Nancy Twine is the founder of Briogeo, one of the first clean haircare brands to land in Sephora, and eventually one of the fastest-growing in the category.

But her story didn’t start in beauty. Nancy began her career in finance, landing a role at Goldman Sachs in 2007, right as the global financial crisis hit. By her mid-twenties, she was a VP on Wall Street. Then, everything changed in 2010 when she lost her mother unexpectedly. That moment reshaped her purpose and gave her the clarity to build something of her own. With no background in chemistry or beauty,  she started Briogeo from her tiny New York apartment—self-funding it for six years, researching at the public library, and pitching investors with just drawings, all while working full-time. Briogeo launched in 2013 with four products. Within a year, Nancy cold-emailed her way into Sephora, becoming the youngest Black woman to launch a line with the retailer. In 2022, Briogeo was acquired by Wella Company.

In today’s episode, Nancy talks about the mindset and grit it took to keep going when the path ahead wasn’t clear, and how learning to trust her instincts changed everything for her. We talk about how she taught herself the beauty industry from scratch, and why believing in herself, even when the odds were stacked against her, became her greatest strength. She shares the early days of Briogeo, building the brand at night while working on Wall Street, pitching investors and getting many rejections, and navigating the challenges of growth. She also reflects on the pivotal moment with Sephora, the decision to finally walk away from her corporate job, and how she grew into the role of CEO as the company scaled.

Nancy opens up about selling Briogeo, what it meant to let go of something she built from scratch, and why she’s now focused on mentoring other women founders through her new platform, Makers Mindset. If you’ve ever questioned your timing, doubted your path, or needed a reminder of what’s possible when you bet on yourself, you’re going to love this episode. 

In this episode, we’ll talk to Nancy about:

* The mindset needed to overcome entrepreneurial challenges. [02:57]

* Cultivating confidence and shutting down self-doubt. [05:18]

* How her mother and grandmother shaped her upbringing. [07:46]

* How personal loss sparked a life and career reevaluation. [17:04]

* Nancy’s first steps in starting Briogeo. [18:47]

* A pivotal moment: meeting Sephora buyers. [23:59]

* Lessons from fundraising journey. [25:44]

* The power of self-belief in entrepreneurship. [28:41]

* Leaving a secure job to pursue a passion. [38:36]

* Why selling the business was strategic. [46:19]

* Transforming Nancy’s passion into new ventures. [49:33]

This episode is brought to you by beeya: 

* Learn more about beeya's seed cycling bundle at https://beeyawellness.com/free to find out how to tackle hormonal imbalances. 

* Get $10 off your order by using promo code BEHINDHEREMPIRE10

Follow Yasmin: 

* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yasminknouri/

* Stay updated & subscribe to our newsletter: https://www.behindherempire.com/

Follow Nancy: 

* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nancytwine/

* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/briogeo/

* Website: https://www.briogeohair.com/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Laney Crowell is the founder & CEO of Saie, a clean beauty brand dedicated to making high-performing products that are elevated, effortless, and always easy to use.

Laney’s path to entrepreneurship was anything but traditional. The daughter of a diplomat, Laney spent her childhood bouncing between continents, learning to adapt before she even knew the word for it. She began her career in entertainment, pivoted into editorial at ELLE and Lucky, and eventually found herself leading digital strategy at Estée Lauder – just as social media was transforming the beauty industry. But even with a dream job and a coveted title, something felt off.

While pregnant with her first daughter, Laney stepped away from corporate life to start a wellness blog called The Moment. She didn’t have a master plan – just a desire to create space for more real & honest conversations around beauty and wellbeing. That blog would spark an incredible community and eventually give birth to Saie, the clean beauty brand that’s now backed by Gwyneth Paltrow and Unilever Ventures, and leading a new wave of what beauty can look and feel like.

