Dear FoundHer...Real Founder Stories for Women Small Business Owners

Join us for our free SWEEP workshop on April 9th to learn how to apply simple marketing strategies to your business. Register hereApparis grew because Lauren knew how to spot demand before the business looked ready for it.On Dear FoundHer, Lindsay Pinchuk talks with Lauren Nouchi, co-founder and creative director of Apparis, about the kind of growth story women founders rarely hear told plainly. Lauren shares how Apparis moved from an early concept that missed the mark to a brand with real traction, and why that shift depended on listening closely to the market, making fast decisions, and building credibility one move at a time. The conversation gets into bootstrapping, growing an audience, scaling challenges, partnership marketing, and founder visibility in ways that feel useful rather than polished. Lauren explains how retail partners, pop-ups, gifting, and brand collaborations helped create momentum, and why staying lean forced better choices.For women founders, the value here is the honesty around pressure, pivots, and the gap between how a brand looks from the outside and how it actually runs day to day. If women founders want a clearer picture of how trust, visibility, and demand are built over time, Dear FoundHer delivers that here.Episode Breakdown:00:00 Why Lindsay Pinchuk Brought the Apparis Founder to Dear FoundHer01:25 How Lauren Nouchi Started Apparis04:28 The Pivot That Helped Apparis Find Product Market Fit07:25 The Bold Ask That Turned an Idea Into a Brand12:12 How Apparis Built Credibility and Grew Through Wholesale19:35 The Marketing Strategy Behind Apparis Growth23:27 Building a Lean Team and Scaling Apparis35:38 Lauren Nouchi’s Best Advice for Women FoundersConnect with Lauren Nouchi:Follow Apparis on InstagramFollow Lauren on InstagramJoin us for our free SWEEP workshop on April 9th to learn how to apply simple marketing strategies to your business. Register hereSubscribe to The FoundHer Files Follow Dear FoundHer on Instagram Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Before you dive in, grab your free spot at my SWEEP Workshop on April 9th, the marketing framework that makes everything you're about to hear actionable for your own business. REGISTER HERE.What does it actually take to grow an audience, get press, and scale a business, without a massive team or a marketing budget? In this episode, Lindsay Pinchuk pulls back the curtain on the exact system she used to build her first company, Bump Club and Beyond, from a $500 idea into a 7-figure brand working with Target, Nordstrom, Huggies, and Unilever. The real founder story behind the framework? She didn't know she had a system until after she sold the company.That system is SWEEP, and in this solo episode, Lindsay breaks down how she's applied it, on purpose this time, to grow Dear FoundHer… from a passion project podcast into a full community, events platform, and mentorship program. This is a masterclass in founder visibility, growing an audience without paid ads, managing rapid growth as a solo operator, and building a publicity strategy from scratch.If you're a woman startup founder who feels like you're doing all the things but not getting the traction you deserve, this episode is the one you've been waiting for.In This Episode, You'll Learn:The real founder story behind SWEEP, how Lindsay built a 7-figure business while serving as her own marketing department, with little more than a couple of contractors by her sideWhy SWEEP was born out of necessity: what bootstrapping, scrappiness, and zero budget actually looks like in practiceHow Lindsay leveraged press relationships from her first company to land TV segments and build immediate credibility when launching Dear FoundHer…The intentional decision to launch with interview-only episodes for an entire year, and the audience growth strategy behind itHow listener demand for real-life connection led to live events, and how those events became the catalyst for expanding into workshops, an online community, and mentorshipThe five-part SWEEP framework: Social Media, Website, Email, Events, and Partnerships + Publicity, and how to apply it to every piece of content you createWhat managing rapid growth actually looks like when you're a founder who is also your own marketing teamHow to build a publicity strategy that doesn't require a PR agency or a big budgetWhy company messaging and consistency across every touchpoint is the real driver of scaling challenges, and how to solve itIf You Loved This Episode: Share it with a woman startup founder in your life who needs a real marketing system, not another hack. And if you haven't yet, scroll down and leave a 5-star rating and review on Apple Podcasts. It's the single biggest thing you can do to help other women find this show.Everything you just heard in this episode? It's SWEEP in action. Join me on April 9th for a free live SWEEP Workshop where I'll teach you the exact framework that makes marketing simple, consistent, and effective for women business owners just like you. Register for free, and I'll see you there.Subscribe to The FoundHer Files Follow Dear FoundHer on Instagram This episode originally ran on April 18, 2023. