Ladies Who Launch

Millie Kendall OBE has spent more than 30 years shaping the British beauty industry. She launched Shu Uemura and Aveda in the UK, co-founded the iconic makeup brand Ruby & Millie with Ruby Hammer, and now leads the British Beauty Council as its founding CEO. In this episode of Ladies Who Launch, she shares the wisdom, mistakes and reinventions behind a career that has spanned the early days of modern beauty brands.

Millie tells Rochelle why she helped launch brands that sold for hundreds of millions without ever owning a stake, why she turned down Victoria Beckham, how Boots backed Ruby & Millie with £7 million to launch the brand, and what it really felt like to walk away from a business with her name on it.

In this episode, we cover:

• Why Millie says it's "invention, not reinvention"
• Launching Shu Uemura in London and turning a loss into a profit in three months
• The lesson of not taking equity in the brands she helped build
• Building Ruby & Millie, from Harvey Nichols and Selfridges to Boots
• The Victoria Beckham lipstick she turned down
• Why she and Ruby chose to walk away from Ruby & Millie
• Founding the British Beauty Council and raising the reputation of the beauty industry
• Millie's advice on pivoting careers, and her money habits

If you're building a brand, thinking about your next career move, or want an honest look at how the beauty industry grew, this one is for you.

We Are Ladies Who Launch!

CHAPTERS

00:00 Millie Kendall Intro

00:36 AD Starling Business

01:08 Reinvention Versus Invention

05:43 Growing Up In Salons

06:32 Shu Uemura Origin Story

10:34 Launching A PR Agency in Beauty

17:13 Meeting Ruby Millie

20:18 £7M Boots Deal And Launch

24:58 Inclusivity And Range Battles

34:30 Control Value Lessons

37:23 Leaving At Peak Growth

43:40 Building British Beauty Council

48:56 Industry Impact In Numbers

52:19 Pivot Advice For Change

57:41 Rocket Round: Money Habits

01:01:30 Financial Mistakes & Lessons

01:03:04 Launch Advice

🔔 New episodes every Wednesday — subscribe so you never miss a launch.

#AD Powered by @starlingbank

Access Starling Bank here: https://bit.ly/44sEaMf

FOLLOW MILLIE

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/milliekendall/

FOLLOW US

Instagram: www.instagram.com/weareladieswholaunch/

TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@weareladieswholaunch

YouTube: www.youtube.com/@Weareladieswholaunch

#LadiesWhoLaunch #MillieKendall #RubyAndMillie #BritishBeautyCouncil #BeautyIndustry #FemaleFounders #BeautyBusiness #RochelleHumes

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

This week on Ladies Who Launch, we're doing something a little different. Instead of sitting down with an incredible woman, we're taking you behind the scenes of the biggest moment of Rochelle's business journey so far: the launch of her skincare brand, Eulah.

Watch along as the Eulah launch campaign with Boots comes to life, from the campaign shoot to the launch event, and see what it really takes to build a brand from idea to shelf. The behind-the-scenes moments, the pressure, the people who made it happen, and the launch night that brought it all together.

If you've ever wondered what goes on behind a brand launch, this is your front-row seat.

Shop Eulah now: https://eulahskin.com/?utm_source=ladies_who_launch&utm_medium=partnership&utm_campaign=eulah_launch

We Are Ladies Who Launch!

CHAPTERS

00:00 Countdown To Launch

00:21 Nine Days Out

02:13 Podcast And Press Run

04:13 Launch Week Nerves

05:29 Launch Event Setup

07:30 Challenges Of Brand Building

09:27 Event Wrap And Website Rush

10:32 Eulah Launch Goes Live

12:14 Success And Reflections

🔔 New episodes every Wednesday — subscribe so you never miss a launch.

FOLLOW EULAH SKIN

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eulahskin/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@eulahskin

Website: www.eulahskin.com

FOLLOW US

Instagram: www.instagram.com/weareladieswholaunch/

TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@weareladieswholaunch

YouTube: www.youtube.com/@Weareladieswholaunch

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

Rochelle sits down with Karlee Zhang, founder of Hello Klean, who opens up about her journey from self-funding an idea that nobody had believed in, to having half a million loyal worldwide customers and expanding into luxury retail spaces.

Karlee unpacks the discovery that turned a plumbing issue into a beauty revelation, and the reality of bootstrapping until you find the right investors. From a sealed social strategy to navigating rapid growth, Karlee shares an insight into her honest founder lessons and top tips.

In this episode we cover:

• The moment a plumbing problem became a beauty product
• The importance of educating consumers, and how Hello Klean earned trust with a free trial
• How to navigate retail launches and streamlining the consumer experience
• Building a social strategy that cuts through the noise
• Navigating rapid growth and defining your success

If you’re an aspiring innovator with no clue where to start, this one’s for you!

