Ladies Who Launch

Colette Laxton co-founded The INKEY List in 2018 to make skincare less confusing and has since sold over 90 million products worldwide. In this episode, she breaks down exactly how she split her first £300K starting budget between stock, marketing and running costs, including why most of her marketing spend went on one person: Caroline Hirons! We all know the success of The INKEY List but the growth came at a cost. Colette opens up about nearly going bankrupt, the burnout that put her in bed for two weeks straight, and the unpredictability of virality including how a product she never planned to sell became the number one body product on TikTok Shop. It's an honest look at what building a brand from nothing actually takes, budget breakdown included. In this episode, we cover: Leaving a decade-long career at Boots to join a scrappy startup Exactly how she split her first £300K investment Why most of her marketing budget went on: Caroline Hirons The Cult Beauty call on launch day that changed everything Launching The INKEY List into Sephora across North America within six months Nearly going bankrupt, and what it actually takes to get "retail ready" The burnout that put her in bed for two weeks straight How a product she never planned to sell became #1 on TikTok Shop If you’re looking to launch in the skincare space, this one’s for you! We Are Ladies Who Launch! 00:00 Cult Beauty Calls Day One 00:55 Introducing Colette Laxton 03:10 Learning the Corporate Ropes at Boots 10:21 Realising The Skincare Gap 18:41 Leveraging PR for Launch 21:44 Early Funding and Brand Blow Up 27:05 Launching in Sephora US 33:10 Figuring Out Stock and Logistics 37:10 Virality and TikTok Shop 39:09 Our 1 Million Unit Order 40:14 Why Micro Influencers Win 46:23 Leadership at 100 Staff 50:47 Founder Burnout Reality 55:32 Rocket Round 01:06:51 Staying in the Game 🔔 New episodes every Wednesday — subscribe so you never miss a launch. FOLLOW COLETTE Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/colette.theinkeylist/ The Inkey List: https://www.instagram.com/theinkeylist/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@colette.laxton FOLLOW US Instagram: www.instagram.com/weareladieswholaunch/ TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@weareladieswholaunch YouTube: www.youtube.com/@Weareladieswholaunch Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Everybody needs a life coach as their bestie, and in this week's episode of Ladies Who Launch, we’re welcoming back Dior Bediako to unpack the raw reality of running a business. We discuss the shocks of entrepreneurship, how to stop taking fails so personally, why being busy ≠ building, and why launching shouldn’t be your goal. Dior shares her tips on success with tangible weekly goals, structure and accountability that actually create momentum, how to know when to admit something isn't working, and her top advice to beat imposter syndrome without ever using your goals against yourself. Get Dior's design your future-self worksheet: https://pepperyourtalk.kit.com/736ece85c7 In this episode, we cover: Why launching isn't the goal, and the real shocks of running a business Busy vs building: why doing more ≠ more results How to build structure that sticks: tangible weekly goals, accountability and results over process The importance of knowing when to pivot Mindset resets: stop comparing, stop using goals against yourself and beat imposter syndrome If you’ve ever felt like your goals are bringing you down, this one’s for you! We Are Ladies Who Launch! CHAPTERS 00:00 Meet Dior Bediako 03:07 Using Business As Growth Tool 06:33 Why You're Busy Vs Building 14:29 Do Less, Get Better Results 18:42 When To Quit & Pivot 21:35 Find Your Bottom Left 25:00 Growth Needs Systems 32:17 Focussing On Being A Future Founder 36:30 How To Find Your Ideal Customer 41:03 Handling Being Copied 49:10 How To Make Decisions Under Pressure 51:28 When To Quit Your Job 57:01 Stop Feeling Behind 01:05:02 Ditch Imposter Syndrome 01:07:04 Final Thanks and Wrap 🔔 New episodes every Wednesday — subscribe so you never miss a launch. FOLLOW DIOR Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/diorbediako/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@diorbediako FOLLOW US Instagram: www.instagram.com/weareladieswholaunch/ TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@weareladieswholaunch YouTube: www.youtube.com/@Weareladieswholaunch Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The cat's finally out of the bag! After months of hiding logos, dodging your questions, and biting my tongue every time you asked what "Roch Builds a Brand" was really about… I can finally tell you. Welcome to Eulah! In this episode I'm telling you the full story: where the name came from, the Korean-inspired formulas