Behind Her Empire

Joanna Griffiths is the Founder and President of Knix, the innovative direct-to-consumer intimates and apparel brand.The idea for Knix started after she had a conversation with her mom about what women’s bodies undergo as they age especially when it came to post-pregnancy leaks. After doing research on her end and speaking to more women, she realized there was a massive gap in the market. So in 2013, she launched a Kickstarter campaign that placed Knix on the map not only for its intimates but for talking openly about the reality of women’s bodies. A decade later, the womenswear brand has expanded into a variety of categories, including bras, activewear, shapewear, swim, loungewear, and more. Joanna has built Knix into one of the fastest-growing intimate apparel brands globally. In 2022, Joanna decided to sell 80% of her business for $320 million, making it one of the largest exits by a female founder in Canada and one of the most significant sales of a brand by a female founder in US history. In this week’s episode, Joanna talks to us about her incredible journey building Knix, what she learned in her career in media & entertainment, and how it actually helped her disrupt the intimates industry despite having no background. She shares how she pivoted early on from wholesale even though they were doing incredibly well, how they ended up launching as a direct-to-consumer company, and why it was one of the boldest decisions she made. Joanna also opens up about how she dealt with depression even when she had major success with the brand, and the steps she took to manage this difficult time. We talk about how she dealt with difficult investors who didn’t believe she could run a high-growth company being a mom of three, what she did to prove those naysayers wrong, and so much more.  In this episode, we’ll talk to Joanna about:* Being vulnerable and open on social media. [02:55]* The reality in entrepreneurship. [04:56]* Joanna’s coping mechanisms as a founder. [08:31]* Creating momentum in the early stages. [12:59]* Working in a record label, getting an MBA, and shifting passions. [16:23]* The genesis of the Knix idea and testing their first product. [18:12]* The manufacturing processes. [22:48]* Launching Knix on Kickstarter. [25:16]* Joanna’s depression despite the business doing well. [32:12]* Joanna’s fundraising journey. [39:05]* Building confidence and managing negativity. [45:03]* Joanna’s behind-the-scenes in managing her business and motherhood. [46:21]* Selling the company and buying a house for their nanny. [48:11]This episode is brought to you by Beeya:* If you or anyone you know have been struggling with hormonal imbalances and bad periods, go to https://beeyawellness.com/free to download the free guide to tackling hormonal imbalances and to learn more about Beeya’s seed cycling bundle.* Plus, get $10 off your order by using promo code BEHINDHEREMPIRE10Follow Yasmin:* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yasminknouri/* Website: https://www.behindherempire.com/Follow Joanna:* Website: https://knix.com/* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/knix/* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joannaknix/

Jamie O’Banion is the founder and CEO of BeautyBio, a clean skincare and tool brand that leads with transparency and efficacy.Jamie’s passion for science came at a young age as she watched her father, a cosmetic chemist, in his lab developing products and eventually joined him after college. Ten years later, having witnessed brands using minimal concentrations of active ingredients to cut costs and make false clinical claims, Jamie knew she had to address this issue in the industry. That's when the idea for BeautyBio was born. The aim was to provide clients with what they were paying for and help them understand the ingredients behind the products.She debuted on HSN that same year and sold out on the first day. Five years later, she launched one of the brand's flagship products, GloPRO, an at-home micro-needling device that generated $4 million in sales within its first 24 hours and has since surpassed the $100 million mark. Fast forward to 2023, BeautyBio is available in over 1,700 stores, including Ulta, Sephora, Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, and more.In this week’s episode, Jamie guides us through the various "breadcrumbs" of life and how every individual experience she had before launching her business led her to exactly where she is today. We dive into her upbringing as one of six children, how she stumbled into entrepreneurship, why her initial business idea failed, and how she quickly pivoted to what eventually became BeautyBio. We talk about all the challenging experiences in her over ten year journey running the business, how they ended up selling the business last year, and so much more. In this episode, we’ll talk to Jamie about:* The concept of “breadcrumbs” in life and how everything happens for a reason. [02:57]* Growing up with a family of six has influenced the woman Jamie is today. [06:13]* Managing the challenges of motherhood. [14:41]* Jamie’s upbringing and what sparked her interest in science. [21:38]* The importance of team and how they’ve been integral in her journey. [26:17]* Dealing with challenging experiences as an entrepreneur. [29:03]* Co-founding Organicare with her physician father in 2008. [32:44]* Adapting to consumer demand without compromising business ethos. [37:13]* Pivoting from selling ingredients to launching BeautyBio. [42:50]* Future plans for BeautyBio post-acquisition. [48:43]This episode is brought to you by Beeya:* If you or anyone you know have been struggling with hormonal imbalances and bad periods, go to https://beeyawellness.com/free to download the free guide to tackling hormonal imbalances and to learn more about Beeya’s seed cycling bundle.* Plus, get $10 off your order by using promo code BEHINDHEREMPIRE10Follow Yasmin:* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yasminknouri/* Website: https://www.behindherempire.com/Follow Jamie:* Website: https://beautybio.com/* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beautybio/* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jamieobanion/

