Behind Her Empire

Kirin Sinha is the Founder and CEO of Illumix, an AR technology and media platform.Kirin started Illumix in 2017 with the mission to push boundaries and elevate the quality of augmented reality in the fields of fashion, game design, and film. Today, Illumix powers some of the world’s most popular mobile games and is helping companies and brands bridge the 2D & 3D world so consumers can interact with products & experiences in a more personalized way.With a degree in electrical engineering, computer science, and mathematics from MIT and advanced degrees in mathematics, statistics, and business from the University of Cambridge, LSE, and Stanford, Kirin is one of Silicon Valley's few minority leaders with a technical background. She’s also raised $13 million from top-tier investors like Lightspeed and Maveron ventures.However, Kirin never envisioned herself as an entrepreneur as her initial aspirations were to become a professor. It wasn’t until she had her first foray into building something from scratch with her nonprofit SHINE for Girls, which empowered middle school girls to learn math, that she realized she wanted to build a business and make an even larger impact.In this episode, we talk to Kirin about what it takes to rediscover your purpose after a major life pivot, how to work on your self-belief when you’re feeling like you’re not good enough, and why it’s so important to have boundaries when it comes to protecting your energy & going after big dreams in life. We also cover how Kirin’s time management, mindset, and self-care rituals have been a huge part of her success, both personally and professionally, and so much more!In this episode, we'll talk to Kirin about:* Kirin’s advice for building confidence by leaning into failure. [2:20]* How her mother and her grandmother have influenced who she is today. [4:18]* Hear how Kirin incorporates positive affirmations into her daily life. [6:38]* Lessons and skills that came from her exposure to both math and dance. [10:27]* What led her to pursue a career in entrepreneurship after studying math at MIT. [18:44]* Learn more about Shine for Girls and what it taught Kirin about entrepreneurship and the impact she could have through business. [22:10]* Insight into the early days of Illumix and the value of building a strong team. [29:40]* Kirin’s experience of participating in the Disney Accelerator Program. [32:03]* Practical ways that brands and consumers can incorporate AR into the real world. [33:54]* Kirin’s approach to fundraising and her advice for woman entrepreneurs: think big! [36:37]* The kinds of questions Kirin asks herself while she is on her daily walk. [42:23]* Where Kirin draws inspiration from, from newsletters and podcasts to books. [44:36]* Self-care rituals (including time management) that help her combat overwhelm. [47:55]* The benefits of building a strong network of mentors, advisors, and supporters. [53:39]* Tips for cold emailing and connecting with those who have the expertise you need. [55:33]Follow Kirin:* Personal Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kirinsinha/* Company Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/illumixofficial/* Website: http://illumix.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/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Michelle Ranavat is the Founder and CEO of Ranavat, a global skincare line inspired by Indian beauty rituals. It was after the birth of her two sons that Michelle made the leap into starting her own business, and part of this was inspired by her own desire for products that she could not find. Michelle talks about her postpartum journey, the challenges she faced with hair loss, and how her awareness of Ayurveda along with the ethos instilled in her by her parents was the inspiration to bring Ranavat to life.Michelle and RANAVAT have been consistently featured in publications including Allure, Glamour, and VOGUE, where Michelle was named one of the "Top 50 Influential Global Indians." Ranavat is also the first South Asian-Founded Ayurvedic Skin-Care Brand to be at Sephora. We talk to Michelle about her career before entrepreneurship and how getting suddenly laid off from her reputable finance job was one of the hardest, but ultimately best moments in her life. We also chat about how certain setbacks taught her about resilience, and why that’s now one of her superpowers in running her business. Michelle also shares how she self-funded Ranavat and supported the growth with zero outside funding, how she created awareness in the early days when she had no experience in skincare, and why patience is so important when building a well-run, successful company.In this episode, we’ll talk to Michelle about:* Michelle comments on things that hold women back from following their dreams. [2:34]* The limiting beliefs that Michelle encountered at the time of the birth of her company. [3:33]* Looking back at the lessons that Michelle internalized from her parents. [5:26]* Michelle's career in finance prior to her work as an entrepreneur. [8:31]* The challenging period that Michelle encountered before her professional shift. [10:55]* Working with her father and the itch that drove Michelle to start her business. [14:43]* Taking the time to focus, reflect, and create space for what is really important. [20:30]* The early days of Ranavat and the