Lady-Land

Maeva Heim, founder of Bread Beauty Supply, recalls how a chance meeting with a Sephora Buyer in LA set her on the path to secure a USA distribution deal - before she had launched her brand. She shares how she raised just under $2M in capital from the same investors who backed Glossier, and why she’s driven to change the beauty industry by providing more representation for women of colour. Connect with usSign up to our non-spammy monthly newsletter: www.ladybrains.com.auFollow us on Instagram: @lady.brainsChat to us in the Facebook group: the lady-brains clubhouseHave a sweet business idea but unsure if it has potential?Sign up for the free 'Idea Validation Mini Course' at www.ladybrains.com.au/idea-mini-couse  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jenna Holmes, the founder of plant styling studio Plant Mama, shares how she injects creativity into every single thing she does, why building trust with clients and employees has been pivotal in helping her scale, and why she aspires to be completely authentic in everything she does. You’ll learn: The advice Zoë Foster Blake gave Jenna that was instrumental to her growth The best way to start building your client base from day one  Why she stopped saying ‘yes’ to every job opportunity  Her 3 tips for pricing your service with confidence Discovering how to put a dollar value on creativity Why she decided to expand her brand and offering, with Pasta Mama  Connect with usSign up to our non-spammy monthly newsletter: www.ladybrains.com.auFollow us on Instagram: @lady.brainsChat to us in the Facebook group: the lady-brains clubhouseHave a sweet business idea but unsure if it has potential?Sign up for the free 'Idea Validation Mini Course' at www.ladybrains.com.au/idea-mini-couse  Learn more about your ad choic

Elle Ferguson, founder of beauty brand ELLE EFFECT, shares how she implemented systems and processes during COVID that have fully streamlined her business operations, the crucial mistake she made that cost her almost 20,000 bottles of product, and why she’s seeking external investment to fund her next wave of growth. You’ll learn:  Why Elle reviews her numbers weekly, and how this informs her decision making  Why she’s separated the Elle Effect and Elle Ferguson businesses and brands The 3 secret ingredients she uses to create a killer campaign  Why she postponed a set of product launches multiple times  How she manages to continuously create new, exciting and inspiring content at scale  Connect with usSign up to our non-spammy monthly newsletter: www.ladybrains.com.auFollow us on Instagram: @lady.brainsChat to us in the Facebook group: the lady-brains clubhouseHave a sweet business idea but unsure if it has potential?Sign up for the free 'Idea Validation Mini Course' at www.ladybrains.com.au/idea-mini-couse

Jess Sepel is the founder of JSHealth, a multifaceted wellness brand valued at over $200 million. In this chat, she shares why she feels uncomfortable owning the business’s success, her tips for building an engaged online community that converts, her struggles with mental health in a recent period of rapid growth, and why her ultimate goal is to live the simple life. Connect with usSign up to our non-spammy monthly newsletter: www.ladybrains.com.auFollow us on Instagram: @lady.brainsChat to us in the Facebook group: the lady-brains clubhouseHave a sweet business idea but unsure if it has potential?Sign up for the free 'Idea Validation Mini Course' at www.ladybrains.com.au/idea-mini-couse  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lucy Feagins, founder of Australia’s most popular design blog The Design Files, shares insights into how she generates content that’s creative and commercial, how she has built a well-oiled content machine that is monetised in multiple ways, and why she’ll never sell the brand.  We covered:  How to produce content that’s both creative and on-brand, and commercial   How TDF continues to innovate in the content creation space   Why Lucy believes that not being an expert in design has been important in building her own audience  The relationship between Lucy’s personal brand and TDF brand, and the tactical things she does to insert herself in a way that feels authentic to her   How TDF has diversified their income streams over time, and the new way Lucy is considering monetising her audience   How TDF operates, allowing them to push out high-quality content at scale   How Lucy built a content machine with a close-knit small team of only six staff  Connect with usSign up to our non-spammy monthly newsletter: www.

