She Built It® Podcast

What really drives business growth today? Gwen Hammes, co-CEO of Cro Metrics, joins me to share how she went from global agency leader to data-driven growth strategist - helping brands like Google, Hyatt, Bombas, and Talkspace unlock next-level success.

In this conversation, Gwen reveals what most leaders miss when it comes to AI, martech, and website strategy, and why the human element still matters more than ever. We also talk about customer journey insights that might surprise you, the key to building trust in a digital world, and why hobbies might be the real secret to career fulfillment.

If you're a founder, CMO, or curious lifelong learner, Gwen’s perspective will inspire you to experiment, evolve, and lean into the joy of building something impactful.

🎧  Join me and subscribe for more: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/she-built-it-podcast/id1542095376

Gwen Hammes is co-CEO of Cro Metrics, where they help brands like Google, Bombas, Mattel, Hyatt, Starz, Talkspace, and Tory Burch to unlock growth through experimentation. Under Gwen’s leadership, Cro Metrics designs strategic digital solutions that transform brands by delivering measurable impact and driving meaningful change.

Prior to Cro Metrics, Gwen built her career at global agencies including Ogilvy, FCB, and DDB, where she led cross-functional teams and delivered standout work for brands like Mars, Kimberly-Clark, Stellantis, and Levi Strauss. She’s known for her collaborative style, strategic thinking, and passion for helping CMOs tackle complex challenges.

Based in Chicago with her husband and two sons, Gwen is a global citizen at heart. She’s lived and worked in Argentina and Mexico, and brings a culturally fluent perspective to everything she does. Outside of work, Gwen is a stand-up comedian, farmhouse renovator, and devoted Formula 1 follower - with a glass-half-full outlook on business and life.

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Cro Metrics Website

Gwen Hammes LinkedIn

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Podcasting is no longer optional—it’s essential.

In this solo episode of the She Built It® Podcast, host Melanie Barr shares why podcasting has become one of the most powerful tools in your marketing wheel. From building brand reputation to opening doors with influential leaders, podcasting strengthens every part of your business strategy.

Melanie also shares the exciting news that She Built It® was recently featured in Forbes: 20 Podcasts Business Leaders Should Be Listening To—proving the impact of podcasting as a tool for thought leadership and growth.

Whether you’re looking to expand your influence, connect with new clients, or strengthen your brand, podcasting could be the missing spoke in your marketing wheel.

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She Built It® CEO, Melanie Barr Instagram

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What happens when a family legacy meets a bold mission for change? Rochelle Jacobs, co-founder of Naturally Serious, joins us to share how her journey, from watching her Persian grandmother blend skincare from tea leaves to launching a patented antioxidant-rich brand, has been decades in the making. In this inspiring episode, Rochelle shares how her confidence, entrepreneurial roots, and commitment to clean, effective beauty helped shape Naturally Serious into a lifestyle brand women can trust. Rochelle reminds us that confidence is a tool, self-care is non-negotiable, and that skin is more than surface—it's the story we tell the world.

🎧  Join me and subscribe for more: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/she-built-it-podcast/id1542095376

Naturally Serious was co-founded by Rochelle Jacobs and Sarah McNamara, two career-driven women and mothers on-the-go. They wanted clean and conscious products that supported their active lifestyle and personal values. Unable to find truly clean, ethical and effective skin care, they created Naturally Serious to take out the guesswork.  NaturallySerious is committed to using clean, good-for-you ingredients and no B.A.D. (Banned, Ambiguous or Debatable) ingredients. They pack their products with their patented Anti-Pollution Blend of 6 anti-oxidants, which are all clinically tested to help combat visible signs of aging from environmental damage

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Naturally Serious Website

Naturally Serious Instagram

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She Built It® CEO, Melanie Barr Instagram

Melanie Barr LinkedIn

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When Dylan Jahraus felt her corporate e-commerce career had peaked, a chance move and a few Goodwill flips sparked a journey into Etsy that would change everything. In this episode, Dylan shares how she turned a side hustle into a multi-million-dollar business—while moving as a military spouse, raising two boys, and building a thriving online community.