first product that Michelle launched! [24:07]* The growth of the business and Michelle's philosophy towards scaling. [30:04]* Escaping the comparison trap; how Michelle focused on contentment and gratitude. [31:47]* Developing a resonant message and gaining brand awareness. [34:24]* Michelle reflects on some of the most pivotal moments for her business over the last few years. [36:55]* The continual work that goes into building a brand and budgeting for advertising. [39:37]* Decisions around Michelle's role in the brand image and how this has evolved. [42:24]* Unpacking Michelle's morning routine and how she has accepted her own disposition. [45:22]* Dealing with dips in energy and periods of burnout and stress. [50:41]* A different perspective and making and learning from mistakes! [53:43]* Important lessons from customers and understanding how feedback actually works. [55:12]Follow Michelle:* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ranavat/* Website: https://www.ranavat.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/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dr. Joan Rosenberg is an expert psychologist, best-selling author, and founder of Emotional Mastery & Emotional Mastery Training.After three decades, tens of thousands of hours of clinical practice, and ten years of neuroscience research, Dr. Rosenberg is recognized for her thought leadership and approach that radically changes people’s lives. In our conversation together, we unpack how our inability to move through and handle unpleasant feelings, such as sadness, shame, helplessness, anger, embarrassment, disappointment, frustration, and vulnerability, is a massive component of what blocks people from success. Once we learn how to deal with our overwhelming or uncomfortable feelings, we begin to build the self-confidence, emotional strength, and resilience we need to lead a highly successful and fulfilling life. Dr. Rosenberg is a professor of graduate psychology at Pepperdine University and is a two-time TEDx speaker with her videos garnering over millions of views. She’s also been seen on CNN’s American Morning, the OWN network, and PBS, as well as appearances and radio interviews in all of the major metropolitan markets. Her latest book, 90 Seconds to a Life You Love: How to Master Your Difficult Feelings to Cultivate Lasting Confidence, Resilience and Authenticity, was released last year.In this episode, we’ll talk to Dr. Rosenberg about:* After 30 years of experience, Dr. Rosenberg talks about how to work through your unpleasant feelings and why it’s critical to live the life of your dreams [2:43]* How we should identify our emotions and never associate a “bad” or “negative” feeling around them [4:28]* Why it’s so important to feel and experience our emotions [6:50]* Dr. Rosenberg walks through her 90-second formula anyone can use to honor and move through their unpleasant feelings [9:46]* Dr. Rosenberg explains why she thinks we don’t have “anxiety” or “fear” and how we can better manage those feelings when they arise [19:14]* The importance of labeling your feelings [22:46]* Why speaking up is one of the most important things you can do to cultivate confidence, authenticity, and resilience. [26:01]* How Dr. Rosenberg defines confidence and how to develop it. [28:44]* Dr. Rosenberg discusses why accepting compliments is crucial to our self-confidence and why self-criticism is one of the most destructive things we can do to ourselves. [33:10]* Dr. Rosenberg shares her perspective on how women speak in relation to men and why we need to make more statements on what we truly want & feel. [41:10]* Understanding the root cause of perfectionism and how we need to overcome our idealistic views. [47:04]Follow Dr. Rosenberg:* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drjoanrosenberg/* Website: https://drjoanrosenberg.com/* TED Talk: Grief: A Pathway to Forgiveness: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UacbvBcbP34* TED Talk: Emotional Mastery: The Gifted Wisdom of Unpleasant Feelings: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EKy19WzkPxE * Dr. Rosenberg’s book: https://www.amazon.com/Seconds-Life-You-Love-Authenticity/dp/031641431X 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/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Christina Stembel is the Founder and CEO of Farmgirl Flowers, a national floral delivery that offers high-quality and beautiful arrangements.  11 years ago, Christina set out to transform the way we shop for flowers by providing fewer, better options. Today, her beloved brand, which started out of her tiny apartment using $49,000 in savings, has scaled to tens of millions of dollars in revenue – without a single cent from investors. To this day, Farmgirl Flowers remains completely bootstrapped and is recognized for its signature whimsical and eco-conscious designs.In our conversation, Christina shares what it was like growing up on a soybean farm in rural Indiana, how it shaped her perceptions of gender roles, and why she didn’t end up going to college. We also spend some time discussing the early days of Farmgirl Flowers, some of the biggest challenges she faced (like getting over 100 rejections from investors), and how she built her company into a multimillion-dollar business with no network, no support, and very little money.Christina’s business journey