Superwomen With Rebecca Minkoff

When you think of businesses that are recession-proof, a kids ear piercing chain might not come to mind. However, when Louisa Serene Schneider was working at a hedge fund for retailers, she was surprised to find that Claire’s, the ear-piercing wonderland, was valued at $3 billion. She was even more astounded to find that the people doing the buyout didn’t see this as a chance to reimagine the business, so she started her own. Rowan is the only ear-piercing chain (for the young and young at heart!) to staff certified nurses at all locations. Set to open a total of 20 retail locations at the end of the year with their jewelry already available at Target, Rowan is growing like wildfire. The best part? According to Louisa, it’s the honor of being a part of major milestones in peoples’ lives. Thanks for listening!  Don't forget to order Rebecca's new book, Fearless: The New Rules for Unlocking Creativity, Courage, and Success. Follow Superwomen on Instagram. Guest Website HeyRowan.com Social Media @

Tali Magal knew she wanted to have a life that centered around three things: travel, creativity, and to be able to use her love of the Italian language. When her peers pointed out that fashion would be the obvious choice, Tali dove in headfirst. But the world of fashion was just the starting point; Tali found that what she really enjoyed was the creativity that went into planning photo shoots and ad campaigns. Rather than continuing to hire out these services, Tali decided to start her own. Freebird Productions was born, and now, over ten years later, is a full-service global production company that creates everything from photoshoots and videos to branded content and social media campaigns. Tali shares why as a leader it’s so important to hustle, but ultimately why it’s just as imperative that you make your career something fun and joyful! Thanks for listening!  Don't forget to order Rebecca's new book, Fearless: The New Rules for Unlocking Creativity, Courage, and Success. Follow Superwomen on&nbs

Makeup isn’t just about accentuating your cheekbones or plumping up your lip color. For Melissa Butler, former Wall Street worker-turned-beauty-entrepreneur, makeup is more about confidence than anything else. Even so, it took time to build the self-esteem and inner belief that has helped take The Lip Bar, and now, Thread Beauty, from her kitchen to Target and Walmart across the country. Starting out experimenting with her own recipes in an industry where she didn’t have experience, Melissa was bound and determined to create a makeup line that celebrated creating one’s own standards of beauty rather than pandering to men or media. The Lip Bar and Thread Beauty continue to shake up the status quo, offering vegan, non-toxic, cruelty-free options that are fun and affordable to people of color and beyond. Thanks for listening!  Don't forget to order Rebecca's new book, Fearless: The New Rules for Unlocking Creativity, Courage, and Success. Follow Superwomen on Instagram. Guest Website TheLipBar.com

Meg Epstein’s forte has always been her ability to dream big, and that’s a good thing considering that real estate development is a major undertaking. What started out as an interest in residential construction in her home state of California blew up as Meg started CA South, a real estate development and investment management firm based in Nashville, TN. Meg’s foresight to bring coastal designs to the southeast was an inspired decision, particularly as the Nashville market began to expand exponentially during the pandemic. Now, just eight years after she founded it, CA South is worth over $1 billion, making Meg the most successful independent real estate CEO in the U.S. Thanks for listening!  Don't forget to order Rebecca's new book, Fearless: The New Rules for Unlocking Creativity, Courage, and Success. Follow Superwomen on Instagram. Guest Website Casouthdevelopment.com Social Media LinkedIn --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/superwomen/support

Like many businesses, Under Canvas began as a means to solve a pain point for its founder, Sarah Dusek. In this case it was the quest to find a compromise between her husband’s desire to rough it in the wilderness and Sarah’s preference for creature comforts. Entirely bootstrapped for the first eight years, Under Canvas’ elevated camping model surmounted obstacle after obstacle, and is now considered among the best resorts in the U.S. by Condé Nast Traveler. However, Sarah wasn’t ready to stop there. Her own challenges in raising capital inspired her to then create her own investment firm, Enygma Ventures, aimed at supporting women in business in southern Africa. Knowing firsthand the challenges that come as a female founder, Sarah believes wholeheartedly that building an environment where more women can create wealth means a better world for all of us. Thanks for listening!  Don't forget to order Rebecca's new book, Fearless: The New Rules for Unlocking Creativity, Courage, and Success. Follow Supe

