Founders in Jeans

Emily Jean
  • 5.0 (3)
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Updated Weekly

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. Whose Life Are You Actually Building with Ksenia Votinova-Arnaud

    5d ago

    Whose Life Are You Actually Building with Ksenia Votinova-Arnaud

    What if the safest path to entrepreneurship isn't quitting your job, it's staying in it a little longer? Ksenia Votinova-Arnaud is the co-founder of LeVPN, a profitable SaaS business she's been building for 15 years without a single outside investment. She's also the founder of the Weatherproof Business Launchpad, where she coaches women in tech to leave corporate life on their own terms, with a validated idea, real customers, and a business that's profitable by design. In this episode, Ksenia gets real about what it actually took to build something that lasts, the moment in Bali when she realized she was building someone else's life, the Eastern European mindset around resilience that shaped how she thinks about risk, and why she believes "build it and they will come" is the most dangerous lie in entrepreneurship.This one's for you if you've been thinking about leaving corporate, but want to do it right. WHAT WE COVER: - Why Ksenia built LeVPN to be profitable from day one,and never needed outside funding - The Bali pivoting moment that changed everything- Eastern European vs Western mindsets on risk, and which one builds better businesses- The #1 mistake women in tech make when leaving corporate. - How to validate your idea in 5 hours a week without quitting your job - Why you're already a founder, even if nobody knows it yet - What Google and Adobe executives still struggle with - The "weatherproof business" formula: what it means and why it matters __________ Connect with Ksenia: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kseniavotinova/ Website: https://kseniavotinova.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kseniavotinova/ Follow Emily Jean: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emily.jeans/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emily-jeans/ Follow Founders In Jeans: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/foundersinjeans/ Website: livegooddigital.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FoundersinJeans Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3kiqSke5mnlFIlC9t4xLU0 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/founders-in-jeans/id1802430594 Subscribe to our Newsletter: https://foundersinjeans.substack.com/subscribe __________ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Loved this episode? Rate and review Founders in Jeans. It helps more women find us. __________ women in tech entrepreneurship, how to leave corporate job, SaaS founder story, build a profitable business, weatherproof business, LeVPN founder, female founder podcast, startup without funding, business resilience, women entrepreneur podcast, corporate to founder, how to validate a business idea, business coaching for women, product market fit explained

    25 min
  2. She Yaps for a Living and Built a Business Doing It With Yvette Boateng

    6d ago

    She Yaps for a Living and Built a Business Doing It With Yvette Boateng

    I sat down with Yvette Boateng, creative strategist, UGC creator, and founder of The Good Yap, and she said something that stopped me mid sentence: You don't really know what your story was until you talk about it. Yvette has spent nearly a decade in marketing. She started out chasing the influencer dream, pivoted into UGC, built a career around brand storytelling, and eventually realized the skill everyone kept praising her, for storytelling was the exact thing she should be building a business around. So she did.  The Good Yap is her coaching and consulting service helping founders, creators, and entrepreneurs excavate their story, shape their personal brand, and turn who they are into opportunities. This episode is for every founder who has a million ideas but can't figure out how to say them out loud. For every entrepreneur who thinks vulnerability is a liability, not an asset. For everyone who's been told to just post more but knows deep down that's not the whole answer.The real reason your content isn't connecting? It has nothing to do with the algorithm. TIMESTAMPS 00:00 — Introduction: Yvette Boateng, creative strategist & founder of The Good Yap 02:09 — What it really means to spin stories and yap for a living 06:09 — How she accidentally fell into UGC and what she learned from it 08:21 — Why building relationships (not a following) is what actually grows your brand 12:08 — Why founders struggle to tell their own story  and the real cost of that silence 15:00 — The candle brand founder who went viral by admitting she was struggling 17:00 — Does every founder need to be on camera? 19:30 — Why LinkedIn might be your most underrated platform. 23:48 — The hardest part of turning creativity into a business. 26:30 — How clarity unlocks confidence and why you can't fake your way there 27:20 — Rapid fire: her most memorable campaign (hint: it involved Colgate and a very personal story) 30:00 — Her go to fix for a boring ad 32:00 — The resource she swears by: YouTube over books, every time WHAT YOU'LL TAKE AWAY — Why your struggle story isn't a weakness, it's your most powerful piece of content. — How to know which platform is actually right for you, not just the one everyone says you should be on. — The silent video test: if your ad doesn't make sense on mute, something is broken. — Why founders who stay silent about their journey end up irrelevant, even with a great product. — Clarity before confidence.Here's how to find it. — Why ghost writing isn't cheating, it's strategy. __________  Connect with Yvette Boateng: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yvette-boateng/ Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ybsocials?lang=en Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/itsyvetteab/ __________  Follow Emily Jean: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emily.jeans/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emily-jeans/ Follow Founders in Jeans: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/foundersinjeans Website: https://www.livegooddigital.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FoundersinJeans Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3kiqSke5mnlFIlC9t4xLU0 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/founders-in-jeans/id1802430594 Subscribe to our Newsletter: https://foundersinjeans.substack.com/subscribe __________  ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Loved this episode? Rate and review Founders in Jeans. It helps more women find us. __________  personal branding for founders, how to tell your story as an entrepreneur, UGC creator tips, brand storytelling strategy, LinkedIn personal branding, creative strategy for small businesses, female founder podcast, women entrepreneur podcast, Yvette Boateng The Good Yap, founder personal brand, content strategy for founders, how to grow on LinkedIn, vulnerability in business, entrepreneurship podcast women, startup podcast, UGC marketing tips, ghost writing for entrepreneurs, founder burnout, building a personal brand from scratch, women in business podcast.