Liandra Gaykamungu, founder of Liandra Swim, shares how her brand was designed to spark positive dialogue around her Aboriginal Australian heritage and change the way Indigenous Australian women are viewed and celebrated.With a love for swimming and a passion for telling stories she began to build that vessel – Liandra Swim.  It’s a contemporary swimwear label that creates one-off collections to complement a variety of skin tones and body types, as well as honour the artistry of her heritage. Each print tells a unique story. We covered: How she fuses storytelling into her brand – right down to each individual product line How she manages to operate a business from the remote island of Milingimbi Why creating sustainable and ethical swimwear is simply part of the brand DNA. Connect with usSign up to our non-spammy monthly newsletter: www.ladybrains.com.auFollow us on Instagram: @lady.brainsChat to us in the Facebook group: the lady-brains clubhouseHave a sweet business idea but unsure if it has potential?Sign

Amy Iheakanwa, founder of the direct-to-consumer label, Shekudo, is a sustainable and slow fashion footwear and accessories label that has been featured in mags like Vogue and Grazia.  The brand collaborates with Nigerian artisans and craftsmen that honour traditional production and manufacturing techniques... some that are over 500 years old.You'll learn: Why Amy uprooted her Sydney life to move to Africa’s fastest growing city, Lagos How she employs local Nigerian women to handmake every single item she sells Why she turned down an order for 10,000 units that would have transformed her biz overnight Getting into the pages of Vogue and Grazia mags The deeper purpose behind the brand – to empower local women to learn skills they can actually be paid for Connect with usSign up to our non-spammy monthly newsletter: www.ladybrains.com.auFollow us on Instagram: @lady.brainsChat to us in the Facebook group: the lady-brains clubhouseHave a sweet business idea but unsure if it has potential?Sign up for the free '

Hannah Spilva, co-founder of same-day floral delivery service Lvly, shares how she’s coped with 500% business growth in the first 4 weeks of COVID lockdown, the operational challenges with scaling so quickly during a global pandemic, and how Lvly is paving a new way forward for their customers and their team.  You’ll learn: The importance of knowing your personal and brand purposes, as it’s the thing that will keep you going when times get tough How Hannah approached her pricing strategy in the beginning, and how this has evolved over time  The challenges associated with same-day delivery, and some key pieces of advice when planning your logistics  Her three-pronged approach to customer retention – we all know that retaining customers is cheaper than acquiring new ones! What it takes to lead a large team and growing business through an unprecedented crisis Connect with usSign up to our non-spammy monthly newsletter: www.ladybrains.com.auFollow us on Instagram: @lady.brainsChat to us in the Facebook group:

Lindy Rama-Ellis, co-founder of Milk & Co and founder of new brand Fig Femme, shares insights into how a challenging experience during the birth of her first child led her to create one of the first intimate wellness brands, the criticism she’s received launching a controversial product into a relatively conservative Australian market, and the importance of building a deeper purpose into your brand from the get-go.  Connect with usSign up to our non-spammy monthly newsletter: www.ladybrains.com.auFollow us on Instagram: @lady.brainsChat to us in the Facebook group: the lady-brains clubhouseHave a sweet business idea but unsure if it has potential?Sign up for the free 'Idea Validation Mini Course' at www.ladybrains.com.au/idea-mini-couse  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In a follow-up episode to part 1 & 2, artist CJ Hendry is back! In this episode she discusses the impact of COVID on her art business, drops the scoop on an Australian museum exhibition in 2021, as well as the low-down on a new art business she’s created with her husband, called "Andy".  Connect with usSign up to our non-spammy monthly newsletter: www.ladybrains.com.auFollow us on Instagram: @lady.brainsChat to us in the Facebook group: the lady-brains clubhouseHave a sweet business idea but unsure if it has potential?Sign up for the free 'Idea Validation Mini Course' at www.ladybrains.com.au/idea-mini-couse  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kristy Chong is the founder of multimillion-dollar leak proof underwear and apparel brand, Modibodi. In this chat she discusses how she started the brand with only a $25k investment, why she recently took on external investment, how she feels about competitors copying her brand, and why financial literacy is so important for founders.  You’ll learn:   Which customer segments she targeted in the beginning and how this has evolved over time   The challenges associated with inventing a whole new category of product  How to build impact into your business model from the get-go  Why you should adopt a test and learn marketing approach  How to go about building a financial model for your business  Connect with usSign up to our non-spammy monthly newsletter: www.ladybrains.com.auFollow us on Instagram: @lady.brainsChat to us in the Facebook group: the lady-brains clubhouseHave a sweet business idea but unsure if it has potential?Sign up for the free 'Idea Validation Mini Course' at www.ladybrains.com.au/idea-mini-c