We talk about the shift from “what should I sell?” to “who should I sell to?”, the grit it takes to scale from $1K to $50K months, and the importance of pricing strategy, mindset, and product diversity on platforms like Etsy. If you’ve ever dreamed of selling online or scaling your creative business, Dylan breaks down exactly how she’s helped thousands of shop owners generate millions, and how you can too.

🎧  Join me and subscribe for more: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/she-built-it-podcast/id1542095376

Dylan Jahraus is an e-commerce expert with over 13 years of experience, best known for scaling her Etsy shop to $1M+ profit in just over 6 years before expanding to Amazon and Shopify.  

In 2022, she launched the Multi-Six Figure Etsy Blueprint, a proven program that has helped over 4,000 students generate more than $27.47 million in monthly revenue combined. Her methods have built a loyal community of 110,000+ YouTube subscribers and 550,000+ podcast downloads on Etsy Seller Success with Dylan Jahraus.

In 2024, she introduced etSEO, a powerful SEO tool for Etsy sellers, which served thousands within its first two months. 

Dylan is also a proud wife and mother, bringing that same dedication and integrity into the heart of her business.

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Dylan Jahraus Website

Dylan Jahraus Instagram

Dylan Jahraus TikTok

Dylan Jahraus YouTube

Dylan Jahraus LinkedIn

Podcast: Etsy Seller Success with Dylan Jahraus

Freebie: The Proven 16-Step Checklist to Boost Your Etsy Sales

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What if the solution you're looking for doesn’t exist—so you build it yourself?

That’s exactly what Samia Gore has done again and again. After a personal wellness transformation, Samia launched Body Complete Rx—now a nationwide, plant-based supplement brand. From there, she built FoundnWell, offering mental health support for minority entrepreneurs, and is now developing Cre8torMate, a tech platform for content creation and connection.

In this inspiring episode, Samia shares the real story behind building multimillion-dollar brands, navigating motherhood and divorce, staying grounded in joy, and leading with cultural insight and community impact. Whether you're a wellness lover, founder, or dreamer, this one’s for you.

🎧  Join me and subscribe for more: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/she-built-it-podcast/id1542095376

Samia Gore is a visionary entrepreneur, founder, and cultural architect building scalable platforms at the intersection of wellness, tech, and impact. As one of the few Black women leading ventures across multiple industries, she has launched and grown multimillion-dollar brands that center innovation, inclusion, and real-world results.

She is the founder of Body Complete Rx, a top-performing wellness company redefining plant-based health solutions; FoundnWell, a mental health platform supporting minority founders; and Cre8torMate — an AI-powered platform that connects creators to paid opportunities through tech-enabled matchmaking and community.

Samia’s work is rooted in cultural insight, business strategy, and a commitment to building what’s next. Whether working with investors, partners, or communities, she focuses on platforms that drive value, disrupt outdated systems, and create room for new narratives to rise.

Connect with us:

Samia Gore Website

Samia Gore Instagram

Samia Gore LinkedIn

Body Complete Rx® Website

FoundnWell Website

Cre8torMate Website

Work with She Built It® Media 

She Built It® Instagram 

She Built It® CEO, Melanie Barr Instagram

Melanie Barr LinkedIn

She Built It® LinkedIn

Sara Connell didn’t just write her way to success, but she turned her story into a movement. In today’s episode of She Built It® Podcast, Sara shares how she helps coaches, entrepreneurs, and changemakers become bestselling authors and TEDx speakers by owning their story and stepping into their brilliance.

We talk about the mindset behind visibility, why writing a book is still a powerful tool, and how to pitch yourself with purpose and impact. If you’ve ever wanted to turn your expertise into influence, Sara’s story will light the path.