has required a tremendous amount of resilience and growth. She also shares how she saved Farmgirl Flowers from almost going out of business in COVID, the steps she took to accelerate the growth shortly after & have the most profitable year in the business, and so much more.In this episode, we'll talk to Christina about:* Christina’s upbringing on a farm in Indiana and how their view of gender roles meant she could not pursue a college degree. [3:01]* Christina’s move to San Francisco, why she’s grateful to have worked her way from the bottom to the top, and why college isn’t the right path for everyone. [5:16]* Why we need to challenge the narrative that women are lucky to turn their hobbies into businesses, while men start businesses based on research. [7:39]* Common biases among funders and how Christina’s pedigree posed an insurmountable barrier to attracting funding. [8:38]* The years Christina spent researching different industries, and how she chose to start her company and disrupt the flower delivery industry. [13:59]* Why Christina’s company needed to be bootstrapped. [16:03]* How Christina decided to leave her stable job and use 49,000 dollars in savings to build her company. [16:57]* An early instance where Christina almost had to close down her business, and how she built it back up. [19:49]* How Christina gained traction and built momentum through word of mouth and very little money. [22:12]* What sets Farmgirl Flowers apart from other flower delivery companies. [25:44]* The highly perishable nature of flowers, and the stressful nature of Christina’s supply chain. [27:53]* How Christina has built resilience and deals with the stress of running her business [29:57]* Why learning to compartmentalize and create distance from your business takes practice [31:57]* How COVID forced them to pivot in multiple ways and become a more profitable company. [35:14]* Why funding doesn’t equal success and the freedom that comes from that. [43:24]* Christina shares three pieces of top advice for women entrepreneurs. [50:05]* Some of the exciting plans that Christina has for Farmgirl Flowers. [53:46]* The importance of paying yourself as an owner and CEO. [55:15]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 Christina:* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/farmgirlflowers/* Christina's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/christinastembel/* Website: https://www.farmgirlflowers.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

April Gargiulo is the Founder and CEO of Vintner's Daughter, a cult favorite nutrient-powered skincare brand. Vintner’s Daughter was founded on the principles of unparalleled quality and efficacy, inspired by April’s background in the world of fine winemaking and its uncompromising standards.Admittedly, she knew very little about the skincare industry when she first founded the brand in 2013, but one thing she knew well was how to extract the finest ingredients from plants. After suffering from cystic acne and hyperpigmentation her whole life, April discovered the products she was using were actually made from cheap synthetics, and it was then that she decided to create her own all-natural, multi-beneficial skincare. She launched the Vitner’s Daughter brand with just one product: the Active Botanical Serum, which famously attracted the likes of Gwyneth Paltrow, Naomi Watts, Hailey Bieber, and others who swear by its skin-clearing benefits.In today’s conversation, April offers some insight into the process of starting her business from her living room with absolutely no knowledge of the beauty industry and she explains how throwing out the rulebook allowed her to stand out in a highly saturated market. We also discuss how she grew into a multimillion-dollar business with only one product and zero investors, the power of meditation and staying true to yourself, and so much more! In this episode, we'll talk to April about:* Why April describes herself as risk-averse and how she overcame that tendency. [3:05]* How growing up with two entrepreneurial parents influenced who April is today. [4:38]* Life before the business: from interior design to winemaking. [5:44]* The story of the sabbatical April took, the apothecary she visited, and how it inspired her first product, the Active Botanical Serum. [14:35]* Some of the other business ideas she had before settling on Vintner's Daughter. [17:15]* What the early days of the company were like as she developed her first product. [18:50]* Times when April questioned herself and what motivated her to persevere. [21:50]* Building brand awareness with very few marketing dollars through word of mouth. [25:25]* Scaling, running a business from her living room, working mom hours, and more! [27:13]* Focusing on a single SKU versus participating in a ‘new-and-next’ mentality. [29:05]* How April stays aligned with her vision by focusing on impact. [31:46]* Insight into her fundraising philosophy, building a multimillion-dollar business with zero investors, and her retail strategy. [33:45]* The importance of having a community of advisors when building a business. [0:37:42]* April shares the powerful impact of meditation and staying true to herself. [39:10]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 April:* Website: https://vintnersdaughter.com/ * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vintnersdaughter/Follow