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Before you dive in, grab your free spot at my SWEEP Workshop on April 9th, the marketing framework that makes everything you're about to hear actionable for your own business. REGISTER HERE.What happens when a burned-out startup employee discovers jigsaw puzzles as her stress relief, and then decides to completely reinvent the category? You get Jiggy, one of the most creative and scrappy real founder stories we've featured on Dear FoundHer.Kaylin Marcotte is the founder of Jiggy Puzzles, a multi-million dollar brand that transformed the humble jigsaw puzzle into a lifestyle product, a wellness tool, and a platform for emerging female artists. She launched in November 2019, just months before a global pandemic turned puzzles into the hottest product on the internet. She landed in Anthropologie before COVID hit, struck a deal with Mark Cuban on Shark Tank, and built a three-channel business with a team of three.But here's what makes Kaylin's story so compelling for every woman startup founder listening: she did almost all of it without a marketing budget, without paid ads, and without a playbook. Just creativity, partnerships, and a relentless willingness to do the legwork.In this episode, you'll hear:How Kaylin identified a gap in the market and built company messaging around elevating puzzles from a toy aisle product into a lifestyle and wellness brandThe scrappy manufacturing process that got Jiggy off the ground, including negotiating her way onto the end of a factory run to meet impossibly low minimumsHer early publicity strategy, pitching herself, leveraging HARO, and doing her own PR long before she could afford to outsource itHow she grew an audience from day one by baking a built-in partner network into the business model itself, her artistsThe partnership with Anthropologie that changed everything, and how it came directly through Instagram before she'd spent a dollar on adsWhat founder visibility looked like for a one-woman show, and how leaning into organic social and authentic partnerships drove real growthHer Shark Tank experience from start to finish, how she got scouted, what the process was really like, and what happened to her business the night it airedThe real scaling challenges of going from DTC startup to a multi-channel brand in Bloomingdale's, Nordstrom, and Macy'sHow she has managed rapid growth and built a B2B custom business, including a puzzle collaboration with Kacey Musgraves, with a team of just three peopleWhy she believes getting press and building partnerships is a more powerful and sustainable growth strategy than performance marketing will ever beThe honest truth about managing teams as a solo founder, and how freelancers, contractors, and a scrappy mindset have kept Jiggy lean and profitableThis episode is for every woman startup founder who is building something from nothing, trying to figure out how to get press without a PR budget, and wondering if it's really possible to grow an audience without throwing money at ads.Kaylin's answer is a resounding yes, and she gives you the exact roadmap in this conversation.Connect with Jiggy:Instagram: @jiggypuzzlesWebsite: jiggypuzzles.comEverything you just heard in this episode? It's SWEEP in action. Join me on April 9th for a free live SWEEP Workshop where I'll teach you the exact framework that makes marketing simple, consistent, and effective for women business owners just like you. Register for free, and I'll see you there.Subscribe to The FoundHer Files Follow Dear FoundHer on Instagram Loved this episode? Share it in your stories and tag @lindsaypinchuk and @dearfoundher. And if you haven't already, subscribe and leave us a five star review, it's how other women startup founders find real stories like this one.This episode originally ran on April 18, 2023. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Before you dive in, grab your free spot at my SWEEP Workshop on April 9th, the marketing framework that makes everything you're about to hear actionable for your own business. REGISTER HERE. If you've ever wondered what it really takes to go from a kitchen table idea to a brand with a cult following, this episode is your blueprint.Lauren Dudley-Stevens and Khaki Dudley-McGrath, co-founders of Dudley Stevens, are two of the most refreshingly honest women startup founders you'll ever hear from. They started with a simple observation, stylish fleece didn't exist, and turned it into a thriving, self-funded direct-to-consumer brand that women are obsessed with. No outside investors. No big marketing budget. Just real founder stories, scrappy decisions, and an unwavering commitment to their mission.In this conversation, Host, Lindsay Pinchuk, sits down with Lauren Stephens and Khaki McGrath to unpack exactly how they did it, and what they'd do differently.In this episode, you'll hear:How they tested their product with just 600 pieces before going all in, and why that decision changed everythingThe organic social media and influencer strategy that built their audience from the ground up, without throwing money at adsHow their company messaging and "North Star" has guided every decision they've made for nearly a decade, and how coming back to it has saved them more than onceThe real story of managing rapid growth, including the day they sold out of everything and had to hire high school girls to help pack boxesWhy managing teams with fractional employees and consultants has been one of their smartest scaling decisionsHow their publicity strategy evolved from gifting influencers to building a full affiliate program that drives real revenueThe honest truth about scaling challenges, what happens when you grow too fast and why bigger is not always betterWhat founder visibility actually looks like when you're a product-based brand, and how telling your story is the single most powerful marketing tool you haveWhy getting press and building partnerships has been central to their growth from day oneThis episode is for every woman founder who is building something real, something slow, and something she actually loves.Whether you're just starting out or navigating the growing pains of a business that's taken off faster than expected, Lauren and Khaki's story will remind you that the best brands aren't built overnight, they're built with intention, consistency, and an unshakeable sense of who you are.Connect with Dudley Stevens:Instagram: @dudleystephensWebsite: dudleystephens.comEverything you just heard in this episode? It's SWEEP in action. Join me on April 9th for a free live SWEEP Workshop where I'll teach you the exact framework that makes marketing simple, consistent, and effective for women business owners just like you. Register for free, and I'll see you there.Subscribe to The FoundHer Files Follow Dear FoundHer on Instagram Loved this episode? Share it in your stories and tag @lindsaypinchuk and @dearfoundher. And if you haven't already, subscribe and leave us a five star review, it's how other women startup founders find real stories like this one.This episode originally ran on November 7, 2024. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Before you dive in, grab your free spot at my SWEEP Workshop on April 9th, the marketing framework that makes everything you're about to hear actionable for your own business. Register Here to JOIN US!You Know You Need to Show Up — So Why Aren't You? With Peloton's Jenn ShermanIf you've ever felt invisible online despite having something real to say, this episode is for you.Peloton's original instructor Jenn Sherman is back on Dear FoundHer, and this time, we're not talking about her Peloton journey. We're talking about one of the biggest challenges facing women startup founders and entrepreneurs today: founder visibility. Specifically, why so many of us know we need to show up on social media for our personal brand and business, and why we still don't.Jenn made headlines (in our community, at least) when she admitted she had never made a reel. What happened next? An outpouring of real founder stories from women just like her, accomplished, driven, and completely paralyzed when it comes to social media.In this conversation, Host, Lindsay Pinchuk and Jenn get real about the imposter syndrome, the overwhelm, and the very practical steps that finally got Jenn moving.Because here's the truth: growing an audience doesn't require perfection, it requires consistency.In this episode, you'll hear:Why founder visibility matters more now than ever, and what's at stake when you go dark on social mediaHow Jenn finally broke through her fear and what happened to her engagement when she didLindsay's 5-step social media challenge designed specifically for founders who feel behindThe connection between company messaging, showing up consistently, and building a community that convertsWhy your publicity strategy starts with your own platforms, before you ever pitch a journalistHow to stop posting and ghosting, and start building real relationships onlineThe simple content banking system that makes growing an audience actually manageableThis one is for every woman founder who has ever said "I know I should be doing more," and hasn't yet.Whether you're navigating the scaling challenges of a growing business, trying to get press for the first time, or just figuring out how to manage your time and messaging across platforms, this episode will meet you exactly where you are.Connect with Jenn Sherman on Instagram here.Everything you just heard in this episode? It's SWEEP in action. Join me on April 9th for a free live SWEEP Workshop where I'll teach you the exact framework that makes marketing simple, consistent, and effective for women business owners just like you. Register for free, and I'll see you there.Subscribe to The FoundHer Files Follow Dear FoundHer on Instagram If this episode resonated with you, share it in your stories and tag @lindsaypinchuk and @dearfoundher, we want to hear from you. This episode originally ran on March 16, 2023. You can listen to the follow up from this conversation here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Before you dive in, grab your free spot at my SWEEP Workshop on April 9th, the marketing framework that makes everything you're about to hear actionable for your own business. REGISTER HEREWhat do you do when every bank says no, the SBA tells you baking is "just a hobby," and you still believe in your idea with every fiber of your being? If you're Susie Sarich, you print out your business plan, hand it to anyone who will listen, and you build one of California's most beloved bakery brands anyway.This is one of the most inspiring real founder stories we've ever shared on Dear FoundHer, and it is packed with lessons that every woman startup founder needs to hear.Susie Sarich is the founder and CEO of Susie Cakes, a now-iconic bakery brand with 26 locations across California and Texas and a thriving nationwide shipping business. But before the empire, there was a woman with a dream, her grandmother's recipe cards, and a fierce belief that the West Coast was missing something: simple, from-scratch, Midwest-style baking made with love.In this episode, Susie and Lindsay dig into the real story behind the brand, the scrappy early days, the grassroots publicity strategy that got the word out before social media even existed, and the hard lessons that come with managing rapid growth across dozens of locations.In this episode, you'll hear:How Susie identified a gap in the market and built her company messaging around a mission that has never wavered, connecting through celebrationThe rejection she faced from banks and the SBA, and how she funded her first location anyway through friends, family, and sheer persistenceHer early publicity strategy, including passing out cupcakes in traffic on San Vicente Boulevard and catering events for free to get her product into the right handsHow she grew an audience and built a loyal customer base long before Instagram existed, and what that teaches us about founder visibility todayThe real scaling challenges of going from one location to 26, including how she seeds every new location with experienced team members to protect the brandHer approach to managing teams across multiple states while staying true to the values and culture she built from day oneWhy getting press matters, and how celebrity word of mouth and old-school media became