We Are Ladies Who Launch!

CHAPTERS

00:00 Introducing Hello Klean

04:24 Identifying The Water Origin Problem

07:40 Turning Plumbing Into A Wellness Brand

10:07 Educating Before Selling

13:35 Building Co-Founder Roles Efficiently

15:05 Funding R&D And Our Subscription Model

16:57 Customers Don’t Understand Category

20:04 Social Was Our First Hire

23:13 Building A Brand Narrative

24:45 Balancing Brand and Conversion

26:52 Creating Creator Partnerships That Feel Real

28:00 My Dragons’ Den Experience

34:39 Post Dragons’ Den Growth Surge - 600%!

36:19 Finding The Right Investor Fit

39:54 Expanding Shower Care Category

41:33 Redefining Success Metrics

44:30 Karlee’s Leaving Advice

🔔 New episodes every Wednesday — subscribe so you never miss a launch.

FOLLOW HELLO KLEAN

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/helloklean/

Karlee: https://www.instagram.com/karleee/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@helloklean

FOLLOW US

Instagram: www.instagram.com/weareladieswholaunch/

TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@weareladieswholaunch

YouTube: www.youtube.com/@Weareladieswholaunch

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

Connie Nam founded Astrid & Miyu from her flat in Notting Hill in 2012, with a £500 website and a bold £2,000-a-month bet on PR she funded from her own savings. Since then, the brand has grown to 30+ international stores and a reported £50 million in turnover.

In this episode, Connie breaks down how she built an entirely new jewellery category from scratch, why it took 11 years (not a viral moment) before she felt like she'd actually launched, and the naive assumptions that nearly sank her US and Middle East expansions. She also shares her honest take on why taking investment you don't need might be the biggest mistake a founder can make, and the line she now lives by when it comes to protecting company culture: it takes hundreds of people to build it, and only one to ruin it.

In this episode we cover:

• The moment Astrid & Miyu really took off, and why brand awareness changed everything
• How to find people as passionate as you and filter out bad apples
• How to stand out in an overcrowded market
• The realities of launching in the US and what it took to get there
• Top founder tips for building a business that lasts

If you’re starting out and you feel like your growth is stunted, this one’s for you!

We Are Ladies Who Launch! 

CHAPTERS

00:00 Introducing Connie Nam

01:51 Starting A Category Scratch

03:05 Taking A Risk on PR

04:44 Making Your First Hire

06:21 Finding Your USP

10:16 Competitor Mindset

14:18 Steady Growth Middle

17:39 The Launch of Astrid & Miyu Piercing 

20:00 Expanding Into The US

25:32 Creating The Why For Investment

27:55 What’s Next For Astrid & Miyu

🔔 New episodes every Wednesday — subscribe so you never miss a launch.

FOLLOW CONNIE

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/connienam/

Astrid & Miyu: https://www.instagram.com/astridandmiyu/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@unboxed_podcast

FOLLOW US

Instagram: www.instagram.com/weareladieswholaunch/

TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@weareladieswholaunch

YouTube: www.youtube.com/@Weareladieswholaunch

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

Colette Laxton co-founded The INKEY List in 2018 to make skincare less confusing and has since sold over 90 million products worldwide.

In this episode, she breaks down exactly how she split her first £300K starting budget between stock, marketing and running costs, including why most of her marketing spend went on one person: Caroline Hirons!

We all know the success of The INKEY List but the growth came at a cost. Colette opens up about nearly going bankrupt, the burnout that put her in bed for two weeks straight, and the unpredictability of virality including how a product she never planned to sell became the number one body product on TikTok Shop. It's an honest look at what building a brand from nothing actually takes, budget breakdown included.

In this episode, we cover:

Leaving a decade-long career at Boots to join a scrappy startup

Exactly how she split her first £300K investment

Why most of her marketing budget went on: Caroline Hirons

The Cult Beauty call on launch day that changed everything

Launching The INKEY List into Sephora across North America within six months

Nearly going bankrupt, and what it actually takes to get "retail ready"

The burnout that put her in bed for two weeks straight

How a product she never planned to sell became #1 on TikTok Shop

If you’re looking to launch in the skincare space, this one’s for you!

We Are Ladies Who Launch!

00:00 Cult Beauty Calls Day One

00:55 Introducing Colette Laxton

03:10 Learning the Corporate Ropes at Boots

10:21 Realising The Skincare Gap

18:41 Leveraging PR for Launch

21:44 Early Funding and Brand Blow Up

27:05 Launching in Sephora US

33:10 Figuring Out Stock and Logistics

37:10 Virality and TikTok Shop

39:09 Our 1 Million Unit Order

40:14 Why Micro Influencers Win

46:23 Leadership at 100 Staff

50:47 Founder Burnout Reality

55:32 Rocket Round

01:06:51 Staying in the Game

🔔 New episodes every Wednesday — subscribe so you never miss a launch.

