DiscoverDear FoundHer...Real Founder Stories for Women Small Business Owners
Dear FoundHer...Real Founder Stories for Women Small Business Owners

Dear FoundHer...Real Founder Stories for Women Small Business Owners

Author: Lindsay Pinchuk | Female Founder & Small Business Marketing Expert

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Dear FoundHer… is a How I Built This–style podcast sharing real stories from female entrepreneurs, female founders, and women in business, especially women 40+, who are building companies on their own terms.


Hosted by award-winning entrepreneur Lindsay Pinchuk, each episode features honest, thoughtful conversations with women CEOs and founders navigating leadership, decision making, career pivots, and business growth. These are the stories behind the success, the lessons, the marketing strategies that actually work, and the leadership moments that shape women building and leading businesses.

From Bobbi Brown to Rebecca Minkoff, Peloton’s Jenn Sherman & Dr. Becky Kennedy to Gail Simmons, Dear FoundHer… brings you conversations with some of the most influential female founders and leaders of our time.


Dear FoundHer… explores what it looks like to grow a business with clarity and confidence, from starting a company for the first time or after leaving corporate, to scaling responsibly, managing teams, building visibility, getting press, and creating sustainable growth. Topics include leadership development, confidence at work, business strategy, marketing strategies and tactics, company messaging, community building, and showing up confidently.


There’s no fluff. No gatekeeping. Just real insight, shared perspective, and practical wisdom, because building businesses is better when women learn from each other.


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

338 Episodes
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Niching down is often the move founders resist most, especially when they are already building an audience and seeing traction. In this Dear FoundHer conversation, Lindsay Pinchuk talks with Dr. Amy Robbins, host of the Life, Death & the Space Between podcast, about how niching down became the turning point in her business. What started as a passion project evolved into a focused, revenue-generating offer once she stopped trying to serve everyone and began speaking directly to one specific group.Dr. Amy Robbins spent years building an audience through her show and growing her visibility in the spiritual space. The credibility was there, but the next step was unclear. Through a series of intentional career pivots, she recognized that therapists were asking for structured training in spiritually informed therapy. Niching down allowed her to create a continuing education program that strengthened her professional credibility and made her offer practical and professionally valuable.This conversation also explores the internal shifts behind the strategy. After experiencing exhaustion in private practice, she stepped back to create space for clearer decision-making and a path toward growth without burnout. If you are a founder with momentum but no defined direction, this episode offers a great example of how niching down can sharpen your message, simplify your marketing, and create sustainable growth built on focus rather than volume.Episode Breakdown:00:00 Dear FoundHer From the Forum and Dr. Amy Robbins’ Founder Story01:24 From Private Practice to Spirituality and Building a Podcast Platform02:38 Turning a Podcast Into a Business Without Taking More Therapy Clients06:53 Taking a Sabbatical to Create Clarity and Build the Right Offer09:47 Pivoting From B2C to B2B With Spiritually Informed Therapy Training11:19 Using Continuing Education Credits to Drive Course Demand14:02 Building a Therapist Community and a B2B2C Referral Model22:10 Leveraging Podcast Guests for Partnerships and Business Growth27:21 Mindset, Comparison, and Staying Focused on Your Own Growth PathConnect with Dr. Amy Robbins:Follow Dr. Amy on InstagramListen to Life, Death & The Space Between with Dr. Amy RobbinsSubscribe to The FoundHer Files Follow Dear FoundHer on Instagram Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
For simple actionable tips to grow your business, subscribe to The FoundHer Files Attention from the media can change the trajectory of a brand, but it is rarely the full story. In this episode of Dear FoundHer, Lindsay Pinchuk sits down with Elyce Arons to talk about what getting press really did for her business and how it influenced long term growth. If you are focused on founder visibility and questioning how getting press translates into revenue, this conversation offers valuable insight.Elyce shares one of the most grounded real founder stories about building Kate Spade and later launching Frances Valentine. She shares stories of meeting Katie in college, how the business really started in Katie and Andy’s loft, and how getting press created credibility and momentum for the handbag company, especially in a pre-social media era.  