the whole brand is built around, and how we've somehow managed to bring it to you for £8–£12 a product. We're launching with 12 products including a gua sha companion that I am OBSESSED with. This is the biggest launch I have ever done and I’m so excited to share it with you. Sign up at eulahskin.com to be the first to hear more, get early access to products, and find out how to meet Rochelle at launch. We Are Ladies Who Launch! CHAPTERS 00:00 Introducing Eulah 01:43 Eulah Brand Vision and Pricing 03:39 Where To Shop Eulah 06:14 The Meaning Behind The Brand Name 07:37 Join the Eulah Community 08:38 12 Products Sneak Peek 09:56 Road to Launch Plans 10:50 Expert Doctor Partnership 🔔 New episodes every Wednesday — subscribe so you never miss a launch. FOLLOW EULAH SKIN Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eulahskin/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@eulahskin Website: www.eulahskin.com FOLLOW US Instagram: www.instagram.com/weareladieswholaunch/ TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@weareladieswholaunch YouTube: www.youtube.com/@Weareladieswholaunch Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on Ladies Who Launch, we’re taking a break from regular scheduled programming to revisit some of the most iconic moments of honesty, vulnerability, and advice from previous powerhouse founders, including Emma Grede, Ella Mills, Sabrina Elba, Sam Faiers, Mona Kattan, Amy Liu, Perrie Sian, Conna Walker, Frankie James, Vivien Wong, Aimee Smale, Penelope Cheshire, Ama Hill, Jessica Sepel and Jo Malone. This mastermind compilation is your spark and start to finding your idea and taking the first leap to building the business of your dreams. It includes all of those golden nuggets of advice from our Ladies who’ve Launched; from how to take the first leap, and turn personal problems and passion into purpose-led businesses, to building resilience through startup struggles, influencer growth and unwavering self-belief. In this episode, we cover: Taking the leap & founding from a personal problem Turning your passion into a career Navigating early startup struggles The moment you truly ‘launch’ Embracing failure and backing yourself through it If you’re in need of a reminder of why you started and why you shouldn’t give up, this one’s for you. We Are Ladies Who Launch! Chapters 00:00 From Fear to First Leap 00:31 Why Founders Start 01:05 How Personal Experience Sparks Ideas 03:05 Believing in Your Product Vision 04:20 Quitting and Going All In 06:18 Starting Small Operations 06:50 Bootstrapping, Solo Hustle and Managing It All 08:34 Launch Breakthrough Moment 09:11 Advice for New Founders 11:03 Why Not Me 🔔 New episodes every Wednesday — subscribe so you never miss a launch. FOLLOW US Instagram: www.instagram.com/weareladieswholaunch/ TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@weareladieswholaunch YouTube: www.youtube.com/@Weareladieswholaunch Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Have you ever experienced having to mix 3 different foundations just to find your shade? Well your problems have been sold because DCYPHER Beauty is the World’s first beauty tech brand creating formulations from scratch, one at a time, personalised in minutes. In this week's episode, Rochelle sits down with Ruth De Leo, skincare founder of DCYPHER and mentee of Charlotte Tilbury, to share how AI-powered shade-matching is solving the personalisation problem no beauty giant could crack. We discuss the real expectations vs reality of launching a brand, learning from the best brands in the industry, and the non-negotiables that keep DCYPHER running. Ruth gets honest about founder life, unexpected customer feedback, and the advice she wishes she never listened to. In this episode, we cover: Ruth’s beauty-industry background and discovering the gap in the market that sparked the brand. Charlotte Tilbury mentorship that impacted her career. How AI and personalisation formulas solved the universal shade-match struggle. The expectations vs reality of starting up, and how she switches off. Business non-negotiables, the advice she ignores, and Ruth’s top tip. If you’ve ever wanted to learn how technology can benefit skincare, this one’s for you. We Are Ladies Who Launch! Chapters 00:00 Industry Meets Problem 01:59 Pain Points & Waste In Makeup And Waste 06:33 Scaling Brands And Building Confidence 07:44 Charlotte Tilbury Lessons On Trust 17:49 DCYPHER Tech Explained 26:08 Launching In John Lewis 34:55 Data Driven Foundation Formulas 36:49 Fast Track Personalised Lip Products 41:02 Switching Off As A Founder 43:31 Learning To Let Go 48:35 John Lewis Launch Moment 51:45 Advice Regrets And Lessons 57:30 Why Its Important To Obsess Over The Problem 🔔 New episodes every Wednesday — subscribe so you never miss a