In this week’s episode, I’m taking your top questions and giving you a behind-the-scenes look at my journey building my empire and business, beeya wellness! I have my incredible husband, Dhru Purohit, taking the mic today and acting as the host. 

As always, I hope this episode brings a lot of value to you and a few of topics we'll be covering include:

• Three questions that everyone who’s hard on themselves should be asking and reflecting on at the end of the year 
• The step-by-step process I use to establish product market fit 
• How to approach budgeting in the early stages of a company 
• And lastly, how I’m unpacking and overcoming my personal insecurities 

I’d love to get your thoughts on the episode, and hear your feedback! DM me on instagram @yasminknouri or email me at [email protected] - I’m always looking for ways to add value and help inspire you!

In this episode, we'll talk to about:

* Facing tough experiences and giving it your best shot. [01:20]

* Crying is an emotional release and a self-soothing process. [05:16]

* What’s something that somebody did for you? [08:32]

* What’s something you did for someone else? [12:33]

* Finding product validation and achieving product-market fit. [15:12]

* Understanding retention and identifying its contributing factors. [19:24]

* The reality in self-funding your business. [21:57]

* The most important part of company culture. [34:41]

* Importance of kind candor with your team. [38:23]

* Dealing with constructive criticism. [39:33] 

* Early childhood wounds and overcoming feelings of unworthiness. [42:24]

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 BEHINDHEREMPIRE

Follow Yasmin:

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

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

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

If you’ve been around wellness spaces, you’ve likely heard of this week’s guest, The Food Babe. Or you may have seen her protein powder flying off the shelves at your health food store—does Truvani ring a bell? Today, we are joined by Vani Hari, a leader in the movement away from processed foods keeping major food companies accountable.

Raised by immigrants and desperate to fit in with her peers, Vani Hari begged her parents to assimilate into American food culture, which ultimately landed her in the hospital and on 9 prescription drugs when she should have been in the prime of her life. She eventually connected the dots between what she was eating and how she was feeling, which led to her work today.

In this episode you’ll learn: 

* Shocking ingredients to avoid at the supermarket

* How processed food drives skin and hormone issues

* The truth about how our food is regulated in the US

* Batch cooking advice for busy women

* How to get kids to eat their vegetables

* And more…

Vani Hari is a revolutionary food activist, a New York Times best selling author, and was named one of the “Most Influential People On The Internet” by Time Magazine in 2015. Hari started FoodBabe.com to spread information about what is really in the American food supply. She teaches people how to make the right purchasing decisions at the grocery store, how to live an organic lifestyle, and how to travel healthfully around the world. The success of her writing and investigative work can be seen in the way food companies react to her uncanny ability to find and expose the truth.

Hari has influenced how major food giants like Kraft, General Mills, Subway, Chipotle, Chick-fil-A, and Starbucks create their products, steering them towards more healthful policies. Hari’s activism has brought in worldwide attention as she has been profiled in The New York Times, The Atlantic, The Financial Times, Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and more. Hari has appeared on Good Morning America, CBS News, NBC News, Fox News, The Dr. Oz Show, The Doctors Show and CNN. She lives in North Carolina and is the founder of Truvani, a start-up offering real food without added chemicals, products without toxins and labels without lies.

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 BEHINDHEREMPIRE

Follow Yasmin:

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

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

Follow Vani:

* Website: https://foodbabe.com/

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

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

Carly Stein Kremer is the founder of Beekeeper’s Naturals, a company that focuses on products made from natural honey, bee propolis, royal jelly, and other byproducts of bee raising.

The idea for Beekeeper’s Naturals came after Carly was on a college abroad trip in Europe and experienced a terrible flare up. She suffered from chronic tonsillitis, an illness that dominated a majority of her life. So she went to a local pharmacy to find some relief, and stumbled upon a compound called propolis, a combination of tree and plant resin created by bees to protect the hive that also has over 300 compounds that are beneficial for human immunity. She quickly realized the power of this natural ingredient herself and that’s when the passion and idea for the company was born. 

Fast forward to today, Carly and Beekeeper's Naturals have sold over 2M units of their hero product, Propolis Throat Spray, which sells one unit every 30 seconds. Beekeeper's Naturals is also currently ranked as Amazon's #1 brand in the Cold and Flu category. The company has quickly expanded from 5,000 retail locations to over 18,000 across major North American banners, including Target, CVS, and Walgreens, doubling revenue year-over-year.

