When a fax from her father handed her the reins to the family construction company, Joy Rohadfox had no engineering background—but she had grit, intelligence, and heart. In this episode, Joy shares her remarkable journey from a dirt-bike-riding little sister in Durham to CEO of a multimillion-dollar infrastructure firm. We talk about navigating politics in business, earning respect in a male-dominated field, and staying true to your style—yes, even in Gucci. This conversation is about legacy and the power of saying yes before you feel ready.  She is gem and you’ll be inspired by her sense of humor and quiet confidence.  

What happens when you mix sisterhood, storytelling, and a sprinkle of entrepreneurial magic? On this episode of Madame Founder, I sit down with Susan Turnock and Heather Arak—the dynamic sister duo behind GGL Creative, the masterminds behind some of the most unforgettable corporate gifts and brand experiences on the planet!  Corporate gifting has been around for ages, but they revolutionized it!  If you get a gift, they designed... you KNOW IT!  This is why powerhouse names like Disney, NASCAR, Sandals, and Coca-Cola trust them when it is time to stand out.

Listen in as we talk about building a family-first business, crafting moments of surprise and delight, and how they went from selling milkshakes at “airplane meets” (yep, you read that right) to designing immersive, jaw-dropping experiences.  Like children do when they sit around the campfire and listen to “ghost stories”, these two are so inspiring and so creative, you just want to lean into their story! 

Whether you’re a brand builder, a gift-giving enthusiast, a creative who wants to transform a good idea into something more, or someone who just loves a good entrepreneurial success story, this one’s for you!

How do you build a #1 selling women’s health brand in a highly stigmatized space? Just ask Deeannah Seymour, founder of PhD Feminine Health. She built a multi-million dollar business empire that shows hearts to your “lady parts!” She is breaking taboos and opening doors to REAL conversations about women's health. Deeannah’s journey is based on science, data, and choosing faith over fear. 

🎧 Listen in to hear how she shattered the stigma and built a brand that’s changing lives. 

Vanessa Rissetto knows that nutrition isn’t just about what’s on your plate—it’s about education!  As a registered dietitian and co-founder of Culina Health, she’s reshaping how we approach food, eating, and wellness.  In this episode, she shares how she discovered that for her, the “Freshman 15” became the “College 50”, and it changed her life.  She went on to found a hugely successful tele-health company rooted in the notion that people need to define their true health goal...whether it’s weight loss, improving self-esteem, or managing your C13 levels, Vanessa and her team are all about realistic, sustainable plans.  Can’t afford a chia-seed-flax-achino? No problem. Culina Health makes nutrition accessible—and even better, their services are covered by insurance.  Vanessa is a total powerhouse, and by the end of this conversation, you’re going to love her as much as I do. Her insights are fueling my journey, and I hope they’ll inspire yours too.  

In the Season 2 premiere episode of Madame Founder, I sit down with Kasey D’Amato, who became the aesthetics guru to the stars, wanted more, launched her own medical grade skincare line, burned herself out, traveled through a dust storm (literally) to find herself again, then became a business coach, consultant, and now an author!  Her story is amazing, and I was fascinated by her easily digestible nuggets of wisdom.  Listen as she shares that wisdom with us.

In this finale to Madame Founder Season 1, Christa Pitts goes solo to share her journey of building The Elf on the Shelf brand and The Lumistella Company. From humble beginnings to becoming a household name, Christa opens up about the lessons learned along the way. Tune in for 10 key takeaways every entrepreneur needs to hear—from believing in your vision to embracing rejection. With reflections on her mentors and podcast guests, Christa wraps up the season with actionable advice and holiday magic.

It’s inevitable --- if you own a business, you are going to face a crisis!  That’s just plain TRUTH!  It’s how you handle it that matters.  In this special episode of Madame Founder, I sit down with the incredible Amanda Lucey, entrepreneur, public speaker, best-selling author and CEO of The Partnership—a full-service marketing and branding agency based in Atlanta, Georgia. Amanda reveals her secret sauce for success: “Be hungry, keep hustling, and stay humble,” as well as her strategies for navigating uncertainty, building unshakeable relationships, and fearlessly tackling crisis situations head-on.  She also reminds us that the one absolute when it comes to a crisis is that it will end!  Whew.  What a great reminder.  If you’ve ever wondered how to stay cool when life throws you a curveball—this episode is for you.

From sharing a bed with her mom as a teenager to being featured in British Vogue, Margaux St. Ledger’s journey is nothing short of inspiring. In this episode of Madame Founder, Christa sits down with her close friend and creative powerhouse to explore how Margaux’s humble beginnings shaped her path to becoming a visionary in design, luxury weddings, and events.

With a career spanning iconic brands like Tiffany & Co. and memorable sets like The Colbys, Margaux shares how she’s built a name for herself through grit, creativity, and an unmatched attention to detail. Together, they discuss the power of starting small, pivoting your skills, and networking your way to success. Whether you’re a one-man show or dreaming of breaking into a new field, Margaux’s story will leave you motivated to chase your dreams—at any age.

Melinda Hollandsworth, co-founder of Path United, an organization which empowers children growing up in mobile home communities to find their path to high school graduation, joins Christa for a heartfelt conversation about creating impact, building deep relationships, and the scrappy determination required to change lives. From starting with nothing but a $1,000 trailer riddled with bullet holes to building 8 thriving communities, Melinda opens up about the triumphs and tears of founding a nonprofit and the incredible work she’s doing to help kids dream bigger and aim higher. Tune in for a raw, heart-pounding story of courage, resilience, and putting aside personal pride to serve others in the most meaningful way possible.

How do you make fitness fabulous? Natalie Holloway, co-founder of the LA-based movement company Bala, joins Madame Founder to share her journey from mega-advertising agency “burnout,” to world traveler, to entrepreneurial powerhouse. After launching a Kickstarter campaign to fund the company and proving her concept “had legs” (pun intended) on Shark Tank, she now collaborates with style icons like Kate Spade and Ralph Lauren.  In this episode, Natalie talks about how she embraced risk, overcame scaling challenges, and built a playful, premium fitness brand. Plus, she shares the secrets behind Bala’s social media strategy and how they’ve tackled copycats. This episode is packed with inspiration and actionable insights—don't miss it!