“A lot of our kids are in and out of the hospital. They're not in school. They're not able to be on sports teams. So they don't really feel like they belong. And so we help them belong by welcoming them to the superhero squad.”

In this powerful episode, Erika Sinner shares her journey from a challenging childhood growing up in a trailer park to becoming the founder of a two-time Inc. 5000 company and a nonprofit leader changing thousands of lives. As the CEO of Directorie, Erika scaled her business to 35+ employees, built systems that allowed her to step out of the day-to-day, and redefined what it means to lead with both strategy and heart.

But her story doesn’t stop there.

Erika opens up about launching and growing Tiny Superheroes, a nonprofit dedicated to helping children facing serious medical challenges see themselves as brave, capable heroes. Through deeply personal stories and real-world impact, she reveals how mindset, identity, and human connection can transform lives.

What We Talked About:Building Directorie [3:38]Systems for Success [11:52]Building a Personal Brand [19:55]The Impact of Tiny Superheroes [24:35]Scaling Nonprofits [31:09]Investing in Personal Growth [39:50]

Connect with Erika:@erika_sinner on InstagramErika Sinner on LinkedInCelebrate Tiny Superheros on April 23rd!

Resources:

Slack

Workamajig

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!

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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.

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Resources mentioned:

“I started this company because I was obsessed with her, and what I wanted to feed her. And not being able to find the infant formula that I wanted to give her.”

In this episode of The Entreprenista Podcast, Stephanie sits down with Esther Hallam, founder and CEO of Nara Organics, one of the first organic infant formula brands to enter the U.S. market and now available in more than 1,800 Target stores nationwide. Esther shares her remarkable journey from a 20-year career at iconic venture-backed companies like Google, Gilt, and Martha Stewart to becoming a founder determined to solve a problem she personally faced as a new mom. 

Esther reveals how two years of research led her to build a company in one of the most heavily regulated industries in the country, what it took to raise capital, hire a team of scientists from scratch, and persevere through seven years of product development. She also discusses the power of relationships in fundraising, the importance of curiosity as an outsider, and how her grassroots approach helped grow the Nara Baby tracking app to over one million users through word-of-mouth alone. 

What We Talked About:

Esther Choi's Entrepreneurial Journey [2:07]

Raising Capital and Building Relationships [9:54]

Marketing Strategies for Launch [14:01]

Balancing Motherhood and Entrepreneurship [19:03]

Creating a Hybrid Work Culture [25:31]

Proud Accomplishments and Future Vision [26:47]

Connect with Esther:

@estherhallam on Instagram 

Esther Hallam on LinkedIn

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.

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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!

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Resources mentioned:

“When you're on the floor and you're like, what the hell is going on with my life? That's when I think you start to realize what you really want to do.”

In this episode of The Entreprenista Podcast, Stephanie and Courtney sit down with Alexis Meruelo, corporate social responsibility executive at The Meruelo Group, author, and founder of Business of Her, a thriving Las Vegas community and conference dedicated to empowering women entrepreneurs. Alexis shares how a difficult chapter in her personal life led her to uncover her true purpose: helping women step into their power and build lives and businesses they love.

From growing up in a family of entrepreneurs to helping oversee philanthropy across a portfolio of more than 20 companies, Alexis opens up about navigating leadership within a family business, creating meaningful community impact, and building a movement that brings hundreds of women together each year.

What We Talked About:

Finding Purpose in Crisis [1:17]

Building Community and Empowering Women [7:07]

The Importance of Mentorship [13:49]

Event Planning Insights [21:05]

Future of Business and AI [29:50]

Connect with Alexis:@alexismeruelo on Instagram 

Alexis Meruelo on LinkedIn

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.

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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.

“If you don't have someone that actually wants you to be successful, then you should keep looking”

In this inspiring live episode of the Entreprenista Podcast, serial entrepreneur, investor, and bestselling author Kim Perell shares the real stories behind her success from building companies at her kitchen table to scaling businesses worth hundreds of millions. Recorded live at the Entreprenista Founders Weekend Retreat, Kim opens up about the pivots, failures, risks, and mindset shifts that shaped her entrepreneurial journey. 

