When Failure Clears the Way for Something Better

Kiana Cabell was slathering coconut oil on her skin long before it became a beauty trend.  This week on SUPERWOMEN, I sit down with the co-founder of Kopari Beauty, one of the first brands to make clean body care cool and accessible. Kiana shares how she turned a multipurpose pantry staple into a breakout brand, what happened when her first product idea didn’t take off, and how Kopari evolved alongside her through every stage of growth. She talks about raising four kids while building a business, stepping back without stepping away, and why the best way forward is to start before you’re ready and to figure it out along the way. Episode Guide: (00:00) Meet Kiana Cabell, co-founder of Kopari Beauty(01:54) How coconut oil sparked a business idea (06:10) Navigating co-founder roles and dynamics (10:28) How Kopari stayed different from their competitors (13:45) Build a community before approaching retail (16:31) Lessons from raising VC too fast (20:28) Learning to let go and hiring a CEO (24:55) What most people misunderstand about sunscreen (28:25) Why starting before you’re ready is the best advice (29:37) The challenges of scaling inventory Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

GLP-1s have been called everything from miracle drugs to dangerous shortcuts. Becca McCarthy is here to set the record straight. This week on SUPERWOMEN, I sit down with the co-founder of Evolv, a biotech-driven supplement brand that mimics the effects of GLP-1s without requiring a prescription. With a background in health and fitness, Becca saw a gap in the wellness market for those who didn’t qualify for pharmaceutical weight loss but still needed support. She discusses how Evolv was built using molecular biology and AI modeling, and why this product has been transforming how women relate to food, weight, and energy. Episode Guide: (00:00) Meet Becca McCarthy, Co-Founder, President, and COO at Evolv (02:12) Using AI to design a novel weight loss peptide (05:06) Hormonal imbalances that block weight loss for women (09:59) Understanding GLP-1 in simple terms (13:05) Resetting your relationship with food through satiety (18:15) How to talk to your kids about nutrition (20:18) How Evolv is different from supplements and drugs (24:38) The double pressure of being a founder and mom (29:22) Why biohacking isn’t for everyone (34:12) Evolv’s proprietary tech and future products (39:44) Challenging the stigma around aesthetic weight loss If you’d like to learn more about Evolv, visit their website: https://evolvlife.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Bea Dixon built a $380M brand from a dream — literally. This week on SUPERWOMEN, I’m joined by Bea Dixon, co-founder and CEO of The Honey Pot. After receiving a vision from her late grandmother, she created a plant-based solution that would transform feminine care. From handing out samples in parking lots to attending trade shows, Bea and her lean team scaled the company into a nationally loved brand and ultimately sold it for millions. But that success came with hard choices. Behind the headlines is a story of staying grounded, walking away from the wrong money, and trusting your gut every step of the way. Episode Guide: (00:00) Meet Bea Dixon, co-founder and CEO of The Honey Pot (05:14) The offer she turned down on purpose (06:57) The dream that sparked a product (10:59) Conducting “hood clinical trials” (14:05) Guerrilla marketing and big retailers (17:29) Getting into Target before they were ready (21:18) Life after Honey Pot’s acquisition (24:35) Vaginal wellness and the chemicals in most products (27:24) The deal that almost ended Honey Pot (33:08) What you learn after cashing out Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Elizabeth Gore has always believed that all entrepreneurs deserve equitable access to capital. But pursuing that mission landed her in the middle of a federal class action lawsuit. This week on SUPERWOMEN, I’m joined by Elizabeth Gore, co-founder and president of Hello Alice, which has helped 1.6 million small businesses and distributed over $65 million in grants. She talks candidly about being sued for funding Black business owners, surviving the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank, and a health scare that nearly took her out. Through it all, Elizabeth shares the lessons she’s learned about resilience, leadership, and staying rooted in purpose—even when the stakes couldn’t be higher. Episode Guide: (00:00) Meet Elizabeth Gore, co-founder and president of Hello Alice (06:37) Building an AI platform before it was mainstream (09:29) Getting sued for funding Black entrepreneurs (13:18) How they lost ⅔ of their Series C funding (15:03) The health crisis that stopped her cold (20:23) Learning to truly rest as a founder (28:48) What’s next for women and AI in business (31:37) The decision that nearly broke Hello Alice (33:43) Raising millions without a CFO (36:03) What Elizabeth would do if everything fell apart Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Joanne Lee Molinaro never planned on leaving her career as a law firm partner. But the day she walked away, she opened the door to a life she’d never imagined. This week on SUPERWOMEN, I’m joined by the creator of The Korean Vegan, a bestselling author, and beauty founder. From building a storytelling platform on social media to launching a cookbook that won the James Beard Award, Joanne has carved a path that is deeply personal and unmistakably her own. She talks about moving through fear, trusting her instincts, and letting honesty, not perfection, guide her choices. We also talk about reinvention after divorce, what it's like running a business with your partner, and why her new beauty line is more than just skincare. Episode Guide: (00:00) Meet Joanne Lee Molinaro, creator of The Korean Vegan (03:41) The moment she decided to leave big law (06:48) How her Instagram stories led to a book deal (11:19) The launch of Korean Vegan Beauty (20:37) Rebuilding identity after divorce and emotional trauma (28:41) Managing a multi-hyphenate career (33:38) Why being hands-on made her brand more meaningful (37:10) Routines that keep her grounded and creative Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As a refugee from Ukraine, Katerina Schneider arrived in the U.S. with nothing but $50 and a suitcase. Now, she’s the founder and CEO of Ritual, a multi-million dollar wellness brand reshaping the supplement industry. This week on SUPERWOMEN, Katerina shares what it took to start Ritual with no roadmap. What began as a search for a better prenatal became a mission to raise the bar in wellness. Tune in to hear how she built a business from the ground up, what she’s learned about leading while raising three kids, and why being “selfish” made her success possible. Episode Guide: (00:00) Meet Katerina Schneider, CEO of Ritual (02:26) A childhood that built grit and perspective (04:00) Building a business while pregnant with no blueprint (05:21) The impact of her experience in different industries (07:44) Why she decided to quit her job to start Ritual (09:04) Learning to surround herself with great leadership (12:18) Why women still trust bad advice (13:33) Creating a product that met a real need (15:55) How to tell if your supplements are actually safe (18:13) Balancing work and life with three kids (22:41) How to simplify wellness when overwhelmed by trends Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

