Takin' Care of Lady Business®

What’s stopping you from owning your worth? If this conversation with Umindi Francis, Founder & CEO of UFCG, proved anything, it’s that success comes from standing firm—no discounts, no second-guessing, no playing small. She reinforced a truth I live by: if they push back on your price, they’ll push back on everything. Boundaries aren’t just helpful; they’re necessary. Contracts should work for yo...

What happens when you ignore the doubters, trust your instincts, and go all in on your vision? You build something unstoppable—just like Joey Wolffer, the co-owner and Chief Brand Officer of Wolffer Estate Vineyards, did. She turned a family passion project into a global brand, proving that success isn’t about waiting for permission; it’s about taking risks, staying relentless, and showing up for...

What if the only thing standing between you and the life you really want is clarity? That’s what I took away from this conversation with Bonnie Wan, author of "The Life Brief." We waste so much time second-guessing ourselves, overthinking, and waiting for permission to chase what truly matters. But the Life Brief changes that. It forces you to get real, strip away the noise, and take action—withou...

What if the only thing standing between you and success was the courage to start? Audrey Wisch didn’t wait for the perfect credentials or the “right moment” to launch Curious Cardinals—she saw a problem, took action, and built something extraordinary in the process. Her journey is a powerful reminder that success isn’t about having all the answers; it’s about trusting your instincts, learning on t...

What’s really keeping women out of investing? It’s not a lack of instincts or resources—it’s the illusion that they don’t belong. My conversation with the Founder and Managing Partner at Neon, Kimmy Scotti, made that crystal clear. The real power move isn’t just making money—it’s understanding the language, the strategy, and the game itself. And Kimmy? She’s rewriting the rules, making sure women...

Why have we accepted subpar healthcare for women for over a century? No new drugs designed specifically for the female body, a medical system that normalizes our suffering, and a venture capital world that throws only 2% of its money at women-led startups. Enter Dr. Piraye Yurttas Beim, CEO of Celmatix. She’s secured over $150MM in funding, proving that women’s health isn’t a niche—it’s human heal...

Why is it easier to buy a pack of cigarettes than a morning-after pill? That’s the reality for 23 million women in rural areas without easy access to emergency contraception. But that's changing thanks to Samantha Miller, the co-founder and CEO of Cadence OTC. They’re putting the power back where it belongs—in women’s hands—by making emergency contraception available at convenience stores nationwi...

What does it really take to lead, transform, and break barriers? Mindy Grossman made one thing clear—success isn’t about chasing titles. It’s about knowing your worth, taking bold risks, and making real, lasting change. You can’t wait for opportunities—you have to create them. Mindy, a powerhouse who rebranded WW International and took HSNi public, shares the hard-earned lessons from her non-linea...

What happens when women have money? Everything changes. We gain power, freedom, and choices—and that terrifies the patriarchy. In this episode of Takin’ Care of Lady Business®, my conversation with Tori Dunlap made it crystal clear: we’ve been conditioned to believe money is too complicated, too risky, or too selfish to pursue. But the truth? Financial freedom is our power move. Tori proves that b...

An industry leader in accessible luxury handbags, accessories, footwear and apparel, Rebecca Minkoff’s modern bohemian designs are inspired by strong, confident and powerful women who are drawn towards a west-meets-east mentality. Rebecca Minkoff is a global brand with a wide range of apparel, handbags, footwear, jewelry and accessories products. In September of 2018, she established the Female Fo...

Luisa “Yola” Jimenez Yola Jimenez, a native of Oaxaca and Mexico City, returned to her heritage by adopting her late grandfather's mezcal farm after international studies in Philosophy and women's studies. An innovator in the mezcal industry, Yola modernized the smoky counterpart to tequila, noting a demographic shift towards women in rural Oaxaca as men sought urban opportunities. Her strategy pr...

Marian Leitner created Archer Roose in 2015 with the mission of producing affordable luxury wines with minimal intervention. Instead of building a winery and committing to a specific geography and varietal, Marian wanted to offer wines from the most renowned regions around the world. So, she fostered personal relationships with small, adventurous winemakers to produce six unique, natural wines tha...

