Behind Her Empire

Lizanne Falsetto is the founder of thinkThin, health and wellness visionary, business media commentator, and adviser to the next-generation of entrepreneurs.In 2000, after a decade of world travel and a successful career modeling internationally, Lizanne launched thinkThin from her own need of wanting to create a better-for-you, high protein nutrition bar for active women on the go. Starting small and humble, the company quickly scaled nationally and globally, establishing itself as one of the first gluten-free products on the shelves.  Over the course of her 15-year tenure as CEO, Lizanne raised two children as a single mom and scaled the company to become a multimillion dollar lifestyle brand with zero outside funding. Lizanne ultimately sold thinkThin for over $200 million.Last year, Lizanne established Pink Talented Angels, a new company and platform to help educate, elevate and connect rising female founders. Lizanne is passionate and focused on building an exclusive ecosystem to support female entrepreneurs for a post COVID-19 world.In this episode, we'll talk to Lizanne about: * Lizanne's early years and her personal & familial connection to food and nutrition [02:28]* The decision to pursue a career in modeling and forego college [3:28]* How Lizanne's grandmother, travel and modeling inspired her to start thinkThin [6:46]* The efforts that Lizanne made to educate herself and create awareness about her brand [12:01]* Competition in the nutrition market and how Lizanne made a lane for the company [17:11]* Lizanne's attitude and approach to self-funding and outside investment [22:15]* Managing the different parts of life as women especially when it comes to business & family [27:21]* The sale of thinkThin, entry into mentoring, and Lizanne's feelings post acquisition [31:29]* Balancing feminine and masculine energy in the early days of building a company [35:39]* The two kinds of entrepreneurs; strategic and tactical [42:26]* Bouncing back from difficult times — Lizanne's reflections on divorce, her father's sickness, and a failed acquisition deal [47:06]* The current era and the pandemic — Lizanne's perspectives on this moment, female entrepreneurship, and why it’s a great time to start a business [51:28]* Lizanne's definition of wealth and how the meaning has evolved for her over time [54:04]Follow Lizanne:* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lizannefalsetto/* Website: https://www.lizannefalsetto.com/* Pink Talented Angels: https://www.lizannefalsetto.com/about-pta/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.

Nisha Dua is a General Partner at BBG Ventures, which she co-founded with Susan Lyne in 2014. BBG Ventures is an NYC-based seed fund investing in consumer tech start-ups with a focus on women and underrepresented founders. Nisha believes the greatest untapped opportunity for venture capital lies in backing women who are using technology to address common life-challenges and transform daily habits. Women are the dominant users of the fastest-growing mobile and social platforms, and they make or influence 85% of consumer purchases. Nisha has invested in over 70 start-ups, including a few that you may know such as Zola, The Sill, Carbon38, and Lola.In addition to her work at BBG Ventures, she founded BUILT BY GIRLS, a platform that encourages young women to enter tech by introducing them to opportunities, practical skills, and a network of women in the industry. But before all of that, Nisha explored a variety of careers from being a singer, actress, lawyer, and consultant. In our interview, we’ll talk to Nisha about how to make career transitions in your life, incredible advice about raising money for your business and common mistakes too many entrepreneurs make. In this episode, we'll talk to Nisha about: * Nisha opens up about her upbringing with Indian parents & how their expectations academically impacted her early career [2:51]* Nisha shares tips on how to make big career leaps & why she decided to leave law [9:06]* After being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, Nisha discusses why she had to make a career change & re-evaluate what success looks like [16:12]* How Nisha gained the confidence to take on a new opportunity in business despite having no “formal” experience [23:54]* How a business she was running led her to founding BUILT BY GIRLS [27:36]* How Nisha’s varied career path led her to venture capital and launching her own fund [33:22]* Nisha explains how founders should think about raising money & why venture capital isn’t for everyone [39:07]* After seeing over 7,000 pitches, Nisha explains key themes that make a great founder [44:38]* How to think about storytelling when you’re a founder and why it’s critical in your business [51:22]Follow Nisha:* BBG Ventures Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bbgventures/* BBG Ventures Website: https://www.bbgventures.com/* Built By Girls Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/builtbygirls/* Built By Girls Website: https://www.builtbygirls.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.