Elyce explains that disciplined execution turned that visibility into demand. Publicity can spark interest, but managing rapid growth is what determines whether a company can sustain it.They also discuss scaling responsibly when cash flow is tight and every decision carries so much weight. Elyce reflects on motherhood and entrepreneurship and how her priorities evolved as her business grew. This episode is for founders who want stronger visibility, are navigating expansion, or are thinking carefully about how to build something that lasts well beyond early recognition.Episode Breakdown:00:01 Elyce Arons On Building Kate Spade And Starting Over With Frances Valentine02:03 From Kansas To New York: The Friendship That Started It All10:27 The Small Branding Choice That Made Kate Spade Instantly Recognizable12:44 Getting Press Before Social Media: Editorial Coverage As A Growth Engine16:57 Managing Rapid Growth And The Decision To Sell Kate Spade20:22 Motherhood And Entrepreneurship After Exit: Identity And Chapter Two25:05 Leading Frances Valentine Through Loss And Protecting Katie’s Legacy41:29 3 Lessons For Women Founders On Experience, Funding, And Trusting Your GutConnect with Elyce Arons:Follow Elyce on InstagramFollow Frances Valentine on InstagramFoundHer Faves:Varley Wide Leg PantsPetite Plume Pajama SetMidi Health Daily Fiber+CreatineMenopause Survival KitThe MenopsychologistUpskill DevelopmentalJoin our online networking community: Dear FoundHer Forum Follow Dear FoundHer on InstagramPodcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Most Female Founders who are starting a business for the first time only think about legal support when something goes wrong. Leslee Cohen, founder of AllRise Legal Counsel, shares how the right legal guidance can make starting a business safer and less stressful. Drawing on decades of experience advising female founders through fundraising, growth, and exit, Leslee explains why so many first time business owners delay legal decisions and the risk that can create in their businesses.Many legal legal decisions shape a startup from the very beginning, including business structure, equity, co-founders, and long-term protection. Leslee shares how a small shift in how founders talk about their business can open doors and why legal strategy works best when it supports momentum instead of slowing it down.Leslee also reflects on what changed when she became a startup founder herself and rebuilt her firm around flexibility, trust, and accountability without sacrificing quality. If you’re starting a business for the first time and you want legal guidance that feels practical, human, and aligned with real life, this episode offers clarity and a smarter way to think about legal support.Episode Breakdown:00:00 Female Founders Building Businesses For The First Time in the Dear FoundHer Forum01:30 From Diplomacy to Corporate Law and Startup Legal Work  05:45 How One Sentence Changed Her Startup Legal Business  08:50 Building a Flexible Legal Firm for Female Founders  12:08 Networking Strategies That Drive Business Referrals  16:30 Legal Decisions Every New Business Owner Must Make Early  23:26 Redefining Growth and Success as a Legal Founder  29:44 Practical Advice for Women Starting A Business For The First TimeConnect with Leslee Cohen:Follow AllRise Legal on InstagramSubscribe to The FoundHer Files Follow Dear FoundHer on Instagram Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Female founders, scaling challenges can test your confidence, especially when you are starting a business for the first time without investors or a clear roadmap. In this episode of Dear FoundHer, Lindsay Pinchuk sits down with Tamara Coleman of Bark Bistro to talk about what it takes to keep growing a business when the pressure builds and the answers are not obvious. If you are working through scaling challenges of your own, this conversation will show you a practical path forward.This is one of those real founder stories that focuses on decisions, not hype. Tamara built a $20 million brand through bootstrapping, starting in her kitchen with a $15,000 credit card. She heard “no” from retailers, struggled to get approved on Amazon, and had to rethink her distribution strategy. Instead of quitting, she adjusted and kept moving.For female founders who are starting a business for the first time, this episode offers clarity on what growing a business truly requires. Tamara explains how bootstrapping forced her to understand margins, protect cash flow, and expand at a pace she could sustain. She shares how she managed scaling challenges without losing control of quality or operations.If you are facing scaling challenges and wondering whether you are doing it right, this episode will help you refocus on what really matters. The lessons here are useful, especially for female founders who are growing a business with intention. You will walk away with clearer thinking around margins, momentum, and the discipline required to build something that lasts.Episode Breakdown:00:01 From $15K Credit Card to $20M Bootstrapping Bark Bistro04:30 Retail Rejection and the Strategic Pivot to Amazon10:53 Scaling Operations From Home Kitchen to 25,000 Square Feet14:18 COVID E-Commerce Boom and Rapid Revenue Growth24:22 $20M in Sales, Exit Strategy, and Advice for Female FoundersConnect with Tamara Coleman:Follow Bark Bistro on InstagramVisit the Bark Bistro websiteFollow Tamara Coleman on InstagramConnect with Lindsay:Subscribe to The FoundHer FilesFollow Dear FoundHer on InstagramFoundHer Faves:Tubby Todd Best Face Gel CleanserConnect with Jillian StrausThe Press by NorHuephoric by Judy LeePodcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