Arian Simone has the kind of infectious, feel-good attitude that makes it impossible to stay in a funk. It’s almost necessary to have that sort of approach when you’re working to change the numbers in venture capital funding. Arian’s company, Fearless Fund, invests in businesses founded by women of color, a group that receives less than 1% (!!!) of all VC funding, despite the high percentage of founders who fall into this category. Never one to shrink from a challenge, Arian knew early on in her entrepreneurial journey that she would someday become the type of investor she was looking for. Her potent potion of gratitude, conviction and confidence has opened doors where others would surely fear to go. Now, through Fearless Fund, Arian supports the goals and determination of fellow women of color, creating jobs, wealth and legacy one founder at a time. Thanks for listening!  Don't forget to order Rebecca's new book, Fearless: The New Rules for Unlocking Creativity, Courage, and Success. Follow Superwo

In a culture where rushing is encouraged and fast turnarounds are rewarded, it is a radical act to take the time to create something of quality. Not only that, but as April Gargiulo of Vintner’s Daughter points out, committing time and diligent craftsmanship to a product is one of the ultimate marks of true luxury. The daughter of winemakers, April was raised in a community that understands that the best products start with the best raw materials nurtured with time and patience. It is with the same ethos that she began her botanically based luxury skincare line. Vintner’s Daughter doesn’t need a million products or to be in every store; April intentionally created her company to grow slowly and be the best at what it does. By using organic, sustainable ingredients grown and processed with care, Vintner’s Daughter is one of the few skincare companies supporting the health of the consumer, the environment and the communities where it’s made. Thanks for listening!  Don't forget to order Rebecca's new book,&

If you’ve ever been one of the few people not drinking at a party, you know how awkward it can be, not to mention the fact that soda or water aren’t the most exciting drink alternatives. When Melanie Masarin decided that all-day brain fog wasn’t worth the glass of wine or two from the night before, she was struck with the realization that there is a glaring lack of sophisticated non-alcoholic beverages in the market. Melanie launched Ghia mid-pandemic, testing out trial recipes with her friends over dinner when it was difficult to engage with potential customers. She wanted to break down the stigma around choosing not to drink by creating an herbaceous, culinary-forward apéritif whose elevated flavor profile drinks well alone or with food. Pursuing her dream job at her dream company, Melanie’s mission of inclusivity continues to grow as Ghia is set to launch additional products and open the highly anticipated Ghia House in L.A. Thanks for listening!  Don't forget to order Rebecca's new book, Fearles

When Sarah Davis received a Rebecca Minkoff bag as a gift from her sister-in-law many moons ago, she didn’t realize that she would one day be a guest on Superwomen! The talented founder of luxury “recommerce” site Fashionphile is a born entrepreneur, even if she didn’t know to call herself that at the time. Sarah worked for the forest service and went to law school before she ever realized she had a multimillion-dollar idea on hand, but her affinity for creative ways to make money date back to childhood. Whether it was selling soda at a parade, clipping hair in the dorms in college, or selling secondhand luxury items on e-bay to pay her way through law school, Sarah has always found a way to make a buck on her own terms. Entirely bootstrapped until 2019, Fashionphile is one of the most wildly successful resale sites for high-end accessories. Sarah shares the value in following your passion, being smart about your business, and most of all, how important it is to simply get started and keep going! Thanks for l

She is probably one of the most famous people whose face you might never recognize. Nancy Cartwright’s fantastically versatile voiceover has graced television in the U.S. and the world over for 42 years, and while she is likely best known as the voice of Bart Simpson, she has played a plethora of other memorable characters, in addition to her creative litany of accomplishments that include writing books and films, directing, and promoting her philanthropic work. From her early days working at a radio station in Ohio, to her decision to transfer to UCLA to be near her voiceover mentor, and then to pursue Fellini in Italy, Nancy’s courageous spirit has never let “what if’s” get in the way. Whether she is doing the voiceover for her new audiobook, or directing her latest film, Nancy illuminates the importance of listening to the creative impulse. As the best example of following your instincts to make a life that is both fulfilling and successful, Nancy shows that you can most certainly follow your heart and mak