In this week’s episode, we sat down with Carly to talk about her very windy journey starting the business – even though she had the idea in college, she ended up pursuing a job in finance and years later left her comfortable and reputable job at Goldman Sachs to start the company. We discuss the importance of securing your finances before taking the leap to start your business, why resilience was key to her own entrepreneurial journey, and how we can all cultivate it in our lives today. We talk about how she created her first products from her kitchen, the steps she took to create awareness in the early days when she was selling at farmer’s markets, and how she thought about fundraising throughout her journey. We also chat about how she tackles her anxiety and calms her nervous system, how she sets up her day to succeed, and so much more. 

In this episode, we'll talk to Carly about:

* Resilience for business success. [03:35]

* Early challenges & health impact. [08:47]

* Propolis discovery during exchange program. [11:28]

* Career opportunities and creating first products. [17:16]

* Finance career, unhappiness, and coping with anxiety. [22:08]

* Goldman Sachs timeline & transition to entrepreneurship. [ 31:02]

* The early business traction. [36:32] 

* Carly’s quote, “The individual with the calmest nervous system will win”. [53:58]

* Carly's commitment to "One-hour-to-react" principle. [59:26]

* Letting go of a false sense of urgency. [01:01:29]

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 BEHINDHEREMPIRE

Follow Yasmin:

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

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

Follow Carly:

* Beekeeper’s Naturals’ Website: https://www.beekeepersnaturals.com/

* Beekeeper’s Naturals’ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beekeepers_naturals/

* Carly’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carly.kremer/

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

Learning that our hormones fluctuate throughout the month—impacting our energy, metabolism and so much more—kind of changed our lives. In today’s conversation, we’re talking all about cycle syncing, and how you can practice it to support your body’s natural rhythm through food, exercise and all the other factors that contribute to how you feel in your body and life.

In this episode you’ll learn: 

* Why you feel different throughout the month

* The #1 thing contributing to hormone imbalances

* How you can support your body through the phases

* The best way to exercise in each phase

* Which supplements make the biggest difference

Tanda Cook is a naturopathic physician, food expert, published author, international speaker, blogger, health coach and farmer who is wildly passionate about educating and inspiring women to take steps towards health. Dr. Katie Collier is a naturopathic physician with a shared mission. Together, these practitioners work to help people feel their best in both clinical practice and their monthly class, The Soapbox Docs. 

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 BEHINDHEREMPIRE

Follow Yasmin:

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

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

Follow Dr. Tanda:

* Website: https://drtandacook.com/ 

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

Follow Dr. Katie:

* Website: https://drkatiecollier.com/ 

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

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

Wende Zomnir is the co-founder of the legendary beauty brand, Urban Decay, and most recently the co-founder of Caliray, a beauty and wellness brand. 

When Wende co-founded Urban Decay in 1996, there was no social media, and Sephora was still two years out from entering the U.S. She was a pioneer who broke the beauty industry with its “makeup as empowerment” attitude, eventually elevating it to the #1 brand spot at both Sephora and Ulta for years running – and is still one of the most successful beauty brands to date. After selling to L’Oreal in 2012 and spending her time leading the brand there, Wende eventually left and launched Caliray, a California-inspired brand focused on clean formulas, dirty minds and sexy sustainability. 

In this week's episode, we discuss Wende's journey from her marketing career to launching Urban Decay, including her meeting with co-founder Sandy Lerner, who co-founded Cisco Systems. Wende reflects on the early, less glamorous days of Urban Decay, her resourcefulness, and how the brand became such a success. We also talk about her new brand Caliray, and the differences in starting a brand today compared to when Urban Decay launched and the biggest surprises & learnings so far. Wende shares her advice on why you need more than just passion to build a successful business, why having a strong self-worth is crucial in business, the biggest skills that entrepreneurs need for any brand and so much more. 

In this episode, we'll talk to Wende about:

* The quote "Luck is when preparation meets opportunity". [02:34]

* Wende's early years in Texas and her relationship with makeup. [04:45]

* Wende's life prior to Urban Decay. [10:31]

* Connecting with the iconic Sandy Lerner. [12:09]

* Pitching the concept and securing orders.[14:44]

* Getting into Nordstrom and the crucial trait of resourcefulness. [19:13]

* Wende's response to imitators of the Naked Palette and advice for female entrepreneurs facing similar challenges. [25:00] 

* Urban Decay's L'Oréal acquisition and transition. [28:31]

* Maintaining healthy boundaries: separating self-worth from business. [32:25]

* The inspiration for Wende’s new beauty brand, Caliray. [34:48]

* Challenge’s Wende had to navigate while building Caliray. [40:11]

