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

“We needed to make sure we had product market fit from day one,” says Melissa Mash, Co-Founder with Jessy Dover and Deepa Gandhi of Dagne Dover, the third fastest growing handbag company at Nordstrom. They saw a need in the market for a durable, all-purpose handbag that could adapt to all areas of life. From the beginning, research–through focus groups, surveys and observing the world around them—was key in getting the product just right, before finally launching in 2013. Social media was starting to gain momentum, and the brand benefited from the word-of-mouth element of the platform at a time when it was much less crowded. The trio shares the mistake they made early on that forever changed the way they approach the business, as well as their efforts to incorporate sustainability into the bags’ design and production. 

Key takeaways from today’s episode include:

• Research is key
• Test the product to make sure you have the concept down before you scale
• Leverage word of mouth and build community

Quotes

• “You get attached to everything that you make cuz you've worked so hard on it. Sometimes people won't like it because it's not a good solution and you have to be willing to drop it, let it go,and just navigate towards the things that are working and solving people's problems. (9:50-10:07 | Jessy) 

• “In terms of hurdles, I think the first would be product, and then second would be marketing and growth.” (28:16-28:21 | Deepa)

Connect with Melissa Mash, Deepa Gandhi and Jessy Dover:

Website | http://www.dagnedover.com

Dagne Dover Instagram | http://www.instagram.com/dagnedover

Jessy Instagram | http://www.instagram.com/jessydover

Melissa Instagram | http://www.instagram.com/melissashinmash

Deepa Instagram | http://www.instagram.com/deepagandhi

Please don't forget to rate, comment, and subscribe to Dear FoundHer on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts!

You can now work with Lindsay 1:1 to build and monetize your community through the same method she used to grow and scale her business. Fill out the form here and set up a FREE 30-minute consultation.

Make sure you sign up for Lindsay's newsletter and have all of the takeaways from every podcast episode sent straight to your inbox. PLUS, you'll get a tip every week to help you grow and scale your own business.

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

Use code FoundHer for 50% off your first month with both HiveCast and Fireside

Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

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

In today's episode, host, Lindsay Pinchuk, shares 15 actions she's taken on Instagram since she started using the platform in 2013. After many of you asked about Reels this week on Lindsay's Instagram page, she realized that there were probably a lot of little things that she does every day that she can share to make your life on the 'Gram easier as well.

You'll hear her talk about:

• Time saving in-app tools.
• Tips for what kind of content to share and how to share it.
• Small tweaks to garner more brand awareness.
• Her favorite Insight hack.
• ...and so much more!

Grab Lindsay's Instagram Reel Cheat Sheet that she references in today's episode.

If today's episode resonates with you, Lindsay would like nothing more than for you to share it. Thank you for listening and thank you for being here.

If you're interested in working with Lindsay 1:1, fill out this form and set up a FREE 30-minute call to see if you'd be a fit to partner.

CONNECT WITH LINDSAY @lindsaypinchuk

Follow @dearfoundher and submit your own story and tips to be shared through our content.

Please don't forget to rate, comment, and subscribe to Dear FoundHer on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts!

Today's episode is sponsored by:

Honeybook: Try Honeybook for $1/month or $96/ year to automate your business, book clients more efficiently and stay organized and thought you might like it too. CLICK HERE

Hivecast: Use code FoundHer for 50% off your first month with both HiveCast and Fireside.

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

 “I’m always just working from my gut,” says Joy Wilson, self-taught home cook and baker who has been sharing comforting and approachable recipes on her popular and award-winning blog Joy the Baker since 2008. Since then she has become editor-in-chief of Joy the Baker biannual magazine, written three cookbooks, created her own baking and breakfast mix product line with William Sonoma, and even collaborated with Delicacies jewelry on a culinary themed capsule collection of necklaces and earrings. Saveur Magazine named Joy the Baker Best Baking Blog and the London Times named it a Top 50 food blog. She has appeared in New York Magazine, Country Living, Better Homes and Gardens and on The Today Show. Joy inspires home cooks of all ages to try new things, and proves that baking isn’t about the latest high-tech gadgets but following your sweet tooth into the kitchen and creating something beautiful. She is also the brains behind the popular Instagram account–her passion project–Drake on Cake. She can be found with a bag of cookies and a pound of butter in her purse. 

Top takeaways from today’s episode:

• Stay true to your work but be flexible. The possibilities afforded by these new social media platforms is an exciting chance to be creative. 
• Build quality content for people. This is the foundation of a strong business. 
• Respect that community and stay true to what you offered them. Don’t go for the quick buck. They’ll feel it and it’s icky.