You may have heard of their popular self-tanner, but chances are you don’t know the story behind fast-growing natural skincare line Beauty by Earth. When Prudence Millsap noted a particular void in the area of truly clean cosmetics and self care items, she began googling her way into natural makeup and skincare product development. Though it took time and tenacity to find a chemist willing to work with her small startup, Prudence was undaunted, teaching herself how to sell directly on Amazon and filling orders with her husband after the children went to bed. Eight years later, Beauty by Earth now makes eight figures in revenue per year, and will soon be stocked in Target stores. Prudence affirms that the most certain path to success is not perfection, but the willingness to take risks and make adjustments along the way. A truly bootstrapped, self-funded, emphatically clean beauty company, grown slowly and purposefully, Beauty by Earth is a rare gem indeed. Thanks for listening!  Don't forget to order Reb

If you’re the type to put on the kettle, don your coziest socks and relax with some great home and food inspiration, then you’ve probably already heard of today’s guests. Amanda Hesser and Sara Fritsch, CEO of Food52 and president of Schoolhouse, respectively, are here to discuss their iconic brands that have recently joined forces in a homebody’s dream acquisition. Sara and Amanda discuss bootstrapping versus venture capital, strategic methods for both buying and selling a company, and most importantly, personal and professional alignment. Their desire to create longevity is evident in their commitment to their companies, as well as their lives outside of work. As leaders and friends, Amanda and Sara share their passion for balance, beauty, integrity and the creation of modern heirlooms. Thanks for listening!  Don't forget to order Rebecca's new book, Fearless: The New Rules for Unlocking Creativity, Courage, and Success. Follow Superwomen on Instagram. Social Media @food52 @schoolhouse Big Id

While her peers gleefully began drinking and experimenting with drug use, Amanda Chantal Bacon spent her late teens and early twenties supporting her body in detoxification. After a childhood and adolescence filled with a myriad of prescriptions that left her feeling more unlike herself than ever, Amanda used her newfound autonomy to take baby steps toward improving her health in body and mind. Though she didn’t know it at the time, Amanda was setting the groundwork for Moon Juice, the adaptogenic wellness company known for its supplements that support beauty, energy and libido. With her honest, grounded approach, Amanda emphasizes that while it may take time, it is most definitely possible to make positive, long lasting changes in business and in life. Thanks for listening!  Don't forget to order Rebecca's new book, Fearless: The New Rules for Unlocking Creativity, Courage, and Success. Follow Superwomen on Instagram. Social Media @moonjuice @amandachantalbacon Links Buy the Moon Juice Manual!

Duchess of Decorum Pattie Ehsaei holds many esteemed positions as a lawyer, financial advisor, workplace and social decorum expert, as well as being a TikTok star. While she has made a name for herself guiding others around social and work-related pitfalls, these lessons were hard won. When Pattie arrived in the U.S., she knew little of the culture and even less of the language; she now maintains her popular social media accounts because of her desire to help others in the hopes that they may learn from her early mistakes. It’s no secret that Pattie’s other favorite topic is women’s financial independence. She is clearly passionate about how and why women maintain power and equilibrium within and without relationships, encouraging women to work twice as hard and be twice as confident as any man in the room! Thanks for listening!  Don't forget to order Rebecca's new book, Fearless: The New Rules for Unlocking Creativity, Courage, and Success. Follow Superwomen on Instagram. Guest Website Pattiee

When Mary Lawless Lee started her now-famous blog, Happily Grey, she did it as a way to nurture her creativity on days off from working as a nurse. As the name implies, this entrepreneur and mother of two has always sought solace in the places between two extremes, preferring to express her own unique vision rather than abiding by proscribed ways of being. Since her days as one of the earliest influencers (where she could be spotted at RM fashion shows!), Mary has expanded her fashion passion project to a full-blown lifestyle brand, encompassing beauty, food, fitness, travel, interior design, and more. Most recently she has launched Nēmah, a clean skincare line for mother and baby. While Happily Grey may highlight fashion, beauty, and the pretty things in life, Mary knew from early on that sharing her life and process behind the scenes, in all its unique vulnerability, was the genuine way to create connection and community, something she places at the forefront of her ever-expanding list of business ventures.