* Essential skill during Urban Decay's early days. [43:10]

* Advice for entrepreneurs who are scared to put their idea out. [44:42]

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 BEHINDHEREMPIRE

Follow Yasmin:

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

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

Follow Wende:

* Caliray Website: https://caliraybeauty.com/

* Caliray Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/caliray/

* Urban Decay Website: https://www.urbandecay.com/

* Urban Decay Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/urbandecaycosmetics/

* Wende’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wendezomnir/

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

Buckle up ladies, we get to do puberty AGAIN! Perimenopause, often referred to as the "second puberty," is characterized by shifts in our hormones and metabolism. In today's episode, we explore how to navigate this life phase with less symptoms such as weight gain, sleep issues and brain fog so you can have more energy and confidence.

In this episode you’ll learn: 

* The truth about weight loss resistance

* What leads to sleep issues in perimenopause

* How to support healthy testosterone levels

* What to do when coming off birth control

* How hormones can be partners for a great life

Dr. Mariza Snyder is a functional practitioner, women’s hormone expert and the author of eight books. For the past twelve years, she has lectured at wellness centers, conferences, and corporations on hormone health, essential oils, nutrition, and detoxification. She has been featured on Dr. Oz, Oprah Magazine, Fox News Health, MindBodyGreen and many publications. Dr. Mariza is also the host of the top rated Essentially You Podcast, (with over 3 million downloads) designed to empower women to become the CEO of their health. Check out her website, drmariza.com, for women’s hormone tips, including recipes and remedies.

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 BEHINDHEREMPIRE

Follow Yasmin:

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

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

Follow Dr. Mariza:

* Website: https://drmariza.com/ 

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

* Check out her hormones and metabolism reset program here: https://go.drmariza.com/lp/metabolism-reset-course/

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

We’re re-airing one of our top episodes from last year with the lovely Anjula Acharia. She has been visualizing her success from an early age, without even realizing she was doing so. If anyone knows how to tune in to the opportunities around her, it’s Anjula.

She is the founder and CEO of A-Series Management and Investments and works as a talent strategist and strategic investor and advisor to many consumer tech and CPG startups, including two notable early-stage investments, ClassPass and Bumble, which have grown into billion-dollar unicorns. Not only is she an early investor and advocate, but she also happens to be international superstar Priyanka Chopra’s manager and business partner and has played a critical role in launching Priyanka’s career in the US. 

In this episode, Anjula imparts her wisdom about how opportunities present themselves in the absence of desperation and explains why she chooses not to live by a plan. We hear her visualization tips and insights and discover how she applied the “power of the pivot” to Priyanka Chopra’s career. Anjula recounts how she connected with a legendary record executive, how she came to work with Priyanka, and the sheer hustle that was required for her to “break” into the industry.

Tune in to hear Anjula’s remarkable story and gain insight into what she looks for in startup founders, how she chooses investments, and the top mistakes she sees entrepreneurs making today.

In this episode, we'll talk to Anjula about:

* The challenges of Anjula’s upbringing and how she discovered the power of visualization. [2:43]

* The life-changing impact The Secret had on her, in terms of visualization and manifestation. [5:05]

* Why she refers to herself as an “accidental entrepreneur” and what catalyzed her investment journey. [7:57]

* Why Anjula doesn’t believe in living according to a plan. [10:04]

* About Beeya Wellness! [11:05]

* Anjula’s intrinsic confidence and belief in the abundance of opportunities in the world. [14:15]

* Anjula recounts her meeting with legendary record executive, Jimmy Iovine. [17:20]

* The power of the elimination of desperation. [19:45]

* Anjula humorously recalls Jimmy Iovine telling her her company was going to fail in front of Jay Z! [21:00]

* The series of events that led her to meet and work with Priyanka Chopra as her manager and business partner. [22:07]

* The hustle of launching Priyanka’s career in the US. [25:53]

* How ClassPass founder Payal Kadakia taught Anjula the power of the pivot, and how she applied it to Priyanka’s career. [27:26]

* Anjula’s two deciding factors when considering whether to back a founder. [29:09]

* The importance of knowing your metrics, as a founder. [30:00]

* The top mistakes Anjula sees entrepreneurs making today. [31:11]

* Why it’s so important for women to think big! [32:06]

* Why Anjula tends to invest in entrepreneurs outside of the industry. [34:07]

* What other exciting things she has on the go! [35:35]

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/

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

Follow Anjula:

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

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

We are thrilled to share our conversation with renowned author and psychologist, Dr. Nicole LePera, popularly known as The Holistic Psychologist. In addition to her new book, “How to Be the Love You Seek”, we talk all things nervous system, relationships and how both are the missing pieces to creating hormonal health.