Misha Nonoo is a New York-based womenswear designer who is known for her sustainable, sleek, and timeliness ready-to-wear pieces. From the time Misha was a young girl, she was fascinated with fashion and empowering women as she witnessed the dichotomy of women’s roles growing up in Bahrain as well as London. Her upbringing gave her an appreciation for different cultures and an understanding of women’s lives in different places. After gaining recognition from a reputable buyer for a few pieces she created for herself, Misha decided to launch her namesake fashion brand with the goal of having her customers feel strong, confident, and empowered in all aspects of their life. Misha was the first designer to use social media as a venue for fashion shows, debuting her Spring/Summer 2016 collection on Instagram, and was a pioneer in using the made-to-order business model which promotes sustainability in an industry that is known for producing so much waste. Misha is also passionate about using her business as a platform for change and most notably collaborated with her dear friend, Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, for the Smart Works charity where for every shirt sold, Misha donated one to the work wardrobes of women in need. Misha won industry recognition when she became a finalist for the 2013 CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund and was named one of Forbes’ “30 Under 30,” as well as Crain’s New York Business’ “40 under 40.”In this episode, we'll talk to Misha about:* Misha shares what life was like growing up between the Middle East and Europe [3:08]* Misha talks about her love of fashion and why she ended up going to business school vs fashion school [7:50]* Why Misha’s move to NYC during the financial crisis was a pivotal moment in her career and life [11:46]* How Misha decided to launch her own brand and why she thinks “beginner's luck” was in her favor [14:53]* The realities of what life looked like when Misha was working her full time job and launching her clothing line [20:16]* Misha opens up about a difficult period in her life when she was dealing with her divorce & massive restructuring of her business [27:11]* How Misha became the first fashion designer to use social media as a venue for her fashion shows despite the many skeptics at the time [32:13]* Misha shares her experience and advice when it comes to fundraising [40:07]* What sustainability means for Misha in her life and business [44:47]* Misha talks about life as a new mom and how she’s designed her life to manage motherhood & entrepreneurship [50:52]* The importance of women supporting women and why it’s key to Misha’s mission [54:30]Follow Misha:* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mishanonoo/ * Website: https://mishanonoo.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.

Karissa Bodnar is the Founder and CEO of Thrive Causemetics, a high-performance vegan, cruelty-free direct-to-consumer cosmetics brand.Karissa grew up on a farm in Washington state and always loved creating makeup since she was a young girl. After working as a make-up artist to pay her way through college, she landed a job at Clarisonic and then was working in L'Oréal’s luxury division. Karissa never aspired to start her own business until she lost her dear friend, Kristy, to cancer at just 24 years old. As Karissa reflected on the generous life Kristy lived, she felt inspired to take action on her passion and create a brand that was truly bigger than beauty. A month later, Thrive Causemetics was born. Starting out, Karissa self-funded the business, made formulas on her kitchen counter, and fulfilled orders all out of her 1-bedroom apartment. Six years later, Karissa has built a company with philanthropy at its core. Thrive Causemetics has donated over $100 million in funds and products to women's charities since inception. However, none of this could have been done if it weren’t for the success of her products. Thrive Causemetics has grown to be a multi-million dollar company and is known for its best sellers which include Liquid Lash Extensions Mascara (one was sold every 5 seconds), Infinity Waterproof Eyeliner, and the Buildable Blur CC Cream. Acknowledging her amazing work and success, Karissa has been named in Forbes’ 30 Under 30, Forbes’ America's Richest Self-Made Women, Marie Claire’s Most Powerful Women and Inc.’s Badass Female Founders list.In this episode, we'll talk to Karissa about:* Karissa shares her childhood living on a farm and how it impacted her creativity at a young age [3:06]* How working at Clarisonic really change the trajectory of her career and what she thought was possible [8:54]* How the passing of Karissa’s best friend, Kristy, inspired her to re-evaluate her purpose and start a company [11:20]* Karissa shares how she designed her life to self-fund the new brand she wanted to launch [14:40]* Karissa discusses why trial and error was essential to creating awareness for her new products [19:20]* The importance of hustle and grace when launching a business & how Karissa landed a spot on Good Morning America [26:14]* Karissa walks through what helped the company go viral after two years of slow growth [32:00]* Key advice and tips she gives to other entrepreneurs looking to build a business [35:10]* Karissa explains how constant rejections in the early days pivoted the way she thought about the business [40:36]* How Karissa manages her mental health during difficult and challenging times [43:36]* The toughest lesson Karissa learned on her entrepreneurial journey [45:13]* How to build a network and the importance of reaching out to people who can help you with your goals [47:46]Follow Karissa:* Personal Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karissabodnar/* Thrive Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ThriveCausemetics/* Thrive Website: https://thrivecausemetics.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.

