What if your rock bottom turned out to be your turning point? That’s exactly what happened for Jenn Harper, the Anishinaabe founder and CEO of Cheekbone Beauty. After getting sober in her 30s, Jenn had a vivid dream that set her on a new path: to build a purpose-driven, Indigenous-owned beauty brand that could change the industry and support future generations. In this episode, Kara and Jenn talk about entrepreneurship, recovery, identity, and the hard-won lessons behind Cheekbone’s rise from kitchen startup to Sephora shelves. They explore mindset coaching for women, redefining success, community and social impact, and what it means to lead a business rooted in healing and representation.

Chapters:

00:00 From rock bottom to business dream

01:45 Getting sober and discovering purpose

04:00 The dream that changed everything

06:30 Starting Cheekbone Beauty from her kitchen

09:00 Indigenous values at the heart of the brand

11:30 Building a B Corp rooted in representation

14:00 Learning to lead while healing

16:45 Why “failing fast” was essential

19:00 The long game of business and personal growth

21:30 Landing on Sephora shelves

23:00 Sustainability and impact beyond the product

26:00 Balancing entrepreneurship with personal wellness

29:00 What she’s building next

The Powerful Ladies podcast, hosted by business coach and strategist Kara Duffy features candid conversations with entrepreneurs, creatives, athletes, chefs, writers, scientists, and more. Every Wednesday, new episodes explore what it means to lead with purpose, create with intention, and define success on your own terms.

Whether you're growing a business, changing careers, or asking bigger questions, these stories remind you: you're not alone, and you're more powerful than you think.

Explore more at thepowerfulladies.com and karaduffy.com.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices