Founders Society Podcast

Join us for an announcement and of course time to answer your biggest open studio question! 

This week, we’re joined by Emily Westenberger, founder and designer behind Emily Westenberger The Label, a luxury slow fashion brand built on storytelling, authenticity, and heart. From studying fashion merchandising to working in Los Angeles and completing an accelerated design program at FIDM, Emily's journey has been anything but linear—but it’s that winding path that fuels her creative magic.

In this episode, we chat about how Emily infuses her collections with meaning, what it’s like to be hands-on through every step of the design process, and why taking the leap to go full-time with her brand felt both scary and absolutely right.

🎧 Listen in to hear about:

• Emily’s cross-country creative journey—from LA to New York to Charleston
• How she launched her brand during the pandemic and found her footing in fashion
• The power of designing with personal stories and seasons in mind
• Why professional development retreats (like The Founders Society and Layover) have been game-changers for her mindset and business
• What it means to fully show up, stay curious, and bet on yourself

Emily’s energy is warm, curious, and magnetic—and her insights on navigating creative entrepreneurship will inspire you to reconnect with your purpose, embrace your story, and maybe even say yes to that next big leap.

https://emilywestenberger.com/

https://www.instagram.com/emilywestenberger

Join us for an open studio all about spring cleaning! From digital detox to clutter cleanup we have all the insider tips! 

In this episode of The Founders Society Podcast, we sit down with Elisabeth Russell, the founder of Peachy Petals, a floral preservation company based in Atlanta, Georgia. From environmental engineering to preserving wedding bouquets, Elisabeth shares the inspiring story of how she followed her intuition, trusted her creativity, and built a business rooted in memory and meaning.

We cover:

• Her Unconventional Path: How a corporate burnout and a wedding bouquet sparked the idea for Peachy Petals.
• Making the Leap: The calculated steps she took to leave her corporate job and pursue entrepreneurship full-time.
• Founders Society Impact: Why attending one of our retreats gave her the clarity and courage to go all in on her business.
• Authentic Marketing: How Elisabeth uses day-in-the-life content and personality-driven branding to build connection.
• Scaling the Business: From hiring her first assistant to setting up systems, she shares what’s helped her grow.

If you’ve ever thought about turning a passion into a business—or felt pulled toward something more creative and fulfilling—this episode will leave you inspired to take the next step.

https://www.peachypetalsco.com/

https://www.instagram.com/peachy.petals.co/

In this episode of The Founders Society Podcast, we sit down with Macie Franklin Temples, a live event engraver, calligrapher, and bottle painter based in Macon, Georgia. Macie shares how she transitioned from a background in engineering and technical communication to launching Macie Kendall Co. in 2016, blending creativity with strategy to grow a thriving business.

We discuss:

• Macie’s Creative Journey: How she evolved from hand lettering and brush calligraphy into live event engraving and personalization.
• Balancing Corporate and Creative Work: Managing a full-time job in aerospace while scaling her creative business.
• Leveraging AI and Technology: How Macie uses tools like ChatGPT for marketing, content planning, and refining her business strategy.
• Marketing & Branding Strategy: Why she prioritizes SEO and website optimization over social media vanity metrics.
• Excelling at Live Events: How she approaches event engraving with a hospitality-focused mindset, creating memorable experiences for clients and their guests.

Macie’s North Star is simple: make others feel seen and special. She shares how she’s expanding this mission through new offerings like custom-painted glassware and encourages fellow creatives to embrace the learning process as they build their own brands.

Tune in for an inspiring conversation on blending creativity with business strategy, embracing technology, and making meaningful connections through art.

https://www.instagram.com/maciekendallco/

https://maciekendallco.com/

In this episode of The Founders Society Podcast, we sit down with Emerson, a content creator specializing in video and photography for wedding planners, designers, and creative entrepreneurs. Emerson shares her journey—from experimenting with textiles in high school to studying design at NC State, interning in high-end wedding planning, and ultimately carving out her niche in content creation.

We dive into how she turned her creative background into a thriving business, the power of networking, and her approach to capturing compelling content that elevates her clients' brands. Plus, she shares practical tips for content creation, including how to shoot better videos, edit effectively, and maximize the impact of behind-the-scenes footage.

If you're a creative looking to enhance your content strategy or break into the world of brand storytelling, this episode is packed with insights you won’t want to miss.

🎧 Tune in now and learn how Emerson built a creative business through visual storytelling, strategic networking, and a passion for capturing the moment.

https://www.theharmonedit.com/

https://www.instagram.com/theharmonedit/

Enjoy today's open studio session with Hayley and Meg! 

In this episode of The Founders Society Podcast, we sit down with Kathryn Ann Waller, a renowned lifestyle, travel, and editorial photographer based in Savannah, Georgia. Kathryn shares her journey from picking up a camera as a teenager to building a thriving photography business rooted in creativity, community, and staying true to her artistic vision.

Kathryn opens up about:

• How her early passion for photography, influenced by her father and formal training, shaped her career.
• The power of leveraging different seasons of life—graduations, weddings, and brand work—to build long-term client relationships.
• Managing client expectations while staying true to her unique photography style.
• The decision to step back from wedding photography to avoid burnout and pivot toward more fulfilling creative work.
• Favorite tools, resources, and mindset shifts that have helped her build a sustainable and fulfilling photography business.

Whether you're an aspiring creative entrepreneur or simply love hearing behind-the-scenes stories of building a business, this episode is full of inspiration and practical insights.

Tune in now for a conversation on passion, pivots, and the power of staying true to your creative voice.

https://www.kathrynannwaller.com/

https://www.instagram.com/kathrynannwaller

In this episode of The Founders Society Podcast, we sit down with Gray Ellender, founder of Go With Gray, a boutique travel agency specializing in luxury honeymoons and bespoke vacations. After transitioning from a career in occupational therapy, Gray turned her passion for travel planning into a thriving business, helping clients create unforgettable trips around the world.

Gray shares:

• How planning her own honeymoon sparked the idea for Go With Gray.
• The different tiers of travel services she offers, from hotel bookings to full-service itinerary planning.
• How she builds relationships with top-tier travel partners to secure exclusive perks for her clients.
• The biggest challenges and rewards of running a travel business.
• Her top recommendations for dreamy honeymoons, babymoons, and bucket-list vacations.

Whether you're planning your next big adventure or dreaming of a career in travel, Gray’s insights into the industry will inspire you to think bigger when it comes to planning unforgettable experiences.

Tune in now for expert travel advice, behind-the-scenes business insights, and plenty of wanderlust inspiration.

https://www.gowithgraytravel.com/

https://www.instagram.com/gowithgraytravel/

In this episode of The Founders Society Podcast, we sit down with Ellie Jamison, co-founder of Play Henry, the pickleball brand that’s redefining the game with style, strategy, and innovation. What started as a passion project between two business school friends quickly became a thriving brand—complete with grassroots marketing, collegiate partnerships, and corporate gifting opportunities.

Ellie shares:

• How she and co-founder Grace turned their love for pickleball into a growing brand.
• The behind-the-scenes process of designing the perfect paddle.
• How they sold out their first 100 paddles before even launching officially.
• Their strategic pivot from collegiate licensing to expanding into the corporate gifting space.
• What’s next for Play Henry, including their expansion into Padel.

This episode is packed with insights on product development, grassroots marketing, and knowing when to pivot in business. Whether you're a pickleball enthusiast, a creative entrepreneur, or someone dreaming of launching a product-based business, you won’t want to miss this conversation!

https://playhenry.com/

https://www.instagram.com/shopplayhenry

Tune in now to hear how Ellie and Play Henry are making waves in the world of pickleball.