If you care about where retail is headed and how a brick-and-mortar business is getting publicity that converts, this episode of Dear FoundHer is worth your time. Host Lindsay Pinchuk sits down with Ariana Carps, a woman business owner and second-generation retailer behind Rear Ends, a nearly 50-year-old brick-and-mortar boutique that continues to thrive without chasing scale or trends. Ariana shares what actually drives in-store sales and customer loyalty, and why building a strong community around her retail business has been just as important as the products she sells.You’ll hear why daily social media routines can outperform flashy campaigns, how quiet followers often become high-intent buyers, and why removing friction does not have to mean removing people. Ariana breaks down how personal service, honest feedback, and relationship-based selling create a retail experience that feels human and keeps customers coming back.This conversation reframes retail success as something sustainable, repeatable, and deeply human. If you are a woman business owner looking to get publicity, or build a community-driven retail business, this episode delivers practical ideas you can actually use.Episode Breakdown:00:00 Getting Publicity: How Daily Instagram Videos Drive Retail Sales  02:31 The Story Behind a 48-Year Family Retail Business  05:16 Smarter Retail Buying Decisions That Reduce Stress  06:44 Why Human Connection Still Wins in Retail  12:14 Building Consistent Social Media That Converts  16:48 Selling Without E-Commerce Through Personal Shopping  19:27 Choosing Sustainable Growth Over Retail Expansion Connect with Ariana Carps:Follow Rear Ends on InstagramFollow Rear Ends on FacebookSubscribe to The FoundHer Files Follow Dear FoundHer on Instagram Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Getting press can feel like a lucky break until you hear how Annabel Love and her co-founder built a repeatable strategy behind it. In this episode of Dear FoundHer, Annabel shares how a dorm room hair-straightener hack became Nori, an eight-figure, profitable brand now sold nationwide at Target. This is a must-listen for women founders who want a clearer playbook for building visibility, earning trust, and turning attention into revenue.Annabel walks Lindsay through the early, scrappy days of the company, including customer discovery in the real world, focus groups, and building a product with zero hardware background. You’ll hear what it took to go from idea to manufacturing, then into a go-to-market plan that included Meta ads, influencer partnerships, and getting press that actually moved product. Annabel breaks down how they approached press opportunities like Oprah’s Favorite Things and The Today Show, plus how they repurposed those wins across paid ads, their website, and customer acquisition.This conversation also covers growing an audience before launch, choosing the right agency partners, and why a lean team can be an advantage when managing rapid growth. Annabel shares how Nori expanded from DTC into retailers like Nordstrom, Bloomingdale’s, and Target, and what changed operationally once mass retail entered the picture. If you are one of the many female entrepreneurs trying to scale without burning cash or building a bloated org chart, you will walk away with concrete lessons you can apply right away.Episode Breakdown:00:01 Nori Founder Story: From Dorm Room Idea to Eight-Figure Brand03:24 Launching a Hardware Startup Without Engineering Experience07:05 Customer Research and Product Validation Strategy09:32 Direct-to-Consumer Go-To-Market Plan11:54 Meta Ads, Influencer Marketing, and Getting Press13:52 Retail Expansion: Nordstrom, Bloomingdale’s, and Target16:10 Fundraising and Profitability in a Consumer Brand22:18 Scaling to $20 Million With a Lean Team28:46 The Today Show Impact on Sales Growth31:14 Advice for Women Starting a BusinessConnect with Annabel Love:Follow Annabel Love on InstagramFollow Nori on InstagramSubscribe to The Foundher Files: http://foundherfiles.substack.comFollow Dear FoundHer... on Instagram http://www.instagram.com/dearfoundherPodcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
After more than two decades in business, Kim Oser realized that working harder was not the answer. The missing piece was structure.In this episode of Dear FoundHer from the Forum, Kim, founder of Game Plan Organizing, shares the shift that changed everything. After years of strong results, she realized the real barrier was not the quality of her work but how clearly she could articulate it. Once she stopped winging her own growth and built a clear plan, her business momentum followed.Kim opens up about moving from inconsistent marketing to confident storytelling, and how clarity in her message led to stronger referrals and a calendar that finally reflected the value of her work. She also talks about rebranding, not as a fix, but as an evolution. Game Plan Organizing gave her the language to lead more strategically and the confidence to say no to work that no longer aligned.As demand grew, so did questions about capacity and sustainability. Those questions ultimately led to Clear Game Plan, an online program designed to help people get organized without shame or overwhelm. Throughout the episode, one theme remains constant. Growth became possible and sustainable because it was supported by community, accountability, and shared perspective.This conversation is for anyone who knows their work is solid but feels stuck explaining it, scaling it, or sustaining it without