“It's good to have your own executive coach because at the end of the day, the brand is the brand is the brand. We are also our own brand. And for me, whether the company exists in this way or not, I will still be Kendra Bracken Ferguson.”

Kendra Bracken-Ferguson, 4X founder, brand builder, and author opens up about her early career in PR, her career leap of faith, and the behind-the-scenes struggles of building one of the first influencer management agencies before Instagram even existed.

She shares the game-changing advice she received, the importance of having both a personal and a partnership executive coach, and how she evaluates new opportunities with her “litmus test” for founders.

What we talked about:

Starting Something New [5:40]

Advice to Resolve Conflict Within Your Business [11:35]

Being a Good Executive Coach [20:18]

The Process After Having a New Idea [29:01]

What Are You Most Looking Forward To? [39:41]

Connect with Kendra:

kendrabracken-ferguson.com

LinkedIn

Instagram

Join our Founders Weekend Wealth & Wellness Retreat

April 30th - May 3rd, 2026 at the PGA National Resort in Palm Beach Gardens, FL. ⁠Reserve your ticket here!⁠

Join our ⁠Entreprenista League⁠ community of women founders! You’ll have access to a private community of like-minded Entreprenistas who are making an impact in business every day, special discounts on business products and solutions, exclusive content, private events, the opportunity to have your story featured on our ⁠website⁠ and social channels, and access to Office Hours with top founders who have been on our show! We can’t wait to welcome you, support you, and be part of your business journey!

Curious about joining the Entreprenista League? ⁠Sign up here⁠ for a free info session.

Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of The Entreprenista Podcast - the most fun business meeting for women founders and leaders. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to the show and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts.

⁠Apple Podcasts⁠ | ⁠TuneIn⁠ | ⁠Spotify⁠ | ⁠Stitcher⁠ | ⁠iHeart Radio⁠ | ⁠GooglePlay⁠

Be sure to share your favorite episodes across social media to help us reach more amazing female founders, like you.

“An acquisition is not the end all, be all. And I really want to emphasize that because I think there's so many misnomers or ideas out there that people think the norm is raising money. I did not. There's another way to do it. It's just less talked about and gets less attention. The end all is not always an exit.”

Gwen Whiting is a serial entrepreneur and the co-founder of The Laundress, an eco-friendly cleaning brand. After selling the company to Unilever in 2019, Gwen faced unexpected challenges navigating the acquisition process and the emotional toll of watching the brand she had built for many years start to sink.

Now, Gwen is channeling her passion for wellness into her latest venture, The Fill, a private members cleaning community focused on sustainable solutions. Through this new chapter, she continues to advocate for responsible entrepreneurship and creating meaningful impact. After not being able to speak about the details of her acquisition until now, Gwen is finally able to reveal what can really happen after a sale.

Tune in and hear the challenges Gwen faced going from founder to employee, what she learned from her acquisition, and why some of her best advice is to join the Entreprenista League.

We talked about:

How the Laundress was acquired (06:42)

The emotional toll of selling a business (24:52)

Sustainable business practices (31:36)

The importance of giving back (35:56)

Challenges of starting fresh (47:14)

Connect with Gwen:

@gwenlwhiting on Instagram

thefillclub.com

⁠Listen to Gwen's previous episode on the Entreprenista Podcast here

Join our Founders Weekend Wealth & Wellness Retreat

April 30th - May 3rd, 2026 at the PGA National Resort in Palm Beach Gardens, FL. Reserve your ticket here!

Join our Entreprenista League community of women founders! You’ll have access to a private community of like-minded Entreprenistas who are making an impact in business every day, special discounts on business products and solutions, exclusive content, private events, the opportunity to have your story featured on our website and social channels, and access to Office Hours with top founders who have been on our show! We can’t wait to welcome you, support you, and be part of your business journey!

Curious about joining the Entreprenista League? Sign up here for a free info session.

Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of The Entreprenista Podcast - the most fun business meeting for women founders and leaders. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to the show and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts.