In today’s episode, Laney opens up about the real journey behind the brand: how she built Saie without industry connections or startup experience, the moments she almost gave up, and why learning to trust her gut was the best business strategy she never planned. We talk about persistence, resilience, the unglamorous side of fundraising, and the unexpected ways motherhood reshaped her leadership—and her mission. If you’ve ever felt like the outsider in the room, or you’re dreaming of building something meaningful on your own terms, this episode is for you.

In this episode, we’ll talk to Laney about:

* What “perfectionism” looks like for Laney. [02:26]

* How Laney’s childhood shaped her comfort with discomfort. [04:37]

* Struggling to fit into corporate culture. [06:40]

* Breaking into the editorial world. [08:37]

* Working at Estée Lauder and finding expanders. [11:11]

* Launching her blog and building community. [13:19]

* The inspiration behind founding Saie. [14:28]

* How past work experience prepared her for Saie. [17:09]

* Laney’s first experience with motherhood. [18:13]

* Early days of creating Saie. [19:09]

* Biggest lessons from fundraising. [20:40]

* Secured key investors including Unilever and Gwyneth Paltrow. [25:00]

* Developing Saie’s first product. [28:00]

* How building Saie changed Laney as a person. [31:07]

* How motherhood made her a stronger businesswoman. [35:40]

* Awareness as a key driver of Saie’s growth. [39:30]

* The power of trusting her team to lead and grow. [43:09]

This episode is brought to you by beeya: 

* Learn more about beeya's seed cycling bundle at https://beeyawellness.com/free to find out how to tackle hormonal imbalances. 

* Get $10 off your order by using promo code BEHINDHEREMPIRE10

Follow Yasmin: 

* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yasminknouri/

* Stay updated & subscribe to our newsletter: https://www.behindherempire.com/

Follow Laney: 

* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laney/

* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saiebeauty/

* Website: https://saiehello.com/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In today's conversation, we sit down with Martha Soffer, renowned Ayurvedic expert and founder of Surya Spa in Los Angeles, to explore how ancient wisdom can support modern women's health. Martha unpacks the foundational principles of Ayurveda, and how understanding your constitution can be a game-changer for balance and vitality in every stage of life.

In this episode you’ll learn: 

* How the doshas influence your body and mind

* Ayurveda for navigating menopause

* Herbal remedies to support balance

* Postpartum care through an Ayurvedic lens

* Natural relief for period cramps

* The power of panchakarma for deep detox

* And more…

Internationally acclaimed Ayurvedic Panchakarma expert, Ayurvedic Chef, Herbal Rasayanist, and master Ayurvedic Pulse diagnostician, Martha Soffer is the founder of Surya, the recognized leader of modern Ayurveda. Martha’s focus on “Ayurveda for Modern Life” is achieved through a system of practical and easy self-care, helping each individual attain balance and wellness through healing retreats, restorative beauty, wellness and food products, as well as educational guidance and support. Working to restore Ayurveda to its authentic, spiritual, and most effective roots, Martha is an innovator in making Ayurveda a viable modern and complementary system of wellness and health. A frequent guest on the CBS talk show “The Doctors,” Martha also works with MDs who refer patients when western medicine cannot deliver a satisfactory solution, and who often come themselves for seasonal treatments. Martha teaches and lectures, and is featured in publications such as Vogue, Vanity Fair, In Style, Allure, the L.A. Times, New York Magazine, and Goop. With the Surya team, Martha brings long-term vitality and health to clients who range from next-door neighbors to the top stars of the film and entertainment industries.

This episode is brought to you by beeya: 

* Learn more about beeya's seed cycling bundle at https://beeyawellness.com/free to find out how to tackle hormonal imbalances. 

* Get $10 off your order by using promo code BEHINDHEREMPIRE10

Follow Yasmin: 

* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yasminknouri/

* Stay updated & subscribe to our newsletter: https://www.behindherempire.com/

Follow Martha: 

* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/suryabymartha/

* Website: https://suryawellness.com/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Lindsey Carter is the Founder and CEO of SET Active, a cult-favorite activewear brand known for its elevated athleisure, monochrome sets, and community-driven approach.