burning out.Episode Breakdown:00:00 Women Founders and the Power of Community01:55 What Game Plan Organizing Is and Why Planning Comes First02:52 When Experience Is Not the Problem but Marketing Clarity Is05:36 How Clear Storytelling Led to Referrals and a Full Calendar07:32 Rebranding a Service Business for Strategic Growth11:17 Using Events and Partnerships to Build Trust and Visibility14:09 Scaling Beyond Personal Capacity with an Online Program17:26 Why Community Accelerated Business GrowthConnect with Kim Oser:Follow Kim on Instagram Follow the Game Plan Organizing on Facebook Connect with Game Plan Organizing on LinkedInVisit the Game Plan Organizing websiteSubscribe to The FoundHer Files Follow Dear FoundHer on Instagram Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Building a breakout brand in the baby space usually looks slower and messier than people expect. It means facing real scaling challenges, making patient decisions, and staying committed to the product even when it would be easier to rush. In this episode of Dear FoundHer, host Lindsay Pinchuk talks with female founder, Andrea Faulkner Williams, of Tubby Todd, about what it really took to build a brand parents trust.Andrea shares how Tubby Todd began with a personal family need and a hard reset most founders would avoid. After spending years developing their first product, they chose to start over when it did not work for their own child. That decision shaped everything that followed, including how they focused on quality, earned trust, and started growing an audience through real word of mouth instead of shortcuts or paid hype. Community, consistency, and listening closely to customers became the backbone of the business.That foundation made the next stage possible. Andrea walks through how Tubby Todd expanded beyond direct-to-consumer, first onto Amazon and eventually into Target, without losing what made the brand work. Instead of relying on retail to create demand, they brought an already loyal audience with them. If you are a woman business owner, wrestling with scaling challenges or trying to grow an audience before taking a bigger leap, this episode gives a refreshingly honest look at what steady growth really takes.Episode Breakdown:00:00 How Tubby Todd Grew Without Paid Ads03:00 Two Years of Product Development and Starting Over04:00 Word of Mouth Strategy for Growing an Audience07:00 “Be a Good Friend” Marketing Philosophy14:00 Community Building Offline Through Play Dates19:30 Scaling Challenges: Amazon to Target Retail Expansion25:00 Founder Challenges: Confidence, Relationships, and Boundaries30:00 A Simple Founder Framework: Why, One Goal, Quarterly FocusConnect with Andrea Faulkner Williams:Follow Andrea of InstagramFollow Tubby Todd on InstagramFoundHer Faves:Keep Mahjing OnFoundation PRMaelove Dryness Treatment KitWomaness Let’s Neck Serum RollerKendra Scott 5 Link Match BandSubscribe to The FoundHer Files Follow Dear FoundHer... on InstagramPodcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
What it really takes to leave corporate with confidence and build a people-first business that actually works.Leaving a stable corporate role is rarely about courage alone. It’s about timing, clarity, and building the right support before you leap. On Dear FoundHer from the Forum, host Lindsay Pinchuk sits down with Jillian Bernstein, founder of The Wellness Extension, to unpack what the corporate-to-founder transition really looks like when it’s done thoughtfully. Jillian shares how she assessed her readiness, invested in learning where she had gaps, and resisted the pressure many women founders feel to rush decisions just to make it work.This episode challenges a common misconception about workplace well-being. Jillian explains why surface-level wellness initiatives often fall short for small business owners and how listening closely to clients led her to build a more comprehensive HR concierge model. Her pivots were shaped by real conversations, careful testing, and a willingness to evolve her services based on what businesses actually needed.At the center of it all is community. Jillian reflects on how her network supported her during the quiet early months of building her business and how she now creates paid opportunities for other women through her work. This conversation is for women founders who want to grow sustainably, think strategically, and stop trying to do everything alone.Episode Breakdown:00:00 Investing in Skills You Do Not Have as a Founder02:52 Building an HR Concierge Business for Small Businesses06:30 Knowing When You Are Ready to Leave Corporate11:25 Revenue Goals, Business Pivots, and Sustainable Growth16:27 The Key Decisions That Made This Business Work19:49 Why Community and Network Matter for Women FoundersConnect with Jillian Bernstein:Follow Wellness Extension on Instagram Connect with Jillian on LinkedInVisit the Wellness Extension WebsiteSubscribe to The FoundHer Files Follow Dear FoundHer... on InstagramPodcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
If you're a woman business owner over 40, join the Dear FoundHer... Forum to find support, advice, resources and mentorship—JUST FOR YOU. It’s all inside, without the gatekeeping and without the overwhelm.If you’re a woman business owner over 40 who feels like growth should be louder or more complicated than it needs to be, this episode is for you.In this solo episode, Lindsay Pinchuk shares why real business growth rarely starts with a launch, funnel, or rebrand—and almost always starts with a conversation. Drawing from her experience building and exiting a seven-figure company, Lindsay explains how conversations have led to her biggest opportunities, partnerships, and long-term growth.You’ll learn why women over 40 are uniquely positioned to grow through relationships, how one aligned conversation can create more impact than ten pieces of content, and why community—not campaigns—is often the missing piece.If networking feels forced and marketing feels heavy, this episode will help you rethink what growth can look like.Subscribe to The FoundHer Files Follow Dear FoundHer... on Instagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Many successful female founders and entrepreneurs are exhausted by planners, productivity advice, and the pressure to always do more, yet they still feel behind when it comes to time management. This episode of Dear FoundHer from the Forum slows that conversation down and asks why time feels so hard, even for capable, motivated women.Jill Beck, founder of Just Go Long and an accountability coach for women over 40, joins the discussion to talk about what she sees again and again in her work. The problem usually isn’t a lack of effort or the wrong system. It’s the absence of accountability in the middle of real life. Jill shares how she supports women through text-based accountability that fits into busy days rather than adding more to them.The conversation covers burnout, boundaries, confidence, and why it’s so hard to follow through when your plate is already full. Jill also shares how her business came together in a very unflashy way, built on trust, referrals, and showing up consistently rather than chasing attention or growth trends.Episode Breakdown:00:00 Why Productivity Systems Fail Without Accountability02:27 Text-Based Accountability Coaching for Women Over 4005:29 Burnout, Health, and Sustainable Time Management06:48 The Time Pie Chart That Forces Real Tradeoffs10:12 Visibility, Confidence, and Letting Go of Follower Obsession16:04 Growing a Coaching Business Through Email and Referrals23:24 What’s Next for Just Go Long and Corporate Time OverloadConnect with Jill Beck:Follow Jill on InstagramConnect with Jill on LinkedInSubscribe to The FoundHer Files Follow Dear FoundHer... on InstagramPodcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Join us for the FREE Dear FoundHer… Forum Open House + Networking (virtual) Event on January 28th. RSVP HERE we won’t host another Open House until later this spring.This female founded business began as a side hustle in an apartment and grew into a 45-location, company-owned beauty brand by staying grounded in reality.Courtney Claghorn, president and founder of Sugared + Bronzed, a natural sugaring and spray tan company shares how the company took shape while she still worked full-time, learned the service herself, and paid attention to what customers were actually willing to buy. Early decisions focused on cash flow, reinvestment, and keeping costs manageable. Profitability set the pace from the start and made it possible to scale without franchising or giving up ownership.The conversation traces what changes when a side hustle demands more than spare time, how standards hold up as scale increases, and why systems replaced intuition as the business grew. Courtney also talks through choosing when to raise capital, adjusting during COVID, and building something that could keep growing without depending on her presence in every room.Episode Breakdown:00:00 From Side Hustle To Growth At Scale: The Sugared + Bronzed Story  03:10 Identifying A Market Gap In The Spray Tan Industry  06:00 Early Customer Acquisition Without Social Media  07:00 Leaving A Corporate Job When Demand Takes Over  08:10 Bootstrapping The First Store And Prioritizing Profitability  14:50 Scaling Without Franchising Or Losing Control  16:10 Raising Capital After Proving The Business Model  17:30 Surviving COVID Through Creative Pivots  23:00 Maintaining Quality And Culture At Scale  34:00 Founder Advice On Moving Fast And Avoiding Overplanning Connect with Courtney Claghorn:Follow Courtney on InstagramVisit the Sugared + Bronzed WebsiteFollow Sugared + Bronzed on InstagramSubscribe to The FoundHer Files Follow Dear FoundHer... on InstagramPodcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Most real founder stories are not tidy highlight reels. They unfold in real time, with experiments, pivots, and steady progress. In this episode, Nina Badzin shares one of those real founder stories, tracing her path from writing advice columns to building Dear Nina into a podcast and newsletter that operate as the business itself.If you are growing an audience and wondering how to monetize without losing your voice, this conversation is for you. Nina breaks down how sponsorships support her podcast, how paid subscribers support her newsletter, and why she wishes she had started monetizing sooner. She talks candidly about learning to edit her own show, building revenue streams gradually, and treating content as a long term asset that compounds over time.This is also one of those real founder stories that highlights the power of online community building. Nina explains how joining the Dear FoundHer Forum led to peer support for entrepreneurs that she could not get from friends alone. From partnership marketing