her most powerful growth toolsHow she finally embraced her own founder visibility and what her marketing team had to convince her to doThe nationwide shipping business she resisted for years, and why COVID changed everythingWhat it means to build a legacy brand rooted in the women who came before youThis episode is for every woman startup founder who has been told no, who is figuring out how to scale without losing her soul, and who believes that the best marketing isn't about budget, it's about showing up and serving your community.Susie's story proves that when your mission is real, your product is good, and your values are non-negotiable, the growth will come. It just takes grit, patience, and a really good cupcake.Connect with Susie Cakes:Instagram: @susiecakesWebsite: susiecakes.comEverything you just heard in this episode? It's SWEEP in action. Join me on April 9th for a free live SWEEP Workshop where I'll teach you the exact framework that makes marketing simple, consistent, and effective for women business owners just like you. Register for free, and I'll see you there.Subscribe to The FoundHer Files Follow Dear FoundHer on Instagram Loved this episode? Share it in your stories and tag @lindsaypinchuk and @dearfoundher. And if you haven't already, subscribe and leave us a five star review, it's how other women startup founders find real stories like this one.This episode originally ran on December 6, 2022. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, host and Founder of Dear FoundHer..., Lindsay Pinchuk, gets real with you about a bump in the road, one of the more relatable real founder stories she's lived through: losing a key team member right when you need them most.Lindsay spent three months onboarding and investing in her new VA, only to receive an email saying she was done with no notice, no transition. As someone who is actively managing rapid growth and navigating the scaling challenges that come with running a small business solo, this hit hard. And she wants to talk about it, because she knows so many of you are in the same boat when it comes to managing teams and finding the right support.Here’s what we cover in this episode:•      The full story: What happened with the VA and what it really means to leave a small business owner without notice•      Why managing teams as a solopreneur is one of the hardest parts of scaling challenges no one warns you about•      What’s changing on the podcast this month (and why it’s actually a good thing)•      Lindsay's 5-tip framework for pivoting with purpose when your plan suddenly changesSubscribe to The FoundHer Files Follow Dear FoundHer on Instagram Get on the waitlist for Lindsay's mastermind, Marketing Made Simple for Small Business. Applications for the new cohort open soon. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Niching down is often the move founders resist most, especially when they are already building an audience and seeing traction. In this Dear FoundHer conversation, Lindsay Pinchuk talks with Dr. Amy Robbins, host of the Life, Death & the Space Between podcast, about how niching down became the turning point in her business. What started as a passion project evolved into a focused, revenue-generating offer once she stopped trying to serve everyone and began speaking directly to one specific group.Dr. Amy Robbins spent years building an audience through her show and growing her visibility in the spiritual space. The credibility was there, but the next step was unclear. Through a series of intentional career pivots, she recognized that therapists were asking for structured training in spiritually informed therapy. Niching down allowed her to create a continuing education program that strengthened her professional credibility and made her offer practical and professionally valuable.This conversation also explores the internal shifts behind the strategy. After experiencing exhaustion in private practice, she stepped back to create space for clearer decision-making and a path toward growth without burnout. If you are a founder with momentum but no defined direction, this episode offers a great example of how niching down can sharpen your message, simplify your marketing, and create sustainable growth built on focus rather than volume.Episode Breakdown:00:00 Dear FoundHer From the Forum and Dr. Amy Robbins’ Founder Story01:24 From Private Practice to Spirituality and Building a Podcast Platform02:38 Turning a Podcast Into a Business Without Taking More Therapy Clients06:53 Taking a Sabbatical to Create Clarity and Build the Right Offer09:47 Pivoting From B2C to B2B With Spiritually Informed Therapy Training11:19 Using Continuing Education Credits to Drive Course Demand14:02 Building a Therapist Community and a B2B2C Referral Model22:10 Leveraging Podcast Guests for Partnerships and Business Growth27:21 Mindset, Comparison, and Staying Focused on Your Own Growth PathConnect with Dr. Amy Robbins:Follow Dr. Amy on InstagramListen to Life, Death & The Space Between with Dr. Amy RobbinsSubscribe to The FoundHer Files Follow Dear FoundHer on Instagram Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For simple actionable tips to grow your business, subscribe to The FoundHer Files Attention from the media can change the trajectory of a brand, but it is rarely the full story. In this episode of Dear FoundHer, Lindsay Pinchuk sits down with Elyce Arons to talk about what getting press really did for her business and how it influenced long term growth. If you are focused on founder visibility and questioning how getting press translates into revenue, this conversation offers valuable insight.Elyce shares one of the most grounded real founder stories about building Kate Spade and later launching Frances Valentine. She shares stories of meeting Katie in college, how the business really started in Katie and Andy’s loft, and how getting press created credibility and momentum for the handbag company, especially in a pre-social media era.  