Quotes

• “I really still focus on creating quality content for people. That’s the base of everything.” (31:44-31:51 | Joy) 

• “Be consistent. If you’re going to be on the internet and you have a thing to offer, be consistent about offering it to people.” (36:06-36:13 | Joy)

• “Take time to connect with your community…they’re the ones who will buy something from you if you ask them.” (36:25-37:15 | Joy) 

Connect with Joy Wilson a.k.a. Joy the Baker:

Instagram | http://www.instagram.com/joythebaker

TikTok | http://www.tiktok.com/@heyjoythebaker

Please don't forget to rate, comment, and subscribe to Dear FoundHer on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts!

You can now work with Lindsay 1:1 to build and monetize your community through the same method she used to grow and scale her business. Fill out the form here and set up a FREE 30-minute consultation.

Make sure you sign up for Lindsay's newsletter and have all of the takeaways from every podcast episode sent straight to your inbox. PLUS, you'll get a tip every week to help you grow and scale your own business.

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

Use code FoundHer for 50% off your first month with both HiveCast and Fireside

Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

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

In today's episode, host, Lindsay Pinchuk, expands on the importance of building a strong foundation for your business using the three C's: Community, Content and Connection. She'll walk you through the steps you need to take in order to build that content strategy that will drive connection to your community and ultimately transaction.

Grab Lindsay's "Meet Your Ideal Customer" Checklist that she mentions in the episode.

If today's episode resonates with you, Lindsay would like nothing more than for you to share it. Thank you for listening and thank you for being here.

If you're interested in working with Lindsay 1:1, fill out this form and set up a FREE 30-minute call to see if you'd be a fit to partner.

CONNECT WITH LINDSAY @lindsaypinchuk

Follow @dearfoundher and submit your own story and tips to be shared through our content.

Please don't forget to rate, comment, and subscribe to Dear FoundHer on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts!

Today's episode is sponsored by:

Honeybook: Try Honeybook for $1/month or $96/ year to automate your business, book clients more efficiently and stay organized and thought you might like it too. CLICK HERE

Hivecast: Use code FoundHer for 50% off your first month with both HiveCast and Fireside.

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

“I just kept asking why,” says Kayleigh Christina co-founder of CLEARSTEM Skincare of the root cause of her acne and the ineffective and drastic solutions offered by dermatologists. Kayleigh, a holistic nutritionist and Danielle Gronich, who studied molecular biology and genetics before becoming a clinical esthetician and acne specialist co-founded CLEARSTEM, a first-of-its-kind non toxic stem-cell based skincare dedicated to antiaging and acne treatment. Through brand education and a shared personal passion, the two are creating a positive impact with their business, which has hit the mid seven figure range in less than eight years. Find out why their story is a study in founding, launching and growing a product-based brand.

Key takeaways include:

• Educate your community about results you want them to achieve.
• Reinvest in your business. Bootstrap and sacrifice in order to succeed. 
• Building brick by brick will keep your business solid when the wheels inevitably fall off. 

Quotes

• “I love helping people and love giving information for people to help themselves. And that's at the root, our biggest passion. Everything really did happen organically.” (17:47-18:06 | Kayleigh)

• “Bootstrap all the way, baby. If you can do that, do it.” (21:20-21:23 | Danielle) 

• “Don't start a company until you can't not start it…it has to be a burning passion inside of you. And if that deep passion isn't there, it's not going to succeed.” (40:04-40:58 | Kayleigh)

• “Wearing a lot of hats is really important…until you're to the point that you need to bring in a better key player for that area one at a time.” (41:07-41:32 | Kayleigh)

Connect with Kayleigh Christina and Danielle Gronich:

Instagram for CLEARSTEM Skincare |  http://www.instagram.com/clearstemskincare

Instagram for Kayleigh | http://www.instagram.com/kayleigh.christina

Instagram for Danielle | http://www.instagram.com/danielle.the.acne.guru

Please don't forget to rate, comment, and subscribe to Dear FoundHer on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts!

You can now work with Lindsay 1:1 to build and monetize your community through the same method she used to grow and scale her business. Fill out the form here and set up a FREE 30-minute consultation.

Make sure you sign up for Lindsay's newsletter and have all of the takeaways from every podcast episode sent straight to your inbox. PLUS, you'll get a tip every week to help you grow and scale your own business.

