Welcome back to The Dressing Gown CEO!

With the holiday season just around the corner, many of us are feeling the pressure—especially those in demanding industries like hairdressing. That’s why I’m so excited to have Emma Ward joining me in this episode. Emma is a wellness advocate, certified counsellor, coach and owner of a business, Positive Outlooks, that helps others live with clarity and confidence.

In this short 30 minute episode, Emma shares life changing practical, compassionate strategies to help you minimise stress, protect your energy, and navigate the CRAY CRAY season (and beyond) with more ease.

We dive into topics like shifting away from perfectionism, embracing meaningful self-care, and the power of setting boundaries—even when it feels hard. Emma’s insights are invaluable for anyone feeling the weight of December’s expectations, and she reminds us that a little planning and a lot of self-compassion can go a long way.

Plus, there’s a special giveaway in this episode—but you’ll need to listen to find out how to enter!

Don’t miss this chance to recharge your mindset and set yourself up for a calmer, more intentional Christmas. Tune in now and connect with me on Instagram at ⁠@thedressinggownceo⁠ for more tips and updates.

If you or someone you know is struggling and needs someone to talk to, Lifeline, as mentioned in this episode, specialises in crisis support 24 hours for those in need. Here are the details:

Life Line

Call: 131114

Text: 0477131114

www.lifeline.org.au

Welcome back to Dressing Gown CEO for part two of our raw and heartfelt conversation with business coach and mentor Caitlyn Muir (check out part one here if you missed it).

In this section of episode 5, Caitlyn opens up about some of the most profound challenges she’s faced, diving into experiences that are less about “overcoming” and more about learning to live with life’s deepest scars.

We start by exploring Caitlyn's personal journey through grief—losing loved ones to cancer, sudden death, and even - **trigger warning - suicide. As she puts it, “I was raised to believe that suicide was selfish,” a perspective she’s had to reconcile as she moves through the stages of grief, finding value in keeping people close who are “happy to sit in the moment with you, even when it’s ugly.”

From the unexpected love and lessons of losing a pet to her own IVF journey—a grueling process involving over 180 injections and costing more than $170,000 so far—Caitlyn doesn’t hold back on the emotional and physical tolls of pursuing motherhood. Living with PCOS, she’s endured the removal of dozens of ovarian cysts, some as large as grapefruits. “Period pain is not normal,” she reminds us, urging women to be unrelenting in their healthcare journeys.

We also touch on heavier societal issues, from female justice and the tragic state of domestic violence protections to the responsibility of helping others—especially women—through her work and this very podcast. For Caitlyn, “too many people are surface level, and we need more than that.” This episode is a powerful reminder of what it means to sit in someone else’s pain, to hold space for their struggles, and to find strength in vulnerability.

Join us as we conclude this moving conversation with a reflection on why Dressing Gown CEO was born—to create a platform that helps others connect and find support through the shared struggles of life and business. As a former teacher and the founder of Foil Me (a multimillion dollar company), I’m passionate about lifting up entrepreneurs, women, and anyone on a journey of growth and resilience. Connect with me on Instagram at @thedressinggownceo for more insights, and you can find Caitlyn @iconiccoachingau and her website iconiccoaching.com.au

Welcome to Dressing Gown CEO, where we dive into the stories of entrepreneurs, leaders, and creative minds who redefine success in the face of life’s twists and turns.

In this episode, we're joined by Caitlyn Muir, an inspiring business coach and mentor (Iconic Coaching) whose journey took an unexpected path after a life changing incident.

Caitlyn shares how that experience led her to reevaluate her role as a business owner, forcing her to confront the gaps in her leadership and ultimately refine her approach to running a truly self-sufficient business.

From spending months in the hospital to navigating the challenge of building resilience, Caitlyn opens up about the tenacity it took to rebuild her career—and herself. She reflects on the lessons she learned about trusting her team, managing with intention, and the importance of building a business that thrives independently of its owner.

