means to Nourra at this point in her life. [37:07]* What it’s been like for her and her husband to be co-founders and business partners. [37:45]This episode is brought to you by beeya: * If you or anyone you know have been struggling with hormonal imbalances and bad periods, go to https://beeyawellness.com/free to download the free guide to tackling hormonal imbalances and to learn more about beeya’s seed cycling bundle. * Plus, get $10 off your order by using promo code BEHINDHEREMPIRE10Follow Noura:* Mejuri Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mejuri/ * Mejuri Empowerment Fund: https://mejuri.com/info/ourcommitment * Website: https://mejuri.com/ Follow Yasmin:* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yasminknouri/* Stay updated & subscribe to our newsletter: https://www.behindherempire.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nicole Wegman is the Founder and CEO of Ring Concierge, the jewelry company making luxury accessible to the masses. It was Nicole’s own engagement journey that opened her eyes to the void in the market for a more affordable, personal engagement ring shopping experience. At that time, she couldn’t find any brand or company that she connected with. Despite never having worked in the jewelry industry, Nicole has single-handedly built a multi-million-dollar diamond ring-centric business in less than ten years, with absolutely no outside funding. In this episode, we talk to Nicole about how she managed to double her profits annually with her slow and steady, self-funded approach. She fills us in on how she used the power of relationship-building to break into the jewelry industry and how she created brand awareness in the early days of launching her business when she was a one-woman show. We discuss brand humanization as a content strategy, the steps she took to shift her initial business idea, the importance of delegating and knowing your weaknesses, and so much more. In this episode, we’ll talk to Nicole about:*The most common fear preventing people from starting their own business. [2:43]*The main characteristic required to be a successful entrepreneur. [3:19]*What Nicole attributes her resilience to. [4:16]*Nicole’s background: how her life view and expectations shifted in college. [5:51]*The savvy route she took with her fashion major. [7:39]*What she learned from her experience working in the corporate space. [8:56]*Why she chose to leave the corporate space. [10:59]*How her engagement journey inspired her to create her own jewelry company. [11:40]*Nicole’s early days of starting the business. [13:13]*Why Nicole chose not to raise capital and how the business grew organically. [18:03]*How she broke into a largely male and family-run business-dominated industry. [19:58]*The value of relationship building and how Nicole approached it. [21:37]*How she used Instagram to create brand awareness. [23:24]*What inspired the humanization of the brand as a content strategy, and what makes it so effective. [25:22]*How Nicole balances content creation with running the business. [29:08]*What inspired her to hire senior-level team members and the risks and advantages thereof. [30:30]*The only way to grow your business without outside capital. [33:24]*Why, in retrospect, Nicole would have started the senior hiring process sooner. [35:59]*Why she chose to be solely self-funded. [38:40]*The most significant thing she’s learned about herself on her startup journey. [42:01]*The importance of identifying your weaknesses and delegating accordingly. [45:02]*Nicole’s relationship with burnout and how she learned to stave it off. [50:16]*How motherhood has shifted her at-home focus. [53:00]*Nicole’s advice for remaining centered while building a business. [57:06] 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 BEHINDHEREMPIRE10 Follow Nicole:*Website: https://ringconcierge.com/*Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ringconcierge/ Follow Yasmin: *Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yasminknouri/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.