    36 min
  3. Do You Actually Need a Niche? Eraj Lodhi on Cheeky Marketing & Building Without a Blueprint

    May 23

    Do You Actually Need a Niche? Eraj Lodhi on Cheeky Marketing & Building Without a Blueprint

    I sat down with Eraj Lodhi, founder of Plot Out Loud, a cheeky marketing agency and podcast based in the UK, and she said something that stopped me mid-conversation. "Audacity is my business plan." Eraj left the traditional route, the safe job, the visa sponsorship, the box, and built something entirely her own. She's grown a marketing agency, launched a podcast in her first year, traveled five hours one way for a single shoot, and cold-emailed her way into rooms most people wait years to be invited into. All on the belief that human stories are the most powerful marketing tool we have and that everybody is winging it, including the people at the top. This episode is for everyone who has been told to pick a niche, stay professional, fit the mold, and play it safe. Eraj's answer to all of that is one word: audacity. TIMESTAMPS 00:00 — Introduction: Eraj Lodhi, Founder of Plot Out Loud01:47 — What "cheeky marketing" actually means03:34 — From student visa to founder: leaving the safe route05:25 — Building a team without losing the vision06:36 — The blandest marketing campaigns she's ever seen07:59 — Celebrity brand deals gone wrong — and what brands missed09:00 — Why she started a podcast and calls it her most selfish decision11:03 — She traveled 5 hours one way. for one shoot.12:14 — Should everyone start a podcast? Her answer is yes.14:19 — Audacity as a business plan: how self-belief becomes strategy15:33 — Being left on read and why it doesn't count as rejection16:05 — How founders stop playing it safe and start owning their story18:19 — The dream brand she'd give a cheeky makeover (hint: it's LinkedIn)19:56 — Rapid fire: worst slogans, jealousy-inducing campaigns & Meryl Streep22:12 — The most overrated piece of business advice she's ever heard WHAT YOU'LL TAKE AWAY Why "you need a niche" is the most overrated advice in marketing right now.What cheeky marketing actually means and why your brand needs more human, less polish.How cold emails and audacity built an agency from scratch with no safety net.Why everybody at the top is winging it and what that means for you.The one thing that makes content connect: stop selling, start being human.Why your first imperfect step beats the perfect plan you're still sitting on. Connect with Eraj Lodhi:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eraj-lodhi/Podcast: Plotcast by Plot Out Loud on Spotify & YouTubeInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/plotoutloud/ Follow Emily Jean:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emily.jeans/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emily-jeans/ Follow Founders in Jeans:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/foundersinjeansWebsite: https://www.livegooddigital.comYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FoundersinJeansSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3kiqSke5mnlFIlC9t4xLU0Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/founders-in-jeans/id1802430594Newsletter: https://foundersinjeans.substack.com/subscribe _________ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Loved this episode? Rate and review Founders in Jeans. It helps more women find us. _________ cheeky marketing agency, human storytelling in marketing, how to start a podcast, founder podcast UK, marketing without a niche, personal brand audacity, Plot Out Loud, Eraj Lodhi, Plotcast, marketing agency founder, cold email strategy, freelance team building, podcast for entrepreneurs, female founder podcast, Founders in Jeans, Emily Jean, women in business, startup podcast, entrepreneur mindset, how to grow a marketing agency, authentic marketing strategy, slow intentional business, founder story podcast, marketing podcast women, cheeky marketing UK, brand storytelling