Kim dives into the power of mentorship, knowing when to pivot, building a personal brand, balancing motherhood and entrepreneurship, and why “failing fast” is one of the most important skills founders can develop. She also shares the five traits she looks for when investing in founders, the lessons she learned from burnout, and the importance of women supporting women in business. 

What We Talked About:

The Importance of Mentorship [1:21]

Navigating Life as a Serial Entreprenista [5:01]

The Art of Pivoting in Business [10:09]

Self-Care and Wellness [20:17]

Overcoming Limiting Beliefs [25:03]

Connect with Kim:@kimperell on Instagram 

Kim Perell on LinkedInOrder Mistakes That Made Me a Millionaire

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.

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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.

Resources mentioned:

“You're going to actually become more successful if you're a great listener. And so I think that's probably skill number one. That is a very important skill. That was one of the first things that I learned.”

In this episode of the Entreprenista Podcast, Stephanie sits down with luxury interior designer and Krista Home founder Krista Watterworth to unpack her incredible journey from HGTV host to building one of Florida’s most highly valued interior design firms. Krista shares how she transformed her passion for design into an 18-year business empire, the mindset shift from creative to CEO, and the systems she built that ultimately led to her company’s acquisition by Vesta.

From learning entrepreneurship on the fly to mastering the luxury client experience, Krista reveals the obsession, discipline, and preparation required to succeed at the highest level. She opens up about navigating the acquisition process with her husband, aligning with the right buyers, and what life and leadership look like after the sale. Along the way, she shares candid advice on networking, mentorship, scaling a service-based business, using AI tools like ChatGPT, and balancing entrepreneurship with motherhood.

What We Talked About:

The Journey to Luxury Design Success [1:21]

Building a Service-Based Business [6:33]

Navigating the Acquisition Process [12:52]

Post-Acquisition Reflections and Growth [19:54]

Can’t Live Without Business Tools [22:14]

Connect with Krista:on Instagram 

Krista Watterworth Alterman on LinkedIn

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.

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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.

“And ironically, we created a to-go concept that was so cozy and so warm and welcoming and charming and something so different than what was offered in New York at the time that people wanted to stay.”

In this episode of the Entreprenista Podcast, Elisa Marshall, co-founder of Maman, shares the inspiring story behind building one of the most beloved café brands in the country. What started as a cozy Soho storefront in 2014 has grown into more than 50 locations across North America, all fueled by passion, creativity, and an unwavering commitment to community and connection.

Elisa opens up about her entrepreneurial roots, from flipping Spice Girls collectibles on eBay at 12 years old to balancing careers in fashion, baking, catering, and event planning before finally creating a business that combined everything she loved under one roof. She reveals how she and her husband bootstrapped Maman with savings, sweat equity, and help from family, hand-painting walls and sourcing vintage décor themselves to bring their vision to life.

What We Talked About:

Building a Business From Passion [1:55]

The Magic of Opening Day [15:44]

Going VIRAL [18:52]

Expanding Beyond New York [28:45]

The Importance of Personal Connection [30:37]

Connect with Elisa:

@_byeelisa_ on Instagram

@_mamannyc_ on Instagram
Visit a maman cafe near you!

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.

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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.

Resources mentioned:

Join InnerFifth and use code ‘LIVESTREAM’ for a special discount

“It's important to talk to everyone and really get all of those perspectives. Otherwise, we just get like laser focus on one thing and don't see what else is out there.”

After building and selling a nearly $100 million beauty empire, Tracy Holland learned that success doesn’t always feel the way you expect. In this powerful episode of The Entreprenista Podcast, Tracy shares the real story behind scaling Hatch Beauty from startup to acquisition, what happened after the sale, and why she had to mourn the business she built like a personal loss.

From selling products as a child and mastering hospitality in her early career to pioneering celebrity beauty partnerships with names like Salma Hayek, Tracy opens up about the highs, the heartbreaks, and the lessons every founder needs to hear. She gets candid about navigating difficult business partnerships, surviving entrepreneurial “tsunami moments,” protecting yourself during acquisitions, and why founders need to stop oversharing during exit negotiations.

What We Talked About:

Navigating Challenges in Entrepreneurship [8:13]

The Journey of Building a Beauty Brand [18:11]

Building Confidence and Self-Belief [29:51]

Trusting People’s True Nature [34:34]

Mourning the Loss of a Business [42”34]

Connect with Tracy Holland:

@tracy_m_holland on Instagram 

Tracy Holland on LinkedIn

Join the Inner Fifth Accelerator!