In part one, we also get to know Caitlyn beyond her business success. She shares her playful side, revealing the sport she'd dive into if given the chance, the things that bring her joy, and her refreshingly real take on fashion as a reflection of mood.

We touch on everything from the stereotypes of CrossFit and breakdancing to the realities of ADHD, perimenopause, and the wild insights on social media’s impact on teens today.

Join us as we laugh, learn, and delve deep into Caitlyn’s world, and get ready for an inspiring conversation about resilience, business, and the beauty of embracing life’s unpredictability.

And remember, this is just part one of our chat with Caitlyn. Be sure to join us for part two, where we dive deeper into topics like female contraception, PCOS, the importance of listening to your own body, and trigger alert—a candid discussion on mental health and suicide. You won’t want to miss it.

Welcome to episode 4 of The Dressing Gown CEO podcast, co-hosted by myself, Emily (CEO of Foil Me), and hubby and co-founder, Ili Ciardiello (The Other CEO of Foil Me). In this podcast episode, we chat about everything from employee management and culture at Foil Me to the joys (and challenges) of working with our kids. We keep it real—whether that means recording in the kitchen with cupboards open or leaving breakfast dishes on the counter. It's raw, it's relatable, and it's us.

Also watch on You Tube: https://youtu.be/CG-y_zkA7Wc

And Rumble:

Come along with us, Emily Ciardiello (The Dressing Gown CEO and Co-founder of Foil Me) and Michael Kelly (Hair artist extraordinaire and salon owner of the eclectic Salon Her) where we discuss topics from the Olympics to life hacks. 

In this episode, I ask Michael 10 unconventional questions that take us down more rabbit holes than Alice in Wonderland and provide entertainment in more ways than one! These include:

So, enjoy this impromptu interview turned podcast, (and I must apologise about the sound as we thought the microphones were on) and don’t forget to leave a review and any comments to help get this podcast out to more listeners.

If you’d like to watch (so you can see the dressing gowns that I and Michael Kelly are wearing as well as other quirky things we show, then please visit:

YouTube:

https://youtu.be/4UytbOdRHrw

Rumble:

https://rumble.com/v5cwfp9-episode-3-10-unconventional-questions-with-michael-kelly.html

🇨🇳In this episode and in their usual husband and wife (and not so much work colleagues) banter, Emily and Ili (CEO and CFO of Foil Me), discuss their recent visit to China to solidify their relationship with Foil Me’s foil manufacturer and they answer 3 questions from a follower on Emily’s Instagram:

📱https://www.instagram.com/thedressinggownceo?igsh=MXAxY3oyM3gyMzI5Zw%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

How do I find the right supplier for my products?

What are the legalities surrounding using an overseas supplier?

​What should I expect in start up investment costs?

​


1. ​🧐Using over 16 years of experience from dealing with manufacturers, the pair approach each question with expert knowledge and understanding of what it is like to begin a product business. Providing tips and advice to assist their listeners, Emily and Ili don’t forgo their sense of humour, nor do they shy away from topics such as racism, sex toys and being scammed.
2. 


👌🏻So join them for their second podcast where this time the format is more a discussion about the questions, rather than a meeting agenda, and enjoy listening in on the conversation between husband and wife CFO and CEO.

🎥If you’d like to see them in video format, please visit Rumble:

https://rumble.com/user/Thedressinggownceo


And YouTube:

https://youtu.be/2Eb4mFuuqBc


This is our first episode so naturally we do a bit of an introduction as to who we are, how we started Foil Me (a hairdressing supplies company), our multimillion dollar business, and the format of our show. Then we address a follower’s (from Emily Ciardiello’s Instagram, @thedressinggownceo) question, which is: ‘How do you deal with copy cats?’

So join us, husband and wife and CEO and CFO of Foil Me for our very first episode where you can listen if you want, but don’t share our secrets!

Watch this episode on Rumble here:

https://rumble.com/v57noyt-episode-1-introduction-and-copy-cats.html

And on YouTube here:

https://youtu.be/Gf07iOmqrE4?si=PaTq8NG5qUy8N12M