Lindsey was just about to finish her degree in elementary education when she realized—she didn’t actually want to be a teacher. She shifted her path completely, dove into social media, hustled her way into NBC Universal, and went on to build her own agency from the ground up. While helping other brands build online communities, she had a lightbulb moment to build her own brand. In 2018, Lindsey started SET Active from her apartment, with no outside funding and $20,000 in credit card debt. She was determined to create a brand for the “everyday girl” who wanted activewear that looked as good as it felt. Fast forward to today, SET is a multi-million-dollar business with a cult following, and Lindsey still owns 100% of it. She’s become known not only for her signature monochrome sets, but for her honest take on entrepreneurship and her mission to uplift other women founders.

In this week’s episode, Lindsey shares her unexpected journey from wanting to be a kindergarten teacher to building a high growth activewear brand. With zero experience in fashion or manufacturing, she opens up about how she scrappily self-funded SET, found her first production partner, and the make-or-break lessons that came with it. We talk about the early wins that kept her going, how she used social media to build real community, and what it really took to scale the business. Lindsey also gets candid about navigating mental health as a founder, how motherhood changed her leadership style, and why staying authentic—even when it’s hard—is what’s kept her grounded through it all, and so much more. 

In this episode, we’ll talk to Lindsey about:

* How childhood shaped Lindsey’s independence and drive. [00:24]

* From an aspiring teacher to working in entertainment. [05:17]

* Breaking into entertainment with zero experience. [10:59]

* Trusting her gut from a young age. [13:20]

* The vision and intention behind SET Active. [16:41]

* Building the brand from her apartment, hands-on and scrappy. [20:26]

* Self-funding SET Active. [23:28]

* Finding her first production partner. [24:04]

* What leadership and partnership taught her. [25:57]

* Early signs of business growth. [28:57]

* How social media fueled brand awareness. [31:26]

* Lindsey’s postpartum journey. [33:43]

* Navigating fast business growth. [36:35]

* How Lindsey manages her mental health. [38:12]

* How motherhood shaped her leadership style. [30:10]

* The reality of how hard starting a business really is. [43:16]

* Why community is key to sustaining long-term passion. [45:04]

This episode is brought to you by beeya: 

* Learn more about beeya's seed cycling bundle at https://beeyawellness.com/free to find out how to tackle hormonal imbalances. 

* Get $10 off your order by using promo code BEHINDHEREMPIRE10

Follow Yasmin: 

* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yasminknouri/

* Stay updated & subscribe to our newsletter: https://www.behindherempire.com/

Follow Jordan: 

* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lindseycarter/

* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/setactive/

* Website: https://setactive.co/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jordan Harper is a board-certified nurse practitioner and the founder and CEO of Barefaced, a skincare brand that cuts through the noise with simple, science-backed routines.

After years of treating patients frustrated by complicated regimens, Jordan launched Barefaced from her garage—while pregnant and caring for a toddler. With no outside funding and countless late nights packing orders with her husband, she grew the business into a skincare empire. That side hustle has since grown into a powerhouse with 10 custom products, over 1.5 million units shipped, and a 90% return customer rate. 

In this week’s episode, we chat with Jordan about the unfiltered reality of building a business from the ground up and what it really takes to stand out in a crowded beauty market. She shares how her experience as a nurse practitioner inspired her shift into skincare, and how the scrappy early days were all about listening to her community and figuring things out along the way. Jordan talks about how social media became her secret weapon, why showing up consistently matters more than perfection, and how she’s built a loyal community by staying authentic and focusing on quality over quantity. We also chat about the realities of burnout, how she manages her time, and why feedback and flexibility have been key to her success. Jordan keeps it real about what it takes to grow a business, how to bounce back from setbacks, and why taking action before you feel “ready” can be the key to success.

