Founders in Jeans

Emily Jean
  • 5.0 (3)
  • ENTREPRENEURSHIP
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Founders in Jeans is your backstage pass to the real stories behind building a business. Hosted by Emily Jean, this podcast brings you casual, candid conversations with entrepreneurs, visionaries, and startup leaders who are reshaping the future of work and life. Forget the pitch-deck polish—this is where founders kick off their heels (or sneakers) and get real about the messy middle, unexpected pivots, and mindset shifts that actually make things work. Whether you're growing your own venture or just love hearing how great ideas get off the ground, Founders in Jeans delivers all that and more.

  1. How to Get Your First Clients When You’ve Never Sold Before with Niluka Kavanagh of Imagine That

    2D AGO

    How to Get Your First Clients When You’ve Never Sold Before with Niluka Kavanagh of Imagine That

    Niluka Kavanagh went from “everything looks great on paper” to a one-way flight to Spain - and a full reset on what work could look like. In this episode, Niluka breaks down the real transition from corporate life at KPMG to building multiple ventures across 14 countries, and why community, customer validation, and adaptability matter more than the perfect plan. If you’ve ever felt that quiet “is this it?” voice in a stable job - this conversation will help you turn that pull into a practical, testable path forward. Niluka’s story is a reminder that you don’t need a dramatic breaking point to change your life - you just need the courage to treat your next chapter like a test. ⸻ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ If you loved today’s conversation, please rate, review, and subscribe to Founders in Jeans - the podcast celebrating women claiming their worth in business, leadership, and life. ⸻ 💌 Build the life you deserve - on your own terms. Subscribe to the Founders in Jeans newsletter, the no-BS guide to startup life, consumer brands, and becoming your most confident, successful self, written by Emily Jean. Join 50,000+ women redefining wealth, community, and growth: https://foundersinjeans.beehiiv.com/subscribe ⸻ This episode wouldn’t happen without Rita Williams, our producer, coordinator, and virtual assistant. If you want someone sharp and reliable in your corner, connect with Rita: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rita-williams-smma/ ⸻ Follow Emily:https://www.instagram.com/emily.jeans/https://www.linkedin.com/in/emily-jeans/ ⸻ Follow Founders in Jeans:https://www.instagram.com/foundersinjeans/ ⸻ Follow Niluka Kavanagh of Imagine That:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nilukakavanagh/Substack: https://substack.com/@nilukakavanaghYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@breakingboundarieswithnilukaInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/imaginethatclub/ImagineThat Founders Club: https://imaginethatclub.carrd.co/Ways to work with Niluka: https://linktr.ee/niluka_kavanagh ⸻ SEO keywords (150–250):female founder podcast, women in business podcast, founders in jeans, corporate to entrepreneur, quitting corporate job, leaving consulting, KPMG to startup, Oxford graduate entrepreneur, digital nomad entrepreneur, working from anywhere, remote work lifestyle, one-way flight entrepreneurship, Valencia Spain digital nomad, starting a business while employed, side hustle to full-time, entrepreneurship experiment, validating business ideas, customer discovery calls, product market fit, will customers pay, early-stage sales, getting first clients, first customers strategy, founder isolation, entrepreneur loneliness, founder community, entrepreneurship mentorship, accountability for founders, founder roundtables, business mastermind community, Imagine That founders club, Imagine That community, intrapreneurship, innovation in companies, future of work speaker, modern leadership, Gen Z at work, employee engagement strategies, employee autonomy, brand ambassadors on LinkedIn, LinkedIn personal branding for founders, credibility on LinkedIn, building audience on LinkedIn, keynote speaker future of work, startup lessons for corporate leaders, entrepreneurship mindset, adaptability in business, founder traits curiosity, pivoting a business, feedback-driven founders, AI tools for entrepreneurs, AI lowering barriers to entry, using AI for marketing, using AI for websites, solopreneur tools, public speaking coaching business, executive presentation coaching, corporate workshops presentation skills, women podcasters, breaking boundaries podcast, 10X is easier than 2X, Benjamin Hardy, Daniel O’Sullivan, community-led growth, founder therapy and support, confidence dips entrepreneurship, motivation for founders, career reinvention for women, building a life on your terms, leadership and innovation culture, mini entrepreneur culture, startup life advice for women