Vanessa Barboni Hallik is the Founder and CEO of Another Tomorrow, a new ready-to-wear brand operating at the intersection of sustainability, ethics and design, launched in January 2020. She is also an investor in early-stage companies with strong ESG commitments and potential to catalyze positive change, and currently serves on the New York Advisory Board for the Trust for Public Land, for which...

Sheri Howell is Head of Marketing & Communications for Medjet, the top-rated traveler protection membership in North America. She started her career at MTV, where as Vice President of Music she helped evolve a "little niche music television channel" into one of the most internationally recognized brands in history. Former clients and project partners of the branded content company she started afte...

Courtney Leimkuhler is the co-founder and managing partner of Springbank Collective, an early-stage investment firm focused on building the infrastructure to close the gender gap. By investing in companies creating the tools, technology, and services that support women and working families, Springbank’s goal is to catalyze the new care economy and the future of inclusive work.   Before founding Sp...

Emily Tisch Sussman is a podcast host, women’s empowerment and family policy advocate, leading democratic political strategist, contributing editor to Marie Claire, and mother of three. Emily is the host of the award-winning podcast She Pivots, which features women, their stories, and how their pivot became their success. After leaving her fast-paced job as the Vice President of Campaigns at the l...

Sallie Krawcheck is the CEO and co-founder of Ellevest, an investing and wealth management company built by women for women. In a sea of financial services sameness, Ellevest stands apart with its mission to get more money in the hands of women. Prior to Ellevest, Krawcheck was one of the only financial executives of her generation to have held C-suite roles at the largest global banks — as CEO of...

Fran Hauser is passionate about leveling the playing field for women and creating content and products that help us live our best lives. She does this through her investing, writing, and speaking. Fran has invested in over 30 female-founded companies across consumer tech, CPG, media & publishing, and wellness. She is the best-selling author of The Myth of the Nice Girl: Achieving a Career You Love...

Denise Woodard is the Founder and CEO of Partake Foods, the allergy-friendly company that was inspired by her daughter’s experience with food allergies.   Created in 2016, Denise started the business by self-distributing (selling cookies out of her car around NYC) and self-funding (depleting her 401K and selling her engagement ring). To date, the company has raised more than $20M from investors in...

Tiffany Dufu is founder and CEO of The Cru. Their algorithm matches women in accountability circles to help them meet their life goals. She’s the author of the bestselling book Drop the Ball: Achieving More by Doing Less. According to foreword contributor Gloria Steinem, Drop the Ball is “important, path-breaking, intimate and brave.” Her writing has appeared in The Oprah Magazine, ESSENCE and the...

Kathryn Minshew is the CEO & Founder of The Muse, a career platform used by over 70 million people to find jobs at companies whose people, benefits, and values align with their unique professional needs. Under her leadership The Muse has pioneered the concept of values-based job search and was recently named one of Fast Company's 50 Most Innovative Companies in the World.   In 2022, Kathryn led Th...

Gail is best known as an entrepreneur, philanthropist, and the Founder of CAULIPOWER, the most disruptive company in the better-for-you frozen food space. The company experienced hyper-growth, reaching over $100m in revenue in five short years. She has received recognition for her achievements in business from Forbes, Fast Company, Inc., and Ernst & Young.   Gail is a frequent media guest, sought...

Lydia Fenet is the founder and CEO of the Lydia Fenet Agency, a boutique agency representing best in class charity auctioneers. Over her two-decade long career, Lydia served as the Global Managing Director of Strategic Partnerships for Christie’s and reshaped the fundraising landscape as the world’s leading charity auctioneer. She has single handedly raised over one billion dollars for more than 8...

Founded in 2016, Pandia Health, the only doctor-led, women-founded, women-led birth control delivery company, is building the online health brand women trust. The brand improves women’s lives by providing a one-stop solution for prescription birth control and acne treatment. By providing online doctors' visits for prescriptions and automating medication delivery, Pandia Health empowers women with...

Kathi Sharpe-Ross has been Reinventing her own life since she was eight years old when her parents pulled her out of school for six weeks and took the family on their first trip around the world. Having lived on three different continents, she learned at a young age how to adapt, try on new circumstances, make new friends, roll with the changes, create the tools to flourish in her world, and treat...