    24 min
  4. How an Introvert Built 10K Followers on LinkedIn with Palak Agarwal

    May 15

    How an Introvert Built 10K Followers on LinkedIn with Palak Agarwal

    I had a blast with Palak Agarwal, London-based marketer and personal brand builder, and she said something that made me rethink everything I thought I knew about showing up online. Palak moved from Nepal to London with limited resources, navigated rejection after rejection, and built a LinkedIn community of 10,000+ followers, not by going viral, not by gaming the algorithm, but by simply being real. She's a self-described introvert who figured out that writing was her superpower, and she used it to build belonging in a city where she knew nobody. This episode is for everyone who thinks they have nothing worth saying, who scrolls LinkedIn wondering why their content isn't landing, or who's been waiting to feel confident enough to start. The reason it's not working probably isn't your content. It starts way before that. TIMESTAMPS 00:00 — Introduction: Palak Agarwal, marketer & LinkedIn personal brand builder 02:13 — Moving abroad with limited resources: the scariest leap she ever took 05:35 — The hardest cultural adjustment nobody warns you about 08:43 — How to write content that actually resonates on LinkedIn 10:28 — Balancing vulnerability and professionalism online 13:08 — What it really means to be an introvert on LinkedIn 15:21 — Mindset vs. skill: what actually carries you through hard times 17:47 — If not marketing, she'd be this 19:46 — How she prevents burnout (hint: it involves cookies) 21:32 — The resources she swears by — newsletters over courses, every time WHAT YOU'LL TAKE AWAY — Why rejection is redirection, and how to mentally prepare for it before you move or pivot. — The one question to ask before building your personal brand: what's your why? — Why authenticity isn't a buzzword, it's the only strategy that actually works. — How introverts can build powerful personal brands without showing their face first. — Mindset is the foundation. Skills fill the gaps. — Why your first imperfect post will always beat the perfect one you never publish. __________ Connect with Palak Agarwal: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/agarwalpalak99/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/palak.ag/ __________ Follow Emily Jean: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emily.jeans/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emily-jeans/ Follow Founders in Jeans: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/foundersinjeans Website: https://www.livegooddigital.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FoundersinJeans Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3kiqSke5mnlFIlC9t4xLU0 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/founders-in-jeans/id1802430594 Subscribe to our Newsletter: https://foundersinjeans.substack.com/subscribe __________ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Loved this episode? Rate and review Founders in Jeans. It helps more women find us. __________ LinkedIn personal branding, how to grow on LinkedIn, personal branding for introverts, moving abroad career tips, building a personal brand from scratch, LinkedIn content strategy, LinkedIn for marketers, female founder podcast, entrepreneur podcast women, Palak Agarwal, rejection as redirection, mindset for entrepreneurs, content creation authenticity, women in business, startup podcast, international career growth, burnout prevention entrepreneurs