    32 min
  2. Networking Doesn’t Have to Be Cringe - Here’s What to Do Instead with Carrie Johnston of The Comms Connector

    FEB 9

    Networking Doesn’t Have to Be Cringe - Here’s What to Do Instead with Carrie Johnston of The Comms Connector

    Carrie Johnston has spent two decades helping communications professionals land roles they never thought they could get - and now she’s bringing that same “look beyond the resume” lens to her consultancy, The Comms Connector. In this episode, Carrie and Emily unpack what actually moves the needle in comms careers right now: storytelling, writing, networking, and a LinkedIn presence that doesn’t hide behind “people already know me.” They also get real about AI - why it’s a powerful tool and a fast track to reputation damage if you don’t fact-check - plus what supportive workplaces should look like when life hits hard. Why the “obvious candidate” isn’t always the best candidate The two most memorable hires Carrie’s ever made - and why they worked How comms skills translate into leadership, advocacy, and even CEO paths The resume truth: facts, measurable wins, and no fluff Why LinkedIn matters more than your resume (yes, even for CEOs) The dangerous mindset of “people already know who I am” AI in comms: where it helps, where it hurts, and why writing tests are coming back A simple networking habit that compounds fast (and most people still avoid) Supporting women at work - beyond policies that just “tick a box” Rapid fire: most underrated career skill, worst interview question, and the LinkedIn trend Carrie loves Carrie’s message is simple: your career doesn’t move forward because you “deserve it” - it moves when you show your story clearly, sharpen your writing, and stay in motion. ⸻ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ If you loved today’s conversation, please rate, review, and subscribe to Founders in Jeans - the podcast celebrating women claiming their worth in business, leadership, and life. ⸻ 💌 Build the life you deserve - on your own terms. Subscribe to the Founders in Jeans newsletter, the no-BS guide to startup life, consumer brands, and becoming your most confident, successful self, written by Emily Jean. Join 50,000+ women redefining wealth, community, and growth: https://foundersinjeans.beehiiv.com/subscribe ⸻ This episode wouldn’t happen without Rita Williams, our producer, coordinator, and virtual assistant. If you want someone sharp and reliable in your corner, connect with Rita: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rita-williams-smma/ ⸻ Follow Emily:https://www.instagram.com/emily.jeans/https://www.linkedin.com/in/emily-jeans/ ⸻ Follow Founders in Jeans:https://www.instagram.com/foundersinjeans/ ⸻ Follow Carrie Johnston of The Comms Connector:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carrieannjohnston/ ⸻ women in business, female founder podcast, communications careers, corporate communications, corporate affairs, PR careers, media relations, crisis communications, issues management, reputation management, LinkedIn personal brand, LinkedIn profile tips, LinkedIn for job seekers, networking advice, career pivot, transferable skills, storytelling in business, writing skills, writing in communications, writing assessment, AI in communications, AI fact checking, misinformation risk, executive communications, communications coaching, resume tips, measurable achievements, career mentor, comms graduate advice, job search strategy, career growth tips, recruitment insights, hiring manager perspective, connecting with people, relationship building, stakeholder management, stakeholder mapping, advocacy roles, journalist to in-house comms, government to corporate, FMCG communications, Taronga Zoo communications, burnout prevention, workplace flexibility, women and leadership, grief support at work, bereavement policy, human-first management, career confidence, professional visibility, comment strategy on LinkedIn, community building, thought leadership, personal narrative, career intuition, building credibility online, comms industry Australia, Sydney careers, women in corporate, job hunting in 2026, career resilience, leadership communication

    43 min
  3. Building a Behavior-Change Product in a Scroll-Addicted World with Julia Dietmar of Open Wardrobe

    JAN 30

    Building a Behavior-Change Product in a Scroll-Addicted World with Julia Dietmar of Open Wardrobe