Elyce explains that disciplined execution turned that visibility into demand. Publicity can spark interest, but managing rapid growth is what determines whether a company can sustain it.They also discuss scaling responsibly when cash flow is tight and every decision carries so much weight. Elyce reflects on motherhood and entrepreneurship and how her priorities evolved as her business grew. This episode is for founders who want stronger visibility, are navigating expansion, or are thinking carefully about how to build something that lasts well beyond early recognition.Episode Breakdown:00:01 Elyce Arons On Building Kate Spade And Starting Over With Frances Valentine02:03 From Kansas To New York: The Friendship That Started It All10:27 The Small Branding Choice That Made Kate Spade Instantly Recognizable12:44 Getting Press Before Social Media: Editorial Coverage As A Growth Engine16:57 Managing Rapid Growth And The Decision To Sell Kate Spade20:22 Motherhood And Entrepreneurship After Exit: Identity And Chapter Two25:05 Leading Frances Valentine Through Loss And Protecting Katie’s Legacy41:29 3 Lessons For Women Founders On Experience, Funding, And Trusting Your GutConnect with Elyce Arons:Follow Elyce on InstagramFollow Frances Valentine on InstagramFoundHer Faves:Varley Wide Leg PantsPetite Plume Pajama SetMidi Health Daily Fiber+CreatineMenopause Survival KitThe MenopsychologistUpskill DevelopmentalJoin our online networking community: Dear FoundHer Forum Follow Dear FoundHer on InstagramPodcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Most Female Founders who are starting a business for the first time only think about legal support when something goes wrong. Leslee Cohen, founder of AllRise Legal Counsel, shares how the right legal guidance can make starting a business safer and less stressful. Drawing on decades of experience advising female founders through fundraising, growth, and exit, Leslee explains why so many first time business owners delay legal decisions and the risk that can create in their businesses.Many legal legal decisions shape a startup from the very beginning, including business structure, equity, co-founders, and long-term protection. Leslee shares how a small shift in how founders talk about their business can open doors and why legal strategy works best when it supports momentum instead of slowing it down.Leslee also reflects on what changed when she became a startup founder herself and rebuilt her firm around flexibility, trust, and accountability without sacrificing quality. If you’re starting a business for the first time and you want legal guidance that feels practical, human, and aligned with real life, this episode offers clarity and a smarter way to think about legal support.Episode Breakdown:00:00 Female Founders Building Businesses For The First Time in the Dear FoundHer Forum01:30 From Diplomacy to Corporate Law and Startup Legal Work  05:45 How One Sentence Changed Her Startup Legal Business  08:50 Building a Flexible Legal Firm for Female Founders  12:08 Networking Strategies That Drive Business Referrals  16:30 Legal Decisions Every New Business Owner Must Make Early  23:26 Redefining Growth and Success as a Legal Founder  29:44 Practical Advice for Women Starting A Business For The First TimeConnect with Leslee Cohen:Follow AllRise Legal on InstagramSubscribe to The FoundHer Files Follow Dear FoundHer on Instagram Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Female founders, scaling challenges can test your confidence, especially when you are starting a business for the first time without investors or a clear roadmap. In this episode of Dear FoundHer, Lindsay Pinchuk sits down with Tamara Coleman of Bark Bistro to talk about what it takes to keep growing a business when the pressure builds and the answers are not obvious. If you are working through scaling challenges of your own, this conversation will show you a practical path forward.This is one of those real founder stories that focuses on decisions, not hype. Tamara built a $20 million brand through bootstrapping, starting in her kitchen with a $15,000 credit card. She heard “no” from retailers, struggled to get approved on Amazon, and had to rethink her distribution strategy. Instead of quitting, she adjusted and kept moving.For female founders who are starting a business for the first time, this episode offers clarity on what growing a business truly requires. Tamara explains how bootstrapping forced her to understand margins, protect cash flow, and expand at a pace she could sustain. She shares how she managed scaling challenges without losing control of quality or operations.If you are facing scaling challenges and wondering whether you are doing it right, this episode will help you refocus on what really matters. The lessons here are useful, especially for female founders who are growing a business with intention. You will walk away with clearer thinking around margins, momentum, and the discipline required to build something that lasts.Episode Breakdown:00:01 From $15K Credit Card to $20M Bootstrapping Bark Bistro04:30 Retail Rejection and the Strategic Pivot to Amazon10:53 Scaling Operations From Home Kitchen to 25,000 Square Feet14:18 COVID E-Commerce Boom and Rapid Revenue Growth24:22 $20M in Sales, Exit Strategy, and Advice for Female FoundersConnect with Tamara Coleman:Follow Bark Bistro on InstagramVisit the Bark Bistro websiteFollow Tamara Coleman on InstagramConnect with Lindsay:Subscribe to The FoundHer FilesFollow Dear FoundHer on InstagramFoundHer Faves:Tubby Todd Best Face Gel CleanserConnect with Jillian StrausThe Press by NorHuephoric by Judy LeePodcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If you care about where retail is headed and how a brick-and-mortar business is