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

Use code FoundHer for 50% off your first month with both HiveCast and Fireside

Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

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

In today's episode, host, Lindsay Pinchuk, expands on the 15 tips she shared last week about selling her business.

This isn an episode EVERY business owner can benefit from, as the information doesn't only apply if you want to sell her business. It is applicable to every business out there.

If today's episode resonates with you, Lindsay would like nothing more than for you to share it. Thank you for listening and thank you for being here.

If you're interested in working with Lindsay 1:1, fill out this form and set up a FREE 30-minute call to see if you'd be a fit to partner.

CONNECT WITH LINDSAY @lindsaypinchuk

Follow @dearfoundher and submit your own story and tips to be shared through our content.

Please don't forget to rate, comment, and subscribe to Dear FoundHer on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts!

Today's episode is sponsored by:

Honeybook: Try Honeybook for $1/month or $96/ year to automate your business, book clients more efficiently and stay organized and thought you might like it too. CLICK HERE

Hivecast: Use code FoundHer for 50% off your first month with both HiveCast and Fireside.

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

FoundHer Files is our new format for Thursday's show. In these episodes, you can expect actionable tips on specific topics. Some weeks it will be host, Lindsay Pinchuk solo, sharing strategies to help you ignite your brand. Other weeks Lindsay will be joined by special guests including journalists, CPAs, publicists, brand strategists and more who will guide us through lessons in their area of expertise.

In today's edition of FoundHer Files, host, Lindsay Pinchuk, pulls back the curtain on the rollercoaster of emotions that came along with the building a company to sale to eventually sell. Whether you’re a business just starting out, one looking to raise money or one hoping to find investors to scale and sell---you will walk away from this episode of Dear FoundHer... with an understanding of what it REALLY looks like to build a business from nothing, WHY you would want to sell it, what that process looks like and eventually---what it looks like to go back to corporate America---eventually making the decision to leave and start all over again.

Lindsay weaves the story of her growth, scale and sale with 16 tips to consider as business owners---whether you are looking to sell or not.

Listen to Lindsay talk about and share about the sale of her business in a way that she has never shared before. This is her raw and real story and she hopes that you take away lessons to apply to your own business from today's conversation.

TUNE IN TOMORROW for a BONUS episode of Dear FoundHer... as Lindsay breaks down the 16 tips she weaves into today's story.

If today's episode resonates with you, Lindsay would like nothing more than for you to share it. Thank you for listening and thank you for being here.

If you're interested in working with Lindsay 1:1, fill out this form and set up a FREE 30-minute call to see if you'd be a fit to partner.

CONNECT WITH LINDSAY @lindsaypinchuk

Follow @dearfoundher and submit your own story and tips to be shared through our content.

Please don't forget to rate, comment, and subscribe to Dear FoundHer on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts!

Today's episode is sponsored by:

Honeybook: Try Honeybook for $1/month or $96/ year to automate your business, book clients more efficiently and stay organized and thought you might like it too. CLICK HERE

Hivecast: Use code FoundHer for 50% off your first month with both HiveCast and Fireside.

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

“I focus on creating things that are meaningful,” says Maya Smith, founder of The Doux, the acclaimed Georgia-based salon and accompanying haircare line which is nationally distributed by key mass retailers. Maya is a professional stylist, beauty editor, and licensed cosmetologist with 27 years in the game who styles more curls on her worst day than the average influencer touches in a year. Award-winning hair care line The Doux blends old school flavor with new school science, and provides solutions that focus on textured hair care. Now a 7-figure business, The Doux offers simple formulas made of real ingredients, to simplify hair care regimens and maximize confidence. 

Top takeaways from today’s conversation:

• Start with your own needs. Reach out, research, find resources and respond to clients’ needs and feedback.
• Lean into your expertise–you can’t be an expert at everything.
• When you can only help so many people, envision how you can scale and execute. 
• Stay authentic to yourself, make yourself the point of difference. People want the truth.

Quotes

• “Lean into what you are expert in. It’s important for us to know that we can't be the expert on everything. I'm the hair care expert, I know how products should perform.” (12:48-13:01 | Maya)

• “I'm not as much thinking about what The Doux will do, but how The Doux will change the industry that I know as textured hair care. That's really what I'm focused on right now. Will people see their hair differently? Will they make different choices because of what we shared with them? ” (38:22-38:48 | Maya)

• “I love to see The Doux change the way people see themselves.” (41:01-41:12 | Maya)

• “The reason that you started is really what will carry you through if you forget why you started, it's a wrap.” (44:16-44:25 | Maya)

• “I would also say learn to build some systems in your business so that if you get hit by a bus, somebody can keep going.” (44:32-44:41 | Maya)

Connect with Maya Smith:

Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/ilovethedoux/

Instagram | http://www.instagram.com/ouidoux/

Please don't forget to rate, comment, and subscribe to Dear FoundHer on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts!