Apple Podcasts | TuneIn | Spotify | Stitcher | iHeart Radio | GooglePlay

Be sure to share your favorite episodes across social media to help us reach more amazing female founders, like you.

Relay is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services provided by Thread Bank member, FDIC.

"When you actually start to look at what's working you realize that 80% of what you're doing you could actually stop doing and if you just focused on the 20%, you would make more."

Join Stephanie as she reconnects with her friend and powerhouse entrepreneur, Leanne Lopez Mosley, the founder of Rich Queen. After trading her corporate career for entrepreneurship, Leanne has mastered the art of scalable business success going from selling $35 tickets to achieving $2 million months in just a few short years.

They discuss the challenges of goal-setting and productivity that many women face, and how Leanne transformed her early struggles into a thriving business model built on authenticity and effective messaging strategies. Discover her secrets to automating your business with innovative tools, including Leanne AI, which enables entrepreneurs to clone her messaging methodology and save time.

Join us for a discussion about the true meaning of entrepreneurship, the impact of community, and how to take your business to new heights, without sacrificing your freedom or well-being.

Exclusives for Entreprenistas!

⁠Leanne AI⁠

She Makes Bank

What we talked about:

Leanne’s Career Journey Before Creating Rich Queen [4:40]

The Stuggles of Being a Mamaprenista [10:23]

Leanne’s Mentality Shift [20:45]

If you had to start your business over today, what would you do differently? [33:00]

Leanne AI [38:00]

What does a funnel look like on the back end? [51:20]

Connect with Leanne:

She Makes Bank

Leanne AI

Freedom Funnels

Linkedin

@theleannelopezmosley Instagram

Rich Queen Podcast

Join our Entreprenista League community of women founders! You’ll have access to a private community of like-minded Entreprenistas who are making an impact in business every day, special discounts on business products and solutions, exclusive content, private events, the opportunity to have your story featured on our website and social channels, and access to Office Hours with top founders who have been on our show! We can’t wait to welcome you, support you, and be part of your business journey!

Curious about joining the Entreprenista League? Sign up here for a free info session.

Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of The Entreprenista Podcast - the most fun business meeting for women founders and leaders. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to the show and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts.

Apple Podcasts | TuneIn | Spotify | Stitcher | iHeart Radio | GooglePlay

Be sure to share your favorite episodes across social media to help us reach more amazing female founders, like you.

Relay is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services provided by Thread Bank member, FDIC.

"We together can move that needle and help change the world for the better."

Catherine Gray is an entrepreneur, producer, and advocate for women's empowerment known for her impactful work supporting entrepreneurs through media and funding platforms. As the founder of She Angel Investors and the co-founder of the She Angels Foundation, Catherine bridges the funding gap for women by providing resources, education, and inspiration. Catherine's passion for storytelling and advocacy led to her latest film project, the documentary "Show Her the Money" which highlights the challenges women face in securing venture capital.

Tune in to hear how Catherine's experience inspired her mission to educate women entrepreneurs, her strategies for raising awareness about venture capital, and all about the impact of her grassroots campaigns in promoting venture capital education.

NYC Founders: Join us at the Show Her the Money Film Screening + Conversation ! Get your ticket right here.

What We Talked About:

Understanding venture capital and its challenges [04:43]

The importance of education in venture capital [20:32]

Expanding reach [28:59]

Connecting and building relationships [35:46]

Connect with Catherine:

She Angel Investors

Show Her the Money

Catherine Gray on LinkedIn

Join our Entreprenista League community of women founders! You’ll have access to a private community of like-minded Entreprenistas who are making an impact in business every day, special discounts on business products and solutions, exclusive content, private events, the opportunity to have your story featured on our website and social channels, and access to Office Hours with top founders who have been on our show! We can’t wait to welcome you, support you, and be part of your business journey!

Curious about joining the Entreprenista League? Sign up here for a free info session.

Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of The Entreprenista Podcast - the most fun business meeting for women founders and leaders. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to the show and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts.

Apple Podcasts | TuneIn | Spotify | Stitcher | iHeart Radio | GooglePlay

Be sure to share your favorite episodes across social media to help us reach more amazing female founders, like you.

Relay is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services provided by Thread Bank member, FDIC.

“Every email that goes out with a pitch to tell someone about the brand, they may not answer, they may not opt in for product, and we may not gift them, but I built one more touch point of brand awareness and maybe [they] read that email and discovered our brand. You have to be what 99% of the world is not, which is consistent.”

In this episode, Stephanie sat down with Divya Gugnani, a serial entrepreneur and investor as well as the CEO and co-founder of Wander Beauty, a brand renowned for its clean multitasking beauty essentials designed for the modern woman on the go. With 5 SENS, her latest business venture, Divya is creating a sensory experience with fragrances that emphasizes clean ingredients and unique mood encapsulating scents.

Her commitment to clean beauty and innovative consumer focused products continues to drive her success in the competitive beauty industry and her leadership has earned her numerous accolades and awards, underscoring her impact as a visionary in the beauty market. Tune in to hear Divya’s advice on venturing into a new industry, building a successful business with a partner, and how she keeps her focus and balance with her growing family.

What We Talked About:

The lesson Divya learned from selling to QVC [07:14]

If you lack the knowledge, surround yourself with experts and build a community [12:56]

The power of working with a business coach [17:07]

How Divya’s experiences in childhood and adolescence inspired her fragrance business, 5 SENS [18:04]

People are the magic ingredient to building an outstanding brand [25:48]

Connect with Divya:

Divya Gugnani on LinkedIn

Join our Entreprenista League community of women founders! You’ll have access to a private community of like-minded Entreprenistas who are making an impact in business every day, special discounts on business products and solutions, exclusive content, private events, the opportunity to have your story featured on our website and social channels, and access to Office Hours with top founders who have been on our show! We can’t wait to welcome you, support you, and be part of your business journey!

Curious about joining the Entreprenista League? Sign up here for a free info session.

Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of The Entreprenista Podcast - the most fun business meeting for women founders and leaders. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to the show and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts.

Apple Podcasts | TuneIn | Spotify | Stitcher | iHeart Radio | GooglePlay

Be sure to share your favorite episodes across social media to help us reach more amazing female founders, like you.

Relay is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services provided by Thread Bank member, FDIC.

“Understanding through growth, how to have that balance, and to be yourself has been a really big learning for me as an entrepreneur.”

Allison Ellsworth is the founder Poppi, a revolutionary better-for-you soda brand that you've probably seen in every store. Allison created Poppi in her kitchen by combining apple cider vinegar with refreshing flavors. After gaining national attention on Shark Tank and then rebranding, Allison has propelled Poppi to become a top-selling beverage.

Poppi was recently sold to PepsiCo for $1.95 billion, a testament to all of Allison's hard work and passion. Tune in and hear how Allison's health journey inspired Poppi's creation, how she achieves work-life balance, and the importance of authentic social media content.

What We Talked About:

Allison on Creating Poppi [3:50]

The "Secret Sauce" of Poppi [10:35]

How Has Allison's Role at Poppi Evolved? [19:45]

How to Say No [30:00]

Connect with Allison:

Allison Ellsworth on LinkedIn

@allisonellsworth on Instagram

@drinkpoppi on Instagram

drinkpoppi.com

Join our Entreprenista League community of women founders! You’ll have access to a private community of like-minded Entreprenistas who are making an impact in business every day, special discounts on business products and solutions, exclusive content, private events, the opportunity to have your story featured on our website and social channels, and access to Office Hours with top founders who have been on our show! We can’t wait to welcome you, support you, and be part of your business journey!

Curious about joining the Entreprenista League? Sign up here for a free info session.

Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of The Entreprenista Podcast - the most fun business meeting for women founders and leaders. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to the show and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts.

