Special Series: She Gambled Her Life Savings on Edible Glitter, Now Runs a $30M Business, Meet Bakery Bling Founder, Lauren Brooks
The High Achieving Female Podcast
Release Date: 02/04/2025
Special Series: If Not Us, Then Who? Meet Child Help Founders, Sara O'Meara and Yvonne Fedderson
The High Achieving Female Podcast
High Achieving Female Podcast Powered by KNOW Special Series: Up Close with Sara O'Meara and Yvonne Fedderson of Child Help In this unforgettable episode, we sit down with Sara O’Meara and Yvonne Fedderson — lifelong best friends, former actresses, and the unstoppable founders of Childhelp, the largest nonprofit in America dedicated to ending child abuse. From chance beginnings on a USO tour to establishing an orphanage for mixed-race children in Japan, Sara and Yvonne's journey was anything but ordinary. Their friendship has fueled more than 66 years of impact, including the creation of...
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Special Series: From Toxic Beauty to Clean Care, Meet Alani Organics Founder, Georgina Menzalji
The High Achieving Female Podcast
High Achieving Female Podcast Powered by KNOW Special Series: Up Close with Georgina Menzalji of Alani Organics What happens when the very products promising beauty and self-care are the ones hurting your health? In this empowering episode, we sit down with Georgina Menzalji, founder of Alani Organics, whose personal health crisis led to the creation of the clean beauty destination she wished existed. After battling hormonal imbalances and sensitive skin issues caused by toxic beauty products, Georgina became a regenerative detoxification coach and launched Alani Organics — a clean, curated...
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Special Series: From Corporate Dropout to Multi-Million Dollar Investor, Meet co-founder of Mom Juice Macey Mincey
The High Achieving Female Podcast
High Achieving Female Podcast Powered by KNOW Special Series: Up Close with Macie Mincey, co-founder of Mom Juice From corporate dropout to launching a better-for-you wine brand, her unexpected move in the beauty industry will leave you inspired. But that's not all - her next big venture for 2025 will blow your mind. Macie Mincey is a notable entrepreneur and investor who has successfully transitioned from the corporate world to entrepreneurship. As the co-founder of Mom Juice Wine, she has demonstrated a strong commitment to investing in startups for women and people of color. With a...
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Special Series: The Rise, Fall, and Reinvention of a Graphic Tee Empire, Meet co-founder of Girl Tribe Co Sarah Baucom
The High Achieving Female Podcast
High Achieving Female Podcast Powered by KNOW Special Series: Up Close with Sarah Baucom, co-founder of Girl Tribe Co What happens when scaling too fast takes a toll on both business and personal well-being? Sarah Baucom, co-founder of Girl Tribe Co., joins us to share the real story behind their rise in the graphic T-shirt industry, the hard lessons learned from rapid growth, and the intentional decision to scale back. From pop-up shops to nationwide success, Sarah and her co-founder Carrie Barker built a brand that resonated with ambitious women. But behind the scenes, the pressure of...
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Special Series: The Bootstrapped Hair Brand Breaking Industry Norms, Meet Cruz Textures Founder, Ashtyn Montgomery
The High Achieving Female Podcast
High Achieving Female Podcast Powered by KNOW Special Series: Up Close with Ashtyn Montgomery of Cruz Textures If you're feeling the pressure of making costly marketing mistakes and struggling to keep your brand vision intact, then you are not alone! Sometimes it's the tough decisions that push us to prioritize our mental and financial well-being, and not letting anything compromise our business dreams. It's a lesson in life, one that's essential for any entrepreneur to learn. Meet Ashtyn Montgomery, the visionary behind Cruz Textures, a high-end luxury hair extension line specializing...
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Special Series: Leading with Impact—How Jeanne Lehman is Empowering Black Canadian Women Through Business and Community
The High Achieving Female Podcast
High Achieving Female Podcast Powered by KNOW Special Series: Up Close with Jeanne Lehman of Black Canadian Women in Action. Starting a business as an immigrant woman in Canada comes with unique challenges—navigating unfamiliar financial systems, overcoming cultural barriers, and accessing the right mentorship. But Jeanne Lehman is on a mission to change that. In this special episode, we sit down with Jeanne, the visionary behind Black Canadian Women in Action, to uncover how she’s leading the charge in creating an inclusive business ecosystem for Black women entrepreneurs. With a...