You can now work with Lindsay 1:1 to build and monetize your community through the same method she used to grow and scale her business. Fill out the form here and set up a FREE 30-minute consultation.

Make sure you sign up for Lindsay's newsletter and have all of the takeaways from every podcast episode sent straight to your inbox. PLUS, you'll get a tip every week to help you grow and scale your own business.

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

Use code FoundHer for 50% off your first month with both HiveCast and Fireside

Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

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

FoundHer Files is our new format for Thursday's show. In these episodes, you can expect actionable tips on specific topics. Some weeks it will be host, Lindsay Pinchuk solo, sharing strategies to help you ignite your brand. Other weeks Lindsay will be joined by special guests including journalists, CPAs, publicists, brand strategists and more who will guide us through lessons in their area of expertise.

At the 11th hour, host Lindsay Pinchuk changed today's episode to share the details of a coaching call she had today with a client. Like so many of you, the client was stuck and in under an hour, Lindsay's goal was to get her un-stuck. And she did. In today's episode you will hear host, Lindsay Pinchuk, award-winning entrepreneur, share the steps she gave this client to take her: "I don't know what to do" to 'I've got a lot of work to do."

You'll hear Lindsay talk about:

• How to take a look at your expertise to develop something you can sell.
• Memorializing your process so that you can ultimately teach others to use it.
• The importance of market research and your proof of concept.
• The first steps to take when putting your concept out into the world.
• How to think about taking your product and your process to the next level.

If you're interested in working with Lindsay 1:1, fill out this form and set up a FREE 30-minute call to see if you'd be a fit to partner.

CONNECT WITH LINDSAY @lindsaypinchuk

Follow @dearfoundher and submit your own story and tips to be shared through our content.

Please don't forget to rate, comment, and subscribe to Dear FoundHer on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts!

Use code FoundHer for 50% off your first month with both HiveCast and Fireside.

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

“It’s not going the extra mile, it’s doing the job,” says Kathryn Janicek, 3-time Emmy-winning media and public speaking trainer. With more than 20 years of experience as a former TV executive, producer and spokesperson, Kathryn helps clients better connect with their audiences more effectively online, on-air, on stage, and in videos. In 2015, she founded Kathryn Janicek Productions, where as a training consultant, she helps her current clients–including Fortune 50 executives, pharmaceutical companies, startups and entrepreneurs–prepare for successful media appearances. Come in and meet Kathryn!

Top takeaways from today’s conversation:

• Start your service-based business by following demand.
• Figure out what you don’t want to do and follow the one thing you love to do. That is when everything comes.
• Show up and do the job to the best of your ability. That is how you get the jobs and the clients. 
• The biggest struggle is making sure you remember the value in what you bring.
• People do business with people, not logos or names. Show your personality; build your connection.

Quotes

• “I don't want to say ‘go the extra mile’ because it's not the extra mile. I just do the job, and I don't stop until the job's done. That's how you get success. (32:21-32:36 | Kathryn)

• “People do business with people, they don’t do business with a logo or company or name.” (42:36-42:43 | Kathryn) 

• “I could not go after the kind of business that we're going after right now if I didn't have a strong team.” (21:26-21:32 | Kathryn)

• “I really had to follow one path. And that's when honestly, that's when more and more clients started coming. That's when our margins were much, much better. That's when our gross revenue really just started doubling every year, when I focused on one thing and that was media and public speaking training.” (13:58-14:17 | Kathryn)

Connect with Kathryn Janicek:

LinkedIn | http://www.linkedin.com/in/kathrynjanicek

Instagram | http://www.instagram.com/kathrynjanicek

Please don't forget to rate, comment, and subscribe to Dear FoundHer on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts!

Are you ready to Ignite Your Brand and Make Yourself Stand out in 2023? Register for Lindsay’s latest workshop to learn the exact process she uses for her clients AND her own companies to generate bottom line growth. Use the code DEARFOUNDHER to save $150 on registration (cannot be combined with any other discounts.)

Make sure you sign up for Lindsay's newsletter and have all of the takeaways from every podcast episode sent straight to your inbox. 

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

Use code FoundHer for 50% off your first month with both HiveCast and Fireside

Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast

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