Ashley Merrill is a serial-entrepreneur and investor whose personal mission is to elevate and empower all women & girls. In 2012, Ashley just started business school and in the same month realized she was pregnant with her first child. The news lit a now-or-never fire and pushed Ashley to overcome her fears and launch the company she had been thinking about for years, Lunya, a luxury sleepwear line that provides confidence to the modern woman. In our interview, we’ll have an honest conversation about why we need more successful women in business, what the journey was like starting a high growth business while raising two young kids, and the importance of partnership in your marriage. Ashley is also the Chairwoman of Outdoor Voices, an activewear brand, founder of Lahgo, a men’s luxury sleepwear line, and her newest project, the Deep, a platform for curious people that will change the way we have conversations with each other. In this episode, we'll talk to Ashley about:* Ashley opens up about her college experience and how she landed in culinary school [4:05]* Ashley shares how to make an impact and be in an industry despite not fitting “the mold” [8:42]* How Ashley pivoted her career and found the confidence to make the leap [11:33]* How the idea of Lunya came about and why motherhood motivated her to actually go for it [14:51]* Ashley shares her unique story on launching Lunya while she was in labor [18:51]* Ashley walks through how she funded the business and how the VC landscape has shifted over the years [21:36]* Why we need to have more successful women businesses [30:15]* Ashley opens up about her life and marriage starting a high growth business with two young kids [31:16]* Ashley discusses her definition of wealth and why she equates it to freedom [44:05]Follow Ashley:* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ashley__merrill/ * Lunya: https://www.lunya.co/* Lahgo: https://lahgo.co/* The Deep: https://www.thedeep.life/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.

Lindsey Boyd is the co-founder of The Laundress, a premium collection of eco-friendly laundry and home cleaning products. Before starting the company, Lindsey was working in high-end fashion in NY as a manager of Chanel’s Ready-to-Wear division. While working in the industry, Lindsey noticed a real need and void in the market. Although consumers were willing to spend a lot of money on their clothes, they were spending even more money on dry cleaning - which was not only toxic but also damaging to their garments. After years of researching and understanding how detergents work, Lindsey and her college friend turned business partner, Gwen Whiting, decided to launch eco-friendly detergents that were gentle enough to be used at home on dry-clean only items. They bootstrapped, crowdfunded and took a small SBA loan to launch their business For years the company struggled to make a profit, but they eventually grew a cult and loyal following, and in 2019, sold to Unilever for a reported $100 million dollars. In this episode, we'll talk to Lindsey about:* Lindsey explains why she decided to switch majors to pursue her interest in fashion & business [2:38]* Lindsey discusses her side hustles and how that impacted her confidence as an entrepreneur [7:23]* How Lindsey and her co-founder explored different businesses & decided on the Laundress [14:18]* Lindsey describes how she created her business plan and key advice on creating goals [21:52]* Lindsey shares how she formulated and created laundry products with no experience [26:56]* How Lindsey self-funded the business and didn’t take outside capital [34:30]* Lindsey walks through how she dealt with rejections and skeptics [38:08]* How Lindsey weathered the 2008 financial crisis and created a profitable company [44:26]* How Lindsey deals with her mental health as an entrepreneur [48:58]* Lindsey explains her experience selling her company for a reported $100 million [51:14]* Key lessons and advice Lindsey shares with all new entrepreneurs [55:10]Follow Lindsey:* Personal Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lindseyjuliaboyd/ * The Laundress Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thelaundress/* The Laundress Website: https://www.thelaundress.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.