launch. FOLLOW RUTH Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ruthxdcypher/ DCYPHER: https://www.instagram.com/dcypherbeauty/ FOLLOW US Instagram: www.instagram.com/weareladieswholaunch/ TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@weareladieswholaunch YouTube: www.youtube.com/@Weareladieswholaunch Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ever wondered how to launch a skincare brand? This week’s episode is with Fabienne Sebaoun, founder of Mimétique, who unpacks the raw reality of building a self-funded beauty brand from scratch. We then go into how Fabienne tapped into her science based roots to build a niche within an overcrowded space. From facing university as a mature student to navigating the chaos of a first launch, Fabienne shares the do's, don'ts, and business non-negotiables that shaped Mimétique into a brand built on storytelling and substance. In this episode, we cover: How Fabienne’s science-based background led her to launching building a niche in the crowded beauty space Lesson from building Mimétique completely self funded How storytelling and brand identity became her edge in an oversaturated market Do's and don'ts of launching a modern brand and managing the conflict that comes with it Fabienne’s top tip for solo founders If you’re an aspiring founder looking to launch in the beauty space, this one’s for you. We Are Ladies Who Launch! CHAPTERS 00:00 Meet The Mimétique Founder 01:55 Dermatology Family Roots 07:16 Going Back to University at 40 13:03 From Lab Vials to Le Bon Marché 15:38 The Challenges Of A Self Funded Launch 17:44 Building the Team 23:27 Designing the French Pharmacy Look 27:00 Founder Dos and Donts 33:06 Letting Go to Grow 35:18 Fabienne’s Five Year Vision 41:49 Rocket Round 47:46 Mentors And Dream Collaborations 50:22 Wrap Up 🔔 New episodes every Wednesday — subscribe so you never miss a launch. FOLLOW FABIENNE Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fabienne_sebaoun/ Mimétique: https://www.instagram.com/mimetiqueskin/ FOLLOW US Instagram: www.instagram.com/weareladieswholaunch/ TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@weareladieswholaunch YouTube: www.youtube.com/@Weareladieswholaunch Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, we’re joined by Georgie Le Roux, founder and CEO of Gigi & Olive, the luxury bridal and personalised gifting brand that has grown through four major business pivots and over 85% year-on-year growth. In this episode, Georgie shares the behind-the-scenes reality of building a product based business from manually managing personalised orders in Google Sheets to scaling a luxury brand, navigating operational chaos, and the £30,000 Meta Ads mistake that nearly derailed Black Friday. We also dive into why profit matters more than revenue, how to know when it's time to pivot, building a community-first brand, and the founder lessons no one talks about. In this episode, we cover: The £30,000 Meta Ads horror story every founder should hear Why Gigi & Olive pivoted four times before finding its winning model The operational reality of running a personalised product business Why chasing revenue can be a dangerous growth strategy How customer obsession became Gigi & Olive's biggest competitive advantage The Gigi & Olive podcast is launching September 2026 Building a luxury brand through community, not just marketing The mindset shifts every founder needs to scale with confidence Whether you're building an e-commerce brand, scaling a business, or simply love hearing the real stories behind successful founders, this episode is packed with honest lessons and practical insights. We Are Ladies Who Launch! CHAPTERS 00:00 Meet Georgie Le Roux, founder of Gigi & Olive 01:57 Introducing Gigi & Olive 05:47 How to Track Trends in Products 07:31 First Big Pivot to Own Designs 09:25 Building Personalisation Operations 14:06 Scaling Without Chaos 19:46 Serving the Same Customer in Multiple Ways 26:49 Meta Ads Horror Story 28:43 Building Brand Through Word Of Mouth 30:40 Next Business Pivots & Mindset 33:15 Building Luxury in Crowded Market 40:30 Building a Strong Brand Intentionally 41:24 The Gigi & Olive Podcast 43:35 Rocket Round 46:01 Phone Habits And Sleep 47:30 Profit Over Top Line 53:56 Financial Priorities And AI 56:47 Founder Boundaries As A Mum 59:32 Niche Brand Power Move 🔔 New episodes every Wednesday — subscribe so you never miss a launch. #AD Powered by @StarlingBankApp Find out more about Starling Business here: https://bit.ly/44sEaMf: FOLLOW GEORGIE Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/georgieleroux/ Gigi and Olive: https://www.instagram.com/gigiandolive_/ FOLLOW US Instagram: www.instagram.com/weareladieswholaunch/ TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@weareladieswholaunch YouTube: www.youtube.com/@Weareladieswholaunch Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week's episode of Ladies Who Launch, Frankie James unpacks her founder story, from the uncertainty of figuring out a career path as a young adult to building Ideas Fest into a must-attend industry event. We get into turning setbacks into strategy, mastering assertive communication, navigating the grey area between business and friendship, and the financial tools every founder needs to know. In this episode, we cover: Frankie's founder journey from career uncertainty to building Ideas Fest How to turn setbacks into strategic opportunities Networking, rapport-building, and navigating the blurred lines between business and relationships Gaining the confidence to be assertive in the business world Financial support tools, top tips, and how to be a strong team player If you’ve ever wanted to start a business but don’t know where to begin, this one’s for you. We Are Ladies Who Launch! CHAPTERS 00:00 Meet Frankie James 02:33 Finding Your Path 12:44 Family Business Dynamics 15:31 An Intro To Ideas Fest 17:08 Pandemic Spark & First Festival Launch 21:53 Building A Founder Community 31:55 What’s Next For Ideas Fest 35:59 Rocket Round 36:11 Community Non Negotiables 39:31 Hiring For Vibe, Not Titles 43:45 Adopting The ‘Why Not Me’ Mindset 54:48 Frankie’s Top Tips 🔔 New episodes every Wednesday — subscribe so you never miss a launch. #AD Powered by @StarlingBankApp Find out more about Starling Business here: https://bit.ly/44sEaMf: FOLLOW FRANKIE Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/frankie_j4y/ Ideas Fest: https://www.instagram.com/ideas_fest/ FOLLOW US Instagram: www.instagram.com/weareladieswholaunch/ TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@weareladieswholaunch YouTube: www.youtube.com/@Weareladieswholaunch Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week's episode of Ladies Who Launch, Rochelle breaks down why the brands that win don't just sell products, they build worlds. This solo branding masterclass covers the full journey, from defining the consumer experience you want to create, to showing up consistently as the brand you've built, and learning when to ignore outside noise versus when a trend is actually worth your energy. Rochelle walks through finding your creative direction, choosing a brand colour that carries meaning, getting fonts and typography right, and the principle that anchors it all; branding for the customer you want, not the one you already have. In this episode, we cover: Building a world, not just a brand Showing up consistently as the brand you've created Ignoring outside noise and knowing when a trend is actually worth your energy How to find your creative and visual direction through brand colour, fonts, and typography Branding for the customer you want, not the one you already have If you’ve always dreamed of creating a brand but don’t know where to start, this one’s for you. We Are Ladies Who Launch! CHAPTERS 00:00 Branding Masterclass Intro 01:01 World Building Basics 03:41 Prioritising Feelings Before Design 04:34 Consistency Over Trends 09:00 Founder Storytelling 10:38 Colors, Fonts, and Copy 14:00 How To Design For Your Future Customer 16:14 Final Thoughts 🔔 New episodes every Wednesday — subscribe so you never miss a launch. #AD Powered by @starlingbankapp FOLLOW ROCHELLE Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rochellehumes/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@rochellehumes?lang=en-GB FOLLOW US Instagram: www.instagram.com/weareladieswholaunch/ TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@weareladieswholaunch YouTube: www.youtube.com/@Weareladieswholaunch Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week's episode of Ladies Who Launch, Rochelle sits down with communication expert Amira Quaye to unpack why so many women struggle to hold their own in high-stakes rooms. From being labelled "bossy" versus "headstrong" to the exhaustion of over-explaining and the quiet friction between male and female language. Amira breaks down how to unlearn old habits, reduce filler words, reframe your email language, and navigate difficult conversations without shrinking. Plus, her six fundamentals of communication for finding your voice in any environment. In this episode, we cover: Owning your voice in high-stakes rooms; why women get labelled "bossy", and how to hold your own without shrinking Unlearning old habits, over-explaining, filler words, and the tension between male vs female language Reframing your written communication by stripping apologetic language from emails and finding authority Navigating difficult conversations and managing the feelings that come with confrontation in both personal and professional life Amira's six fundamentals of communication for finding and projecting your voice If you’ve ever struggled to find your voice and speak your truth, this one’s for you. We Are Ladies Who Launch! CHAPTERS 00:00 Introduction to Amira 01:08 What is a Communication Expert? 