In this episode, we’ll talk to Jordan about:

* How childhood resilience shaped her entrepreneurial drive. [02:39]

* Why parenting can sharpen focus and productivity. [05:28]

* From healthcare to skincare: what sparked the career shift. [08:41]

* Building a brand by listening to community needs. [11:37]

* Finding aligned experts to support your vision. [15:47]

* The story behind launching Barefaced. [17:55]

* Managing motherhood and entrepreneurship. [23:56]

* What early sales looked like for Barefaced. [27:00]

* Managing time and priorities to reduce stress. [34:21]

* Freeing up time by outsourcing strategically. [36:01]

* Planning intentionally to juggle family and business. [43:33]

* Why delegation is key to scaling. [48:46]

* Using customer feedback to refine products. [50:12]

* Lessons from manufacturing challenges. [53:50]

This episode is brought to you by beeya: 

* Learn more about beeya's seed cycling bundle at https://beeyawellness.com/free to find out how to tackle hormonal imbalances. 

* Get $10 off your order by using promo code BEHINDHEREMPIRE10

Follow Yasmin: 

* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yasminknouri/

* Stay updated & subscribe to our newsletter: https://www.behindherempire.com/

Follow Jordan: 

* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jordanharper_np/

* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/barefaced/

* Website: https://www.barefaced.com/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We did something BIG! We invested time and a good chunk of change into a clinical trial for my first product ever – seed cycling. Was it worth it? Yes. In this episode, we share all about our clinical study where 40 women embarked on a seed cycling journey for 3 months to see if their symptoms of PMS improved. The results – insane! 

You’ll learn: 

* How 40 women changed their PMS symptoms in 3 months

* Why we invested in a third-party clinical study + all the details

* Limitations of the study and nutrition research

* The crazy journey that led Yasmin to seed cycling

* And more…

You can learn more about the first-ever clinical study on seed cycling here: https://beeyawellness.com/pages/clinical-study 

This episode is brought to you by beeya: 

* Learn more about beeya's seed cycling bundle at https://beeyawellness.com/free to find out how to tackle hormonal imbalances. 

* Get $10 off your order by using promo code BEHINDHEREMPIRE10

Follow Yasmin: 

* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yasminknouri/

* Stay updated & subscribe to our newsletter: https://www.behindherempire.com/

Follow Kaya: 

* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kayapurohit/

Follow Beeya:

* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beeyawellness/

* Website: https://beeyawellness.com/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Daryl-Ann Denner is an influencer and co-founder of nuuds, a bodywear brand that’s redefining comfort and style with its body-positive designs.

Daryl-Ann’s path to entrepreneurship wasn’t exactly traditional — she started out as a high school chemistry teacher with a passion for style and a growing blog on the side. Over time, that creative outlet turned into a full-blown influencer career, where she built a loyal community of over two million fans by simply showing up as herself. In 2022, after years of listening to her audience and struggling to find basics that actually fit her postpartum body, she co-founded nuuds with her husband, Daniel. The brand’s first six styles sold out in just seven minutes — and today, nuuds is a nine-figure business redefining what "basics" should look and feel like for real women.

In this week’s episode, Daryl-Ann gets real about anxiety, entrepreneurship, and what it actually looks like to build a business while raising a family. From leaving her pre-med path to launching a blog that turned into a thriving personal brand — and eventually founding her clothing company, nuuds — Daryl-Ann shares how embracing vulnerability and showing up as her true self became her superpower. We talk about everything from doing things scared (her go-to mantra), to the power of consistency and how the biggest moments in her career happened after becoming a mom. She opens up about perfectionism, risk-taking, and why not being an expert can sometimes be your biggest asset. Plus, the real talk behind launching nuuds — a brand built for real women, real bodies, and real life. If you’ve ever felt like you had to wait for the “perfect” moment to chase your dream, this one’s for you.