Yasmin: * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yasminknouri/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Heela Yang is the co-founder and CEO of Sol de Janeiro, an award-winning body care line that aims to capture the beautiful and vibrant energy of Brazilian culture.The path to running a successful business and a life in entrepreneurship can look many different ways, and today's story is a particularly unique one. Heela had a picture-book corporate career, a great life in New York, and a bright future that seemed quite clear. It took falling in love, moving to Brazil, and some major moments of inspiration and epiphany to completely upend this!Heela was in awe of the empowered ethos of the women in Brazil, who seemed so celebratory and confident in their own skin; it was this that Heela wanted to bring to the beauty industry, and that is exactly what she did with Sol de Janeiro. The brand launched in 2016 with the Brazilian Bum Bum Cream and became Sephora’s best-selling skin care cream a few months after its launch. They have now expanded to include fragrance and haircare, and are bringing in over $100 million in revenue. In our chat today, we get to hear it all from Heela, as she talks about falling pregnant immediately after moving to Brazil, her early years in South Korea before her family moved to the US, what self-belief means to her, and the importance of finding the right partners and support system on your journey. We also get into some interesting thoughts on meditation, mental health, the importance of staying true to your gut when building an authentic & unique brand, and so much more!In this episode, we'll talk to Heela about:* Overcoming hurdles in order to truly believe in yourself; Heela's advice. [2:37]* The impact of Heela's upbringing and early years in South Korea. [7:00]* Reflections on the important period when Heela's life changed, and she met her husband. [11:03]* How Brazilian culture began to rub off on Heela and her self-confidence. [14:02]* The first steps in starting a company and Heela's mindset at the time. [18:39]* Why developing a mission for a brand is central to its success! [20:10]* Creating the first product and building everything from the bottom up. [23:00]* The timeline for launching the brand and getting involved with Sephora. [26:21]* The connection between business and pregnancy, and advice from Heela for managing both. [31:43]* Heela's meditation practice and how it has helped her in multiple ways. [36:04]* Sol de Janeiro's partnership with L'Occitane, and how this has leveled up the business. [37:40]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 Heela:* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/soldejaneiro/* Website: https://soldejaneiro.com/Follow Yasmin: * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yasminknouri/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week’s episode, we’re joined by Lauren Wang, the Founder & CEO of The Flex Co., a top-selling sustainable period care brand known for creating a more comfortable period for everyoneAfter suffering from chronic yeast infections for 15 years related to tampon use, it dawned on Lauren that it was time to change the status-quo--not just for herself, but for menstruators everywhere. She set out to create period products that were more innovative, sustainable, and made for the 21st century. Launched in 2016, The Flex Co. has now become the leading brand in sustainable period care, holding a whopping 43% share of the market, and more than doubling its revenue annually throughout the pandemic. While the products offered are clearly in-demand, most of The Flex Co’s success can be attributed to Lauren’s marketing expertise and her genuine desire to understand her client’s needs. Tune in today as we discuss why it took five years for Lauren to commit to launching The Flex Co., and why she didn’t want to be her own company’s CEO starting out. We dive into how her upbringing helped her build the resilience and financial savvy to make a success of her company, and how she moved into an industry she knew very little about after a career in marketing. Lauren gives some great advice to fellow female founders, including why listening to customers is more important than listening to investors, why it’s key to understand the areas that you are most passionate about, how to think about growth & marketing, and so much more!In this episode, we'll talk to Lauren about:* Welcome to Lauren Wang, CEO, and Founder at The Flex Company. [00:49]* Lauren's upbringing, and how it affected the way she thinks about finances. [03:29]* Why the jump from a stable marketing job to being an entrepreneur was not something Lauren expected to make! [05:19]* How Lauren’s personal health journey inspired her to found The Flex Co., and how she grew into the role of CEO. [06:58]* Where the idea for the Flex Disc came from, and the design aspects Lauren had to consider when developing her products. [10:31]* The catalyst that motivated Lauren to move into product design [17:11]* Why Lauren finally gave up her full-time job to work on The Flex Co. and the process of fundraising. [20:58]* How the focus on customers gave Lauren the confidence to pursue her idea, and why it’s core to The Flex Co’s success. [23:21]* The role Amplify and Y Combinator had on the birth of The Flex