    Fashion is a massive environmental problem - but Julia Dietmar isn’t building Open Wardrobe as a guilt machine. She’s building it as a behavior-change product: a platform that digitizes your closet, uses AI to help you create outfits, and plugs into resale + repairs so “mindful” becomes frictionless. In this episode, Emily Jean sits down with Julia Dietmar, founder of Open Wardrobe, to unpack the operator side of building in fashion tech: why her retail background (Walmart), resale exposure (thredUP), and personalization work shaped the product, how she thinks about training AI responsibly, and what it takes to convince consumers to do the one thing every marketplace-adjacent product needs - take the first action. If you care about consumer startups, AI personalization, or building products that actually change habits, this one is a playbook: meet users at the moment of purchase, reduce returns, and turn “sustainability” into a repeatable business model - without selling user privacy. How Julia’s path (engineering - product - Walmart - thredUP) built the foundation for Open Wardrobe Designing around a hard truth: behavior change is opt-in The biggest hurdle: onboarding work (digitizing a closet) and how value compounds after Training an AI model on real outfit behavior - while keeping wardrobes private Why most ecommerce “recommendations” are lazy (and what smarter personalization looks like) The browser extension strategy: intercepting decisions at checkout Building AI as education + creativity (not authority) to increase trust and adoption What a few hundred thousand users reveal about closets, occasion wear, and shopping patterns Roadmap: turning Lola into a personal shopper - and “voice of conscience” Founder frameworks: The Innovator’s Dilemma and “Jobs to Be Done” This episode is a reminder: the best consumer products don’t just delight - they change behavior, reduce friction at the right moment, and still make the business work. ⸻ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ If you loved today’s conversation, please rate, review, and subscribe to Founders in Jeans - the podcast celebrating women claiming their worth in business, leadership, and life. ⸻ 💌 Build the life you deserve - on your own terms. Subscribe to the Founders in Jeans newsletter, the no-BS guide to startup life, consumer brands, and becoming your most confident, successful self, written by Emily Jean. Join 50,000+ women redefining wealth, community, and growth: https://foundersinjeans.beehiiv.com/subscribe ⸻ Follow Emily:https://www.instagram.com/emily.jeans/https://www.linkedin.com/in/emily-jeans/ ⸻ Follow Founders in Jeans:https://www.instagram.com/foundersinjeans/ ⸻ Follow Julia Dietmar of Open Wardrobe:www.openwardrobe.co@openwardrobe ⸻ consumer startup, building consumer app, fashion tech startup, AI consumer product, building with AI, product-led growth, behavior change product, habit change startup, onboarding friction, retention strategy, personalization AI, ecommerce recommendations, AI styling assistant, browser extension startup, multi-platform product strategy, training AI models, ethical AI privacy, user data privacy, founder-led product, product management lessons, Walmart acquisition experience, retail tech, thredUP resale marketplace, resale integrations, Poshmark integration, partnerships strategy, repairs and alterations marketplace, sustainable commerce business model, reducing returns ecommerce, conversion optimization, customer insight strategy, jobs to be done framework, Innovator’s Dilemma, innovation strategy, consumer behavior insights, scaling a consumer platform, user research insights, wardrobe digitization, closet management app, AI shopping assistant, building trust with users, startup roadmap, female founders, women in tech founders, Founders in Jeans podcast, Emily Jean interviews, startup founder story, consumer brand founders, growth loops, marketplace-adjacent startup

    38 min
  4. How to Sell Period Panties Without Ads (or Shame) with Arielle Loupos of Flower Girl

    JAN 24

    How to Sell Period Panties Without Ads (or Shame) with Arielle Loupos of Flower Girl