In this episode, we’ll talk to Daryl-Ann about:

* Daryl-Ann’s relationship with anxiety and her mantra: “do it afraid.” [03:19]

* Why consistency is key to success in any venture. [06:20]

* Lessons learned from early work experiences. [07:10]

* Starting her personal blog as a creative outlet. [10:59]

* How Daryl-Ann put herself out there in the early days. [16:27]

* Navigating perfectionism and its impact on growth. [22:40]

* The power of authenticity in building an engaged audience. [25:50]

* How motherhood transformed her personally and professionally. [28:51]

* Turning a passion project into a business. [30:05]

* Facing the challenges of launching nuuds in the early days. [36:26]

* Why taking risks is essential for entrepreneurs. [39:57]

* The importance of having confidence in your product. [41:53]

* The critical role of family support in business growth. [45:45]

* How being a non-expert can become your greatest asset. [49:07]

* Why becoming a mom made her a better entrepreneur. [51:00]

This episode is brought to you by beeya: 

* Learn more about beeya's seed cycling bundle at https://beeyawellness.com/free to find out how to tackle hormonal imbalances. 

* Get $10 off your order by using promo code BEHINDHEREMPIRE10

Follow Yasmin: 

* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yasminknouri/

* Stay updated & subscribe to our newsletter: https://www.behindherempire.com/

Follow Daryl-Ann: 

* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/darylanndenner/

* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nuuds/

* Website: https://www.nuuds.com/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Miranda Kerr is a globally recognized model and the founder & CEO of KORA Organics, a skincare brand known for its commitment to clean, certified organic products.

For Miranda, the journey to founding KORA Organics wasn’t just about beauty — it was about healing. After her mother’s cancer diagnosis, she began questioning everything she put in and on her body, eventually realizing there was a gap in the market for truly clean, certified organic skincare that actually worked. Fueled by a personal mission and a vision for something better, she launched KORA Organics in 2009. Today, it’s a global brand available in over 30 countries, but Miranda’s approach remains deeply personal: leading with intention, staying hands-on with every product, and reminding people that real beauty begins with how we care for ourselves from the inside out.

In this episode, Miranda shares the pivotal experiences that shaped her — from growing up in a wellness-focused family to how personal loss at a young age taught her resilience, gratitude, and emotional strength. She reflects on lessons from her early modeling career — handling rejection, building confidence, and trusting her inner voice — and how those experiences prepared her for entrepreneurship. Miranda takes us behind the scenes of launching KORA in the U.S., navigating a highly competitive market, and balancing the emotional highs and lows of building a global brand while raising a family. She also shares how mindfulness, presence, and self-care have been foundational to her success — and why prioritizing inner wellbeing remains at the core of her life and business, and so much more. 

In this episode, we’ll talk to Miranda about:

* Miranda’s family approach to wellness. [02:55]

* Her mother’s cancer diagnosis. [04:56]

* Losing her boyfriend young & shifting her life perspective. [10:45]

* The importance of expressing love and gratitude daily. [14:06]

* Miranda’s early modeling career and how it shaped her. [17:18]

* Navigating impostor syndrome & building confidence. [20:21]

* Lessons in resilience and learning to handle rejection. [23:24]

* Miranda’s skincare learnings from her modeling career. [27:19]

* Myths around certified organic products. [31:05]

* The passion and purpose behind building KORA Organics. [32:19] 

* Launching KORA in the U.S. [36:10]

* The challenges of entering the U.S. market. [40:07]

* Managing emotional resilience as an entrepreneur. [44:30]

* Managing motherhood with entrepreneurship. [46:57]

* A behind-the-scenes look at Miranda’s life as a mom. [47:49]

* Balancing her yin and yang energy in daily life. [51:59]

* The power of mindfulness and being present. [53:39]

This episode is brought to you by beeya: 

* Learn more about beeya's seed cycling bundle at https://beeyawellness.com/free to find out how to tackle hormonal imbalances. 

* Get $10 off your order by using promo code BEHINDHEREMPIRE10

Follow Yasmin: 

* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yasminknouri/

* Stay updated & subscribe to our newsletter: https://www.behindherempire.com/

Follow Miranda: 

* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mirandakerr/

* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/koraorganics/

* Website: https://koraorganics.com/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're sitting down with celebrity nutritionist Kelly LeVeque—best known for her blood sugar-focused approach, and working with stars like Halle Berry and Jessica Alba—to talk all things wellness and nutrition. Whether you're looking to upgrade your diet or better understand how your body works, this episode is full of practical, science-backed tips to support your health journey.