Janice Bryant Howroyd is the founder and CEO of the ActOne Group, a multi-billion dollar global business providing workforce solutions. Janice’s entrepreneurial journey started with very humble beginnings. As a temporary secretary for her brother-in-law’s company, Janice saw an opportunity in the market where other executives were looking for quick and effective clerical help. She decided to branch off on her own and start an employment agency with only $1,500 in her pocket - $900 of which she borrowed from her mother. 40 years later, the company earns over a billion dollars in sales and is in 19 countries with over 17,000 clients.Janice has been recognized on Forbes’ list of America's Richest Self-Made Women and is known to be the first black woman to own and operate a billion-dollar company. Janice is incredibly talented, passionate, and a fierce business mentor who shares a wealth of knowledge around what it means to be authentic and successful on your entrepreneurship journey.In this episode, we'll talk to Janice about:* How Janice’s childhood and Southern upbringing during the civil rights era impacted her as a person & leader [3:20]* Why Janice’s college experience was instrumental in her adult framing [8:24]* Janice shares how a quick trip to LA became a career defining moment and led Janice to start her first business [15:13]* Advice on how to create a sustainable business and why it’s important to build a company around your own personal values [25:30]* Janice describes how she started her business with a $900 loan from her mother [27:53]* Why COVID is the best time for anyone to pivot their career or start their own business [36:23]* Janice describes what it was like to be a young woman founder in an industry that was dominated by older white males [37:37]* The most important advice that she wants every woman to know [40:35]* How she learned to be unapologetically herself in life and business [42:59]* Janice shares tips based on her journey on managing motherhood and entrepreneurship [45:47]Follow Janice:* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jbryanthowroyd/ * Personal Website: http://askjbh.com/* Company Website: https://www.actonegroup.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.

Kelly Rutherford is an activist and actress who has impressed audiences with her roles in Melrose Place, Gossip Girl, and most recently, Dynasty and Pretty Little Liars. Kelly is also known for her very high-profile and public custody battle she had with her ex-husband. A California judge went on to rule that it was in the best interest of the kids to live with their father in Monaco which is something Kelly fought for six years with every dollar she had. The fight for her kids impacted her not only emotionally but also financially and it was at this point, Kelly had to rebuild her life from the ground up. After getting to know Kelly more than what’s portrayed in the spotlight, it’s really who she is as a person that truly sets her apart - the grace, kindness, love, and positivity she has even after going through such a difficult experience is incredibly admirable. Kelly shares how through her struggle she found her true strength and power. And also how shifting her perspective towards joy and happiness changed her life in even the darkest of times.  Kelly is a loving mother of two, an activist for women and children, an artist, entrepreneur, and a beautiful woman both inside and out. In this episode, we'll talk to Kelly about:* How moving consistently as a child taught Kelly to adapt and adjust to life’s circumstances [2:50]* Kelly shares her motivation behind becoming an actress and desire to become financially independent [4:55]* How Kelly deals with constant rejection and disappointment in Hollywood [10:43]* Kelly describes how her role as Lily Vander Woodson in Gossip Girl came about and what it taught her about trust & life [13:28]* What George Clooney taught Kelly about confidence and getting rid of doubt [16:34]* How Kelly dealt with the pain and anxiety around her very public child custody battle [19:07]* Shifting your perspective to only focusing on the good and finding alignment in your life [23:13]* How Kelly rebuilt her life after declaring bankruptcy and how she became a better parent when she noticed all the blessings in her life [29:45]* Why money is energy and how we can shift our focus around poverty consciousness & allow abundance in our lives [36:21]Follow Kelly:* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kellyrutherford/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.

