Dear FoundHer...Real Founder Stories for Women Small Business Owners

Lindsay Pinchuk | Female Founder & Small Business Marketing Expert
  • 4.9 (1.1K)
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Updated Semiweekly

Dear FoundHer… is a How I Built This–style podcast sharing real stories from female entrepreneurs, female founders, and women in business, especially women 40+, who are building companies on their own terms. Hosted by award-winning entrepreneur Lindsay Pinchuk, each episode features honest, thoughtful conversations with women CEOs and founders navigating leadership, decision making, career pivots, and business growth. These are the stories behind the success, the lessons, the marketing strategies that actually work, and the leadership moments that shape women building and leading businesses. From Bobbi Brown to Rebecca Minkoff, Peloton’s Jenn Sherman & Dr. Becky Kennedy to Gail Simmons, Dear FoundHer… brings you conversations with some of the most influential female founders and leaders of our time. Dear FoundHer… explores what it looks like to grow a business with clarity and confidence, from starting a company for the first time or after leaving corporate, to scaling responsibly, managing teams, building visibility, getting press, and creating sustainable growth. Topics include leadership development, confidence at work, business strategy, marketing strategies and tactics, company messaging, community building, and showing up confidently. There’s no fluff. No gatekeeping. Just real insight, shared perspective, and practical wisdom, because building businesses is better when women learn from each other. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  1. 2h ago

    Partnership Marketing and Bootstrapping: How Liz Lange Turned $20,000 Into a Maternity Empire

    For simple actionable tips to grow your business, subscribe to The FoundHer Files  Liz Lange proves that the best marketing rarely needs a big budget, just the right people. On Dear FoundHer, host Lindsay Pinchuk talks with Liz Lange, founder of Liz Lange Maternity, about what it takes to build a business when the money and the confidence are not there yet. Partnership marketing sits at the center of it all, but not in the polished, strategic sense people mean today. For Liz, it looked like trust. It looked like showing up for people and letting the relationship do the work. Liz talks openly about starting as a bootstrap founder with almost nothing to lose and everything to prove. She is candid about the fear behind every major decision, and how often the loudest advice turned out to be wrong. Her instincts, not her budget, were what carried the business forward. The real thread running through this episode is trust. Trust in yourself, trust in slow relationships over quick wins, and trust that partnership marketing can outperform any ad spend when it comes from something real. For Liz, this wasn't a tactic. Networking with women came naturally to her. This is one of those real founder stories that reminds you that good PR for small businesses often starts with a single relationship, not a plan. It’s proof that female founders do not need permission to trust what they already know. Episode Breakdown: 00:00 Welcome to Dear FoundHer and the Growing Founder Community 02:47 Meet Liz Lange, Maternity Fashion Pioneer 03:47 Starting Liz Lange Maternity With a Fax Machine and No Budget 09:13 Dressing Celebrities and Building Word of Mouth Marketing 15:36 Learning the Fashion Business From the Ground Up 19:07 Opening the First Liz Lange Maternity Store in New York 23:27 Landing the Nike Partnership Marketing Deal 27:05 How the Target Deal Changed the Business Forever 33:29 Ignoring the Naysayers and Trusting Her Instincts 39:03 Bootstrapping the Business Without Raising Outside Money 41:37 Balancing Motherhood With a Fast Growing Business 44:06 Life After Liz Lange Maternity and Home Shopping Network 45:15 Buying the Figue Brand and Building a New Chapter 46:17 Finding Community and Connection on Social Media 49:13 Three Actionable Steps for Women Starting a Business Connect with Liz Lange: Follow Liz on Instagram Join the Dear FoundHer... Forum https://www.dearfoundher.com/dear-foundher-forum Follow Dear FoundHer on Instagram  Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    53 min