    Arielle Loupos built her career helping DTC brands scale - then took a hard left into product development to solve a problem she was personally fed up with: disposable period products that felt outdated, uncomfortable, and not body-safe. In this episode, the founder of Flower Girl shares what it really took to develop period underwear from scratch in Los Angeles (two years of testing, textiles, and iteration), why “cute” turned into a much bigger mission around non-toxic materials and cycle syncing, and how she’s growing a taboo category through community-first marketing. If you’re building a consumer brand, navigating manufacturing, or trying to turn a wellness mission into a product people actually buy - this conversation is equal parts practical and mindset-shifting. Arielle’s story is a reminder that the founder advantage isn’t just having taste or a good idea - it’s being willing to stay in the weeds long enough to make the product work, then building trust in a category people still whisper about. If you’re in the messy middle of manufacturing, community-building, or learning how to market something “taboo,” this episode will give you both strategy and permission to keep going. ⸻ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ If you loved today’s conversation, please rate, review, and subscribe to Founders in Jeans - the podcast celebrating women claiming their worth in business, leadership, and life. ⸻ 💌 Build the life you deserve - on your own terms. Subscribe to the Founders in Jeans newsletter, the no-BS guide to startup life, consumer brands, and becoming your most confident, successful self, written by Emily Jean. Join 50,000+ women redefining wealth, community, and growth: https://foundersinjeans.beehiiv.com/subscribe ⸻ Follow Emily:https://www.instagram.com/emily.jeans/https://www.linkedin.com/in/emily-jeans/ ⸻ Follow Founders in Jeans:https://www.instagram.com/foundersinjeans/ ⸻ Follow Arielle Loupos of Flower Girl:https://www.instagram.com/flowergirl.co_/https://flowergirl.co/ ⸻ SEO keywords (150-250):Founders in Jeans, women in business podcast, female founder podcast, DTC brand founder, direct to consumer marketing, e-commerce entrepreneur, consumer brand building, product development process, apparel manufacturing Los Angeles, made in LA brand, finding a manufacturer, garment sampling, tech packs patterns, R&D for consumer products, sustainable period products, period underwear brand, best period underwear, non toxic period care, body safe underwear, natural fibers clothing, Tencel underwear set, sustainable underwear, menstrual health startup, femtech founder, women’s wellness brand, cycle syncing, hormonal cycle phases, follicular phase, ovulatory phase, luteal phase, menstruation phase, living in sync with your cycle, PMS relief tips, period self care, free bleeding, period stigma, destigmatizing periods, period poverty solutions, postpartum underwear, bladder leaks incontinence solutions, nursing bra leak prevention, community-led product development, Instagram polls for product feedback, retention marketing DTC, post purchase email flows, organic marketing strategy, influencer gifting strategy, PR gifting for small brands, bootstrapped founder, meta ads restricted account, marketing taboo products, personal brand as founder, founder-led marketing, AI for small business, ChatGPT for entrepreneurs, startup advice for women, Shoe Dog Phil Knight founder lessons, Hot Smart Rich community, building community for brands

    41 min
  5. Burnout Is a Growth Strategy That Eventually Fails with Maija Morton of Balanced by Maija

    JAN 15

    Burnout Is a Growth Strategy That Eventually Fails with Maija Morton of Balanced by Maija

    Maija Morton didn’t plan to become a mindset coach - a torn ACL and meniscus in Byron Bay literally knocked her into a new path. Now, she helps women (especially early-stage entrepreneurs) break self-sabotaging patterns like people pleasing, self-doubt, and burnout so they can build businesses - and lives - that actually feel aligned. In this episode, Maija and Emily get real about what mindset coaching is (and what it is not), why “just be positive” can backfire, and how confidence is built through action plus reflection - not personality type. They also dig into the sneaky ways “I’m not good enough” shows up in your pricing, boundaries, decision-making, and even your sleep. Why “just think positive” can reinforce self-doubt (and shut down your emotions) The real reason “I’m not good enough” shows up so loudly in women entrepreneurs How low confidence quietly drives procrastination, people pleasing, and playing small online The difference between being kind and needing external validation to feel worthy How to start saying no without spiraling into guilt “Wellness girlie” culture - when healthy habits turn into pressure, perfectionism, and obsession Maija’s morning rituals for aligned productivity (and fewer doom-scroll stress spikes) A book + app recommendation for mindset and manifestation with a science-backed feel If you’ve been telling yourself you’ll post when you’re more confident, charge more when you’re more “qualified,” or set boundaries when it feels less uncomfortable - this conversation is your reminder: confidence is built, not found. And the work isn’t about becoming someone new - it’s about coming home to yourself, trusting your gut, and building a business that doesn’t cost you your health. ⸻ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ If you loved today’s conversation, please rate, review, and subscribe to Founders in Jeans - the podcast celebrating women claiming their worth in business, leadership, and life. ⸻ 💌 Build the life you deserve - on your own terms. Subscribe to the Founders in Jeans newsletter, the no-BS guide to startup life, consumer brands, and becoming your most confident, successful self, written by Emily Jean. Join 50,000+ women redefining wealth, community, and growth: https://foundersinjeans.beehiiv.com/subscribe ⸻ Follow Emily: https://www.instagram.com/emily.jeans/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/emily-jeans/ ⸻ Follow Founders in Jeans: https://www.instagram.com/foundersinjeans/ ⸻ Follow Maija Morton of Balanced by Maija: Instagram: @balancedbymaija LinkedIn: Maija Morton ⸻ SEO keywords:mindset coach for women, mindset coaching for entrepreneurs, female founder mindset, confidence building for women, how to stop people pleasing, people pleasing recovery, setting boundaries as a woman, how to say no without guilt, self doubt in business, imposter syndrome for entrepreneurs, women in business confidence, pricing and self worth, money mindset for female entrepreneurs, how to charge more, boundaries and burnout, nervous system regulation for entrepreneurs, fight or flight burnout, sustainable business growth, entrepreneur sleep tips, sleep anxiety from to-do list, decision fatigue, trusting your intuition, inner trust, authentic marketing mindset, showing up online confidence, fear of judgment online, confidence is built not born, introvert confidence, EFT tapping for confidence, emotional regulation tools, affirmations that work, toxic positivity vs mindset work, healing self sabotage patterns, mindset shifts for success, coaching vs therapy, life coach vs mindset coach, business coach vs mindset coach, women’s coaching community, Confidence Collective, journaling for boundaries, future scripting routine, morning ritual for entrepreneurs, phone-free morning routine, Rochelle Fox Magnetic, Mindspo app, wellness culture pressure, healthy habits vs obsession, CEO mindset for women, becoming the next level version of you, aligned life and business, women entrepreneurship podcast, Founders in Jeans podcast