In this episode you’ll learn: 

* The method behind her famous Fab 4 smoothie

* How to handle sugar cravings

* The best protein options for vegetarians

* Her go-to strategies for lasting behavior change

* How blood sugar impacts the brain

* And more…

Kelly is a certified functional nutritionist, wellness expert, and best-selling author living in Southern California with her husband and three young boys. Before starting Be Well By Kelly, she worked in the medical field for Fortune 500 companies like J&J, then moved into personalized medicine, offering tumor gene mapping and molecular subtyping to oncologists, before striking out on her own to start her business. Kelly received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Southern California and completed postgraduate studies in clinical nutrition through UCLA and UC Berkeley. She has found her work as a holistic nutritionist to be the most rewarding of her career.

This episode is brought to you by beeya: 

* Learn more about beeya's seed cycling bundle at https://beeyawellness.com/free to find out how to tackle hormonal imbalances. 

* Get $10 off your order by using promo code BEHINDHEREMPIRE10

Follow Yasmin: 

* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yasminknouri/

* Stay updated & subscribe to our newsletter: https://www.behindherempire.com/

Follow Kelly: 

* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bewellbykelly/

* Website: https://bewellbykelly.com/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Justine Tiu is the co-founder of The Woobles, a company that makes beginner-friendly crochet kits designed to help anyone confidently create their first plush.

Before launching The Woobles in 2020, Justine was thriving at Google, where she rose from UX designer to one of the youngest leaders on her team. But behind the success, she was quietly battling burnout, imposter syndrome, and a sense that something was missing. In search of happiness, she picked up crocheting—and it quickly became her creative escape. What started as a personal outlet soon sparked the idea for something bigger. She left corporate life behind to launch The Woobles from their garage.

In this episode, Justine shares how she went from feeling unfulfilled in her corporate job to testing out multiple business ideas—none of which quite stuck—before stumbling upon a creative outlet that changed everything. What began as a simple Etsy shop eventually grew into a multi-million dollar business. Justine and her husband both quit their jobs to eventually go all-in on The Woobles, navigating everything from learning how to manufacture physical products to handling customer support themselves in the early days. She opens up about the steep learning curve, the mental health challenges of building a brand from scratch, and how customer feedback became their guiding compass. We also dive into the real story behind their Shark Tank experience, the importance of product-market fit over polished branding, the power of a strong support system, and so much more.

In this episode, we’ll talk to Justine about:

* How childhood creativity shaped Justine’s career path. [03:10]

* How corporate experience helped her start her own business. [05:59]

* Justine’s experience with fear and impostor syndrome. [08:55]

* The mental health benefits of hobbies outside work. [09:36]

* Turning a personal hobby into a business. [11:46]

* Justine’s experience working in Google. [13:25]

* Burnout and the search for true happiness. [16:00]

* Quitting their fulltime job and starting an Etsy shop. [17:38]

* Early business ideas before launching The Woobles. [19:19]

* Why owning your brand and online presence matters. [23:32]

* The challenges of quality control in physical products. [25:22]

* Mental health struggles and the role of family support. [26:27]

* How running a business differs from a corporate job. [28:31]

* The importance of focusing on what you can control. [29:32]

* Experience on Shark Tank and its impact. [31:14]

* Embracing uncertainty can lead to unexpected growth. [35:57]

* Product-market fit comes before branding. [44:32]

* Why a strong support system is key to balancing life and business. [48:36]

This episode is brought to you by beeya: 

* Learn more about beeya's seed cycling bundle at https://beeyawellness.com/free to find out how to tackle hormonal imbalances. 

* Get $10 off your order by using promo code BEHINDHEREMPIRE10

Follow Yasmin: 

* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yasminknouri/

* Stay updated & subscribe to our newsletter: https://www.behindherempire.com/

Follow Justine: 

* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dilly.ofapickle/

* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thewoobles/

* Website: https://thewoobles.com/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.