Co., and Lauren’s advice on where to find resources. [26:56]* Going viral: how Lauren’s marketing expertise gained her 10 000 pre-orders before launch! [30:25]* The challenges Lauren faced, and how she maintains her resilience. [32:53]* Why women don’t back themselves as entrepreneurs, and how Lauren overcame this. [35:11]* How being honest with yourself about what you’re passionate about will help you succeed. [38:13]* The common mistakes Lauren sees female entrepreneurs make. [39:53]* Some of the early indicators that hinted at the success The Flex Co. was heading for. [43:49]* Balancing the investors and values alignment. [46:31]* How Lauren educated her potential customers about a novel product: humor! [48:09]* What’s next for Flex: the release of plant-based, and reusable discs, and something totally new. [49:35]Follow Lauren:* Personal Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laurenschultewang/* Flex Website: https://flexfits.com/* Flex Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/flex/Follow Yasmin: * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yasminknouri/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bassima Mroue is the CEO and co-founder of SkinTē, the first-ever collagen sparkling tea at the intersection of beauty, food, and wellness. Passionate about developing purpose-driven brands, inspiring women, and destigmatizing self-care, Bassima calls on her diverse professional experience to revolutionize the way we approach beauty and wellness from the inside out. She has over a decade’s worth of experience working with big brands like Nike and Spanx and, as a board member of the Sara Blakely Foundation, she is also an active supporter of female empowerment. While at the height of her career, Bassima’s body started shutting down, and she was diagnosed with Stage 4 endometriosis. She also had to undergo impromptu back surgery to correct her painful sciatica and was encouraged by her surgeon to take collagen every day to assist her in her post-op recovery. After seeing how quickly she bounced back, Bassima realized the power of collagen but she knew there must be a better-tasting way to consume it, and the idea for SkinTē was born.In this episode, Bassima speaks candidly about her health journey and emphasizes the importance of prioritizing self-care. Tuning in, you’ll find out how she does that as the CEO of a rapidly growing business and hear the story of how she partnered with two other women founders to create an easy, effective, and more delicious way to get your daily collagen intake. We also touch on what the early days of building SkinTē looked like, the scrappiness it takes to get a beverage product to market, the power of your intuition in business, and some of the biggest lessons she’s learned from the corporate world to now building her purpose-driven brand.In this episode, we'll talk to Bassima about:* The power of believing in yourself and why Bassima thinks women find it difficult. [2:59]* Insight into her upbringing and how it informed the businesswoman she is today. [5:09]* Understanding Bassima’s health journey and the role her hormones have played. [7:51]* How her unconventional approach served her when she became an entrepreneur. [15:16]* What her experience of working with Sara Blakely was like. [16:33]* Tips for tapping into your intuition using what Bassima calls micro self-care. [18:45]* Where the inspiration for SkinTē came from; to serve a personal need. [22:21]* Insight into the early stages of SkinTē and the research and development that went into their first product. [25:51]* The importance of gratitude, nourishing relationships and seeking mentorship. [31:50]* Breaking through the fear of asking for money by borrowing from how men think. [34:21]* Bassima’s perspective on postponing stress; you only have so much energy! [39:02]* The advantages of being a woman in business and leveraging your feminine energy. [43:52]* Tips for building your brand: keep it rooted in purpose. [47:12]* Challenges Bassima had to overcome as she grew her brand, including fundraising. [50:34]* The value of trusting your intuition when vetting investors and doing due diligence. [53:36]* Common mistakes that Bassima sees women in business making, including the belief that their advisors always know best. [54:59]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 Bassima:* Website: https://skinte.com/* Personal Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bassimamroue/Follow Yasmin: * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yasminknouri/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