Jodie Fox is the co-founder of Shoes of Prey, a brand that allowed women to design their shoes in any colour, material, shape or size. In this chat provides insights into how she achieved on-demand manufacturing and customisation at scale, how she raised over $27 million in funding, and why in 2019 it all came crashing down around her. We learn what it was really like for Jodie to fail in such a public way.  You’ll learn:  Why Jodie thinks the business failed, and what she would do differently if she had her time again  How her identity was wrapped up in being an entrepreneur, and what this meant for her after Shoes of Prey closed its doors   The challenges with the mass on-demand manufacturing business model   How she raised over $27 million in funding to scale the business globally   The importance of being curious and doing your research when building a business   Connect with usSign up to our non-spammy monthly newsletter: www.ladybrains.com.auFollow us on Instagram: @lady.brainsChat to us in the Facebook

Julie & Nicole, co-founders of the world’s first fair trade, naturally-enriched vitamin tea brand, share insights into how they spent two years developing a patent-pending manufacturing technique, the moment they landed a huge distribution deal with Woolworths, and how they were able to embed ethical practices into their business model from the beginning.Connect with usSign up to our non-spammy monthly newsletter: www.ladybrains.com.auFollow us on Instagram: @lady.brainsChat to us in the Facebook group: the lady-brains clubhouseHave a sweet business idea but unsure if it has potential?Sign up for the free 'Idea Validation Mini Course' at www.ladybrains.com.au/idea-mini-couse  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hannah Bronfman, renowned DJ, author and founder of HBFit, shares how she was frozen out of her tech startup, on-demand beauty appointment app Beautified after raising $1.2 million in seed funding, the lessons she learned after experiencing this huge business setback, how she’s built her personal brand and Instagram following to over 600k, and how she’s strategically leveraged this audience in the creation of her new online health and wellness platform. Connect with usSign up to our non-spammy monthly newsletter: www.ladybrains.com.auFollow us on Instagram: @lady.brainsChat to us in the Facebook group: the lady-brains clubhouseHave a sweet business idea but unsure if it has potential?Sign up for the free 'Idea Validation Mini Course' at www.ladybrains.com.au/idea-mini-couse  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jess Ruhfus, founder of Collabosaurus, shares insights into how she’s built a leading tech platform as a non-technical, female, solo founder, why collaborations have a ROI 25x greater than digital marketing, how to structure brand-to-brand collaborations correctly, and why she describes trying to fundraise in 2018 as an absolute ‘nightmare’.  We covered:  Her biggest mistakes in the early days, including spending too much time and money on making version 1 of her product ‘perfect’    Why she spent a year trying to raise capital before deciding to give up  Why she decided to build her business with a subscription model   How small & medium sized businesses should approach brand collaborations, and the big mistakes to avoid  Connect with usSign up to our non-spammy monthly newsletter: www.ladybrains.com.auFollow us on Instagram: @lady.brainsChat to us in the Facebook group: the lady-brains clubhouseHave a sweet business idea but unsure if it has potential?Sign up for the free 'Idea Validation Mini Course' a