🎧  Join me and subscribe for more: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/she-built-it-podcast/id1542095376

Sara Connell is a 5x Bestselling author and the founder of Thought Leader Academy where she helps coaches, experts and entrepreneurs scale impact + create 6-7 figures by becoming bestselling authors and in demand/TEDx speakers. 

She has been featured on/in Oprah, The New York Times, Good Morning America, TODAY, Forbes, Entrepreneur and TEDx. Her books have been nominated for a National Book Award and Elle Magazine book of the year.

Connect with us:

Sara Connell Website

Sara Connell Instagram

Sara Connell’s Books

Thought Leader Media With Sara Connell

FREE Gift: 7 Steps to Write a Revenue Generating Bestselling Book (plus bonus templates and worksheets)

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She Built It® CEO, Melanie Barr Instagram

Melanie Barr LinkedIn

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What happens when you follow your creativity, DM boldly, and let your anxiety fuel your innovation? Meet Krysten Kauder, founder of Candier—the empowering candle brand now sold at Ulta, Urban Outfitters, Barnes & Noble, and Target.com. In her first-ever podcast interview, Krysten shares how panic attacks led her home, alphabet bead bracelets opened unexpected doors, and how one wildly popular candle turned her business into a brand with national reach. From quiet leadership to joyful hustle, Krysten’s journey proves that success doesn’t need to be loud, it just needs to be real.

🎧  Join me and subscribe for more: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/she-built-it-podcast/id1542095376

After graduating from OSU in 2008, I knew I wanted to do something in fashion, but unsure in what area. Then interned at Teen Vogue, Vogue, Marc Jacobs, IMG, and more. Fell into jewelry (showroom manager at Carolee, worked a Dannijo, etc). Panic attacks sent me back home to Ohio - met my now fiancé - started making alphabet bead bracelets - 17 Mag posted them on social - I started reaching out to editors, stylists, celebs, via Instagram - got the product on GMA and Today multiple times. Our photog's boyfriend made candles and they pitched making some for us - the rest is history - the candles were so popular we decided to focus on them and drop the jewelry. We are now carried in Ulta Beauty, Urban Outfitters, Barnes and Noble, Target.com and have collaborated with Disney, Amazon Prime, Sonic, and more.

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Krysten Kauder Instagram

Candier Website

Candier Instagram

Work with She Built It® Media 

She Built It® Instagram 

She Built It® CEO, Melanie Barr Instagram

Melanie Barr LinkedIn

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In this inspiring episode of the She Built It® Podcast, host Melanie Barr speaks with inventor and tech entrepreneur Sharon Samjitsingh, co-founder and CEO of Health Care Originals. Driven by her lifelong struggle with asthma, Sharon shares how her personal story and professional expertise in innovation led her to build life-changing wearable tech that helps people with chronic respiratory diseases. She opens up about the emotional toll of asthma, the importance of first-principles thinking, and her journey as a woman innovating in deep tech. Sharon's story is one of resilience, passion, and purpose—and a reminder that when you can't breathe, nothing else matters.

🎧  Join me and subscribe for more: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/she-built-it-podcast/id1542095376

When you can’t breathe, nothing else matters. The first time I almost died from an asthma attack, I was five. It was Mother’s Day. We were expecting a great day at church and a family lunch, but I couldn’t wake up. At the hospital, I remember my mom crying as I lay there on oxygen. My sister, who was nine, remembers my dad—normally a tough individual—pulling the car to the curb and breaking down sobbing, overwhelmed by fear he was about to lose his child.

That moment has stayed with me. It shaped everything.

Chronic respiratory diseases like asthma and COPD are silent thieves. They rob families of peace of mind, joy and futures. 690 million people live with these diseases but billions are affected, longing to be free of fear.

That's why I co-founded Health Care Originals— to bring peace of mind to billions. We’re an AI healthcare company on  a mission to transform how chronic disease is managed, starting with the lungs.

