Lacey Haegen never set out to start a skincare company. A professional makeup artist with a love for learning, she began digging into the ingredients inside the products she used every day. What she found shocked her, and sent her on a mission to create something better. Drawing on her creative, resourceful upbringing and a lifetime surrounded by entrepreneurs, she launched Beaute Nouveau, a handmade skincare line built on integrity, artistry, and purpose. We talk about the realities of entrepreneurship, why beauty should never come at the expense of your health, and how to build a business that reflects the life you want to live.

Chapters:

00:00 Curiosity that sparked a skincare revolution

01:12 Early influences and an entrepreneurial family

03:05 From Michigan to Alaska to the Bay Area

05:40 First jobs in beauty retail and what they taught her

08:15 Discovering the hidden truths in beauty product labels

11:00 Creating Beaute Nouveau from scratch

13:45 Ingredients that matter and why she avoids toxins

16:20 Balancing artistry and business savvy

19:05 Lessons learned from building a handmade brand

21:30 Tips for cleaning out your beauty cabinet

24:00 Navigating growth while staying true to your mission

26:50 The mindset needed for long-term success

29:30 Self-care routines that fuel creativity

31:15 Advice for new entrepreneurs entering the beauty space

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.

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Kendra Eaton is unstoppable. In her twenties, she’s running two thriving businesses, managing a full-time corporate job, serving as HOA president, and still finding time to be a fun and happy 20-something. Her path hasn’t been without challenges—diagnosed with ADD as a kid, she’s turned what others saw as a limitation into one of her greatest assets. We talk about building companies with real teams and revenue, creating systems that make success possible, and why self-care and the right people around you matter just as much as hustle. Kendra’s story is a reminder that you can do anything you set your mind to, and that the things that make you different might just be the key to your success.

Chapters:

00:00 Meet Kendra Eaton

01:15 Growing up in California and moving to Texas

03:00 Early signs of entrepreneurship

05:10 Starting Sprinkled With Pink in 2017

07:20 Launching Dapper Dog in 2018

09:00 Balancing a corporate job with multiple businesses

11:30 Why self-care is critical for entrepreneurs

13:15 The role of community and support systems

15:00 Managing ADD as a strength

17:45 Building teams that thrive

20:10 Leading as HOA president

22:30 Lessons learned from running two companies

25:00 How to stay organized and productive

27:20 The mindset shift that changes everything

29:15 Advice for young entrepreneurs

31:30 What being a “Powerful Lady” means to Kendra

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

Sandy is energetic and exciting, just like the plant-based biodegradable glitter brand she’s created, EarthShine Glitter. She’s also your modern American success story. Born in China, she and her parents immigrated first to Canada, then to Palo Alto, California. Always creative and resourceful up-cycling the hand-me-downs she was given growing up, at an early age she became interested in the fashion industry. After working at LA fashion labels such as BCBG and Forever 21, she continues to mix product merchandising and e-commerce to bring brands into the modern era. When her passions for environmentalism and fashion came in conflict, she knew she had to find a way for them both to exist.

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

Lisa Ledezma’s life looked like the American dream. A home, a career helping families secure theirs, and a busy life as a mom and soccer coach. But in 2001, everything changed when she was accused of mortgage fraud. What followed was years of legal battles, personal loss, and rebuilding her life from the ground up. Lisa opens up about what it’s like to be swept up in the financial crisis, why she never stopped fighting for her truth, and how she’s using her voice to help others understand financial literacy, homeownership, and resilience. This is a story about grit, advocacy, and holding onto your foundation when everything is shaking.

Chapters:

00:00 Lisa’s early years and path into lending

02:15 Becoming a mortgage lender in the Inland Empire

04:30 The joy of helping families buy their first homes

06:45 How the financial crisis changed everything

09:10 The day she was accused of mortgage fraud

11:20 Understanding the charges and the legal process

14:00 Fighting for her truth and reputation

17:15 The personal cost of a public legal battle

20:05 Lessons from being in courtrooms for years

22:40 Rebuilding life after acquittal

25:00 Why financial literacy matters more than ever

27:15 Common home loan mistakes and how to avoid them

30:00 How the housing market impacts working families

32:10 Advocating for the Latino community in real estate

34:20 Finding strength in sports, family, and community

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

Once I committed to growing Powerful Ladies full-time, I knew I couldn’t do it alone. The universe clearly agreed, because at a Friendsgiving, two friends, Madelyn and Jessica, invited me to join their book club reading A Course in Miracles. It was exactly the structure and accountability I needed. Soon, our friend Jamie joined, and the four of us began meeting regularly. In this conversation, Madelyn, Jessica, and Jamie share how that book club became more than a reading group — it turned into a lifeline of support, inspiration, and honesty. We talk about what it means to surround yourself with people who are just as committed to big dreams as you are, how different backgrounds can lead to shared values, and why community is essential when you’re chasing your version of an amazing life.

Chapters

00:00 How a Friendsgiving changed everything

02:15 Meeting Madelyn, Jessica, and Jamie

04:20 Why A Course in Miracles became our guide

06:05 Building trust in a small accountability group

08:15 How shared goals keep everyone motivated

10:40 Supporting each other through challenges

13:00 The role of honesty in deep friendships

15:20 Finding inspiration outside your comfort zone

17:35 Balancing personal growth with daily life

20:10 How different backgrounds shape shared values

22:25 Celebrating wins, big and small

24:00 Lessons learned from committing to the group

26:15 Why community matters for big dreams

28:00 Advice for starting your own accountability group

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