    23 min
  5. AI Won't Save Your Sales Strategy with Mafalda Johannsen

    May 12

    AI Won't Save Your Sales Strategy with Mafalda Johannsen

    I sat down with Mafalda Johannsen, sales expert, author, and she said something that stopped me mid-conversation. Mafalda has spent 15 years in sales, starting at 22 on 100% commission selling timeshares in Florida with no safety net and no plan. Since then she's built a career in B2B prospecting, written a book on sales and AI, recorded masterclasses for the DACH region's top sales platform, and managed PR for a jazz band on the side — because why not. This episode is for every founder who thinks adding AI to their outreach will fix things. It won't. And Mafalda will tell you exactly why — and what to do instead. TIMESTAMPS 00:00 — Introduction: Mafalda Johannsen 02:20 — How she ended up in sales at 22 with no plan and 100% commission 04:27 — Why the best salespeople never feel like they've mastered it 06:33 — What prospecting actually means (and how it differs from cold outreach) 08:39 — The biggest mistake founders make when adding AI to their sales process 09:17 — AI amplifies your problems before it fixes them11:18 — How to use AI the right way in prospecting 12:44 — The tools Mafalda swears by: Amplemarket and Power Dial 15:30 — Where AI is taking sales in the next few years 17:03 — Why every founder should start a podcast 19:26 — What podcasting teaches you about relationships and business 20:41 — The best sales education format (it depends on you) 22:59 — How she manages PR for a jazz band alongside her sales career 26:23 — Rapid fire: tools, struggles, and the wildest career pivot answer we've ever heard WHAT YOU'LL TAKE AWAY — Why AI won't save a broken sales process, it'll just make the mistakes louder. — The difference between prospecting and cold outreach, and why it matters. — Two specific AI tools founders can use in their outreach today. — Why the best salespeople never stop feeling like beginners. — How podcasting is one of the most underrated networking tools for founders. — The book recommendation nobody sees coming (hint: it's not a business book). _____________ Connect with Mafalda Johannsen: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mafalda-johannsen/ Follow Emily Jean: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emily.jeans/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emily-jeans/ Follow Founders in Jeans: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/foundersinjeans Website: https://www.livegooddigital.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FoundersinJeans Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3kiqSke5mnlFIlC9t4xLU0 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/founders-in-jeans/id1802430594 Subscribe to our Newsletter: https://foundersinjeans.substack.com/subscribe _____________ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Loved this episode? Rate and review Founders in Jeans. It helps more women find us. _____________ sales strategy for founders, AI in sales, B2B prospecting tips, cold outreach mistakes, LinkedIn for sales, how to prospect clients, sales tools for entrepreneurs, Mafalda Johannsen, N.Rich, female founder podcast, entrepreneur podcast women, Founders in Jeans, prospecting with AI, sales education, startup podcast, women in business, slow intentional business, founder marketing strategy, sales book recommendation, podcast for entrepreneurs

    31 min
  6. How Your LinkedIn Profile Is Costing You Clients with Viktoria Jancurova