getting publicity that converts, this episode of Dear FoundHer is worth your time. Host Lindsay Pinchuk sits down with Ariana Carps, a woman business owner and second-generation retailer behind Rear Ends, a nearly 50-year-old brick-and-mortar boutique that continues to thrive without chasing scale or trends. Ariana shares what actually drives in-store sales and customer loyalty, and why building a strong community around her retail business has been just as important as the products she sells.You’ll hear why daily social media routines can outperform flashy campaigns, how quiet followers often become high-intent buyers, and why removing friction does not have to mean removing people. Ariana breaks down how personal service, honest feedback, and relationship-based selling create a retail experience that feels human and keeps customers coming back.This conversation reframes retail success as something sustainable, repeatable, and deeply human. If you are a woman business owner looking to get publicity, or build a community-driven retail business, this episode delivers practical ideas you can actually use.Episode Breakdown:00:00 Getting Publicity: How Daily Instagram Videos Drive Retail Sales  02:31 The Story Behind a 48-Year Family Retail Business  05:16 Smarter Retail Buying Decisions That Reduce Stress  06:44 Why Human Connection Still Wins in Retail  12:14 Building Consistent Social Media That Converts  16:48 Selling Without E-Commerce Through Personal Shopping  19:27 Choosing Sustainable Growth Over Retail Expansion Connect with Ariana Carps:Follow Rear Ends on InstagramFollow Rear Ends on FacebookSubscribe to The FoundHer Files Follow Dear FoundHer on Instagram Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Getting press can feel like a lucky break until you hear how Annabel Love and her co-founder built a repeatable strategy behind it. In this episode of Dear FoundHer, Annabel shares how a dorm room hair-straightener hack became Nori, an eight-figure, profitable brand now sold nationwide at Target. This is a must-listen for women founders who want a clearer playbook for building visibility, earning trust, and turning attention into revenue.Annabel walks Lindsay through the early, scrappy days of the company, including customer discovery in the real world, focus groups, and building a product with zero hardware background. You’ll hear what it took to go from idea to manufacturing, then into a go-to-market plan that included Meta ads, influencer partnerships, and getting press that actually moved product. Annabel breaks down how they approached press opportunities like Oprah’s Favorite Things and The Today Show, plus how they repurposed those wins across paid ads, their website, and customer acquisition.This conversation also covers growing an audience before launch, choosing the right agency partners, and why a lean team can be an advantage when managing rapid growth. Annabel shares how Nori expanded from DTC into retailers like Nordstrom, Bloomingdale’s, and Target, and what changed operationally once mass retail entered the picture. If you are one of the many female entrepreneurs trying to scale without burning cash or building a bloated org chart, you will walk away with concrete lessons you can apply right away.Episode Breakdown:00:01 Nori Founder Story: From Dorm Room Idea to Eight-Figure Brand03:24 Launching a Hardware Startup Without Engineering Experience07:05 Customer Research and Product Validation Strategy09:32 Direct-to-Consumer Go-To-Market Plan11:54 Meta Ads, Influencer Marketing, and Getting Press13:52 Retail Expansion: Nordstrom, Bloomingdale’s, and Target16:10 Fundraising and Profitability in a Consumer Brand22:18 Scaling to $20 Million With a Lean Team28:46 The Today Show Impact on Sales Growth31:14 Advice for Women Starting a BusinessConnect with Annabel Love:Follow Annabel Love on InstagramFollow Nori on InstagramSubscribe to The Foundher Files: http://foundherfiles.substack.comFollow Dear FoundHer... on Instagram http://www.instagram.com/dearfoundherPodcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After more than two decades in business, Kim Oser realized that working harder was not the answer. The missing piece was structure.In this episode of Dear FoundHer from the Forum, Kim, founder of Game Plan Organizing, shares the shift that changed everything. After years of strong results, she realized the real barrier was not the quality of her work but how clearly she could articulate it. Once she stopped winging her own growth and built a clear plan, her business momentum followed.Kim opens up about moving from inconsistent marketing to confident storytelling, and how clarity in her message led to stronger referrals and a calendar that finally reflected the value of her work. She also talks about rebranding, not as a fix, but as an evolution. Game Plan Organizing gave her the language to lead more strategically and the confidence to say no to work that no longer aligned.As demand grew, so did questions about capacity and sustainability. Those questions ultimately led to Clear Game Plan, an online program designed to help people get organized without shame or overwhelm. Throughout the episode, one theme remains constant. Growth became possible and sustainable because it was supported by community, accountability, and shared perspective.This conversation is for anyone who knows their work is solid but feels stuck explaining it, scaling it, or sustaining it without burning out.Episode Breakdown:00:00 Women Founders and the Power of Community01:55 What Game Plan Organizing Is and Why Planning Comes First02:52 When Experience Is Not the Problem but Marketing Clarity Is05:36 How Clear Storytelling Led to Referrals and a Full Calendar07:32 Rebranding a Service Business for Strategic Growth11:17 Using Events and Partnerships to Build Trust and Visibility14:09 Scaling Beyond Personal Capacity