    50 min
  6. Building a Mission-Driven Fashion Brand That Employs Refugees with Shahd Alasaly of Blue Meets Blue

    JAN 8

    Building a Mission-Driven Fashion Brand That Employs Refugees with Shahd Alasaly of Blue Meets Blue

    What does it look like to build a fashion brand where human dignity is the bottom line? Shahd Alasaly, founder of Blue Meets Blue, joins Emily Jean to share her journey from sociologist to fashion founder, creating a sustainable clothing line that employs refugee artisans in the United States. From sourcing Damascus brocade from the last remaining maker in Syria to creating safe spaces for refugee women to heal through craft, Shahd's story challenges everything we think we know about fashion, activism, and what it means to build a business that truly matters. The origin story of Blue Meets Blue and why Shahd started a fashion label in response to Syria's civil war How refugee women's skills often don't "translate" when they come to the U.S.—and how Blue Meets Blue changes that Why fashion can be a tool for healing and collective trauma without calling it therapy The moment Shahd went back to Syria after the Assad regime fell and sourced fabric from the last Damascus brocade maker Why 80% of garment factories in Syria were intentionally destroyed during the war What it's really like to run a mission-driven company (and why Shahd almost quit in 2019) The refugee artisan who could finally afford to send cupcakes for her son's birthday—and why that's what success actually looks like How to build a sustainable fashion brand that's sustainable for people, not just the planet Why activism and humanitarianism don't have to be add-ons—they can be the foundation Shahd's vision for the future of Blue Meets Blue and refugee-made luxury fashion Why this episode matters Blue Meets Blue isn't just another "ethical fashion" brand. It's a refusal to let Syrian culture be erased. It's proof that businesses can heal as they scale. And it's a reminder that mission-driven entrepreneurship is hard—but it's possible. If you've been wondering whether you can build something that matters AND makes money, this conversation is for you. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ If you loved today's conversation, please rate, review, and subscribe to Founders in Jeans - the podcast celebrating women claiming their worth in business, leadership, and life. ⸻ 💌 Build the life you deserve - on your own terms. Subscribe to the Founders in Jeans newsletter, the no-BS guide to startup life, consumer brands, and becoming your most confident, successful self, written by Emily Jean. Join 50,000+ women redefining wealth, community, and growth: https://foundersinjeans.beehiiv.com/subscribe ⸻ Follow Emily Jean: https://www.instagram.com/emily.jeans/ | https://www.linkedin.com/in/emily-jeans/ ⸻ Follow Founders in Jeans: https://www.instagram.com/foundersinjeans/ ⸻ Follow Shahd Alasaly: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shahdxblue/ Website: https://bluemeetsblue.com Follow Blue Meets Blue: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bluemeetsblue/ Website: https://bluemeetsblue.com Read Shahd's Book: A Kid's Book About Humanitarianism: Available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and akidsco.com ⸻ SEO Keywords mission-driven business, refugee empowerment, sustainable fashion, ethical fashion brands, social entrepreneurship, female founders, women entrepreneurs, refugee artisans, slow fashion movement, Damascus brocade, Syrian refugees, fashion and activism, humanitarianism in business, cultural preservation, refugee employment, social impact businesses, purpose-driven entrepreneurship, Blue Meets Blue, Shahd Alasaly, fashion for good, trauma-informed business, collective healing, immigrant entrepreneurs, craft preservation, fair trade fashion, refugee stories, women-owned fashion brands, startup journey, scaling mission-driven companies, Emily Jean podcast, Founders in Jeans