    May 8

    How Your LinkedIn Profile Is Costing You Clients with Viktoria Jancurova

    I sat down with Viktoria Jancurova, LinkedIn personal brand strategist and founder of VJ Personal Branding, and she said something that made me stop and look at my own profile differently. Viktoria has published over 1,000 posts, generated millions of views across client profiles, built six-figure pipelines, spoken at South Summit in Madrid, and landed paid brand collaborations, all from one platform she started using by accident during university when the jobs weren't showing up but the algorithm was. This episode is for everyone posting inconsistently, overthinking every caption, or convincing themselves they have nothing worth saying. You do. And the reason it's not working probably has nothing to do with your content. It starts way before that. TIMESTAMPS 00:00 — Introduction: Viktoria Jancurova of VJ Personal Branding  00:31 — Done-for-you vs. done-with-you LinkedIn branding  02:06 — The biggest pattern behind content that actually works  02:49 — Stop talking about yourself: why content needs to feel like a conversation  04:19 — The most common mistake CEOs and founders make on LinkedIn  05:22 — The "go big or go home" trap keeping founders invisible  06:08 — What's basic to you is mind-blowing to someone else  07:52 — 1,000+ posts, a million views — and still no such thing as a perfect post  09:56 — Why your LinkedIn profile is the thing you're getting wrong before you even post  10:31 — Profile optimization: featured section, CTAs, and making your ICP self-identify  10:51 — Viktoria's burnout-proof quarterly content system  13:15 — How to batch a full month of content in one day  14:18 — Input mode vs. output mode: the mindset shift that makes content sustainable  15:26 — What LinkedIn gave Viktoria beyond clients: stages, collabs, and self-knowledge  19:01 — Why the algorithm isn't the point  20:42 — When to diversify platforms and when not to  23:23 — Rapid fire: the two most underrated LinkedIn features  24:50 — The LinkedIn cliché that needs to die: AI comments and AI outreach  26:04 — Viktoria's go-to post format when she has no time  27:09 — Posting for the first time: put your phone on flight mode  28:31 — Free resources + where to find Viktoria WHAT YOU'LL TAKE AWAY Why your profile is losing you clients before you post a single thing. The one question to ask before any post: "Why should they care?" A burnout-proof content system using quarterly planning and batching. Why "go big or go home" is keeping founders silent. What LinkedIn opens beyond clients — stages, collabs, brand deals. Why your first imperfect post beats the perfect one you never publish. __________ Connect with Viktoria Jancurova: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vjancurova/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/linkedin_with_vikyj/ Free Profile Toolkit: DM "profile toolkit" on LinkedIn or Instagram 8 Content Templates: in Viktoria's LinkedIn Featured section ___________ Follow Emily Jean: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emily.jeans/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emily-jeans/ _________ Follow Founders in Jeans: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/foundersinjeans Website: https://www.livegooddigital.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FoundersinJeans Subscribe to the Newsletter: https://foundersinjeans.substack.com/subscribe __________ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Loved this episode? Rate and review Founders in Jeans. It helps more women find us. __________ Keywords: LinkedIn personal branding, LinkedIn profile optimization, how to grow on LinkedIn, LinkedIn tips for CEOs, personal branding for entrepreneurs, attract high-paying clients LinkedIn, LinkedIn content strategy, content creation without burnout, female founder podcast, entrepreneur podcast women, Viktoria Jancurova, VJ Personal Branding, LinkedIn lead generation, founder marketing strategy, slow intentional business, girl boss podcast 2026, Founders in Jeans, Emily Jean, women in business, startup podcast, LinkedIn algorithm 2026, LinkedIn coaching

    30 min
  7. How 44 Countries and a Journal Built the Perfect Business with Lauren Gibson

    May 6

    How 44 Countries and a Journal Built the Perfect Business with Lauren Gibson

    I sat down with Lauren Gibson, founder of Letter Launched and newsletter strategist to coaches, founders, and agency owners, and this one genuinely stopped me in my tracks! Lauren has lived in 44 countries, worked for the co-founder of Ethereum, taught English in Tunisia, got her MBA at Georgetown, and battled depression through 15 years of journaling, and somehow, every single one of those seemingly disconnected experiences led her to build one of the most intentional businesses on LinkedIn today. This is not a highlight reel. This is the real, winding, beautiful, chaotic story of what it actually looks like to find your purpose by living it. We go deep on the future of work, the AI tools actually worth your time, why most MBAs aren't worth the investment anymore, and the one book that started Lauren's 120-day LinkedIn writing streak. We also have a genuine "let's go girls" moment live on air when Lauren drops a stat about women and AI that I did not see coming. TIMESTAMPS 00:00 — Introduction: Lauren Gibson of Letter Launched00:39 — Depression, 44 countries, and 15 years of journaling01:48 — What Lauren does: email marketing, newsletters, and how to find your niche03:03 — Connecting the dots: Web3, fintech, nonprofit, and Tunisia04:00 — The Steve Jobs quote that reframes every "wasted" experience07:22 — What the Arab Spring taught Lauren about communication and power08:20 — What it was really like working for the co-founder of Ethereum09:52 — How to get out of analysis paralysis: Lauren's reframe on failure11:42 — Six months of just learning — and why it wasn't wasted time13:46 — Is an MBA still worth it in 2025? Lauren's honest take14:09 — Why AI won't end burnout in big corporate16:07 — Naval Ravikant's prediction about self-employment19:07 — The stat: 52% of ChatGPT users are now women 20:06 — Claude vs ChatGPT: a founder's real breakdown of what each is good for21:03 — The AI copyright issue nobody talks about (your logo might not be yours)23:22 — The Claude screenshot hack that replaces thousand-dollar automations24:30 — How to stop being overwhelmed by AI25:00 — Gemini, Perplexity Comet, and why LLMs are not apps27:44 — The make.com podcast automation (transcript → LinkedIn posts, step by step)31:04 — Lauren's Telegram idea database: voice notes, categories, and creative flow35:26 — The Artist's Way: the one book that changed everything38:10 — Where to find Lauren and join her community WHAT YOU'LL TAKE AWAY Why your non-linear path is your biggest business asset. The honest truth on MBAs in the age of AI. How to use Claude, ChatGPT, Gemini, and Perplexity strategically. The AI copyright law every founder needs to know. A step-by-step make.com automation for podcast content repurposing. Why Naval Ravikant believes most of us will be self-employed within 20 years. The journaling practice that built Lauren's entire business identity. The book Tim Ferriss, Codie Sanchez, and Noah Kagan all recommend, and why it works. __________ Connect with Lauren Gibson:LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/linkwithlaurenNewsletter: newsletter.joinconnections.coInstagram: @lightning.lauren Follow Emily Jean:Instagram: @emily.jeans LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/emily-jeans Follow Founders in Jeans:Instagram: @foundersinjeans Subscribe to the newsletter:https://foundersinjeans.beehiiv.com/subscribe __________ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Loved this episode? Rate and review Founders in Jeans. It helps more women find us. __________ Keywords: female founder podcast, entrepreneur podcast women, Lauren Gibson, Letter Launched, email marketing founders, future of work, AI tools entrepreneurs, Claude ChatGPT comparison,, LinkedIn strategy, is MBA worth it, analysis paralysis, self-employment, women in AI, newsletter strategy, Founders in Jeans, Emily Jean, slow intentional business, burnout recovery, non-linear career, Web3 founder, Georgetown MBA, automation content creators, girl boss podcast 2026