with an Online Program17:26 Why Community Accelerated Business GrowthConnect with Kim Oser:Follow Kim on Instagram Follow the Game Plan Organizing on Facebook Connect with Game Plan Organizing on LinkedInVisit the Game Plan Organizing websiteSubscribe to The FoundHer Files Follow Dear FoundHer on Instagram Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Building a breakout brand in the baby space usually looks slower and messier than people expect. It means facing real scaling challenges, making patient decisions, and staying committed to the product even when it would be easier to rush. In this episode of Dear FoundHer, host Lindsay Pinchuk talks with female founder, Andrea Faulkner Williams, of Tubby Todd, about what it really took to build a brand parents trust.Andrea shares how Tubby Todd began with a personal family need and a hard reset most founders would avoid. After spending years developing their first product, they chose to start over when it did not work for their own child. That decision shaped everything that followed, including how they focused on quality, earned trust, and started growing an audience through real word of mouth instead of shortcuts or paid hype. Community, consistency, and listening closely to customers became the backbone of the business.That foundation made the next stage possible. Andrea walks through how Tubby Todd expanded beyond direct-to-consumer, first onto Amazon and eventually into Target, without losing what made the brand work. Instead of relying on retail to create demand, they brought an already loyal audience with them. If you are a woman business owner, wrestling with scaling challenges or trying to grow an audience before taking a bigger leap, this episode gives a refreshingly honest look at what steady growth really takes.Episode Breakdown:00:00 How Tubby Todd Grew Without Paid Ads03:00 Two Years of Product Development and Starting Over04:00 Word of Mouth Strategy for Growing an Audience07:00 “Be a Good Friend” Marketing Philosophy14:00 Community Building Offline Through Play Dates19:30 Scaling Challenges: Amazon to Target Retail Expansion25:00 Founder Challenges: Confidence, Relationships, and Boundaries30:00 A Simple Founder Framework: Why, One Goal, Quarterly FocusConnect with Andrea Faulkner Williams:Follow Andrea of InstagramFollow Tubby Todd on InstagramFoundHer Faves:Keep Mahjing OnFoundation PRMaelove Dryness Treatment KitWomaness Let’s Neck Serum RollerKendra Scott 5 Link Match BandSubscribe to The FoundHer Files Follow Dear FoundHer... on InstagramPodcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What it really takes to leave corporate with confidence and build a people-first business that actually works.Leaving a stable corporate role is rarely about courage alone. It’s about timing, clarity, and building the right support before you leap. On Dear FoundHer from the Forum, host Lindsay Pinchuk sits down with Jillian Bernstein, founder of The Wellness Extension, to unpack what the corporate-to-founder transition really looks like when it’s done thoughtfully. Jillian shares how she assessed her readiness, invested in learning where she had gaps, and resisted the pressure many women founders feel to rush decisions just to make it work.This episode challenges a common misconception about workplace well-being. Jillian explains why surface-level wellness initiatives often fall short for small business owners and how listening closely to clients led her to build a more comprehensive HR concierge model. Her pivots were shaped by real conversations, careful testing, and a willingness to evolve her services based on what businesses actually needed.At the center of it all is community. Jillian reflects on how her network supported her during the quiet early months of building her business and how she now creates paid opportunities for other women through her work. This conversation is for women founders who want to grow sustainably, think strategically, and stop trying to do everything alone.Episode Breakdown:00:00 Investing in Skills You Do Not Have as a Founder02:52 Building an HR Concierge Business for Small Businesses06:30 Knowing When You Are Ready to Leave Corporate11:25 Revenue Goals, Business Pivots, and Sustainable Growth16:27 The Key Decisions That Made This Business Work19:49 Why Community and Network Matter for Women FoundersConnect with Jillian Bernstein:Follow Wellness Extension on Instagram Connect with Jillian on LinkedInVisit the Wellness Extension WebsiteSubscribe to The FoundHer Files Follow Dear FoundHer... on InstagramPodcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If you're a woman business owner over 40, join the Dear FoundHer... Forum to find support, advice, resources and mentorship—JUST FOR YOU. It’s all inside, without the gatekeeping and without the overwhelm.If you’re a woman business owner over 40 who feels like growth should be louder or more complicated than it needs to be, this episode is for you.In this solo episode, Lindsay Pinchuk shares why real business growth rarely starts with a launch, funnel, or rebrand—and almost always starts with a conversation. Drawing from her experience building and exiting a seven-figure company, Lindsay explains how conversations have led to her biggest opportunities, partnerships, and long-term growth.You’ll learn why women over 40 are uniquely positioned to grow through relationships, how one aligned conversation can create more impact than ten pieces of content, and why community—not campaigns—is often the missing piece.If networking feels forced and marketing feels heavy, this episode will help you rethink what growth can look like.Subscribe to The FoundHer Files Follow Dear FoundHer... on Instagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Many successful female founders and entrepreneurs are exhausted by planners, productivity advice, and the pressure to always do