    32 min
  7. What It Takes to Manufacture in NYC (Costs, Craft, and Control) with Eleanor Mooney of Verdant

    12/19/2025

    What It Takes to Manufacture in NYC (Costs, Craft, and Control) with Eleanor Mooney of Verdant

    Eleanor Mooney is the co-founder of Verdant, a New York City-made luxury lingerie line built for real life - not just the fitting room. In this episode, she and Emily Jean get into what it actually takes to create high-quality lingerie from the ground up: sourcing European fabrics, obsessing over stretch and recovery, wear-testing every sample, and building an e-commerce experience that still feels like boutique-level service. If you’ve ever wondered why some bras look amazing for five minutes and then fall apart by lunchtime, Eleanor breaks down the details most brands overlook - plus how Verdant is designing for “stillness and motion” so women can move, work, commute, mom, and live without adjusting straps all day. Verdant is a masterclass in what “premium” is supposed to mean: fewer pieces, better materials, better fit, and an obsession with how a woman actually moves through her day. If you’re building a product brand (or just tired of bras that don’t keep up with your life), this conversation will make you rethink what’s worth investing in - and how service and craftsmanship become the real differentiators. ⸻ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ If you loved today’s conversation, please rate, review, and subscribe to Founders in Jeans - the podcast celebrating women claiming their worth in business, leadership, and life. ⸻ 💌 Build the life you deserve - on your own terms. Subscribe to the Founders in Jeans newsletter, the no-BS guide to startup life, consumer brands, and becoming your most confident, successful self, written by Emily Jean. Join 50,000+ women redefining wealth, community, and growth: https://foundersinjeans.beehiiv.com/subscribe ⸻ Follow Emily:https://www.instagram.com/emily.jeans/https://www.linkedin.com/in/emily-jeans/ ⸻ Follow Founders in Jeans:https://www.instagram.com/foundersinjeans/ ⸻ Follow Eleanor Mooney of Verdant:https://verdant-nyc.com/https://www.instagram.com/verdant_newyork/ ⸻ SEO keywords:female founders, women entrepreneurs, luxury lingerie brand, lingerie startup, NYC fashion brand, made in New York clothing, garment district manufacturing, slow fashion, sustainable lingerie, ethical lingerie brand, women-owned brands, Filipina founders, Asian-American founders, direct-to-consumer lingerie, lingerie fit tips, bra fitting, virtual bra fitting, online lingerie fitting, bras as outerwear, lingerie styling tips, denim and lingerie, longline bra, balcony bra, demi bra, seamless underwear, visible panty line solution, stretch and recovery fabric, French lace, European fabrics, luxury fabric sourcing, lingerie grading, pattern grading, bra size education, band and cup sizing, fit testing product, wear testing clothing, product sampling process, fashion product development, luxury retail career, customer service in retail, e-commerce customer experience, flexible returns policy, founder-led brand, boutique-level service online, pop-up retail strategy, holiday capsule collection, lingerie robe, loungewear brand expansion, swimwear brand launch, timeless wardrobe staples, elevated basics, building a luxury brand, consumer brand strategy, fashion entrepreneurship, startup lessons, founder story, building product quality, brand identity, fashion brand values, New York City designers, women’s confidence, confidence through fit, investing in lingerie, wardrobe essentials, networking soft skills, Vanessa Van Edwards Cues, social cues in business, approachable leadership, service-driven brands, luxury brand relevance, heritage fashion brands