She faced COVID, cancer, and closing the biggest deal of her life… all at once. Alicia Grande, founder and CEO of Grande Cosmetics, built her beauty empire with grit, fearlessness, and a touch of scrappy brilliance. In this episode of Superwomen, Alicia shares the story behind GrandeLASH, how she turned her postpartum struggle into a category-defining product. From bootstrapping trade shows to landing Sephora and Ulta, Alicia’s journey is an example of perseverance. Tune in to hear how she stayed fearless in the face of overwhelming challenges, what she’s learned about balancing ambition with family, and the advice she wants every aspiring founder to know. Episode Guide: (00:00) Cozy up with Macy’s (02:39) Meet Alicia Grande, CEO of Grande Cosmetics (05:48) Her lash serum “aha” moment at a trade show (09:11) What it really means to bootstrap a business (10:11) The childhood survival skills that gave her grit (12:40) The work ethic of today’s generation (19:08) The moment she knew she made it (20:32) Creating a whole new category at Sephora (25:37) Surviving cancer, COVID, and a company sale Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

She fought her way into 1980s Hollywood when the boys’ club ruled everything… and she refused to back down. Elaine Goldsmith-Thomas went from an ambitious Valley girl to one of the most powerful agents in entertainment, representing Julia Roberts, Madonna, and Jennifer Lopez, who later became her producing partner at Nuyorican Productions. In this episode of Superwomen, Elaine gets real about surviving the sexism of Hollywood’s golden era, why she walked away from the top of her game to reinvent herself as a writer and producer, and how her viral debut novel Climbing in Heels is pulling back the curtain on that world. It’s raw, it’s inspiring, and it proves that sometimes being relentless is the only way forward. Episode Guide: (00:00) Meet Elaine Goldsmith-Thomas, Author & Producing Partner to Jennifer Lopez (02:25) The heartbreak that launched her Hollywood hustle(09:15) Cracking the code to get past gatekeepers(11:58) Surviving sexism while climbing the agency ladder(15:28) Leaving agenting at the top of her game(18:10) Lessons from working with Jennifer Lopez(19:52) Climbing in Heels and three women’s stories(23:03) Turning the book into a TV series(28:02) Facing fear, cancer, and learning to just do Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Alison Kosik spent 15 years covering the biggest stories in business at CNN. But the most important lesson she learned came when she realized she had lost control of her own finances. This week on SUPERWOMEN, I talk with the journalist and author of “What's Up with Women and Money?” about the turning point that inspired her to take charge. Alison opens up about the early career moves that led her to CNN, the challenges of parenting while working unpredictable hours, and the moment she decided to handle her money on her own. She also shares what she learned through interviews with financial experts, why confidence plays such a big role in money management, and the practical steps women can take to protect themselves from financial vulnerability. Episode Guide: (00:00) Cozy living starts at Macy’s (00:39) Meet Alison Kosik, Author, What’s Up with Women and Money? (02:25) Alison’s early days as a journalist (06:31) Covering the New York Stock Exchange on CNN (08:07) The personal story behind her book on women and money (11:42) Financial lessons no one tells you about (16:59) Why many women let their partners manage their finances (19:50) Hard money conversations with your partner Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kate Davidson Hudson was supposed to climb the career ladder every fashion girl dreamed of.  Instead, she walked away and built a tech company from scratch. This week on SUPERWOMEN, I sit down with the founder and CEO of a shoppable AI closet platform, Vêtir, and a longtime force in fashion media and luxury tech. From her early days at Harper’s Bazaar and Elle Magazine to co-founding the content-meets-commerce platform Editorialist, Kate has always been at the intersection of editorial storytelling and digital innovation. Kate opens up about the pressure of leaving a dream job, learning to lead without a playbook, and why she became obsessed with personalization and automation. We also get into the risks of fundraising, being a woman in tech, and what happens when you sell a company but stay attached to its soul. Episode Guide: (00:00) Meet Kate Davidson Hudson, founder and CEO of Vêtir (02:42) How she broke into magazines at 21 (10:00) Leaving ELLE to launch a fashion startup (11:52) When she knew Editorialist was working (15:12) Walking away after selling her company (17:16) Facing bias as a female founder in tech (20:30) Why AI needs more diverse perspectives (22:51) What Vêtir does and how it works (27:40) Balancing creative instinct with business pressure (29:40) Hard lessons on hiring friends and co-leading startups Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices