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

“I saw firsthand how food can really, I hate to say ‘bridge cultures’ because it’s overused, but it’s true. It brings people together,” says Crystal Ung, founder and CEO of Bowlcut. In this episode, Crystal joins Lindsay Pinchuk to talk about the inspiration behind Bowlcut, a brand that grew out of her passion for healthier, authentic Asian sauces and her desire to challenge common misconceptions about Asian cuisine.

Crystal shares her entrepreneurial journey, explaining how she spotted a gap in the market for nutritious sauces and the hurdles she faced in manufacturing and supply chain management. How does grassroots marketing influence a brand’s growth? For Crystal, it’s been essential. By connecting directly with customers, Bowlcut has expanded steadily, now available in 500 independent retailers, including Sur La Table and World Market, with even more growth on the horizon.

Offering valuable advice to aspiring female founders, Crystal highlights the importance of building a strong support network, choosing the right partners, and making self-care a priority. Lindsay wraps up their conversation with a key takeaway: understanding when to seek help and using freelance or project-based support to drive business growth.

Quotes

• “What I observed working in my dad’s restaurant was that, yes, there was hate and negative comments, but I also saw a beautiful side of humanity. Food really brought communities together and sparked curiosity about our culture and heritage.” (06:49 | Crystal Ung)
• “I saw firsthand how food can really, I hate to say ‘bridge cultures’ because it’s overused, but it’s true. It brings people together. I thought there was no better time than now for a brand like Bowlcut to exist because, hopefully, one day we can scale that impact—bringing people together through food. Being inclusive is a core element of our brand.” (07:24 | Crystal Ung) 
• “When we think about our mission, it’s very much rooted in our origin story. But what really excites me and keeps me dreaming about the future is that we’re redefining what eating well tastes like for a new generation.” (09:42 | Crystal Ung)
• “As a small brand, you’re often seen as disposable, like, okay, there will be another small brand tomorrow. Who cares? So, finding the right partners who believe in you and in your future growth is really, really important.” (31:10 | Crystal Ung) 
• “I think it’s really important to carve out time for yourself. Even if it’s literally just five minutes, you need a moment to take a step back because there’s going to be so much going on. Your mind will be split in a million ways, and you’ll feel overwhelmed and stressed. To make better decisions, you need that moment for clarity.” (39:40 | Crystal Ung)

Connect with Crystal Ung:

https://thebowlcut.com/

https://www.instagram.com/getbowlcut/

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Subscribe to the Dear FoundHer... newsletter: https://lindsaypinchuk.myflodesk.com/foundherfridays

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“Just as I carefully choose my outfits and accessories every day, I put the same thought into how my room would look,” shares Amanda Zuckerman, co-founder and president of Dormify, a leading retailer specializing in college dorm and apartment essentials. This week, Amanda joins Lindsay Pinchuk to dive into the importance of truly listening to the community around a brand—a practice that has been central to Dormify’s success.

Amanda’s entrepreneurial journey began in her own college dorm, where she identified a gap in the market for stylish, functional decor. This insight sparked the creation of Dormify, a thriving business now partnered with nearly 900 colleges and universities and supported by a vibrant community of over 1,000 student ambassadors. But what really drives Dormify’s growth? Amanda emphasizes the critical need to understand and connect with Generation Z, the company’s primary customers.

Reflecting on Dormify’s early days, Amanda recounts how they built their brand from the ground up, starting with a WordPress blog that engaged college students and their families. This focus on content and community laid the foundation for their success and allowed them to seamlessly transition to emerging social media platforms like Instagram, Pinterest, and TikTok. A pivotal moment came when they embraced a TikTok strategy, inspired by advice from Gary Vaynerchuk, leading to a significant boost in their following and engagement. 

Amanda shares practical advice for aspiring female founders, emphasizing the power of networking, finding the right strategic advisors, and staying in tune with your customers. 