    45 min
  8. How Executives at Louis Vuitton and Visa Really Use LinkedIn with Ayesha Ameer of Mentoria Digitals

    12/12/2025

    How Executives at Louis Vuitton and Visa Really Use LinkedIn with Ayesha Ameer of Mentoria Digitals

    Personal branding isn’t about perfect pictures or chasing likes - it’s about whether your audience actually learns something from you. In this episode, Emily Jean sits down with Ayesha Ameer, founder of Mentoria Digitals, to unpack what real LinkedIn influence looks like, why executives from Louis Vuitton to Visa are investing in personal brands, and how founders can build visibility without burning out or losing authenticity. From starting her career in a marketing apprenticeship at 16 to helping leaders generate 20M+ impressions, Ayesha shares what she’s learned about positioning, consistency, and why “looking polished” is often the fastest way to dilute your brand long term. Why personal branding is less about you - and more about your audience The biggest LinkedIn misconception holding founders back How to move from 5 likes to real opportunities on LinkedIn The difference between vanity metrics and long-term brand equity What executives from Louis Vuitton, Visa, and Emirates do differently online How to build a LinkedIn presence without a ghostwriter or agency The role AI should (and should not) play in your content strategy The cringiest LinkedIn trends that quietly damage your brand How Ayesha scaled her agency without burning out Why imperfect, human content consistently outperforms “polished” posts Whether you’re a founder just opening LinkedIn for the first time or a leader tired of posting content that goes nowhere, this episode is a reminder that real influence is built through clarity, consistency, and genuine value - not aesthetics alone. ⸻ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ If you loved today’s conversation, please rate, review, and subscribe to Founders in Jeans - the podcast celebrating women claiming their worth in business, leadership, and life. ⸻ 💌 Build the life you deserve - on your own terms. Subscribe to the Founders in Jeans newsletter, the no-BS guide to startup life, consumer brands, and becoming your most confident, successful self, written by Emily Jean. Join 50,000+ women redefining wealth, community, and growth: https://foundersinjeans.beehiiv.com/subscribe ⸻ Follow Emily: https://www.instagram.com/emily.jeans/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/emily-jeans/ ⸻ Follow Founders in Jeans: https://www.instagram.com/foundersinjeans/ ⸻ Follow Ayesha Ameer of Mentoria Digitals: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ayesha-ameer/ https://www.instagram.com/mentoria_digitals/ https://www.mentoriadigitals.com/ ⸻ SEO keywords and phrases: personal branding for founders, LinkedIn personal branding, LinkedIn for entrepreneurs, female founders podcast, startup branding strategy, building a personal brand on LinkedIn, LinkedIn content strategy, thought leadership LinkedIn, founders in jeans podcast, women in business podcast, executive personal branding, branding for startups, how to grow on LinkedIn, LinkedIn marketing tips, authenticity in branding, social media for founders, entrepreneurship podcast for women, branding mistakes founders make, LinkedIn growth strategy, marketing agency founder story, AI tools for content creators, avoiding burnout as a founder, visibility for entrepreneurs, career growth LinkedIn, branding vs vanity metrics, building audience trust, founder storytelling, startup marketing insights, business podcast for recent grads, leadership personal brand, content creation for executives, LinkedIn best practices, building influence online, marketing apprenticeship to founder, branding for women entrepreneurs

    39 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

Founders in Jeans is your backstage pass to the real stories behind building a business. Hosted by Emily Jean, this podcast brings you casual, candid conversations with entrepreneurs, visionaries, and startup leaders who are reshaping the future of work and life. Forget the pitch-deck polish—this is where founders kick off their heels (or sneakers) and get real about the messy middle, unexpected pivots, and mindset shifts that actually make things work. Whether you're growing your own venture or just love hearing how great ideas get off the ground, Founders in Jeans delivers all that and more.

Information

  • Creator
    Emily Jean
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    28
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Emily Jean
  • Show Website
    Founders in Jeans