FOLLOW COLETTE

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/colette.theinkeylist/

The Inkey List: https://www.instagram.com/theinkeylist/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@colette.laxton

FOLLOW US

Instagram: www.instagram.com/weareladieswholaunch/

TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@weareladieswholaunch

YouTube: www.youtube.com/@Weareladieswholaunch

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

Everybody needs a life coach as their bestie, and in this week's episode of Ladies Who Launch, we’re welcoming back Dior Bediako to unpack the raw reality of running a business. We discuss the shocks of entrepreneurship, how to stop taking fails so personally, why being busy ≠ building, and why launching shouldn’t be your goal. 

Dior shares her tips on success with tangible weekly goals, structure and accountability that actually create momentum, how to know when to admit something isn't working, and her top advice to beat imposter syndrome without ever using your goals against yourself.

Get Dior's design your future-self worksheet: https://pepperyourtalk.kit.com/736ece85c7

In this episode, we cover:

• Why launching isn't the goal, and the real shocks of running a business
• Busy vs building: why doing more ≠ more results
• How to build structure that sticks: tangible weekly goals, accountability and results over process
• The importance of knowing when to pivot
• Mindset resets: stop comparing, stop using goals against yourself and beat imposter syndrome

If you’ve ever felt like your goals are bringing you down, this one’s for you!

We Are Ladies Who Launch! 

CHAPTERS

00:00 Meet Dior Bediako

03:07 Using Business As Growth Tool

06:33 Why You're Busy Vs Building

14:29 Do Less, Get Better Results

18:42 When To Quit & Pivot

21:35 Find Your Bottom Left

25:00 Growth Needs Systems

32:17 Focussing On Being A Future Founder

36:30 How To Find Your Ideal Customer

41:03 Handling Being Copied

49:10 How To Make Decisions Under Pressure

51:28 When To Quit Your Job

57:01 Stop Feeling Behind

01:05:02 Ditch Imposter Syndrome

01:07:04 Final Thanks and Wrap

🔔 New episodes every Wednesday — subscribe so you never miss a launch.

FOLLOW DIOR

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/diorbediako/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@diorbediako

FOLLOW US

Instagram: www.instagram.com/weareladieswholaunch/

TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@weareladieswholaunch

YouTube: www.youtube.com/@Weareladieswholaunch

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

The cat's finally out of the bag! After months of hiding logos, dodging your questions, and biting my tongue every time you asked what "Roch Builds a Brand" was really about… I can finally tell you. Welcome to Eulah! 

In this episode I'm telling you the full story: where the name came from, the Korean-inspired formulas the whole brand is built around, and how we've somehow managed to bring it to you for £8–£12 a product. 

We're launching with 12 products including a gua sha companion that I am OBSESSED with. This is the biggest launch I have ever done and I’m so excited to share it with you. 

Sign up at eulahskin.com to be the first to hear more, get early access to products, and find out how to meet Rochelle at launch.

We Are Ladies Who Launch! 

CHAPTERS

00:00 Introducing Eulah

01:43 Eulah Brand Vision and Pricing

03:39 Where To Shop Eulah

06:14 The Meaning Behind The Brand Name

07:37 Join the Eulah Community

08:38 12 Products Sneak Peek

09:56 Road to Launch Plans

10:50 Expert Doctor Partnership

🔔 New episodes every Wednesday — subscribe so you never miss a launch.

FOLLOW EULAH SKIN 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eulahskin/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@eulahskin

Website: www.eulahskin.com

FOLLOW US

Instagram: www.instagram.com/weareladieswholaunch/

TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@weareladieswholaunch

YouTube: www.youtube.com/@Weareladieswholaunch

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

This week on Ladies Who Launch, we’re taking a break from regular scheduled programming to revisit some of the most iconic moments of honesty, vulnerability, and advice from previous powerhouse founders, including Emma Grede, Ella Mills, Sabrina Elba, Sam Faiers, Mona Kattan, Amy Liu, Perrie Sian, Conna Walker, Frankie James, Vivien Wong, Aimee Smale, Penelope Cheshire, Ama Hill, Jessica Sepel and Jo Malone.

This mastermind compilation is your spark and start to finding your idea and taking the first leap to building the business of your dreams. It includes all of those golden nuggets of advice from our Ladies who’ve Launched; from how to take the first leap, and turn personal problems and passion into purpose-led businesses, to building resilience through startup struggles, influencer growth and unwavering self-belief.

In this episode, we cover:

• Taking the leap & founding from a personal problem
• Turning your passion into a career
• Navigating early startup struggles
• The moment you truly ‘launch’
• Embracing failure and backing yourself through it

If you’re in need of a reminder of why you started and why you shouldn’t give up, this one’s for you.