06:01 Understanding your communication style 12:12 Unlearning Needs and Emotions 14:58 Why We Over Explain 19:50 Male vs Female communication stigmas 24:23 Filler Words and Rephrasing Your tone on email 31:57 Holding Your Own in a room 38:00 Handling Awkward Silences 40:43 Why We Avoid Conflict 44:23 How to approach Difficult Conversations 49:03 Assertive vs Defensive 52:09 Difficult Talk No Nos 57:03 Amira’s 6 Communication Fundamentals 01:03:48 Top Communication Tip 01:05:32 Wrap Up 🔔 New episodes every Wednesday — subscribe so you never miss a launch. #AD Powered by @starlingbankapp FOLLOW AMIRA Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_communicationexpert/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@the_communicationexpert FOLLOW US Instagram: www.instagram.com/weareladieswholaunch/ TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@weareladieswholaunch YouTube: www.youtube.com/@Weareladieswholaunch Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rochelle Humes sits down with JSHealth founder, Jessica Sepel, to unpack her experience of diet culture and how it failed an entire generation of women. She built JSHealth to offer women access to nutrition in a healthy way. From her first experience with nutrition to building a global, female-first supplement company without investment, Jessica shares the untold story behind the brand that put women's health first. This conversation covers the real work behind building a brand that puts quality first. We cover everything from ingredients, building a community of trusted women and what she’s learnt about leading a growing team. In this episode, we cover: Jessica's first experience with nutrition, how diet culture failed women and teenagers, and where JSHealth was rooted from Starting JSHealth as a first-to-market, female-first vitamin company, bootstrapped from day one with no investors Generating hype, protecting customer trust in an unregulated industry, and enforcing quality control from the start Developing the skills to lead, setting boundaries as a founder, and the morning and evening routines that keep her grounded The evolution of science for women's health and Jessica's financial advice for founders If you've ever felt let down by the wellness industry, this one's for you. We Are Ladies Who Launch! CHAPTERS 00:00 Introducing Jessica Sepel 01:32 Early Diet Struggles 07:22 Choosing Your Nutrition Path 12:34 Spotting The Supplements Gap 21:06 First 2000 Bottles Sold 24:09 Scaling Without Pressure 27:14 From Local To Global 29:45 Build Through Quality 33:30 Bootstrapped Scrappy Growth 39:31 Nighttime Switch Off Routine 44:17 Creating Mornings Without Chaos 47:34 Boundaries For Founders 49:57 Future Of Women’s Health 54:19 Rocket Round 01:01:17 Mentors And Box On 01:03:00 Confidence Around Money 01:10:37 Prioritising Customer Retention 01:19:17 Wrap Up 🔔 New episodes every Wednesday — subscribe so you never miss a launch. #AD Powered by Starling Bank Access Starling Bank here: https://bit.ly/44sEaMf FOLLOW JESSICA Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jshealth/reels/?hl=en JSHealth: https://www.instagram.com/jshealthvitamins/?hl=en TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jshealthvitamins https://uk.jshealthvitamins.com/ FOLLOW US Instagram: www.instagram.com/weareladieswholaunch/ TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@weareladieswholaunch YouTube: www.youtube.com/@Weareladieswholaunch Disclaimer: JSHealth Vitamins formulas vary by region Ladies Who Launch listeners get 20% off JSHealth. Use the code LWL at checkout: https://uk.jshealthvitamins.com/?utm_source=UKTalent&utm_medium=LadiesWhoLaunch&utm_campaign=LadiesWhoLaunchadd Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week's episode of Ladies Who Launch, Nicola Elliott, founder of NEOM, takes us behind the scenes of building a brand in a category that barely existed when she started. From the early days of product creation to scaling to 150 products, 150 employees, and £45M in annual turnover, Nicola gets into the mechanics of strategically building for long-term growth. We unpack the real decisions most founders agonise over: the benefits of taking investment versus staying self-funded, and the personal sacrifices that come as a direct consequence of business ambition. Beyond the numbers, this conversation digs into what makes NEOM genuinely stick, how Nicola has built a deep consumer-to-brand connection at scale, and perhaps more importantly, how she's designed the business around the life she actually wants to live. It's an honest, tactical