Sarah Moret is the founder and CEO of Curie, a clean deodorant and body care brand on a mission to change the stigma around clean beauty. Sarah has been an athlete all of her life and was a very active person, and one thing she could never come across was a clean, aluminum-free deodorant that actually worked and fit her lifestyle. From this frustration, Sarah decided to start Curie as a side hustle in 2019 to solve her own problem.Sarah then bootstrapped the company and financed it with $12,000 in savings and very early on was hitting six-figures with organic content, word of mouth, and PR. Fast forward to today, the company has scaled to be a $20 million success story and is sold in thousands of stores nationwide, including Walmart, Nordstrom, and Bloomingdales and has sold out dozens of times through live selling on QVC. Sarah also appeared on Season 13 of Shark Tank and landed a deal with Barbara Corcoran and Mark Cuban. In this week’s episode, Sarah talks about her transition from accounting to becoming an entrepreneur, the steps she took to turn her side hustle into a full-time business, and how she had remarkable growth with very little money. We also talk about the many rejections she faced when it came to finding manufacturers, getting into retailers, and participating in Shark Tank. Sarah also shares her crazy experience on Shark Tank what really happens behind the scenes that we don’t typically see, and so much more.In this episode, we’ll talk to Sarah about:* Overcoming fears and handling rejections. [03:05]* The reality of being an entrepreneur. [07:03]* Building a company from personal challenges. [08:53]* Graduating from Boston University and Sarah’s initial career path as an accountant. [11:15]* Starting Curie and Sarah’s risk-taking approach. [16:25]* Being scrappy during the early stages of Curie. [22:25]* Committing fully and early awareness-building for Curie. [25:19]* Leveraging influencers and media outreach. [27:29]* Pivoting to hand sanitizers during the pandemic which saved their business. [31:51]* Navigating manufacturer selection. [35:10* A behind-the-scenes look into Shark Tank. [38:08* Preparing for the Shark Tank Q&A. [57:52]* How Curie thought about funding for the business before Shark Tank. [50:06]* How Sarah overcame scaling challenges with the business. [51:45]* Managing mental health and avoiding burnout for sustained success. [54:17]This episode is brought to you by Beeya:* If you or anyone you know have been struggling with hormonal imbalances and bad periods, go to https://beeyawellness.com/free to download the free guide to tackling hormonal imbalances and to learn more about Beeya’s seed cycling bundle.* Plus, get $10 off your order by using promo code BEHINDHEREMPIRE10Follow Yasmin:* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yasminknouri/* Website: https://www.behindherempire.com/Follow Sarah:* Website: https://curiebod.com/* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/curiebod/* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahjmoret/

Allison Evans is the co-founder of Branch Basics, a brand dedicated to revolutionizing clean living and fostering healthier homes.Allison's journey began with personal health struggles - she was diagnosed with PCOS at a young age, didn’t get her period for years and was told she could never get pregnant naturally. After another health crisis in college, Allison was desperate to find relief and embraced a toxin-free lifestyle under her Aunt Marilee's guidance, centered on real food, safe products, and a toxin-free environment. The results were nothing short of miraculous— her symptoms completely disappeared, her period came back and she eventually welcomed three daughters into the world naturally. With her best friend Kelly by her side and her aunt, the three of them co-founded Branch Basics in 2012 with the mission to empower others to rid their homes of toxins and embrace a healthier way of life.In this episode, Allison candidly shares how a few pivotal moments in her life and health journey were the catalyst for launching the business – and she never thought she would ever be an entrepreneur. Allison walks us through the early days of the business, how their first few ideas for non-toxic living didn’t work out, and how they ultimately decided to launch their all-purpose cleaner which eventually took off. She also shares the behind-the-scenes of the business, including how she managed business crises and the process of rebuilding Branch Basics from scratch. Allison reflects on this challenging time when they paused operations, pulled products from shelves, and laid off staff despite the company making millions in revenue. She also shares insights into managing customers, navigating relationships with formulators, balancing career and motherhood, and so much more.In this episode, we’ll talk to Allison about:* Allison’s early health challenges. [03:26]* The influence of Marilee to Allison’s life [07:42]* Marilee’s two powerful health stories. [13:19]* Living with Marilee in 2008 and how they started Branch Basics. [21:15]* The behind-the-scenes of business crisis management. [27:25]* Allison’s advice on business problem management. [33:05]* Getting canceled by an influencer and how Allison’s managed the situation. [36:23]* Balancing business highs and lows. [39:05]* Learnings in dealing with difficult customers. [41:47]* Juggling motherhood and entrepreneurship gracefully. [44:57]* Collaboration with formulators.[47:53]* Allison’s business strengths and weaknesses. [50:11]This episode is brought to you by Beeya:* If you or anyone you know have been struggling with hormonal imbalances and bad periods, go to https://beeyawellness.com/free to download the free guide to tackling hormonal imbalances and to learn more about Beeya’s seed cycling bundle.* Plus, get $10 off your order by using promo code BEHINDHEREMPIRE10Follow Yasmin:* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yasminknouri/* Website: https://www.behindherempire.com/Follow Allison:* Website: https://branchbasics.com/* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/branchbasics/* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/almevans/

Do you struggle to lose weight, have low energy, poor digestion or sleep troubles? These can all be signs that you're out of sync with your biology, which is designed to work on nature's clock. In this episode, we dive into science-based practices and ancestral wisdom for feeling our best in modern times.In this episode you’ll learn: * Effective strategies for lasting weight loss* Alternative ways to energize without caffeine* How to support your circadian rhythm with light* Top red light panel recommendations* Why everyone needs to build muscle* The best color to eat for better gut health* And more…Alexis Cowan, PhD, embarked on her path to health following a childhood marked by recurring illnesses and significant weight struggles. Through her personal battles with an eating disorder and subsequent development of ulcerative colitis, these early experiences sparked her interest in the scientific underpinnings of nutrition, exercise and other lifestyle interventions. Alexis pursued her education fervently, earning a B.S. in Biochemistry and Math from Moravian College, followed by a PhD in Molecular Biology from Princeton University in 2021. She now works with individuals in her practice, and educates on metabolism and circadian optimization through her online courses.This episode is brought to you by Beeya:* If you or anyone you know have been struggling with hormonal imbalances and bad periods, go to https://beeyawellness.com/free to download the free guide to tackling hormonal imbalances and to learn more about Beeya’s seed cycling bundle.* Plus, get $10 off your order by using promo code BEHINDHEREMPIRE10Follow Yasmin:* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yasminknouri/* Website: https://www.behindherempire.com/Follow Dr. Alexis:* Website: https://dralexisjazmyn.wordpress.com/* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dralexisjazmyn/

Breezy Griffith is the founder and CEO of SkinnyDipped, a good-for-you snack company looking to reinvent some of our favorite snacks. Breezy launched SkinnyDipped in 2016 with her mother after losing their dear friend to cancer. This life-altering event made them take a hard look at their own priorities and how they wanted to make an impact in this world. As a tight-knit family, they wanted to spend more time together and ultimately decided to start a business. They decided to revolutionize the snacking industry and launched with their thinly-dipped chocolate-covered almonds, and now they have expanded to multiple product lines from chocolates to peanut butter cups. Breezy went from selling nuts out of their backpacks to securing a presence in over 25,000 retail doors, including major outlets like Target, Walmart, Kroger, Publix, Starbucks, airports, and more. They also recently closed a Series A round and have investors like David Grutman, Amy Schumer, and Mark Wahlberg to name a few. In this week’s episode, Breezy talks to us her unconventional career path after college from starting businesses like a sorbet company where she would sell at farmers markets to then creating pastries & hustling to make ends meet living in New York. She shares why those businesses didn’t work but why they were the best experience for her when it came to understanding financials and creating sustainable business models. She then walks us through SkinnyDipped’s origin story, what she was doing to create and produce the product in the early days from her kitchen to then finding manufacturers and why she believes being scrappy helped the company grow brand awareness. She shares what it’s like to have her mom and also two best friends as co-founders, how they were able to fund the business in the early days, how she secured a deal with Target very early on, and so much more. In this episode, we’ll talk to Breezy about:* Breezy’s childhood and upbringing. [03:08]* Breezy’s post-college ventures. [05:12]* Learnings from business setbacks. [07:08]* Iteration of SkinnyDipped’s first product. [14:35]* What it’s like working with close friends and family. [20:32]* Managing pressure and emotions as a founder. [27:30]* Entering Target and securing the opportunity. [31:11]* How Breezy’s role has shifted as the business grows. [41:36]* SkinnyDipped’s fundraising journey. [46:10]* SkinnyDipped's rebranding story and its message. [51:47]* Breezy's personal and professional plans. [54:50]This episode is brought to you by Beeya:* If you or anyone you know have been struggling with hormonal imbalances and bad periods, go to https://beeyawellness.com/free to download the free guide to tackling hormonal imbalances and to learn more about Beeya’s seed cycling bundle.* Plus, get $10 off your order by using promo code BEHINDHEREMPIRE10Follow Yasmin:* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yasminknouri/* Website: https://www.behindherempire.com/Follow Breezy:* Website: https://skinnydipped.com/* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skinnydipped/* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skinnydippedfounder/