opportunities like podcast swaps to brainstorming bigger strategy decisions, the right room changed her trajectory.You will also hear practical event marketing ideas, including how she launched her first live event, secured sponsors for giveaway bags, and is planning future cities with intention. Along the way, she shares lessons about starting before you feel ready, embracing partnership marketing, and building systems that support sustainable growth.This episode gives you real founder stories that show how entrepreneurs build their audience, try out new ways to make money, and get help from other entrepreneurs.Episode Breakdown:00:00 Introducing Dear FoundHer From the Forum and Nina Badzin01:17 Turning Friendship Advice Into a Sustainable Business07:55 Starting a Podcast During COVID10:15 How Dear Nina Makes Money Through Sponsorships and Subscriptions13:58 Why Substack Works for Newsletter Growth and Discovery20:53 Why Community Matters More Than Friends in Business23:55 Real Business Results From the Dear FoundHer Forum27:11 Three Practical Lessons for New Business OwnersConnect with Nina Badzin:Follow Nina on Instagram Tune in to Nina’s Podcast: Dear Nina Conversations About FriendshipConnect with Lindsay:Subscribe to The FoundHer FilesFollow Dear FoundHer on InstagramPodcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
When growing an audience feels impossible because your business did not start with a neat plan, this episode is proof you do not need one. Lindsay Pinchuk sits down with Zibby Owens, founder of Zibby Media, for a conversation that is part strategy and part reality check for women building in midlife.Zibby shares how a personal reset led to a podcast, then events, then a bookstore, then publishing, all by paying attention to what people responded to. These are real founder stories about testing ideas in public, keeping what works, and letting go of what drains the team. If you are leaving corporate or staring down career pivots, you will hear how both women built momentum without pretending it was effortless.This is also a lesson in community building for business. Zibby explains why bringing people together in real life made it easier to book guests, strengthen partnerships, and keep growing an audience even when algorithms change. Lindsay connects the dots to her own journey bootstrapping a company from $500 to seven figures, selling it, and then building Dear FoundHer into a podcast, a forum, and live events.They also talk about values and visibility. Zibby reflects on the backlash that can come with speaking publicly and why she chose to keep showing up anyway. If you want growing an audience without burning out, you will leave with practical steps for outreach, clarity on what to stop doing, and a reminder that growing an audience is built one relationship at a time, starting today.Episode Breakdown:00:02 Bootstrapping From $500 to Seven Figures and Building Dear FoundHer With Lindsay Pinchuk03:48 How Zibby Owens Started Zibby Media Without a Business Plan07:20 Growing an Audience Through Podcasting, Sponsorships, and Consistent Content09:36 Community Building for Business Through Live Events and Real-Life Connection14:09 Leaving Corporate After Acquisition and Making a Career Pivot Into Entrepreneurship19:07 Rebranding and Streamlining a Growing Business With a Clear Mission25:12 Values-Driven Leadership, Public Visibility, and Backlash After October 731:34 Turning Purpose Into Action With a Bestselling Anthology and Ongoing Community Work37:05 Hiring, Team Building, and the Reality of Monetizing a Media Business44:41 Practical Advice for First-Time Founders on Feedback, Clarity, and Growing an AudienceConnect with Zibby Owens:Follow Zibby on Instagram Follow Zibby Publishing on Instagram  Follow Zibby’s Bookshop on Instagram Follow Totally Booked with Zibby on Instagram  Visit Zibby Media Visit Zibby’s websiteConnect with Lindsay:Subscribe to The FoundHer FilesFollow Dear FoundHer on InstagramJoin us for the Dear FoundHer... Forum Virtual Open House + Networking Event on January 28th to meet other amazing women business owners just like you. RSVP HERE to save yourself a seat, it's free.Subscribe to The FoundHer Files Follow Dear FoundHer... on InstagramPodcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Two simple, proven ways to get new clients in 2026, without ads, funnels, or burnout. Lindsay Pinchuk shares the email every entrepreneur forgets to send and the LinkedIn strategy that activates your network and drives real revenue. Perfect for women business owners over 40 building their next chapter.If you're a woman business owner over 40 and you’re wondering how to get more clients in 2026, without ads, complicated funnels, or burnout, this episode is for you.In this special teaser episode ahead of Season 5 of Dear FoundHer…, host Lindsay Pinchuk shares the two simplest and most effective client acquisition strategies she’s used at every stage of her career, from launching her first company to building a seven-figure business and scaling Dear FoundHer.You’ll learn:✔️ The one email every entrepreneur forgets to send — and why it’s your most powerful lead generator ✔️ How to activate your existing network to get new clients faster ✔️ How to use LinkedIn for business development (without cold pitching or awkward sales messages) ✔️ Why “doing great work” isn’t enough — and what actually creates momentum ✔️ The exact strategy Lindsay