conversation for founders who want to build something substantial without losing themselves in the process. In this episode, we cover: The journey of starting & building NEOM Building in a ‘unique’ category 150 products, 150 employees, £45M in annual turnover Strategically building for long term growth, not pace Benefits of investment vs self funding Real life sacrifices as a consequence of business Creating consumer x brand connection Designing business around your life We Are Ladies Who Launch! CHAPTERS 00:00 Introduction 00:43 Before Wellness Was a Thing 03:41 Anxiety Sparking the NEOM Idea 06:15 From Blends to NEOM 08:27 First Products and Candles 11:40 Green Lights to Quitting Your 9-5 14:29 Building the Right Team 17:58 Creating a New Category 23:11 Retailer Placement Challenges 26:32 Sponsor Break: Starling Tools 27:42 Scaling With Steady Growth 33:33 Slow Growth Wins 34:00 Realities of Raising Money 35:50 Founder Lifestyle Questions 36:58 Motherhood While Building a Business 40:01 Sacrifice And Seasons 41:50 Work That Feeds You 43:06 Protecting Brand Identity 47:32 Customer Moments Strategy 49:06 Founder Role Today 52:39 Realistic Wellness Positioning 53:47 Future Growth And Collabs 55:56 Rocket Round 58:15 Curating Your Circle 59:35 Patience Builds Brands 01:00:34 Nicola’s Dream Collab 01:02:00 Finding A Mentor 01:03:14 Founder Money Habits 01:07:21 Financial Myths Debunked 01:09:30 Profitability Over Hype 01:12:23 Design Success Your Way 01:14:55 Nicola’s Ideal Lunch 01:17:49 Wrap Up And Subscribe 🔔 New episodes every Wednesday — subscribe so you never miss a launch. #AD Powered by @StarlingBankApp Access Starling Bank here: https://bit.ly/44sEaMf FOLLOW NICOLA Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nicolaelliottneom/ NEOM: https://www.instagram.com/neomwellbeing/ FOLLOW US Instagram: www.instagram.com/weareladieswholaunch/ TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@weareladieswholaunch YouTube: www.youtube.com/@Weareladieswholaunch Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week's episode of Ladies Who Launch, Penelope Cheshire takes us back to where it all began: an £8,000 leap of faith funded by selling her partner's Rolex, and a belief that premium hair extensions didn't have to feel exclusive or unapproachable. What followed was a masterclass in retail grit, from cold-pitching salons and building a team from the ground up, to navigating investment rooms where beauty wasn't taken seriously, and a partnership with Molly-Mae that sent the business into a different stratosphere. Penelope gets refreshingly honest about what actually happens during and after an exit, why she's channeling everything she learned into her next venture Killer Brush, and the moments that shaped her as a founder along the way. In this episode, we cover: The build of Beauty Works from an £8,000 Rolex watch sale Business growth through hair salons Facing stereotypes against the beauty industry Behind the Molly-Mae partnership The story of the Beauty Works sell Launching her new business, Killa Brush If you’re a founder with an idea mixed with grit and determination, this episode is for you. We Are Ladies Who Launch! CHAPTERS 00:00 Meet Penelope Cheshire, Founder of Beauty Works 05:35 Beginning of Beauty Works 06:38 Selling My Partners Rolex to Start 11:17 First Big Retail Order 18:42 Rejected by Investors 23:47 Creating a Premium Positioning 29:28 Behind The Molly Mae Partnership 35:49 Leadership & Letting Go 47:38 The Truth Behind Leaving Beauty Works 57:57 Private Equity Reality Check 01:01:37 Starting Killa Brush 01:12:12 Sharing Entrepreneurship Truths 01:15:40 Rocket Round 01:22:57 Final Advice & Wrap 🔔 New episodes every Wednesday — subscribe so you never miss a launch. FOLLOW PENELOPE Penelope’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/penelopecheshire/ Killa Brush: https://www.instagram.com/killabrushofficial/ Killa Brush Website: www.killabrush.com FOLLOW US Instagram: www.instagram.com/weareladieswholaunch/ TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@weareladieswholaunch YouTube: www.youtube.com/@Weareladieswholaunch Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week's episode of Ladies Who Launch, Rochelle sits down with Hanushka Toni, to unpack her journey from law to launching Sellier, the luxury handbag brand that caught the attention of Flannels and the moment her Jane Birkin auction went viral. She also gets candid about building a business alongside family, the realities of entrepreneurship no one talks about, and her bold move into feminine hygiene with JUICE, breaking taboos in real time. In this episode, we cover: How Hanushka transitioned from Law to luxury retail Building luxury handbag retailer, Selier Behind the Jane Birkin auction Effectively growing a business