more, yet they still feel behind when it comes to time management. This episode of Dear FoundHer from the Forum slows that conversation down and asks why time feels so hard, even for capable, motivated women.Jill Beck, founder of Just Go Long and an accountability coach for women over 40, joins the discussion to talk about what she sees again and again in her work. The problem usually isn’t a lack of effort or the wrong system. It’s the absence of accountability in the middle of real life. Jill shares how she supports women through text-based accountability that fits into busy days rather than adding more to them.The conversation covers burnout, boundaries, confidence, and why it’s so hard to follow through when your plate is already full. Jill also shares how her business came together in a very unflashy way, built on trust, referrals, and showing up consistently rather than chasing attention or growth trends.Episode Breakdown:00:00 Why Productivity Systems Fail Without Accountability02:27 Text-Based Accountability Coaching for Women Over 4005:29 Burnout, Health, and Sustainable Time Management06:48 The Time Pie Chart That Forces Real Tradeoffs10:12 Visibility, Confidence, and Letting Go of Follower Obsession16:04 Growing a Coaching Business Through Email and Referrals23:24 What’s Next for Just Go Long and Corporate Time OverloadConnect with Jill Beck:Follow Jill on InstagramConnect with Jill on LinkedInSubscribe to The FoundHer Files Follow Dear FoundHer... on InstagramPodcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Join us for the FREE Dear FoundHer… Forum Open House + Networking (virtual) Event on January 28th. RSVP HERE we won’t host another Open House until later this spring.This female founded business began as a side hustle in an apartment and grew into a 45-location, company-owned beauty brand by staying grounded in reality.Courtney Claghorn, president and founder of Sugared + Bronzed, a natural sugaring and spray tan company shares how the company took shape while she still worked full-time, learned the service herself, and paid attention to what customers were actually willing to buy. Early decisions focused on cash flow, reinvestment, and keeping costs manageable. Profitability set the pace from the start and made it possible to scale without franchising or giving up ownership.The conversation traces what changes when a side hustle demands more than spare time, how standards hold up as scale increases, and why systems replaced intuition as the business grew. Courtney also talks through choosing when to raise capital, adjusting during COVID, and building something that could keep growing without depending on her presence in every room.Episode Breakdown:00:00 From Side Hustle To Growth At Scale: The Sugared + Bronzed Story  03:10 Identifying A Market Gap In The Spray Tan Industry  06:00 Early Customer Acquisition Without Social Media  07:00 Leaving A Corporate Job When Demand Takes Over  08:10 Bootstrapping The First Store And Prioritizing Profitability  14:50 Scaling Without Franchising Or Losing Control  16:10 Raising Capital After Proving The Business Model  17:30 Surviving COVID Through Creative Pivots  23:00 Maintaining Quality And Culture At Scale  34:00 Founder Advice On Moving Fast And Avoiding Overplanning Connect with Courtney Claghorn:Follow Courtney on InstagramVisit the Sugared + Bronzed WebsiteFollow Sugared + Bronzed on InstagramSubscribe to The FoundHer Files Follow Dear FoundHer... on InstagramPodcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Most real founder stories are not tidy highlight reels. They unfold in real time, with experiments, pivots, and steady progress. In this episode, Nina Badzin shares one of those real founder stories, tracing her path from writing advice columns to building Dear Nina into a podcast and newsletter that operate as the business itself.If you are growing an audience and wondering how to monetize without losing your voice, this conversation is for you. Nina breaks down how sponsorships support her podcast, how paid subscribers support her newsletter, and why she wishes she had started monetizing sooner. She talks candidly about learning to edit her own show, building revenue streams gradually, and treating content as a long term asset that compounds over time.This is also one of those real founder stories that highlights the power of online community building. Nina explains how joining the Dear FoundHer Forum led to peer support for entrepreneurs that she could not get from friends alone. From partnership marketing opportunities like podcast swaps to brainstorming bigger strategy decisions, the right room changed her trajectory.You will also hear practical event marketing ideas, including how she launched her first live event, secured sponsors for giveaway bags, and is planning future cities with intention. Along the way, she shares lessons about starting before you feel ready, embracing partnership marketing, and building systems that support sustainable growth.This episode gives you real founder stories that show how entrepreneurs build their audience, try out new ways to make money, and get help from other entrepreneurs.Episode Breakdown:00:00 Introducing Dear FoundHer From the Forum and Nina Badzin01:17 Turning Friendship Advice Into a Sustainable Business07:55 Starting a Podcast During COVID10:15 How Dear Nina Makes Money Through Sponsorships and Subscriptions13:58 Why Substack Works for Newsletter Growth and Discovery20:53 Why Community Matters More Than Friends in Business23:55 Real Business Results From the Dear FoundHer Forum27:11 Three Practical Lessons for New Business OwnersConnect with Nina Badzin:Follow Nina on Instagram Tune in to Nina’s Podcast: Dear Nina Conversations About FriendshipConnect with Lindsay:Subscribe to The FoundHer FilesFollow Dear FoundHer on InstagramPodcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.