We Are Ladies Who Launch! 

Chapters

00:00 From Fear to First Leap

00:31 Why Founders Start

01:05 How Personal Experience Sparks Ideas

03:05 Believing in Your Product Vision

04:20 Quitting and Going All In

06:18 Starting Small Operations

06:50 Bootstrapping, Solo Hustle and Managing It All

08:34 Launch Breakthrough Moment

09:11 Advice for New Founders

11:03 Why Not Me 

🔔 New episodes every Wednesday — subscribe so you never miss a launch.

FOLLOW US

Instagram: www.instagram.com/weareladieswholaunch/

TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@weareladieswholaunch

YouTube: www.youtube.com/@Weareladieswholaunch

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

Have you ever experienced having to mix 3 different foundations just to find your shade? Well your problems have been sold because DCYPHER Beauty is the World’s first beauty tech brand creating formulations from scratch, one at a time, personalised in minutes. 

In this week's episode, Rochelle sits down with Ruth De Leo, skincare founder of DCYPHER and mentee of Charlotte Tilbury, to share how AI-powered shade-matching is solving the personalisation problem no beauty giant could crack. 

We discuss the real expectations vs reality of launching a brand, learning from the best brands in the industry, and the non-negotiables that keep DCYPHER running. Ruth gets honest about founder life, unexpected customer feedback, and the advice she wishes she never listened to.

In this episode, we cover:

• Ruth’s beauty-industry background and discovering the gap in the market that sparked the brand.
• Charlotte Tilbury mentorship that impacted her career.
• How AI and personalisation formulas solved the universal shade-match struggle.
• The expectations vs reality of starting up, and how she switches off.
• Business non-negotiables, the advice she ignores, and Ruth’s top tip.

If you’ve ever wanted to learn how technology can benefit skincare, this one’s for you.

We Are Ladies Who Launch! 

Chapters

00:00 Industry Meets Problem

01:59 Pain Points & Waste In Makeup And Waste

06:33 Scaling Brands And Building Confidence

07:44 Charlotte Tilbury Lessons On Trust

17:49 DCYPHER Tech Explained

26:08 Launching In John Lewis

34:55 Data Driven Foundation Formulas

36:49 Fast Track Personalised Lip Products

41:02 Switching Off As A Founder

43:31 Learning To Let Go

48:35 John Lewis Launch Moment

51:45 Advice Regrets And Lessons

57:30 Why Its Important To Obsess Over The Problem

🔔 New episodes every Wednesday — subscribe so you never miss a launch.

FOLLOW RUTH 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ruthxdcypher/

DCYPHER: https://www.instagram.com/dcypherbeauty/

FOLLOW US

Instagram: www.instagram.com/weareladieswholaunch/

TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@weareladieswholaunch

YouTube: www.youtube.com/@Weareladieswholaunch

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

Ever wondered how to launch a skincare brand? This week’s episode is with Fabienne Sebaoun, founder of Mimétique, who unpacks the raw reality of building a self-funded beauty brand from scratch. We then go into how Fabienne tapped into her science based roots to build a niche within an overcrowded space.

From facing university as a mature student to navigating the chaos of a first launch, Fabienne shares the do's, don'ts, and business non-negotiables that shaped Mimétique into a brand built on storytelling and substance.

In this episode, we cover:

• How Fabienne’s science-based background led her to launching building a niche in the crowded beauty space 
• Lesson from building Mimétique completely self funded
• How storytelling and brand identity became her edge in an oversaturated market
• Do's and don'ts of launching a modern brand and managing the conflict that comes with it
• Fabienne’s top tip for solo founders

If you’re an aspiring founder looking to launch in the beauty space, this one’s for you.

We Are Ladies Who Launch! 

CHAPTERS

00:00 Meet The Mimétique Founder

01:55 Dermatology Family Roots

07:16 Going Back to University at 40

13:03 From Lab Vials to Le Bon Marché

15:38 The Challenges Of A Self Funded Launch 

17:44 Building the Team 

23:27 Designing the French Pharmacy Look

27:00 Founder Dos and Donts

33:06 Letting Go to Grow

35:18 Fabienne’s Five Year Vision

41:49 Rocket Round 

47:46 Mentors And Dream Collaborations

50:22 Wrap Up

🔔 New episodes every Wednesday — subscribe so you never miss a launch.

FOLLOW FABIENNE 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fabienne_sebaoun/

Mimétique: https://www.instagram.com/mimetiqueskin/

FOLLOW US

Instagram: www.instagram.com/weareladieswholaunch/

TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@weareladieswholaunch

YouTube: www.youtube.com/@Weareladieswholaunch

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