“Step after step, it’s like climbing a mountain. You don’t necessarily get to the peak really fast—it’s consistent, steady growth.” In this episode of Entreprenista, we sat down with Julie Smolyansky, CEO of Lifeway Foods, a company specializing in kefir to support the gut microbiome.  Born in Ukraine, Julie immigrated to the US and watched her parents pioneer the introduction of kefir to the American market, taking over Lifeway foods as CEO at 27 years old. After her father's sudden death,...

“That journey of self reflection and really being humbled by the business punching you in the face was not something I anticipated. I knew there were going to be hurdles to climb. But actually challenging yourself with ‘I might need to look at myself in the mirror and take a second to reflect on  how I can be a better leader’ and then actually doing the things that you’re fully aware that you need to do.” In this episode of Entreprenista, we sat down with Jesslyn Rollins, CEO of BIOLYTE, a...

“There's a lot of beautiful healing things that we do and they're all amazing, but the thing that will heal those old versions of you the fastest and most effectively is when you embody the version of you who no longer believes that.” In this episode of Entreprenista, we sat down with Tracy Litt, a rapid transformational hypnotherapist, best-selling author, and TEDx speaker. Tracy is also a certified mindset coach, success mentor, and the innovative founder of The Litt Factor and the School...

“You're pushing yourself beyond what you feel is comfortable, which means you're gonna have chapters of discomfort or feeling like, ‘I'm not really sure if I'm there yet. And sometimes that's true. Sometimes you're not there yet. It's good to tune into that because then you know where you should be focusing to improve.” In this episode of Entreprenista, we sat down with Haesue Jo, Head of Clinical Operations for the world’s largest therapy service, online mental health platform BetterHelp....

“Keep the momentum going. And that's continuous meetings, continuous networking. And then set dates really set a, ‘We are looking to raise this by this time,’ so that you give yourself a deadline, and you give the investors a deadline, and you can hold yourself to it.” In this episode of Entreprenista, we sat down with Emilie Fritz Veloso, founder of One Tribe, an integrative, expert-led community that provides best-in-class education, services, and resources to support women on their...

“[You’re] spending money and growing not at a sustainable pace, but at this hyper-accelerated pace in order to rapidly take up market share and drown out competitors. When you keep raising money to do that, you keep giving more and more people big chunks of your business. The only way it works is if you have a little bit of luck, but also great execution, the ability to fundraise, and a great product. Then you actually become that unicorn because then the pie is big enough for everybody.” In...

“Expose all of the elephants in the room. We just try to hide them… We're trying to throw our skirt up over the elephant… I have gone into everything. It's been a superpower. I'm like, ‘Here's the elephant. Here's the elephant. Here's the elephant. Yes, I'm new at this. Yes, you might be afraid of this. Yes, I understand that fear of yours around this, but here's why I'm still the person for this.’” In this episode of Entreprenista, we sat down with Lori Harder, a serial entrepreneur who’s...

“It's not just about selling your products anymore. You need to know how your products work, you need to know what you're putting out there, and you need to be the expert at it so that you can educate your consumer. That also builds trust, so it's like, ‘Okay, she did the work. She has her license in cosmetology. She's a hair expert.’ And then being able to talk about it, I think that truly sets us apart as well.” In this episode of Entreprenista, we sat down with Nadine Ramos, the CEO and...

“Nothing lasts forever, we're all gonna die. It’s all very short. So, having that perspective kind of makes you say, ‘We're not around for that long, we probably should make the most of it and be happy.’” In this episode of Entreprenista, we sat down with Aishwarya Iyer, founder and CEO of Brightland, a stylish olive oil, vinegar, and honey company that sources its products directly from small family farms in California and Hawaii. Aishwarya was inspired to create Brightland as an ode to her...

“We'll always meet with any business owner to talk about where they are today and what their goals are. That can lead to one of three results. One, we decide to move toward an exit planning and consulting process… The second option is we go to market, we've developed an assessment of value, and we agree that now is the time. And the third option is, it might not be the right option to sell and we're happy to spend that time and to learn.” In this episode of Entreprenista, we sat down with...

In this episode of Entreprenista, we sat down with Dr. Ronak Mehta, founder and CEO of Nerdbugs, anatomically correct plush toys aimed at educating and engaging people about the human body. With a background as a family medicine doctor, Dr. Ronak has leveraged her expertise to develop the toys’ educational content. Her mission with Nerdbugs is to demystify medical and mental health conditions, challenge stigmas and promote understanding and acceptance. Tune in and hear what Dr. Ronak tells us...

“You really, really need to trust your gut. Human nature is everything. It's like your first date where everyone's on their best behavior. But when there's smoke, there's fire. If you feel something in your intuition, it's not right.”  -Ariana Chernin In this episode of Entreprenista, we sat down with Jillian Lorenz and Ariana Chernin, co-founders of The Barre Code, a boutique fitness franchise centered around a comprehensive fitness program for women that blends the ballet barre with...