Quotes

• “As our customers and their content consumption habits changed and evolved, we followed suit. We were very much the type of brand that jumped on every social platform as soon as we learned about it. We had to just experiment and gain traction.” (12:56 | Amanda Zuckerman) 
• “If you have something you want to talk about and content you want to put out there, just start doing it, no matter what is holding you back.” (16:59 | Amanda Zuckerman)
• “Community is really important to the brand. As I mentioned, we position ourselves as a big sister to all of those college students. That means going above and beyond, with customer service at a really high level… I often refer to our customer service team—or rather, our customer experience team—as therapists in a way.” (39:02 | Amanda Zuckerman)
• “Staying close to our customer is probably the number one thing that differentiates us from any of the competitors in our space. No other competitor understands the customer like we do, and that’s because we’ve made it a priority.” (41:11 | Amanda Zuckerman)

Connect with Amanda Zuckerman:

https://www.dormify.com/

http://www.instagram.com/dormify

Connect with your target customer! Grab Lindsay's free checklist: https://lindsaypinchuk.myflodesk.com/g35aa3xnrm

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Last week host, Lindsay Pinchuk shared how to cultivate and build your brand's community. Today in this episode she shares how to monetize it. This episode was originally recorded as a bonus episode for her email list, but today, Lindsay's sharing this incredibly important and insightful episode of Dear FoundHer... with everyone.

In these forty-five minutes, Lindsay Pinchuk shares her insights on how to monetize your community. She discusses various strategies, including selling products, offering coaching and consulting services, hosting workshops and events, creating content partnerships, using affiliate links, offering memberships with exclusive content, and selling merchandise. Lindsay emphasizes the importance of building trust and engagement with your community before asking for sales, and she shares her own experiences with monetizing her community at Bump Club and Beyond. She also highlights the need for trial and error, knowing when to pivot, and the value of partnerships in monetization efforts.

Takeaways

• Building trust and engagement with your community is crucial before asking for sales.
• Trial and error is necessary to find the right monetization strategies for your community.
• Partnerships can play a significant role in monetizing your community.
• You don't need millions of followers to make money from your community.

Sound Bites

• "Building trust and engagement with your community is crucial before asking for sales."
• "Trial and error is necessary to find the right monetization strategies for your community."
• "Partnerships can play a significant role in monetizing your community."

Get on the Dear FoundHer... email list for more: https://lindsaypinchuk.myflodesk.com/foundherfridays

Do you need ideas for partnerships (as Lindsay discusses in this episode?) Grab her free guide: 30 Ideas for Simple Partnerships to Grow Your Business.

Grab some time with Lindsay to build and grow your business. Set up a 1:1 Accelerator Call today: https://calendly.com/lindsaypinchuk/1-1-marketing-strategy-session-with-lindsay-pinchuk

Don't forget to follow Lindsay https://www.instagram.com/lindsaypinchuk and Dear FoundHer... http://www.instagram.com/dearfoundher on Instagram.

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“I think you have to do what is kind of right for you and your soul,” says Palak Patel. In this episode, Lindsay Pinchuk talks with Palak, a culinary star who has made significant strides in the food industry. Palak shares her journey from leaving a stable corporate job to pursuing her passion for cooking, which led her to culinary school and eventually the Food Network. There, she competed on Chopped and emerged victorious, beat Bobby Flay, and became a finalist on Food Network Star Season 14.

Palak’s story highlights the impact of following your passion and the opportunities that arise from taking bold risks. She recounts key moments in her career, from her initial reluctance to compete on Chopped to how winning the show opened numerous doors. Despite setbacks like the pandemic disrupting her plans to open a restaurant in New York City’s Hudson Yards, Palak continues to grow and adapt.

Beyond her TV success, Palak is also an accomplished author. Her cookbook, “Food is Love: Plant-Based Indian-Inspired Recipes to Feel Joy and Connection,” reflects her deep connection to food and her cultural heritage. She emphasizes the importance of authenticity, staying true to one’s values, and building a personal brand that aligns with one’s beliefs.

This episode of Dear FoundHer… explores the challenges and rewards of being a public figure in the culinary world, the importance of community, and the impact of meaningful partnerships. Palak’s journey is a reminder that it’s never too late to pursue your dreams and that the experiences and setbacks along the way add depth to your story.