Apple Podcasts | TuneIn | Spotify | Stitcher | iHeart Radio | GooglePlay

Be sure to share your favorite episodes across social media to help us reach more amazing female founders, like you.

Relay is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services provided by Thread Bank member, FDIC.

“I think Entreprenistas are people who know that they're called to do something, know that their purpose, whether it's to give, or serve, or create, or ideate, they know that they have that and they're actually willing to step out and take that risk of stepping out to do something about it.”

Fear lies to us. It tells us we're safe if we stay small, if we don't step out. But what happens when we choose courage over comfort? In this powerful episode, IT Cosmetics founder Jamie Kern Lima shares her incredible journey from struggling news anchor to billion-dollar entrepreneur, sharing how she silenced self-doubt, trusted her gut, and turned rejection into redirection.

Whether you're dreaming of starting a business, stuck in self-doubt, or facing a "no" that feels like the end, this episode will remind you: your purpose is bigger than your fear. Jamie’s story proves that when we bet on ourselves, the impossible becomes possible.

What we talked about:

Jamie’s Entrepreneurial Journey [3:10]

How Jamie Overcame Rejection [13:50]

Securing the L'Oréal Deal [20:30]

What Does Being an Entrepreneur Mean to You? [31:00]

Connect with Jamie:

@jamiekernlima on IG

Jamie Kern Lima on LinkedIn

@JamieKernLima on X/Twitter

jamiekernlima.com

Check out Believe IT at believeit.com

IT Cosmetics

Join our Entreprenista League community of women founders! You’ll have access to a private community of like-minded Entreprenistas who are making an impact in business every day, special discounts on business products and solutions, exclusive content, private events, the opportunity to have your story featured on our website and social channels, and access to Office Hours with top founders who have been on our show! We can’t wait to welcome you, support you, and be part of your business journey!

Curious about joining the Entreprenista League? Sign up here for a free info session.

Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of The Entreprenista Podcast - the most fun business meeting for women founders and leaders. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to the show and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts.

Apple Podcasts | TuneIn | Spotify | Stitcher | iHeart Radio | GooglePlay

Be sure to share your favorite episodes across social media to help us reach more amazing female founders, like you.

Relay is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services provided by Thread Bank member, FDIC.

“I needed support, community, someone to reach their hand down and pull me up. And now I'm always reaching my hand down to pull someone else up.”

Mary Seats is the founder of The Icing Agency and The Bakery CoWork, a co-working space designed for women entrepreneurs. From a young age, Mary showcased her entrepreneurial spirit by selling handmade Barbie clothes to all of her friends.

Despite facing challenges, including being fired from her own company, Mary persevered and created a thriving business and is an Entreprenista 100 Award Winner. She is dedicated to empowering women founders, fostering community, and breaking barriers for minority women in business. Tune in and hear how Mary launched her first business with only $300, how she scaled her first company to $4 million in revenue, and the hard lessons she’s learned about navigating contracts and partnerships.

What we talked about:

The Marketing Strategy that Made Mary’s First Brand Successful [07:03]

Lessons Learned from Selling to Retailers [13:48]

The Vision Behind The Bakery CoWork [24:49]

The Importance of Community Support [36:38]

Connect with Mary:⁠

@MzSkittlez on IG

@thebakerycowork on IG

The Bakery Cowork

The Icing Agency⁠

Join our Entreprenista League community of women founders! You’ll have access to a private community of like-minded Entreprenistas who are making an impact in business every day, special discounts on business products and solutions, exclusive content, private events, the opportunity to have your story featured on our website and social channels, and access to Office Hours with top founders who have been on our show! We can’t wait to welcome you, support you, and be part of your business journey!

Curious about joining the Entreprenista League? Sign up here for a free info session.

Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of The Entreprenista Podcast - the most fun business meeting for women founders and leaders. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to the show and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts.