Connect with us:

Sharon Samjitsingh Website

Sharon Samjitsingh LinkedIn

Health Care Originals LinkedIn

Health Care Originals Instagram

Invest in Health Care Originals: AI-powered wearable & virtual care preventing asthma and COPD attacks

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She Built It® CEO, Melanie Barr Instagram

Melanie Barr LinkedIn

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In this solo episode, Melanie Barr shares the real truth behind building a career or business that genuinely lights you up. From her early days performing on stage to working with top companies like Marriott, AT&T, and the LA Dodgers, to now running She Built It® Media—Melanie walks through how embracing your natural talents, staying curious, and saying yes to aligned opportunities can lead to a career that feels like freedom. Whether you're starting over or scaling up, this episode is your reminder that doing what you love isn't cliché—it’s strategic, sustainable, and life-giving.

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She Built It® CEO, Melanie Barr Instagram

Melanie Barr LinkedIn

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What if the solution your skin needs isn’t in a bottle—but in a plant?

This week on the She Built It® Podcast, I’m joined by Tammy Demos, founder of KLEOS+KLEA, whose journey to heal her own skin led her to challenge the entire skincare industry. From co-founding two beauty brands to starting over with nothing but aloe vera and a vision, Tammy shares how nature, resilience, and a bathroom apothecary became the foundation of a brand built on truth.

We talk about what’s really missing in “clean” skincare, how nutrient-stacking works, and why going fully natural was the boldest (and smartest) move she’s ever made. Her story is one of radical simplicity, scientific curiosity, and a mission to reconnect us with the power of plants.

Whether you’re passionate about skincare, love hearing stories of reinvention, or just need a reminder to trust your instincts—this one’s for you.

🎙️ Listen in.

Tammy Demos still remembers the first time she realized the power of plants to create beauty products. As a nine-year-old visiting family in Greece, she has a core memory of walking through a cypress grove with her maternal grandmother. Her Yiayia picked cones off the trees, brought them home, and made soap and candles. Tammy remembers thinking: "Nature is amazing. Plants have so much to offer." It was this philosophy she would return to years later, harnessing the power of plants to create the cleanest skincare line she could create. 

Many years later, in 2019, Tammy found herself in Colorado, stressed, divorced, raising four kids, and with skin that was a total wreck. "My skin was aging rapidly, discolored, inflamed and suffering from melasma," Tammy recalls. Her self-esteem plummeted.  

She'd been thinking about opening a greenhouse to supply plant ingredients to beauty companies, but the timing wasn't right. After co-founding two beauty companies (CosMedix and Osmosis), Tammy wasn't looking to do it again. 

She changed her lifestyle, diet and how she took care of herself but then realized that it was her skincare that was hurting her. Her skin had become progressively stressed and had stopped healing. “I became disenchanted with skincare products—I’d been using the best non‑toxic formulas for years, and I had no desire to switch to harsher ingredients just to chase temporary results at the cost of my health.” It was this desperation that led her to reach for plants from nature.  She returned to her roots and went all-natural.  She snipped a leaf off an aloe vera plant, applied the gel to her skin, and hasn't turned back since. It's now been 6 years.

Once her skin was on the mend, she researched every potential natural ingredient she could find. For the next few years, she traveled the world, learning from beauty experts and aestheticians. "Through research and conversations with experts, I learned what really worked,” she says. Her new line, KLEOS+KLEA is the most luxurious and genuinely clean skincare system she could create. Every formula is built from whole, organically grown plants, not synthetic look‑alikes or chemically stripped “natural” imitations. She hand‑selected botanicals with the precise nutrient profiles the skin craves, because nutrients are the language of our cells - stabilizers, texturizers, fragrances, and preservatives are not. By abandoning the ingredients and methods she’d used at previous companies, she crafted something entirely new: holistic, fully natural, and more effective than anything she’s ever tried.

Kleos+Klea’s method works with nature to rejuvenate skin with natural nourishment. The products are designed to work in tandem with your skin’s natural rhythms, from night to day. “The ancient belief that ‘We are all one’ has never been more clear to me,” Tammy says.”Nature reflects the beauty we can all have.” 

Connect with us:

KLEOS+KLEA Website