through social media Benefits of the Sellier x Flannels partnership What people are getting wrong about entrepreneurship Introducing JUICE and taboos around feminine hygiene Whether you're a founder, a creator, or someone with a big idea and no idea where to start, this one is for you. We Are Ladies Who Launch! CHAPTERS 00:00 Introducing Hanushka 03:24 Building Sellier 09:10 Creating Virality on Social 14:12 Behind The Jane Birkin Auction 20:50 Viral Marketing Playbook 25:21 Behind The Flannels Partnership Expansion 28:00 Navigating Motherhood & Ambition 31:25 Introducing JUICE 33:09 Handling Business Criticism 37:58 Redefining Success 40:18 Embrace The Cringe 41:22 Rocket Round Advice 🔔 New episodes every Wednesday — subscribe so you never miss a launch. FOLLOW HANUSHKA Hanushka’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hanushkaa/ Sellier: https://www.instagram.com/sellierknightsbridge/ JUICE: https://www.instagram.com/wearejuicers/ FOLLOW US Instagram: www.instagram.com/weareladieswholaunch/ TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@weareladieswholaunch YouTube: www.youtube.com/@Weareladieswholaunch Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week's episode of Ladies Who Launch is with Sophia & Cinzia, the powerhouse duo behind one of the UK's most-listened-to podcasts, The Girls Bathroom. From building a loyal online community from scratch to launching a sold-out live tour, this episode is a masterclass in building an audience through genuine connection and having fun while doing it. We get into the founding of their new venture rooms, what it really takes to build a team of women who are aligned with your vision, and because no Ladies Who Launch episode is complete without it, a Greek lunch moment that you absolutely need to hear. In this episode, we cover: How Sophia & Cinzia built their online following Launching The Girls Bathroom Building up to the live tour The realities behind launching rooms Why Sophia & Cinzia decided to build a team of women A Greek lunch moment Whether you're a founder, a creator, or someone with a big idea and no idea where to start, this one is for you. We Are Ladies Who Launch! CHAPTERS 00:00 Introducing Sophia & Cinzia 01:12 Where It All Began 07:17 Launching Their YouTube Channel 13:19 How They Got Management 20:14 Naming The Girls Bathroom 22:22 Growth Through Lockdown 24:07 Behind Recording The Girls Bathroom 25:41 Behind The Live Tour 30:03 Building The Vision For rooms 34:53 Building An All Female Team 37:14 Navigating Rooms Critique 40:45 Backing Themselves On The Jelly Vase 44:55 Co-Founders and Friendship 47:34 Future Plans for rooms 49:32 Rocket Round 58:29 A Greek Lunch Moment 🔔 New episodes every Wednesday — subscribe so you never miss a launch. FOLLOW SOPHIA & CINZIA The Girls Bathroom: https://www.instagram.com/thegirlsbathroom/ Sophia: https://www.instagram.com/sophiatuxford/ Cinzia: https://www.instagram.com/cinziabayliszullo/ FOLLOW US Instagram: www.instagram.com/weareladieswholaunch/ TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@weareladieswholaunch YouTube: www.youtube.com/@Weareladieswholaunch Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From a viral TikTok moment to one of the UK's most beloved supermarket staples, this week on Ladies Who Launch, Rochelle sits down with Vivien Wong, co-founder of Little Moons, to unpack the real story behind building an iconic brand from the ground up. Vivien gets refreshingly honest about starting before you're ready (the 80% rule), protecting product quality under explosive demand, and navigating the noise to find the advice that actually moves the needle. Together, we dig into the sibling dynamic that powers the business, the nostalgia-first brand identity that made mochi ice cream a cultural moment, and what it really looks like to bring in investment and external leadership without losing what made you special in the first place. This one is equal parts strategy and soul and a masterclass in building a brand people genuinely love. In this episode, we cover: Building a career and brand foundation from scratch Knowing which advice to take and which to ignore Creating the Little Moons brand identity Managing explosive growth with effect Bringing in investment without losing the soul of your brand If you're a founder who's overwhelmed by the pressures of starting, this episode is designed to inspire you to start before you’re ready. We Are Ladies Who Launch! CHAPTERS 00:00:00 Introduction and Little Moons as a Family Favorite 00:03:08 The Inspiration Behind Starting Little Moons 00:07:06 The Challenges of Creating Mochi: Craftsmanship and Manufacturing 00:12:33 How Vivien's Finance Career Helped Launch the Business 00:14:40 Launching Little Moons 00:16:07 Building the Brand; From White Label to Little