    39 min
  8. The People Pleasing Detox Every High Achiever Needs with Adele Kamel Whitley of Buy Yourself

    Apr 29

    The People Pleasing Detox Every High Achiever Needs with Adele Kamel Whitley of Buy Yourself

    What happens when the life that looks good on paper feels completely wrong in your body? In this episode of Founders in Jeans, Emily Jean sits down with Adele Kamel Whitley, founder of Buy Yourself, to talk about people pleasing, self-trust, and building a life that actually feels like yours. Adele shares how she moved from checking boxes, chasing approval, and cycling in and out of corporate life to creating a movement around choosing yourself. This is a conversation for anyone who has ever wondered whether success is still success if it costs you your joy. Why “buying yourself” starts with questioning every shouldHow childhood conditioning turns into adult people pleasingWhy success without joy can become failure in disguiseThe hidden resentment that comes from abandoning yourselfHow to start a movement before you have the perfect strategyWhy being messy online can help you find your messageThe role LinkedIn played in building Adele’s business and communityWhy asking for help is leadership, not weaknessHow hustle culture creates burnout when it is not rooted in alignmentWhy one brave choice can create a ripple effect in your lifeThis episode is a reminder that choosing yourself does not always require burning everything down. Sometimes it starts with noticing one should, asking one better question, or making one decision that brings you back to yourself. ⸻ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 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 Adele Kamel Whitley and By Yourself:https://adelekamelwhitley.com/LinkedIn: Adele Kamel Whitley ⸻ Keywords: female founder podcast, entrepreneur podcast, Founders in Jeans, Emily Jean, Adele Kamel Whitley, Buy Yourself, people pleasing, people pleasing detox, choose yourself, self-trust, authentic living, life design, entrepreneurship, women in business, female entrepreneurs, high achievers, career change, corporate burnout, hustle culture, alignment, personal growth, coaching business, LinkedIn growth, founder mindset, startup life, business coaching, women claiming their worth, confidence, success without joy, burnout recovery, asking for help, vulnerability in leadership, building a movement, purpose-driven business, recent graduates, career inspiration, business podcast, women leaders, self-worth, designing your life, 10X is Easier Than 2X, The Big Leap, choosing joy, meaningful work, entrepreneurship for women

    30 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
    38
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Emily Jean
  • Show Website
    Founders in Jeans