used when she woke up one January with zero clientsWhat You’ll Learn in This Episode:How to write THAT email — the announcement email that activates your network and generates referrals, clients, and opportunitiesWhy your existing network is your fastest path to revenueHow to use LinkedIn intentionally for business growthThe outbound strategy that landed multiple clients in weeksHow to create momentum when your pipeline is emptyWhy visibility is the real growth lever for women entrepreneurs over 40This episode is for:Women business owners over 40Female founders starting a business later in lifeCareer pivoters building a second actConsultants, coaches, service providers, and foundersEntrepreneurs who want more clients without relying on social media trendsWomen who want simple, proven marketing strategies that actually convertIf you're starting a business after 40, pivoting careers, or rebuilding momentum in a new season of life, this episode gives you a clear, simple roadmap to getting visible and getting paid. No fluff. No gatekeeping. Just real strategies that work.Grab THAT email. Grab THOSE LinkedIn message templates. Follow Dear FoundHer... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
If you missed our holiday Dear FoundHer... Forum promo, you didn’t miss your chance. We’re offering one final opportunity to join the Dear FoundHer… Forum at a special rate before they go up in January. Use the code LASTCHANCE for 20% off through December 31st. CLICK HERE TO JOIN US.Momentum grows faster when you’re not building alone.Community is the difference.In the final episode of 2025, Host, Lindsay Pinchuk, reflects on a year defined by momentum—not hustle, but intentional business growth built through community.This solo episode looks back on the wins, challenges, and lessons that shaped the Dear FoundHer… ecosystem in 2025 and shares what it really takes to build a business that’s sustainable, aligned, and built to last. Lindsay breaks down what this year reinforced about growth after 40, the power of boundaries, and why community compounds faster than content.You’ll hear the lessons Lindsay is carrying into 2026—focused on sustainability, clarity, and future goals—along with a reminder that meaningful growth doesn’t come from doing more, but from doing what works.If you’re closing out the year reflecting on what’s next and craving momentum that feels steady instead of exhausting, this episode is for you.Make sure you follow Dear FoundHer... on Instagram and subscribe to our weekly newsletter, The FoundHer Files.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
If you missed our holiday Dear FoundHer... Forum promo, you didn’t miss your chance. We’re offering one final opportunity to join the Dear FoundHer… Forum at a special rate before they go up in January. Use the code LASTCHANCE for 20% off through December 31st. CLICK HERE TO JOIN USCommunity isn’t a trend. It’s the business—and it always has been.As the year comes to a close, Host, Lindsay Pinchuk, reflects on the one thing behind every milestone inside Dear FoundHer…: community.In this solo episode, Lindsay shares why connection has always been the foundation of real business growth—long before algorithms, trends, or social media experts declared it so. From building a seven-figure company without a marketing budget to creating spaces where women truly support one another, this episode is a reminder that people don’t stay loyal to platforms. They stay loyal to people.You’ll hear why community isn’t a “nice to have,” but essential infrastructure for entrepreneurs—especially women in business—and walk away with simple, practical ways to start building (and deepening) connection right now.In this episode, we cover:Why community is the business—not a trendHow connection and trust fuel sustainable growthSimple ways to build community without overcomplicating itHow support and networking create resilience when things get hardFive strategies for creating connection with your community in order to sustain it. If you’re building a business and want more than vanity metrics—more connection, more support, and more people in your corner, this episode is for you.Make sure you follow Dear FoundHer... on Instagram and subscribe to our weekly newsletter, The FoundHer Files. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
If you're a woman business owner over 40, join the Dear FoundHer... Forum to find support, advice, resources and mentorship—JUST FOR YOU. It’s all inside, without the gatekeeping and without the overwhelm.Building a real business became possible for Dr. Lisa Klein when she stopped trying to do everything alone and chose to grow inside a community of women who understood the work.Lindsay Pinchuk talks with pediatrician and Turning Teen founder Dr. Lisa Klein about how a deeply personal idea grew into a legitimate business with national reach. Turning Teen began as a response to a need Dr. Klein saw in her medical practice, parents who wanted support talking with their kids about puberty, body image, emotions, and sex education but did not know where to start. What began as small workshops in living rooms evolved into structured programming for schools, community groups, and families across multiple cities.Dr. Klein shares how joining the Dear Found Her Forum and participating in Marketing Made Simple helped her move from treating Turning Teen as a side project to running it as a real business. Being