Dr. Sabrina Kay is a serial entrepreneur, investor, fashion designer, and philanthropist. Born in South Korea, Sabrina moved to the U.S. with her family at 18. As a recent immigrant who barely spoke English, Sabrina became a janitor to help make ends meet and enrolled in a local college to pursue the education she always dreamed of. By the age of 20, Sabrina dropped out of school and was a single mother who was solely focused on creating a better life for her future daughter.In less than a decade, she founded the Art Institute of Hollywood, grew it to one of the Big Four fashion colleges in North America, and sold it for 8-figures - making her a multi-millionaire in her 30s. Although she had more than enough money to retire, she decided to go back to school to earn her MBA and PhD. While in graduate school, Sabrina continued her entrepreneurial journey by founding and selling multiple businesses, including a fashion line, a community bank, and an accredited graduate-level college institution. In this episode, we’ll dive deep into how Sabrina rose up from a poor, immigrant, single mom working 120-hour weeks to becoming a well-respected businesswoman, tech educator, and philanthropist.In this episode, we'll talk to Sabrina about: * Life growing up in South Korea and its cultural expectations [2:42]* Sabrina shares what it was like moving to America at the age of 18 and working as a janitor [5:02]* Why Sabrina dropped out of college and the shame she felt when learning she was pregnant [8:38]* Sabrina explains why having her daughter was her biggest blessing and motivator to create a better life for herself [10:28]* The beginnings of Sabrina’s first business which started from a newspaper ad and cold call [13:44] * How the LA riots in ‘92 impacted Sabrina’s life and how she became famous overnight [19:57]* How Sabrina felt when she sold her company for 8-figures in her 30s and why it exposed her own insecurities [28:56]* Why Sabrina decided to pursue her multiple graduate degrees after selling her company [33:24]* Why Sabrina felt lost in her life and how she overcame being a workaholic [37:59]* How getting rejected from grad school led Sabrina down a new path in life and business [41:16]* Sabrina explains why 2015 to 2017 were the worst years of her professional life [48:21]* Advice for entrepreneurs and leaders when overcoming difficult and painful times [56:10]* The gift and competitive advantage women entrepreneurs have in business [58:48]Follow Sabrina:* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drsabrinakay* Website: https://sabrinakay.com* Twitter: https://twitter.com/drsabrinakayFollow 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.

Natasha Case is the co-founder and CEO of Coolhaus, a leading women-founded and -led ice cream and frozen dessert brand creating premium cookie sandwiches and pints. After earning her masters in architecture and landing her dream job at Walt Disney Imagineering, Natasha discovered her newfound passion for creating architecturally-inspired ice cream sandwiches as a way to bring joy to her coworkers during the last recession. At that time, Natasha met her co-founder and now wife, Freya, and they realized the potential and uniqueness of the product. They decided to quit their corporate careers to pursue their passion for ice cream as a real business and create a brand they could identify with. In 2008, they took a barely drivable postal van they purchased on Craigslist to Coachella to officially launch their ice cream sandwiches. The event turned out to be a massive hit and Coolhaus has now become a multi-million dollar business growing 2-3x per year. Natasha has been named 30 under 30 by Forbes & Zagat and has helped expand the business to over 7,500 grocery stores nationwide, from Safeway to Whole Foods. In this episode, we’ll talk to Natasha about: * How Natasha found a way to incorporate her two passions, food and architecture when she was working at Disney [6:39]* When Natasha decided to take a personal passion of hers to the next step and create a real “business” [8:39]* Why not being able to secure a business loan and launching at Coachella with a broken van was the best decision Natasha made [10:44] * How Natasha and her co-founder managed to launch at Coachella despite having no brand or business recognition [14:35]* How the Coolhaus brand went viral after its launch and changed the trajectory of the business [16:17]* Natasha shares how she launched the company by borrowing only $1,400  [20:11]* Key challenges Natasha faced growing Coolhaus and the importance of being transparent with your customers during difficult times [24:18]* Natasha discusses what it takes to go from start-up founder to a CEO of a multi-million dollar business [27:34]* Natasha opens about life as a mother and entrepreneurship & how her children have motivated her to create an even bigger ice-cream empire with Coolhaus [32:10]* Natasha shares advice on how she mentally handles the stresses and challenges of running a business [37:13]* Key advice Natasha has for women who are taking a leap in their career or want to start their own dream business [38:51]Follow Natasha:* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/natashajcase/ * Coolhaus Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coolhaus/ * Coolhaus Website: https://cool.haus/ 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.