MaryRuth Ghiyam is the founder & CEO of MaryRuth Organics, a family-friendly wellness brand offering over 130 high-quality, vegan, non-GMO vitamins and supplements. MaryRuth began her personal journey into the health and wellness space after the unexpected passing of her brother and her father, as well as her mother’s diagnosis of two benign brain tumors.While working as a health coach in 2013, MaryRuth struggled to find supplements to recommend to her clients that were easy-to-take and didn’t make them nauseous on an empty stomach. She made a small batch of a sugar-free Raspberry Liquid Morning Multivitamin and the rest is history. MaryRuth went from $700,000 in debt to creating a $100+ million wellness company – before taking on any investors – and is on a bold mission to show how micro-actions can give you the momentum to move forward every day.We talk to MaryRuth about her biggest tips for overcoming adversity and how she got herself out of debt & gained financial freedom. We also touch on the power of time blocking to organize your life and how MaryRuth built a highly profitable wellness empire without any prior connections in the industry, plus so much more.In this episode, we'll talk to MaryRuth about:* Advice for women feeling constrained by their circumstances: keep moving forward! [2:38]* Insight into MaryRuth’s childhood and the losses that informed her wellness journey. [4:50]* The experience that shifted her perspective on the value of financial independence. [6:37]* Some of the realizations that MaryRuth had about debt management. [11:22]* The importance of building confidence in yourself and proper time management. [16:46]* How MaryRuth's clients inspired the idea for her first liquid vitamin product. [19:23]* How the decision to marry her husband impacted her life (and her business!) [22:31]* Structure creates freedom; how time blocking keeps MaryRuth anchored. [29:10]* Time blocking tips: be realistic about what you can achieve in a day. [38:18]* The early stages of how MaryRuth cultivated awareness about her products. [42:32]* Internal matches external: why she chose to focus on developing the best product and customer service she could before investing in marketing. [45:17]* How MaryRuth built a financially healthy business with no outside investments. [46:31]* Learn about the negative cashflow conversion cycle that MaryRuth Organics uses. [50:44]* Some of the biggest mistakes that MaryRuth sees entrepreneurs make. [53:17]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 MaryRuth:* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maryruthorganics/* Website: https://www.maryruthorganics.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.

In this week’s episode, we’re joined by Alli Webb, serial entrepreneur, NYT best-selling author, and the co-founder of Drybar.Everything that Alli does, she does with wholehearted passion. From beauty school to the PR industry to stay-at-home mom to founder, Alli has successfully held many roles throughout her life and has learned countless valuable lessons along the way, many of which she shares with us in today’s episode. Alli’s mobile blow-out business, which she started in 2009 after being a stay-at-home mom for almost 5 years, catalyzed the idea for Drybar. In 2010, Alli opened the first Drybar in Brentwood, CA. 10 years later and over 150+ locations across the U.S., Drybar exploded into a nationally recognized and highly sought-after brand. Alli also diversified the Drybar business, creating a line of products and tools, which she sold to Helen of Troy for $255 million. Alli has been on the cover of Inc Magazine’s “How I Did This” issue, named the “100 Most Creative People in Business” by Fast Company, featured on Fortune magazine’s “40 Under 40” list, and recently Inc. magazine recognized her as one of “The 100 Women Building America’s Most Innovative and Ambitious Businesses.” We speak with Alli about the many transitions in her life from dropping out of college to going to beauty school despite what others thought, to being a stay-at-home mom to then building her massive empire at Dryar. Despite all the success Alli’s had in her life, we talk about the tough times in her life, how she’s tackled depression and heartbreak, and the new chapter she’s in today both personally and professionally.In this episode, we'll talk to Alli about:* Alli’s upbringing, and when her desire to become an entrepreneur began to form. [2:37]* The focus and drive with which Alli approaches all endeavors. [6:48]* Why Alli chose to go to beauty school, and the different career that she pursued afterwards. [9:00] * Highs and lows that Alli experienced as a stay-at-home-mom. [15:56]* The mobile blow-out business that Alli built when her children were young. [17:14]* The motivation behind Alli’s decision to found Drybar, and what differentiates this salon from the rest. [19:16]* Economic conditions at the time of the founding of Drybar. [22:16]* Fear and optimism that Alli felt prior to starting Drybar, and the [23:07]* Some of the challenges that Alli overcame during the early days of Drybar. [25:06] * The continuous learning process that Alli’s experience with Drybar has been. [28:10]* What the last few years have looked like for Alli, since taking a step back from Drybar. [29:05]* Alli candidly shares the various reasons that led to her divorce after 16 years of marriage, and the depression that she experienced afterwards. [29:55]* Factors that helped Alli get through her depression, and the headspace she is currently in. [32:45]* Traits that Alli adopted when she was running Drybar, and how she has changed since. [37:43]* Canopy; the company that Alli is currently working for, and how they are reimagining humidifiers [42:32] * Where the idea for Canopy originated, and how Alli got involved. [45:19]* Advice for anyone who is struggling to find their purpose in life. [47:30]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 Alli:* Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/alliwebb/* Drybar: https://www.drybar.com/* Canopy: https://getcanopy.co/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.