  2. Jul 7

    Unlock Business Growth and Scaling Your Opportunities by Leveraging Your Network

    For simple actionable tips to grow your business, subscribe to The FoundHer Files  Lindsay Pinchuk shares the most important asset you are not leveraging in your business. She shares how leveraging your existing network can be a game-changer for business growth, emphasizing relationships over followers and paid ads. She discusses practical strategies for reconnecting with your network, categorizing contacts, and using relationships to build and scale a business. Important Takeaways: The importance of existing relationships in business growthCategorizing your network: openers, collaborators, amplifiers, anchors, studentsStrategies for reconnecting and activating your networkCase studies of successful women entrepreneurs leveraging relationshipsThe misconception of starting from scratch and the value of past relationships Lindsay talks about "that email" you can read all about that and grab her templates on her substack here. Join us for this month's Forum Workshop on July 9th: The 2-Part Email System Behind Consistent Scalable Revenue REGISTER HERE Join us inside the Dear FoundHer... Forum, our online networking group supporting you as you build and grow your business so you don't have to do it alone. Follow Dear FoundHer on Instagram  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    16 min

  3. Jun 30

    How to Reactivate Your Network: The Email Strategy That Reopens Every Door

    For simple actionable tips to grow your business, subscribe to The FoundHer Files  Lindsay Pinchuk shares the importance of proactive network outreach for business growth, emphasizing a specific email strategy to reconnect with contacts and generate new opportunities. Learn how to craft personal reintroduction emails that activate your network and boost your pipeline. This episode includes: The importance of proactive outreach to your existing networkHow to craft a personal reintroduction emailThe five-part structure of an effective outreach emailThe role of relationship-building in business growthStrategies for activating your network to generate opportunitiesTakeaways Sending personalized reintroduction emails can quickly generate new business opportunities.Your network is active and waiting to be engaged, not passive.A well-structured, personal email can re-engage contacts and open doors.Building and maintaining relationships over time is crucial for business success.The key to effective outreach is clarity, specificity, and genuine connection. Chapters 00:00 The Importance of Communication in Business 02:31 Reactivating Your Network 05:09 Building Relationships for Success 08:17 Crafting the Perfect Reintroduction Email 10:52 Taking Action: Your Email Assignment Join us for this month's Forum Workshop on July 9th: The 2-Part Email System Behind Consistent Scalable Revenue REGISTER HERE Subscribe to The FoundHer Files  Follow Dear FoundHer on Instagram  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    13 min

  4. Jun 23

    The Invisible Truth Most Women Entrepreneurs Never Say Out Loud

    For simple actionable tips to grow your business, subscribe to The FoundHer Files  Most women entrepreneurs build a business to solve a problem they found in the market. Sadie Lincoln built one to solve a problem she had been hiding for a decade. Sadie is the co-founder of Barre3, a mindful fitness company with more than 200 studios and an online platform reaching clients in over 100 countries. On Dear FoundHer with host Lindsay Pinchuk, she finally says out loud what took years to admit. A secret eating disorder, a body she was trying to conquer, and a pregnancy that cracked something open she had not been able to reach before. What she discovered in her living room in 2008 became the foundation of everything Barre3 stands for. And every major business decision since then, including walking away from a deal that would have made her a household name in fitness, has traced back to that same truth. Female founders who are scaling a business while trying to stay honest about what it costs will recognize themselves here. Sadie built a community for business the old-fashioned way, face painters at a fountain, free classes above a health food store, relationships that no algorithm can manufacture. She course-corrected when outside pressure pulled her away from her values and called it growing without burnout before that phrase even existed. And the personal brand decision she made, choosing to stay small enough to stay true, is one most founders never have the nerve to make. Know yourself first. Do the research. Surround yourself only with people who are excellent at what they do and who respect why you are excellent too. Episode Breakdown: 00:00 Meet Sadie Lincoln, Co-Founder and CEO of barre3 04:00 How Barre3 Was Built Around Mindful Fitness and Why That Was a Radical Idea in 2008 06:19 The Invisible Truth Behind the Business and What Sadie Finally Said Out Loud 09:27 Why the Hardest Moments in Business Are Often the Seed of What Comes Next 13:56 From Living Room Workouts to a Fitness Company Built to Franchise 17:01 The Grassroots Marketing Strategy That Still Outperforms Social Media 21:47 Why Community Is the Actual Product at Barre3 and How That Drives Sustainable Growth 25:25 What Kept Barre3 Standing While Other Boutique Fitness Brands Fell Apart 28:00 The Deal Sadie Walked Away From and the Financial Hit She Took to Stay True 31:53 The Kitchen Moment That Changed Everything 37:27 What’s Next for barre3 40:21 Three Pieces of Advice for Women Starting a Business Connect with Sadie Lincoln: Follow Sadie on Instagram  Connect with Sadie on LinkedIn  Subscribe to The FoundHer Files  Follow Dear FoundHer on Instagram  Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    45 min