Quotes

• “Food is Love” represents the culmination of my entire relationship with food. When I began writing this book two years ago, I started to dig deep into what I wanted to bring to the cookbook. It is an extension of me and reflects the idea that food is one of the ultimate connectors in our lives—it’s been that way since the dawn of time. Food is a beautiful way to get to know someone and express how you feel.” (12:55 | Palak Patel)
• “Whenever I’m looking at partnerships or long-term engagements with brands, it’s definitely about alignment. It’s similar to selling a service: does this match my value system? Does the brand align with the things that are important to me? And do we have similar goals?” (16:39 | Palak Patel) 
• “Staying true to what you stand for and knowing what aligns with your guardrails and what falls outside of them is really important.” (19:30 | Palak Patel)

Connect with Palak Patel:

https://www.chefpalakpatel.com/

https://www.instagram.com/chefpalak/

Get on the Dear FoundHer... email list for more: https://lindsaypinchuk.myflodesk.com/foundherfridays

Grab some time with Lindsay to build and grow your business. Set up a 1:1 Accelerator Call today: https://calendly.com/lindsaypinchuk/1-1-marketing-strategy-session-with-lindsay-pinchuk

Don't forget to follow Lindsay on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lindsaypinchuk

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

This week, after hearing Lindsay share some examples, a client said to her: "I think I need to cultivate my event attendees into more of a community."

You've heard Lindsay say it time and time again, "Your community is your brand’s greatest asset and you build it through your greatest marketing tool: Your content."

On today's episode you're going to hear Lindsay talk about the power of community for your brand and why investing in your community is a necessity. She also shares three SIMPLE strategies for growing you community without a marketing budget.   

This powerful episode will have you thinking about your own community in ways you never could have imagined. Next Thursday we'll continue the conversation as Lindsay shares how your community can impact your bottom line and the top tips for making a strategic impact. 

Get on the Dear FoundHer... email list for more: https://lindsaypinchuk.myflodesk.com/foundherfridays

Do you need ideas for partnerships (as Lindsay discusses in this episode?) Grab her free guide: 30 Ideas for Simple Partnerships to Grow Your Business.

Grab some time with Lindsay to build and grow your business. Set up a 1:1 Accelerator Call today: https://calendly.com/lindsaypinchuk/1-1-marketing-strategy-session-with-lindsay-pinchuk

Don't forget to follow Lindsay https://www.instagram.com/lindsaypinchuk and Dear FoundHer... http://www.instagram.com/dearfoundher on Instagram.

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“I wanted to be a part of providing role models who look and sound like women from all over the world,” shares Jamie Mittelman, founder of Flame Bearers, a media company dedicated to amplifying the stories of women Olympians and Paralympians. In this episode, she joins Lindsay Pinchuk to discuss her journey from passionate Olympic fan to full-time entrepreneur.

Jamie highlights the significant gender disparity in sports media, where only 15% of coverage focuses on women, and even less on women from diverse backgrounds or those with disabilities. This inspired her to create Flame Bearers, which shares these athletes’ stories through podcasts, videos, and live events. The athletes become ambassadors for Flame Bearers, helping to grow the platform organically.

The episode covers the challenges and triumphs of building a business from scratch, including the importance of a supportive network and the pivotal moment when Jamie realized Flame Bearers could be more than a passion project. She talks about the role of grants and sponsorships in funding her venture and the shift toward a sponsorship model for sustainability.

Jamie’s story demonstrates the power of community and storytelling in driving social change. Tune in to this episode of Dear FoundHer… to hear more about Jamie Mittelman’s innovative media approach through Flame Bearers, her commitment to elevating female athletes, and her mission to spotlight the stories of women Olympians and Paralympians.

Quotes 

• “Women athletes have not historically had a community. They have been pitted against each other. Historically, women in general have viewed each other as competition and not as a whole rising together. I wanted to do it differently.” (22:31 | Jamie Mittelman) 
• “Some of the best ideas I’ve had have not been mine; they’ve come from our community. I think I’ve been open enough to hear them and been responsive to them. Where a lot of founders go wrong is they ignore the comments of their community.” (36:28 | Jamie Mittelman) 
• “I want people to think of Flame Bearers anytime they think of the best female athletes in the world. I want it to be the community, the hub of the best athletes in the world, where they feel like their stories are told in their own words.” (38:08 | Jamie Mittelman)

Connect with Jamie Mittelman:

http://www.instagram.com/jamiemittelman

http://www.instagram.com/flamebearers

Get on the Dear FoundHer... email list for more: https://lindsaypinchuk.myflodesk.com/foundherfridays

Grab some time with Lindsay to build and grow your business. Set up a 1:1 Accelerator Call today: https://calendly.com/lindsaypinchuk/1-1-marketing-strategy-session-with-lindsay-pinchuk

Don't forget to follow Lindsay on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lindsaypinchuk

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Today's episode is a rerun from season 1. In today’s rerun, you’ll hear esteemed parenting expert, NY Times Best selling author and psychologist, Dr. Becky Kennedy, talk all about what this means. You’ll also hear her talk about how she built one of the largest parenting empires from scratch simply by showing up and sharing. By connecting with her community in a way that they grew to trust her and want more from her—thus driving the ability to monetize her community in the most incredible way possible. 

This is a story of a FoundHer who seized the moment and took her psychology practice to the next level, and in turn has helped MILLIONS of parents across the country and around the world. 

Part of the reason host, Lindsay Pinchuk, wanted to share this episode is because you’re going to hear her talk in the coming weeks a lot about community—not your business community, but your brand community. And how you can turn your audience into a community, which is essentially your number one asset for your business. This is exactly what Dr. Becky Kennedy did in building her business: Good Inside. 

Take a listen to today’s episode and then TUNE IN on Thursday when Lindsay shares more about the importance of your brand community and how you can monetize it as you can count on me to break down simple marketing practices to build your brand, business and bottom line. 

STAY UP TO DATE AND IN THE KNOW, make sure you sign up for the Dear FoundHer... newsletter as we have a ton of new opportunities coming your way.

Connect with Dr. Becky Kennedy.

Connect with Lindsay Pinchuk and Dear FoundHer.

http://www.instagram.com/lindsaypinchuk

http://www.instagram.com/dearfoundher

Grab Lindsay’s JumpStart Your Business Blueprint:

https://lindsaypinchuk.myflodesk.com/11stepsforbusiness

If you like what you're hearing, please leave a rating or review at: https://ratethispodcast.com/dearfoundher

If you know a FoundHer... we should meet, please tell her to share her story with us here.

https://form.jotform.com/230008245758152

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“I definitely don’t know if I would have done it if I knew how difficult it was back then. But here we are, living to tell the tale,” says Jash Mehta, co-founder of Pop & Bottle, as she shares how she and her co-founder, Blair Hardy, started the company inspired by California’s farm-to-table culture and a commitment to plant-based eating.

From humble beginnings with a Vitamix in a small kitchen, they created dairy-free, no refined sugar, and organic beverages. Despite lacking a food and beverage background, their passion for clean living led them to craft products free from additives and preservatives, setting Pop & Bottle apart in the market.

Strategic marketing, eye-catching packaging, and partnerships with local tech and food delivery services helped them gain traction. Securing a spot in Whole Foods was a pivotal moment, validating their efforts and allowing them to scale.

Jash emphasizes the importance of community support, trusting one’s intuition, and being resourceful. She shares their future goals for Pop & Bottle, including expanding their product line and becoming a household name in the organic beverage market.

This episode of Dear FoundHer… explores how two friends turned their passion into a successful business, navigating the food and beverage industry with resilience and innovation.

Quotes

• “We wanted to be organic certified. That was really important to us because we believe in our coffee and tea being organic. So we had to go through organic regulation, get certified, and do all of that. But again, what did that teach us? It taught us everything about supply chain and sourcing, and we’ve carried that knowledge forward as we’ve built the brand.” (17:30 | Jash Mehta)
• “We sold ourselves and our story as much as we sold the product.” (27:45 | Jash Mehta) 
• “Don’t let this be a lonely journey. Find community. And don’t let anybody tell you or define the rules of your company or your business. Finding that inner voice as you balance out all of those outer voices is really, really important.” (43:39 | Jash Mehta)

Connect with Jash Mehta:

Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/popandbottle

Grab Lindsay's Partnership Blueprint for Small Business: https://stan.store/lindsaypinchuk/p/get-your-ebook-now-the-partnership-blueprint

Connect with Lindsay Pinchuk and Dear FoundHer.

http://www.instagram.com/lindsaypinchuk

http://www.instagram.com/dearfoundher

Grab Lindsay’s JumpStart Your Business Blueprint:

https://lindsaypinchuk.myflodesk.com/11stepsforbusiness

If you like what you're hearing, please leave a rating or review at: https://ratethispodcast.com/dearfoundher

If you know a FoundHer... we should meet, please tell her to share her story with us here.

https://form.jotform.com/230008245758152

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“We had to shut down tons of parts of the business, and that was work. So, I kind of leaned into the work. I had to lean into the work of what The Riveter needed to do,” says Amy Nelson. Amy’s business was founded in 2017 to create an inclusive community space for women. Despite rapid growth and raising $30 million in venture capital, the COVID-19 pandemic forced Amy to shut down coworking spaces and pivot the business model. She openly shares the emotional and financial toll of layoffs in the business, amid very public and complex legal battles that involved Amy’s husband and Amazon.

Through perseverance, Amy reimagined The Riveter to focus on digital events, newsletters, and mentorship programs to find impact through reinvention. Amy’s conversation with Lindsay highlights the impact of community and staying true to one’s mission, even in the face of extreme adversity. 

Quotes

• “When I was going through hell, I found a community in my own hell. What I mean by that is, just like when The Riveter was scaling, I built a community around other women raising money who were in similar situations. When everything went to hell, I found people who were in the same spot, I made friendships, sought advice, and found someone to talk to.” (25:16 | Amy Nelson) 
• “I decided to do what I was good at, which is help women through pivots, and just share with them every single piece of knowledge I have gathered along the way. Because not only have I lived the pivot, but I have studied everything about how we do this, and how we build an audience, and how we share our story. And I have built an incredible network of incredible women.” (27:32 | Amy Nelson) 
• “I am a collector of people and I am constantly seeking out people to talk to. When I want to understand something, I go to the experts. And I do that in all areas of my life.” (30:20 | Amy Nelson) 
• “Do not be afraid of failing, embrace it. Because if you aren’t failing, you’re just not thinking big enough. Failure is okay. Go pick up the pieces and keep going. It would be quite a boring life if you never failed at anything.” (36:48 | Amy Nelson) 

Connect with Amy Nelson:

http://www.instagram.com/amy_k_nelson

http://www.instagram.com/theriveterco

Grab Lindsay's Partnership Blueprint for Small Business: https://stan.store/lindsaypinchuk/p/get-your-ebook-now-the-partnership-blueprint

Connect with Lindsay Pinchuk and Dear FoundHer.

Grab Lindsay’s JumpStart Your Business Blueprint:

https://lindsaypinchuk.myflodesk.com/11stepsforbusiness

If you like what you're hearing, please leave a rating or review at: https://ratethispodcast.com/dearfoundher

If you know a FoundHer... we should meet, please tell her to share her story with us here.

https://form.jotform.com/230008245758152

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“We didn’t care about cleaning products. We didn’t set out to sell soap,” says Kelly Love. She, her best friend Allison Evans, and Allison’s aunt Marilee Nelson, co-founded Branch Basics with a different mission in mind. “We believed there was a need for truly safe products, and we knew we had built a platform to share this crucial information,” they explain. Their goal was not just to sell soap but to transform lives through Branch Basics.

In this episode, they join Lindsay Pinchuk to discuss their journey from near closure to a $40 million revenue DTC business, driven by a mission to educate and empower people to live healthier lives. They share their experiences with harmful chemicals, which led them to create toxin-free, sustainable products and prioritize transparency and quality. 

Despite major setbacks, their commitment to their mission and community support fueled their success.

Allison, Kelly, and Marilee’s story is a testament to the impact of living authentically and creating products that truly make a difference in people’s lives.

Quotes

• “Our products have always been a vehicle for educating and creating a community, which is why we’ve sold direct to consumer for several years. We really want to have that community relationship.” (10:01 | Allison Evans)
• “Human health is our number one goal. We put human health above everything, but efficacy is right behind it.” (32:28 | Allison Evans)
• “Know your strengths. Know that when your pie is bigger, your piece is smaller, but you’d rather have a smaller piece of a bigger pie. People who hold on too tightly to their equity and pride, refusing to admit when they need help, are making one of the biggest mistakes.” (38:55 | Allison Evans) 
• “Test and learn. Just start doing whatever your idea is. Start on a small scale with a minimum viable product. Don’t worry about proving scalability before you even prove the concept. Get as much feedback as you can in those early days and don’t hold yourself back, either from perfection or from thinking, ‘How am I going to scale this and reach everyone?’” (45:42 | Kelly Love) 

Connect with Allison Evans and Kelly Love:

https://www.instagram.com/branchbasics/

Grab Lindsay’s JumpStart Your Business Blueprint from last week's episode:

https://lindsaypinchuk.myflodesk.com/11stepsforbusiness

Grab Lindsay’s Reels Cheat Sheet + Social Media Challenge. CLICK HERE

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Don't forget to follow along @dearfoundher and @lindsaypinchuk.

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