Apple Podcasts | TuneIn | Spotify | Stitcher | iHeart Radio | GooglePlay

Be sure to share your favorite episodes across social media to help us reach more amazing female founders, like you.

Relay is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services provided by Thread Bank member, FDIC.

“Being an entrepreneur means being confident and passionate and fearless and resourceful, going after what you want, and not accepting 'no' when you hear it all the time.”

Amanda Zuckerman is the co-founder and CEO of Dormify, a home decor brand and e-commerce store dedicated to fashion-minded girls and first-time renters. Amanda co-founded Dormify with her mother, Karen Zuckerman, while studying at Washington University in St. Louis.

Amanda shares about the unique experience of starting a business that caters to college students while being in college gave her the focus group she needed to set herself up for success. She describes how developing a blog for her business led her to a network of brand ambassadors eager to share Dormify. You'll also learn how a grassroots approach to marketing was key to Dormify’s success and shares her best advice for reaching college students.

What we talked about:

How Dormify Came to Be [3:30]

Navigating a Limited Pool of Vendors [9:30]

Amanda’s Marketing Strategy [20:20]

Amanda’s Learning Lessons for Raising Capital [33:45]

Amanda’s Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs [45:30]

Connect with Amanda:

Amanda Zuckerman on LinkedIn

@dormify on Instagram

@amandazuckerman on Instagram

dormify.com

Join our Entreprenista League community of women founders! You’ll have access to a private community of like-minded Entreprenistas who are making an impact in business every day, special discounts on business products and solutions, exclusive content, private events, the opportunity to have your story featured on our website and social channels, and access to Office Hours with top founders who have been on our show! We can’t wait to welcome you, support you, and be part of your business journey!

Curious about joining the Entreprenista League? Sign up here for a free info session.

Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of The Entreprenista Podcast - the most fun business meeting for women founders and leaders. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to the show and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts.

Apple Podcasts | TuneIn | Spotify | Stitcher | iHeart Radio | GooglePlay

Be sure to share your favorite episodes across social media to help us reach more amazing female founders, like you.

Relay is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services provided by Thread Bank member, FDIC.

“I often say I would not do a lot differently because, had it not been for those mistakes, I would not have been able to grow and to do the things I did as my career continued.”

Ever wonder how much luck, timing, and strategic focus play into entrepreneurial success? In this episode of The Entreprenista Podcast, Stephanie sits down with Andrea Johnston, founder of Fuel for Female Founders, and a seasoned agency owner. Andrea pulls back the curtain on her journey from launching a niche marketing agency to scaling it to success.

She shares why niching down, even when tempting opportunities arose, became her game-changing strategy, and how a single client referral led to explosive growth. You’ll hear about the realities of private equity partnerships, the exhilarating highs and the tough learning lessons, and why delegation and outsourcing are non-negotiables for sustainable growth.

What we talked about:

How Andrea Started Her Own Business [4:55]

How Spending Leads to Growth [24:25]

How Andrea Lands Her Clients [33:00]

Andrea's Agency Owner Power Group inside the Entreprenista League [39:40]

Andrea’s Business Tools and Solutions [44:50]

Connect with Andrea:

Agency Owner Power Group

Get Fyxer.ai

Andrea’s LinkedIn

Fuel for Female Founders on LinkedIn

Join our Entreprenista League community of women founders! You’ll have access to a private community of like-minded Entreprenistas who are making an impact in business every day, special discounts on business products and solutions, exclusive content, private events, the opportunity to have your story featured on our website and social channels, and access to Office Hours with top founders who have been on our show! We can’t wait to welcome you, support you, and be part of your business journey!

Curious about joining the Entreprenista League? Sign up here for a free info session.

Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of The Entreprenista Podcast - the most fun business meeting for women founders and leaders. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to the show and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts.

Apple Podcasts | TuneIn | Spotify | Stitcher | iHeart Radio | GooglePlay

Be sure to share your favorite episodes across social media to help us reach more amazing female founders, like you.