surrounded by other women builders gave her clarity, accountability, and confidence as she learned marketing, partnerships, hiring, and systems. How different does growth feel when you are not figuring it out alone?The conversation points out how community relationships turned into real opportunities, from strategic partnerships to new offerings and large scale events. Dr. Klein’s story is a reminder that sustainable growth often comes from shared experience, steady action, and the right people in your corner.Episode Breakdown:00:00 Meet Dr. Lisa Klein and the Mission Behind Turning Teen03:18 Why Turning Teen Started and the Real Problem It Solves04:47 From Small Workshops to a Scalable Business Model08:58 When a Passion Project Became a Legitimate Business10:55 How the Dear Found Her Forum and Mentorship Drove Growth17:12 Partnerships Community and the Turning Teen Seal of Approval28:13 Advice for Women Building a Business and What Matters MostConnect with Dr. Lisa Klein:Follow Turning Teen on InstagramFollow Turning Teen on FacebookDearFoundHer… Links:Check out the Dear FoundHer... Female Founded Holiday Gift GuideJoin the Dear FoundHer... Forum Follow Dear FoundHer... on InstagramPodcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Holiday Special: Join the Dear FoundHer… Forum at 30% off our annual rate and lock in pricing forever. After December 19th, we will never offer this rate again. JOIN US HEREYou don’t need permission or perfect credentials to build a trusted brand in women’s health.Lindsay Pinchuk sits down with Kat Schneider, founder and CEO of Ritual, for a conversation about building a category-defining company without a science background or a perfectly mapped plan. Kat shares how Ritual began during her first pregnancy as a response to unanswered questions about trust and transparency, and how choosing a DTC model early allowed the brand to educate customers, show real proof, and earn credibility instead of asking for it. What changes when you build trust before scale? How do you move forward when you do not feel fully ready?Kat also reflects on how that DTC foundation shaped Ritual’s growth and made expansion into retail, including Target, feel intentional rather than reactive. She talks about leadership lessons learned along the way, from hiring mistakes to the pressure many women feel to be experts at everything, and why surrounding yourself with people who are stronger where you are not can change everything. Tune in to understand how intuition and decision-making become the real competitive advantage when you are building something meant to last.Episode Breakdown:00:00 Why This Conversation Matters for Women Founders02:20 How Ritual Started With One Pregnant Founder Asking Better Questions05:52 Quitting a Job While Pregnant and Challenging a “Niche” Industry07:39 Building Ritual Without a Science Background12:58 Launching One Product and Earning Trust Through DTC20:56 How DTC Education Enabled Expansion Into Target and Retail32:30 Leadership Lessons and Early Hiring Mistakes38:14 Three Core Lessons on Intuition, Rejection, and Decision-MakingConnect with Kat Schneider:Follow Kat on InstagramFollow Ritual on InstagramDearFoundHer… Links:Check out the Dear FoundHer... Female Founded Holiday Gift Guide! Join the Dear FoundHer... ForumFollow Dear FoundHer... on InstagramPodcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
You have just a couple more weeks to join THE networking community for women business owners over forty: The Dear FoundHer... Forum. Save 30% off your annual membership and lock in your rate before it goes in next year!A longtime HR leader sees how unprepared many young adults feel after college and turns that insight into a small business built to guide them through the realities of adulthood.Heather Redisch sits down with Lindsay Pinchuk to share how Adulting 101 Masterclass began, the early uncertainty that came with creating something in a wide-open space, and the small shifts that helped her clarify her offer. She talks about the moments that shaped her growth, the experiments that revealed what students and parents truly needed, and the point where things finally gained momentum once she focused on her core strengths.Heather also reflects on the role community played in her progress. The women in the Dear FoundHer Forum helped her push past discomfort, stay visible, and build confidence as she refined her idea. Their support reshaped how she approaches her work and the young adults she serves. Her story leaves listeners with a simple question: what becomes possible for your small business when you stay curious, keep learning, and surround yourself with a community that moves with you?Episode Breakdown:00:00 Stepping Out of Your Comfort Zone for Small Business Growth02:20 From HR Expert to Founder of Adulting 101 Masterclass03:32 The Workforce Gap and Why Graduates Aren’t Prepared05:39 How Adulting 101 Shifted to a One-on-One Coaching Model09:42 The Breakthrough Moment After Narrowing Her Offer13:31 Community Support and Networking That Fueled Growth18:53 What’s Next for Adulting 101 Masterclass22:05 Heather’s Essential Advice for New FoundersLinks:Follow Heather Redisch on InstagramSubscribe to The FoundHer Files and check out our female founded holiday gift guide!Follow Dear FoundHer... on InstagramPodcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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