Cathryn Lavery is the founder of BestSelf Co., a productivity tool-based business that sells journals, planners and conversation decks to help people achieve their goals and be their best selves. Cathryn moved to New York City from Ireland with only $758 and after the challenges she faced in her role as an architect and not making a livable wage, she was forced to find other means of income on the side. Despite having 7 years under her belt she realized this line of work was not the path for her. She eventually decided to go off on her own and transformed herself into an 8-figure founder. Going back to the early days, her side hustle eventually grew into something much bigger and that’s when Cathryn launched her Kickstarter campaign in 2015 to crowdfund her first product. BestSelf Co. sold $45 million in products before getting acquired in 2022, but recently Cathryn repurchased back her company to do things differently. In this week’s episode, Cathryn walks us through how she was forced into entrepreneurship because of necessity when she received a massive pay cut and the steps she took to figure things out when it was the most challenging for her. Cathryn shares how the idea for BestSelf was born, what she did to build up her confidence to take the leap, the early days of the business, and how she and her team managed to raise over $300,000 on her Kickstarter campaign with the goal only being $15k. We talk about her top productivity tips and lifestyle hacks that can help all of us be our best selves. She tells us about steps in finding the right business partner, why she decided to repurchase her company after 2 years of it being acquired, what it’s like to juggle being a new mom and founder, and so much more. In this episode, we’ll talk to Cathryn about:* "100 Days of Doing Challenge" impact on Cathryn. [02:59]* Cathryn’s childhood and upbringing. [08:15]* Where Cathryn got her self-confidence in taking the leap. [11:34]* From New York to first job journey. [15:27]* Preparations before entrepreneurship leap. [20:01]* Cathryn's productivity system shifts. [24:02]* Importance of structure and managing one’s energy. [29:22]* Starting BestSelf Co. as a side hustle and how it flourished. [32:31]* What resonated with BestSelf Co.’s product. [35:00]* Lessons from having a business partner. [40:02]* Selling and repurchasing BestSelf Co. [47:04]* Embracing change in entrepreneurship. [52:25]This episode is brought to you by Beeya:* If you or anyone you know have been struggling with hormonal imbalances and bad periods, go to https://beeyawellness.com/free to download the free guide to tackling hormonal imbalances and to learn more about Beeya’s seed cycling bundle.* Plus, get $10 off your order by using promo code BEHINDHEREMPIRE10Follow Yasmin:* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yasminknouri/* Website: https://www.behindherempire.com/Follow Cathryn:* Blog: https://www.littlemight.com/* Website: https://bestself.co/* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bestselfco/* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cathryn.lavery/

Did you see the Washington Post article about birth control that took women of the internet by storm? The piece, titled “Women are getting off birth control amid misinformation explosion”, discredited the experiences of thousands of women and downplayed the real side effects that can come with taking hormonal birth control. They included an interview with Nicole Bendayan, a holistic women’s health educator, who the writers misled and then misrepresented how she is helping women reclaim their health everyday. Today, we’re getting her side of the story.In this episode you’ll learn: * How women are gaslit about their health concerns* Why women are choosing to come off hormonal birth control* How to choose a birth control method that works for you* Why we need informed consent before taking birth control pills* The real potential side effects of taking hormonal birth control* How we can actually empower women through educationNicole Bendayan is a hormonal health educator on a mission to empower women to reclaim their cycle and thrive through holistic menstrual health. She supports women looking for natural alternatives to hormonal contraception, as well as how to support the body when coming off and lifestyle shifts to experience less hormone-related symptoms overall.This episode is brought to you by Beeya:* If you or anyone you know have been struggling with hormonal imbalances and bad periods, go to https://beeyawellness.com/free to download the free guide to tackling hormonal imbalances and to learn more about Beeya’s seed cycling bundle.* Plus, get $10 off your order by using promo code BEHINDHEREMPIRE10Follow Yasmin:* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yasminknouri/* Website: https://www.behindherempire.com/Follow Nicole:* Website: https://enroll.thesyncsociety.com/fam-workshop-coming-soon/* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nicole.bendayan/