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.

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

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.

“I didn't go to college. I went to beauty school. Don't doubt the sweat equity you put in and the learnings you've had are worth an education that sometimes you can't get in college.”

In this episode of The Entreprenista Podcast, Laura Geller, founder of Laura Geller Beauty, shares the unfiltered story behind her journey from a single makeup chair in Hell’s Kitchen to a nationally recognized brand featured on QVC, Sephora, and Ulta. Laura opens up about the highs, the hard lessons, and the pivotal moments that forced her to trust her instincts, even when others in the room didn’t.

From selling handmade products door-to-door to navigating investor relationships that nearly cost her everything, Laura reveals how resilience, street smarts, and knowing your customer can outweigh any formal business training. She dives into the challenges of scaling, the realities of managing people, and why learning to ask for help is one of the most important skills an entrepreneur can develop.

What We Talked About:

Building a Brand From Scratch [7:09]

Navigating Challenges/Learning Lessons [13:52]

The Role of Investors and Partnerships [21:02]

Trusting Your Voice [27:55]

Marketing Strategies for Success [35:11]

Connect with Lauren:

@laurageller on Instagram

@lauragellerbeauty on Instagram

Laura Geller on LinkedIn

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.

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

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.

Resources mentioned:

Mariana Tek

Wisetail

“That's a beautiful thing of what we've built is it really is inside out. It's really authentic..So it just feels good and it feels very, very aligned too.”

In this episode of The Entreprenista Podcast, we sit down with Sadie Lincoln, co-founder of Barre3, the global fitness franchise that has grown to over 200 studios, all owned and operated by women. Built without outside funding, Sadie scaled Barre3 through cash flow and a franchise model designed to empower female entrepreneurs in their own communities.

Sadie shares the deeply personal story behind Barre3’s methodology, rooted in her recovery from a decade-long eating disorder and her mission to redefine what it means to be “fit.” You’ll hear how her mantra, “Listen to Her,” became the foundation of a brand that prioritizes connection, authenticity, and inner strength over external perfection.

We also dive into the realities of scaling a business from choosing franchising as a growth strategy to learning the art of letting go as a founder. Sadie opens up about hiring a president who accelerated the company’s growth, the challenges of leadership evolution, and the power of building authentic, community-driven relationships.

What We Talked About:

Franchising Insights [5:57]

Navigating Challenges & Letting Go [9:04]

Marketing Strategies for Local Businesses [15:12]

Operationalizing Growth and Learning [20:45]

The Future Vision for Barre3 [27:01]

Connect with Sadie:

@sadielincoln on Instagram 

Sadie Lincoln on LinkedIn

Visit a Barre3 near you

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.

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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.

Resources mentioned:

Framer

Willow

Granola

Joy

"The most important relationship you'll ever have is with yourself. More than your investors, your partners, even your co-founders — it starts there."

In this episode, Betsy Fore shares her remarkable journey from first-generation college graduate and toy inventor to serial founder, venture capitalist, and nonprofit leader — all driven by an unwavering belief in the power of "why not me?" As the founder of Tiny Organics, which generated over $13 million in revenue in its first 24 months, and now managing partner of Velveteen Ventures, Betsy has built, scaled, and fundraised across multiple industries while breaking barriers as the first Native American woman to raise a Series A round.

But her story doesn't stop there.

Betsy opens up about the burnout that forced her to do the inner work, the mindset practices that rewired how she leads, and the Indigenous values of reciprocity and humility that have quietly shaped every business decision she's ever made. From pitching in front of the co-founder of Square to launching a nonprofit community for Native technologists and founders, she reveals what it really takes to stay in the ring — and why the founder who succeeds is often the one who simply refused to quit.

What We Talked About:

Tiny Organics: $13M in 24 months 5:52

Angel vs. venture capital funding 21:25

How to pitch your three whys 31:24

Burning out and bouncing back 35:57

Natives Rising and Velveteen Ventures 31:24

Connect with Betsy:@betsyfore on Instagram 

Betsy Fore on LinkedIn

Buy Built on Purpose

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.

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