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Special Series: Mastering AI and Motherhood—How Denise Smith is Leading with Innovation and Balance
The High Achieving Female Podcast
High Achieving Female Podcast Powered by KNOW Special Series: Up Close with Certified AI Strategist Interim CEO; CIO; COO Denise Smith AI isn’t just for tech giants—it’s for you. But how can business owners truly harness AI to enhance productivity, fuel creativity, and stay ahead of the curve? In this special episode, we sit down with Denise Smith, a seasoned tech consultant, AI strategist, and mother, to uncover the real impact of AI on businesses of all sizes. Denise debunks common AI myths, explores how AI can streamline operations and boost efficiency, and shares practical...
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Special Series: Redefining Resilience and Scaling a $61M Business, Meet Oak Rocket Founder, Dao Jensen
The High Achieving Female Podcast
High Achieving Female Podcast Powered by KNOW Special Series: Up Close with Up Close with Dao Jensen of Oak Rocket In this episode, we explore the inspiring journey of Dao Jensen, serial entrepreneur and founder of Oak Rocket. From being a teen mom to scaling a $61 million business, Dao's story is a powerful testament to resilience, community support, and breaking cultural barriers in the tech industry. As the first 100% female minority-owned company on the West Coast, Dao has transformed challenges into opportunities, proving that setbacks can lead to incredible growth. Tune in to learn...
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Special Series: She Shattered Barriers in Private Equity and Built an $800M Fund, Meet Equiton Co-Founder, Helen Hurlbut
The High Achieving Female Podcast
High Achieving Female Podcast Powered by KNOW Special Series: Up Close with Helen Hurlbut of Equiton In this special episode, we sit down with Helen Hurlbut, co-founder and CFO of Equiton Partners, and a trailblazer in the finance and real estate investment space. Helen’s journey is nothing short of inspiring—she went from managing just three employees to leading an $800 million private equity fund, revolutionizing accessibility to real estate investments for Canadians. She shares candid insights on breaking into the male-dominated world of finance, the challenges of scaling an...
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Special Series: She Left School at 16 - Now She's CEO of a $15 Million Company, Meet Coverflex Manufacturing CEO, Mellanie Askew
The High Achieving Female Podcast
High Achieving Female Podcast Powered by KNOW Special Series: Up Close with Mellanie Askew of Coverflex Manufacturing From leaving school in 10th grade to now leading a sustainable manufacturing business, Mellanie's story is a testament to resilience and taking unconventional paths to success. But how did she transition from construction to entrepreneurship? What unexpected obstacles did she face as a woman in a male-dominated field? And how did she scale her business from scratch? In this episode, we explore the remarkable journey of Mellanie Askew, founder, president, and CEO of Coverflex...
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Special Series: Up Close with Lauren Brooks of Bakery Bling
In this special episode, we sit down with Lauren Brooks, founder and CEO of Bakery Bling, and one of the winners of the 50 Fastest Growing Women-Owned/Led Businesses of 2024.
Lauren’s entrepreneurial journey is nothing short of inspiring, having gambled her life savings on edible glitter and transformed her brand from packaging orders in her kitchen to operating a 100,000-square-foot manufacturing facility generating over $30 million in revenue. She shares candid insights on building her business without a formal plan, the hurdles she faced with manufacturing, and how she continues to scale in the competitive baking industry. If you're curious about turning a passion project into a multimillion-dollar enterprise, this episode is packed with wisdom and practical strategies for aspiring women entrepreneurs.
The key moments in this episode are:
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02:57 - From "Little Wasted" to Bakery Bling
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06:55 - Pivoting and Business Growth
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08:18 - Importance of Adaptability in Business
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12:49 - Challenges of Manufacturing and Production
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13:48 - The Challenges of Being Fully Owned and Operated
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15:31 - Building Relationships with Major Retailers
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17:45 - The Hustle Mentality and Grit
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18:49 - Overcoming Challenges and Seeking Better Advice
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23:32 - The Continuous Challenges of Entrepreneurship
Links:
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Stay connected and become a KNOW Insider. Go behind the scenes, access Insider-Only content, masterclasses, and more: https://theknowwomen.com/
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Learn more about Bakery Bling: https://bakerybling.com/
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More on JPMorgan Chase: jpmorganchase.com
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Learn about Women Presidents Organization: women-presidents.com
Sponsors:
KNOW is proud to be the media partner for the Women Presidents Organization and the 50 Fastest Growing Women-Owned/Led Businesses.
Podcast Production:
Produced by our friends at The Found House.