In this episode you’ll learn: 

* How to build a relationship with your body

* What happens when we live from old mental patterns

* Signs of nervous system dysregulation

* The best strategies to combat stress

* How to create safety in your body

* The best approach to repair in relationships

Dr. Nicole LePera is a Holistic Psychologist and Founder of the virtual healing platform, SelfHealers Circle. She is the creator behind the popular Instagram account @the.holistic.psychologist. Every day she releases free content to make healing and trauma education accessible, globally. She's the author of The New York Times Bestselling book: "How To Do The Work", "How to Meet Your Self" and her latest book “How to Be the Love You Seek”. Dr. LePera also hosts SelfHealers Soundboard, a weekly ad-free podcast.

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 BEHINDHEREMPIRE

Follow Yasmin:

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

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

Follow Dr. Nicole:

* Website: https://theholisticpsychologist.com/

* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the.holistic.psychologist/

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

Hema Persad is the Founder of Sagrada Studio, a full service interior design studio that designs and decorates residential and commercial spaces around the country. 

Before taking over the world of interior design, Hema was a practicing attorney for several years before following her heart and pursuing a career in fashion. In 2014, she decided to take the leap and move across the country to Los Angeles with her family to chase her dreams. She spent the following 7 years dressing A-list celebrities, styling ad campaigns and editorials, and working with some of the top fashion talent in the world.

Despite the sacrifices made to establish her career in fashion, Hema felt unfulfilled and uncertain about her next steps. Embracing opportunities as they came her way, Hema ventured into interior design in 2021 when one of her styling clients sought her help in decorating their home. Because of her eye for design and ability to execute her creative vision, that first project snowballed into several more and propelled her interior design career. Today, Hema designs spaces for both residential and commercial clients across the country, even becoming the lead designer on the popular TV show, Property Brothers.

In this episode, we delve into Hema's remarkable journey. She left a secure legal career to chase her passions and succeed in unfamiliar fields like fashion and interior design. We explore her daring career pivot and the profound impact of having no "Plan B" in her journey, offering insights on how we can all make bold moves and how to overcome self-doubt and fear. We also discuss the pivotal role of networking and cultivating authentic relationships in her career, and so much more. 

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

* Lawyer to fashion stylist transition. [05:00]

* Marriage, divorce, and money's impact on her career. [09:01]

* The power of a strong support system. [11:57]

* Finding a missing piece after a successful legal career. [14:52]

* Late-life career change and self-confidence building. [20:28]

* Why everyone needs to: stop planning and start acting. [22:22]

* Venturing into the fashion industry and discovering it's not her true calling. [26:57]

* Don’t let money be your number one motivation in your career. [32:52]             

* Defining purpose and happiness. [34:58]

* Stylist to interior designer during the pandemic. [37:18]

* Overcoming hustle culture for real success. [40:42]

* A big ego can hold you back in entrepreneurship. [47:36]

* Hema's major fear to overcome. [50:57]

* Aspiring to mend the relationship with money. [52:58]

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 BEHINDHEREMPIRE

Follow Yasmin:

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

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

Follow Hema:

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

* Sagrada Studio’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sagradastudio/

* Hema’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hemaapersad/

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

Can psychedelics help you heal your hormones? Potentially… and that’s really just the beginning of how plant medicine can support our health in all areas of our lives, from the mental and physical, to the emotional and spiritual—all of which we explore in today’s episode.

In this episode you’ll learn:

* How plant medicine can rewire the brain

* The role of the body in releasing stress and tension

* How trauma impacts us on a cellular level

* Plants we all engage with everyday

* How to be in right relationship with plants 

Maya Shetreat, MD is a neurologist, herbalist, urban farmer, and author of The Dirt Cure and The Master Plant Experience: The Science, Safety and Sacred Ceremony of Psychedelics. She has been featured in the New York Times, The Telegraph, NPR, Sky News, The Dr. Oz Show and more. Dr. Maya is the founder of the Terrain Institute, where she teaches earth-based programs for transformational healing, including professional training programs for psychedelic-assisted approaches. She works and studies with indigenous communities and healers from around the world, and is a lifelong student of ethnobotany, plant healing, and the sacred. 

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 BEHINDHEREMPIRE

Follow Yasmin:

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

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

Follow Dr. Maya:

* Website: https://drmaya.com/

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

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