  5. Jun 16

    She Got Adidas to Back an Idea on Paper | Female Founders and Bootstrapping with Odessa Jenkins

    Odessa Jenkins built a professional women's tackle football league before anyone believed the market existed. On this episode of Dear FoundHer, host Lindsay Pinchuk talks with Odessa Jenkins, known as OJ, founder and CEO of the Women's National Football Conference. Her story carries a lesson female founders everywhere need to hear. You don't wait for permission to build something new. You describe your vision so clearly the right people see it before a single game is played. That's how OJ won over ten teams and two major sports brands while the league was still an idea on paper. This is the kind of conversation women in business rarely get to hear. OJ worked a full-time job while selling the league. She convinced her wife to leave a corporate career and build alongside her. Bootstrapping kept the lights on for five years and profit didn't arrive until year three. None of those details show up on a TV broadcast, yet every one of them shaped what the WNFC has become. Sixteen teams, 900 athletes, and a championship game airing live on ESPN2. Female founders will recognize themselves in OJ's honesty about startup funding, partnership marketing with brands like Adidas, and the unglamorous work behind a bold mission. Her message cuts through the noise. Ready isn't real. Ask for what you need. Stop choosing the hardest path when an easier one exists. If you're drawn to real founder stories with heart and grit, this episode will stay with you long after you press pause. Episode Breakdown: 00:00 Female Founders Who Build Before the Blueprint Exists 03:05 How Odessa Jenkins Started the WNFC 08:26 Getting Adidas and Riddell to Back a League That Didn't Exist Yet 11:13 Bootstrapping, Profit, and the Real Timeline 14:43 How the Public Responded in Year One 22:41 Fan Growth, Streaming Numbers, and National TV 24:53 Flag Football, the Athlete Pipeline, and What's Coming 27:55 Why the Timing Is Right for Women's Sports Right Now 31:17 Championship Weekend at Ford Center 34:28 Three Things Every Woman Starting a Business Needs to Hear Connect with Odessa Jenkins: Follow OJ on Instagram Follow Women's National Football Conference on Instagram Submit your most pressing business questions for our Q+A Substack on Thursday: https://form.jotform.com/260218655668062  Subscribe to The FoundHer Files  Follow Dear FoundHer on Instagram  Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    38 min

  6. Jun 9

    Thought Leadership for Female Founders: How Writing a Book Builds Your Personal Brand

    Writing a book is one of the most overlooked thought leadership moves a female founder can make, and most people go into it completely unprepared. On this episode of Dear FoundHer, Lindsay Pinchuk talks with Ruthie Ackerman, author of The Mother Code and founder of Ignite Writers Collective, about what it actually takes to write and publish a book. Ruthie spent years as a journalist and deputy editor at Forbes Women before losing her job, starting a business, and landing a Random House book deal. Now she helps women in business find their voice on the page, and she's honest about how hard the process is. The publishing world has a glamour problem. Most people picture the finished book, not the 90-page proposal, the years of revision, or the media outreach that a publisher will not do for you. Ruthie lays out what female founders need to know before they commit, including how to choose the right publishing path, what a real publicity strategy looks like, and why treating your book like a business launch is the only approach that works. For anyone building a personal brand and wondering whether a book belongs in that plan, Ruthie also speaks directly to the PR for small business reality. Getting press, landing speaking opportunities, and reaching the right audiences all require the same intentionality you bring to every other part of your business. A book done right is a long-term thought leadership asset, not a project you finish and walk away from. If your story has been sitting in the back of your mind waiting for the right moment, this episode is worth your time. Episode Breakdown: 00:00 Thought Leadership Starts With Your Story 03:51 Ruthie Ackerman's Path From Forbes to Random House 05:59 Getting Laid Off and Launching Ignite Writers Collective 08:21 How Ignite Writers Collective Grew During the Pandemic 10:35 Starting a Book Three Months After Having a Baby 12:08 Five Questions to Ask Before You Write a Book 13:57 Traditional Publishing vs. Self-Publishing vs. Hybrid 15:50 What a 90-Page Book Proposal Actually Looks Like 18:35 Why Authors Have to Be Their Own Marketers 20:07 Three Tips for Making Time to Write 22:08 What Not to Do When Writing a Book 24:10 How to Find a Literary Agent 26:41 All the Hats You Have to Wear as an Author 28:55 How Ignite Studios Supports Authors End-to-End 32:11 Ruthie's Three Actionable Steps for Aspiring Authors Connect with Ruthie Ackerman: Follow Ruthie on Instagram  Subscribe to The FoundHer Files  Follow Dear FoundHer on Instagram  Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    36 min