Lisa Teh, founder of Codi Agency, beauty brand 101 Lifestyle, and digital publishing platform Couturing, shares why now is a unique opportunity for businesses to capture market share by continuing to invest in digital marketing and content creation. In this chat we covered: How you can continue to serve your client or customer throughout this challenging time If you’re a service based business, how you can refresh your offer to remain relevant in the market What is support marketing, and why businesses need to lead with this approach from now on How to be strategic when creating content, and the ways you can get the most out of each content asset  Why LinkedIn is the most important platform to be on right now, and how you can use it to your advantage to generate business leads Connect with usSign up to our non-spammy monthly newsletter: www.ladybrains.com.auFollow us on Instagram: @lady.brainsChat to us in the Facebook group: the lady-brains clubhouseHave a sweet business idea but unsure if it has potent

How can we look after our mental health and wellbeing in these unprecedented times? Jane Martino, serial entrepreneur and founder of Australia’s number 1 meditation app Smiling Mind, shares how we can look after the wellbeing of ourselves and our business during these stressful times. As new trends and consumer behaviours start to emerge, Jane shares the importance of being considered in your business decisions rather than reactive, and to always remain true to your brand and your customer.  In this chat we covered: The routines and rituals that have a proven effect on mental health and wellbeing How the Smiling Mind team are responding to the recent exponential growth in downloads and usage of the app The launch of a new program within the app Thrive Inside – and how the team were able to deliver this to market in just 10 days The steps founders should take when pivoting to ensure the longevity of their business How to spark word of mouth and build your customer base through referrals  Connect with usSign up

How do you create opportunity in times of hardship and struggle? Grace Brennan, creator of the Buy From the Bush campaign, provides insights into how businesses and brands can identify emerging needs out of the COVID-19 crisis and pivot their businesses accordingly. In times of challenge, social distancing and uncertainty, Grace shares the importance of tapping into online communities, supporting those in need, and finding ways to keep your spirits high. In this chat we covered:   How Grace has drawn on startup methodology to help design the Buy From the Bush campaign   How the campaign gained traction so quickly, and the content strategies she employed to get cut through   The importance of having a unique brand voice, and how to be authentic in times of crisis  Finding the opportunities by focusing on the needs that are emerging within your consumer base  How she’s planning on monetising the campaign  Connect with usSign up to our non-spammy monthly newsletter: www.ladybrains.com.auFollow us on Instagram: @

Olivia Carr, founder of Shhh Silk, shares the new and unforeseen challenges being experienced by COVID-19, including the impact of the virus on the production and supply of silk, and her insights into the immediate effects for businesses reliant on Chinese manufacturing. We also did a deep dive into her infamous relationship with the Kardashian family, her views on building and maintaining meaningful and successful relationships and the importance of integrating social impact initiatives into your business model from the outset. There’s a lot of juice in this episode and we hope that no matter what’s going on in your business right now there’s something for you to take away that will help. Connect with usSign up to our non-spammy monthly newsletter: www.ladybrains.com.auFollow us on Instagram: @lady.brainsChat to us in the Facebook group: the lady-brains clubhouseHave a sweet business idea but unsure if it has potential?Sign up for the free 'Idea Validation Mini Course' at www.ladybrains.com.au/idea-mini-cous

Did you know there’s $5 trillion of value being left on the table because women aren’t realising their full potential in business?  We’re talking about the Entrepreneurial Gender Gap – the fact that fewer women start businesses than men around the world.  The reasons for this are complex and in this episode we’re doing a deep dive to understand why this is the case by chatting with Scale Investors CEO Ariane Barker, and Confidence Coach Kate Richardson.  We cover: Why women struggle getting access to much-needed funding, and strategies we can employ when going into investor conversations  The reason it’s harder for us to access high-value networks of people, and tips we can use to approach others  How to overcome a lack of self-confidence to ensure we put our best foot forward every time   Connect with usSign up to our non-spammy monthly newsletter: www.ladybrains.com.auFollow us on Instagram: @lady.brainsChat to us in the Facebook group: the lady-brains clubhouseHave a sweet business idea but unsure if it ha