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. 5d ago

    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

  2. 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

  3. 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

  4. 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

  5. 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

  6. 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

  7. May 26

    How Taskrabbit Sold to IKEA: Leah Solivan on Partnership Marketing and Scaling a Business

    In honor of Mother's Day, get $200 off a new Dear FoundHer... Forum membership through the month of May. Join the community built for women business owners over 40 who are building real businesses on their own terms. JOIN US INSIDE HERE, no code necessary to save. A group of executives walked into a room, and Leah knew exactly who mattered. Dear FoundHer host Lindsay Pinchuk sits down with Leah Solivan to talk partnership marketing, founder visibility, and one of the clearest business growth stories from Taskrabbit’s path to acquisition. Leah built Taskrabbit from a Boston apartment with no MBA, no startup network, and no idea how venture funding worked. What she had was an idea she refused to stop talking about and the discipline to do the unsexy groundwork for years before the right opportunity arrived. That is the entire lesson of this episode, and it applies to every woman building something right now. This conversation is for women founders who are tired of being told to run ads, chase virality, or wait for the perfect moment. Leah’s story proves that partnership marketing is not a tactic. It is a long game built on real relationships, real data, and showing up consistently in the right markets before you ever get the right meeting. Taskrabbit’s sale to IKEA started with one lucky opening, but the deal did not happen because of luck alone. It happened because Leah spent years trying to get on IKEA’s radar, knew her numbers cold, and was ready when one person in a room of eight finally mattered. Taskrabbit was already operating in London, one of IKEA’s largest markets, and a quarter of its jobs were IKEA furniture assembly. Founder visibility is not about being everywhere. It is about being undeniable when it counts. If you are a woman founder wondering whether the quiet, unglamorous work is moving anything forward, this episode will answer that. Building relationships in business the right way is slow. It compounds in a way quick wins often do not. Episode Breakdown: 00:00 From IBM Engineer to Taskrabbit Founder: Leah Solivan's Origin Story 03:33 Why Talking About Your Idea Is the First Step in Partnership Marketing 08:57 Rebranding From Run My Errand to Taskrabbit 11:09 How Leah Validated the Taskrabbit Concept Before Raising Money 13:23 Raising a Startup's First Round of Funding With No Business Background 19:40 Scaling a Business City by City and the Decision to Go International 21:26 Building Trust in a Gig Economy Marketplace 24:56 The IKEA Partnership That Led to an Acquisition 28:49 Life After the Exit: Investing, Podcasting, and What Comes Next 31:03 Three Actionable Tips for First-Time Founders Connect with Leah Solivan: Follow Leah on Instagram Connect with Leah on LinkedIn Follow Leah on X Subscribe to The FoundHer Files Substack: http://foundherfiles.substack.com Free Forum Open House + Networking Session Come see what's inside the Dear FoundHer Forum SAVE YOUR SEAT https://lindsaypinchuk.myflodesk.com/q2forumopenhouse   Join THE networking community for women business owners over forty, The Dear FoundHer... Forum   Follow Dear FoundHer... on Instagram http://www.instagram.com/dearfoundher Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    35 min

  8. May 19

    Why Female Founders in Their 40s Build the Businesses That Last | Jeni Britton

    In honor of Mother's Day, get $200 off a new Dear FoundHer... Forum membership through the month of May. Join the community built for women business owners over 40 who are building real businesses on their own terms. JOIN US INSIDE HERE, no code necessary to save. Thirty years ago, Jeni Britton started an ice cream company with no money, no backing, and no roadmap. Becoming a founder later in life turned out to be the best decision she never planned. In this episode of Dear FoundHer, Lindsay talks with Jeni Britton, founder of Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams and Floura, about what it takes to build something that lasts. Jeni started her first company at 22, but she will be the first to tell you that the best entrepreneurs are in their 40s. The data backs her up. The fastest-growing segment of entrepreneurs in the United States right now is women over 45, and those businesses tend to be more durable than the ones built by founders half their age. Real founder stories rarely come with a straight line. Jeni’s includes early risk, hard lessons, public crisis, reinvention, and building again with more clarity. Jeni talks about closing her first business, Scream, and what learning from failure taught her about the difference between making what excites you and building something customers return to again and again. She also walks through the 2015 Listeria recall that nearly took Jeni's down, and why she looks back on it as one of the most important moments in her company's history. Scaling challenges, crisis leadership, and knowing when to simplify your mission so your team has something clear to hold onto are all part of the conversation. She gets into the founding of Floura too, her fiber nutrition company built from produce trimmings, and what becoming a founder later in life looks like when you already know the hard lessons. The second time around, she says, you know who to build with. Her coach and her advisor from the Jeni's years are now her co-founders at Floura. That kind of peer support for entrepreneurs is part of how the work actually gets done. For female founders at any stage, if you have been telling yourself you are behind, this episode makes a pretty strong case that you are not. Episode Breakdown: 00:00 Why Jeni Britton Is a Must-Hear Guest for Women Founders 03:42 How Jeni Britton Started Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams with No Money and No Backing 10:46 The Accidental Product That Put Jeni's on the Map 12:37 Why Word of Mouth Still Beats Social Media for Growing a Business 22:17 The 2015 Listeria Recall and What It Taught Her About Values Under Pressure 29:44 Becoming a Founder Later in Life: Why Jeni Stepped Back and Started Over 33:28 Introducing Floura: A Second Company Built from Produce Waste and Gut Health Research 44:01 How to Price, Scale, and Build a Product the Right Way 47:00 Why the People You Build With Are Your Most Important Business Decision 51:46 Why the Best Entrepreneurs Are in Their 40s Connect with Jeni Britton: Follow Jeni on Instagram Follow Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams on Instagram Follow Floura on Instagram  Subscribe to The FoundHer Files  Follow Dear FoundHer on Instagram  Join THE networking community for women business owners over forty, The Dear FoundHer... Forum Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    55 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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