“If you're not good at it, that is 100% okay. You don't need to be good at everything. But just make sure, in the beginning at least, you're spending a little extra time figuring it out—or you can lean on someone to look into it for you to make sure you're doing it right.” In this episode of Entreprenista, we sat down with Abby Price, the founder of Abbode, who pivoted from her original venture in dried floral arrangements and vintage home decor to a thriving embroidery store. Abby's journey...

Hi Entreprenistas! It’s Steph here again with another quick minisode. Today, I’m sharing all about the inspiration behind making my 2024 all about wellness. You’ll hear some of my favorite wellness tips and secrets, why it pays to give yourself grace, and all about the importance of having an accountability partner.  You’re going to hear about:  My secret for prioritizing wellness: put everything on the calendar (02:32) Surrounding yourself with people you can learn from (04:43) This...

Hi Entreprenistas! It’s Steph here and this year we are going to be bringing you content beyond our weekly interviews with founders. This is our first Minisode of the year and I am excited to share with you some of my best relationship building tips and how I handle events as an introverted extrovert. Plus I will be sharing a behind the scenes of what to expect at our upcoming Entreprenista Founders Weekend Wealth & Wellness Retreat!  You’re going to hear about:  Entreprenista’s...

“I think you have to stay calm when the world is on fire. You might have a small fire, you might have a massive fire, but your job as a leader is to create that calm… There's days you feel like you're drowning, but you still have to be able to show up for your team, show up for your company.” In this episode of Entreprenista, we sat down with Tylar Brannon, CEO of Optimal Bio, a company that provides bioidentical hormone replacement therapy services for men and women. Tylar has helped expand...

“We've helped founders secure so much money just by sticking to the foundations and not doing crazy-flashy things or over-thinking… We had one founder secure $85,000 in one pitch opportunity—the money really is out there.” -Kat Weaver In this episode of Entreprenista, we’re sitting down with angel investor Katie Dunn and serial entrepreneur Kat Weaver to talk about Power to Pitch, their joint venture that aims to give entrepreneurs the founder and investor perspective for raising capital. ...

“When we tie so much of our happiness to [the] brass ring… It really just keeps us even more insecure and more overachieving.” -Lisa Sun In this episode of Entreprenista, we sit down with fashion entrepreneur Lisa Sun, founder and CEO of Gravitas New York, a lifestyle and apparel company that’s revolutionizing the concept of shapewear. Lisa is also the best selling author of Gravitas: The 8 Strengths That Redefine Confidence, a book that aims to teach women to own their power. Learn how Lisa...

“Sometimes when fear shows up, it's really pointing to a gap in knowledge” - Farnoosh Torabi  In this episode of Entreprenista, we sit down with Farnoosh Torabi, a trailblazer in the world of personal finance. The author, speaker, and host of the "So Money" podcast, shares with us her journey as the daughter of Iranian immigrants, becoming one of the world’s leading personal finance experts. Her latest book, "A Healthy State of Panic," connects together fear, finances, and life decisions....

“It's okay not to have the answer to everything. And you don't have to do everything, you need to get really strong at what you are good at, and find other people that complement that”  Anabel Oelmann is an international model turned Co-Founder and Director of The Healing Company. They are a conglomerate that acquires and scales health and wellness brands aiming to shift from treatment to prevention in healthcare. In this episode of Entreprenista, we talk with Anabel about her journey and...

"As you look back on 2023, be sure to celebrate all you have accomplished this year!” Hi Entreprenistas! It’s Steph & Courtney here. It has been quite the year for us both running Entreprenista and Socialfly. 2023 has been filled with lots of new experiences and learning lessons and we are about to share lots of them with you. Plus be sure to listen until the end as we’re giving you a sneak peek at what is in store for 2024!  We talked about:  The Entreprenista 100 Awards The launch...

“It's magical to be of service.”   In this incredibly motivating episode of Entreprenista, we're joined by Sharon Price John, the transformative CEO and President of Build-A-Bear Workshop. Under Sharon's visionary leadership, this iconic brand has undergone a remarkable transformation, redefining the retail experience for millions. Her journey, a blend of creativity and strategic insight, has reshaped Build-A-Bear into a dynamic player in the retail industry. Sharon's career is a roadmap of...

“Risk-averse means you don't want to take a risk; risk-aware means you're willing to take it if you understand it." - Sallie Krawcheck  Sallie Krawcheck is the visionary CEO and co-founder of Ellevest, an innovative investment platform focused on empowering women financially. Since its creation in 2014, under Sallie's leadership, Ellevest has achieved remarkable milestones, including managing over $1.8 billion in assets and fostering a vibrant community of 3 million members​. Before this...

 “The power of e-commerce and the power of the small businesses is now and not just in the hands of the bigger companies, so go for it and make it happen.” In this episode of Entreprenista, we are joined by Jordan Engelhardt, the Founder and President of Skinny Mixes LLC, the brand disrupting the beverage industry with guilt-free ways to enjoy a variety of classic cocktails, barista-style coffee creations, flavored waters, and so much more. With a knack for spotting a niche in the crowded...