  7. Jun 5

    Master Your Founder Story in 3 Paragraphs: A Step-by-Step Framework, with Host, Lindsay Pinchuk

    SUBSCRIBE to The FoundHer Files, our twice weekly Substack filled with actionable tips you can use starting today to build and grow your business. No fluff. No gatekeeping. Just what works. Host, Lindsay Pinchuk provides a tactical walkthrough on crafting a compelling three-paragraph founder story that effectively communicates your business, builds trust, and attracts the right audience. This episode offers a step-by-step framework, common mistakes to avoid, and practical tips for using your story across various platforms. Grab this week's Deep Dive on The FoundHer Files to read more about The Anatomy of a Story that Converts. Join us for this month's Forum Expert Workshop: Claude for FoundHers with Dara Astmann REGISTER HERE Subscribe to The FoundHer Files Substack: http://foundherfiles.substack.com Join our online networking community for women business owners over forty, The Dear FoundHer... Forum. Follow Dear FoundHer... on Instagram http://www.instagram.com/dearfoundher Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    17 min

  8. Jun 2

    5 Essential Stories Every Female Founder Must Tell

    SUBSCRIBE to The FoundHer Files, our twice weekly Substack filled with actionable tips you can use starting today to build and grow your business. No fluff. No gatekeeping. Just what works. Lindsay Pinchuk shares the importance of storytelling for small business success, outlining five essential stories every female founder should master. She emphasizes how authentic storytelling attracts the right audience, builds trust, and drives business growth. Episode Breakdown: 00:00 The Power of Speaking Up 01:43 Your Story is Your Strategy 03:56 Crafting Your Origin Story 07:49 The Importance of Pivot Stories 10:21 Learning from Costs: The Hard Lessons 12:38 Naming the Invisible Truths 14:49 Finding the Right People Through Authenticity Join us for this month's Forum Expert Workshop: Claude for FoundHers with Dara Astmann REGISTER HERE Subscribe to The FoundHer Files Substack: http://foundherfiles.substack.com Join our online networking community for women business owners over forty, The Dear FoundHer... Forum. Follow Dear FoundHer... on Instagram http://www.instagram.com/dearfoundher Listen to our episode with Founder of TaskRabbit, Leah Solivan from last month. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    18 min
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Dear FoundHer… is a How I Built This–style podcast sharing real stories from female entrepreneurs, female founders, and women in business, especially women 40+, who are building companies on their own terms. Hosted by award-winning entrepreneur Lindsay Pinchuk, each episode features honest, thoughtful conversations with women CEOs and founders navigating leadership, decision making, career pivots, and business growth. These are the stories behind the success, the lessons, the marketing strategies that actually work, and the leadership moments that shape women building and leading businesses. From Bobbi Brown to Rebecca Minkoff, Peloton’s Jenn Sherman & Dr. Becky Kennedy to Gail Simmons, Dear FoundHer… brings you conversations with some of the most influential female founders and leaders of our time. Dear FoundHer… explores what it looks like to grow a business with clarity and confidence, from starting a company for the first time or after leaving corporate, to scaling responsibly, managing teams, building visibility, getting press, and creating sustainable growth. Topics include leadership development, confidence at work, business strategy, marketing strategies and tactics, company messaging, community building, and showing up confidently. There’s no fluff. No gatekeeping. Just real insight, shared perspective, and practical wisdom, because building businesses is better when women learn from each other. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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