Happy International Women’s Day! In the spirit of celebrating ourselves, today we have Tata Harper of Tata Harper Skincare, a truly clean, green luxury beauty company. Growing up in Colombia, Tata remembers watching the women in her family mark their daily skincare routine as a ritual to revel in rather than a chore. When she began to look for non-toxic beauty products and found many labels to be misleading, she decided to start her own 100% plant-based skin and beauty line. An industrial engineer by trade, Tata uses vertical integration to ensure that her company has control over every aspect of their sustainably focused production. By starting slowly and honing the quality of products and packaging before expanding, Tata shows that a slow burn is what really gets the fire going. From a small farm in Vermont, Tata Harper Skincare can now be found in luxury stores around the world. (And don’t forget to treat yourself today! Use discount code TATAxIWD22 for 20% off at TataHarperSkincare.com) Thanks for listeni

Does the topic of money make you cringe? Twitch? Silently dissolve into your surroundings until the fear of danger passes? If so, this episode is here to make things a little less scary and a little more approachable. News anchor, speaker and #1 New York Times bestselling author/book writing addict Nicole Lapin was tired of talking IRAs and hedge funds with people who were already privy to the world of finance. Her latest book, Miss Independent, is aimed at helping women become financially fluent, comfortable with money and able to choose investments that build long term wealth. Nicole is passionate  that with organization and responsibility anyone can live the life they desire. By defining your goals and figuring out how much money you need to live your ideal lifestyle you’ll learn how to make your money work for you! Thanks for listening!  Don't forget to order Rebecca's new book, Fearless: The New Rules for Unlocking Creativity, Courage, and Success. Follow Superwomen on Instagram. Soci

You may know her from Bling Empire in your Netflix queue, but Kelly Mi Li is anything but a flash-in-the-pan reality star. Her intelligence, drive and grounded approach have made her a wildly successful entrepreneur, most notably as a film and television producer, which predated her foray on camera. Kelly’s love of storytelling has led her to produce everything from scripted series to reality shows, but she finds nothing so fascinating as documentary, viewing little-known stories as some of the most inspirational. Kelly walks the line between public figure and private citizen, advocating to destigmatize conversations around mental health in Asian communities, and pushing for the inclusion of Asian casts in an era when it’s needed the most. Thanks for listening!  Don't forget to order Rebecca's new book, Fearless: The New Rules for Unlocking Creativity, Courage, and Success. Follow Superwomen on Instagram. Social Media @kellymili Links Hate is a Virus Big Ideas How to maintain your “north star”

If there’s one thing you can say about Amy Peterson, it’s that she has never shied away from a challenge. Amy sent resumé after resumé trying to get her foot in the door with a professional baseball team in the hopes of one day becoming the first female general manager of a major league team. However, while working with the Detroit Tigers, she became inspired by something else altogether. Through conversations with residents of the women’s shelter near her apartment, Amy decided to put her business skills to work creating employment, equitable opportunity and wrap-around support for unhoused women. Amy knew she wanted to provide work, financial literacy, business education and legal resources in order to help women transition to life of independence. The idea to do that by enabling women to create repurposed, wearable art was just the cherry on top. Rebel Nell’s one-of-a-kind pieces are as unique as the women who make them. Now, with growing collaborations and partnerships, Amy is looking to scale the company

When sisters Tonya Thompson and Sharie Wilson began offering hair services at a young age, they didn’t necessarily think it would become a future career. However, a path that led to college, business and sales ended up full circle as the two launched a business in hair extensions that then morphed into products aimed at helping Black women grow healthy hair. Sharie and Tonya’s wildly successful product line, DreamGirls, seeks to break the stigma and stereotype that Black women cannot grow long, strong hair. Through their salons and products, Tonya and Sharie share the message that protective styles are and option, but never something you have to do. The pair’s inspirational drive, business acumen and vision support women not just in appearance but also in changing their lives as they have begun to mentor women in business. Two Dream Girls themselves, Sharie and Tonya’s sincere passion combines with shrewd business sense to help women achieve their hair dreams and life goals! Thanks for listening!  Don't