Moons 00:19:31 Founding the Business as Siblings 00:23:02 Breaking Into First Major Retail Partnerships 00:28:38 The Viral TikTok Moment and Managing Sudden Demand 00:34:13 Amplifying Virality and Managing Retail Logistics 00:37:07 Business Scaling Challenges 00:41:07 Bringing in Private Equity and a New CEO after 12 Years 00:44:29 The Myth of Overnight Success vs. A Slow and Steady Journey 00:47:27 The Complexities of International Expansion to 38 Countries 00:52:56 Rocket Round: Non-Negotiables, Launch Moments, Daily Habits 00:58:37 Advice for New Founders 01:07:38 Celebrating Success and Vivien's Gratitude 🔔 New episodes every Wednesday — subscribe so you never miss a launch. #LadiesWhoLaunch #NeverFullyDressed #FashionFounder #BuildingABrand #CultBrand #FemaleFounder #BusinessPodcast #BrandBuilding #SlowGrowth #StartupStory FOLLOW VIVIEN & LITTLE MOONS Vivien’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thevivienwong/ Little Moons Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/littlemoonsmochi/ Little Moons TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@littlemoonsmochi FOLLOW US Instagram: www.instagram.com/weareladieswholaunch/ TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@weareladieswholaunch YouTube: www.youtube.com/@Weareladieswholaunch Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Space NK Miami trip went viral and this week we discussed everything that happened behind the scenes. In this episode of Ladies Who Launch, Rochelle sits down with Jini Sanassy, Head of PR at Space NK, to unpack the influencer marketing strategy that turned one brand trip into one of the most-talked-about campaigns of the year. From the first mood board to the final metric, Jini reveals exactly how Space NK built an experience rooted in community, inclusivity, and creator relationships that actually convert. In this episode, we cover: How Space NK planned and executed the viral Miami Summer Trip Building the perfect guestlist Selecting and integrating brand partnerships Myth-busting the influencer trip rumors Measurement and impact metrics We Are Ladies Who Launch! CHAPTERS 00:00 The Space NK Miami Trip That Went Viral 01:59 Setting Campaign Goals 03:26 Selecting The Guest List 07:41 Myth Busting The Trip 10:01 Partner Brands And Activations 17:00 Creative Freedom Vs KPIs 24:30 Measuring Success With EMV 28:58 EMV Vs Sales 30:07 Top Brands And Halo Moments 31:28 Addressing Media Backlash 33:52 Space NK’s PR Team 37:00 Next Years Campaign Plans 43:14 Beauty Is Democratic 48:12 What To Repeat & Refine 50:44 PR Campaign Do’s & Don’ts 🔔 New episodes every Wednesday — subscribe so you never miss a launch. FOLLOW JINI Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jinisanassy/ FOLLOW US Instagram: www.instagram.com/weareladieswholaunch/ TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@weareladieswholaunch YouTube: www.youtube.com/@Weareladieswholaunch Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this weeks episode of Ladies Who Launch, Frederika, founder of the Luxury Mum Guide, joins us to unpack the motherhood identity shift that no one prepares you for and how she turned that gap in support into the ultimate family travel guide for luxury-minded mums. From navigating who you are before and after kids, to curating the world's best family-friendly experiences, this is the blueprint for building a community born from lived experience. In this episode, we cover: Why Federika built the Luxury Mum Guide from scratch The support system mums actually need Who you are before kids vs. the woman you become after Curating the world's best family-friendly experiences for luxury-minded mums Where Federika is taking the Luxury Mum Guide next Why maternity fashion is broken and what needs to change We Are Ladies Who Launch! CHAPTERS 00:00 Sunday Launch Intro 00:57 Using Motherhood To Fuel Ambition 02:29 Why The Mum Guide Was Needed 06:03 Identity Shift and Work 16:22 From Social Posts to Events 19:31 Family-Friendly Venues In London 21:11 Journey of the Luxury Mum Event Breakthrough 24:01 Scaling Events and Brands 28:03 Dream Collabs and Future Plans 🔔 New episodes every Wednesday — subscribe so you never miss a launch. FOLLOW FEDERIKA Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/luxurymumguide_/ FOLLOW US Instagram: www.instagram.com/weareladieswholaunch/ TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@weareladieswholaunch YouTube: www.youtube.com/@Weareladieswholaunch Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Lucy Aylen built Never Fully Dressed into one of fashion's most coveted cult brands; without investors, without chasing trends, and without ever optimising for virality. In this episode of Ladies Who Launch, Lucy shares the philosophy behind building slow, why she resisted the pressure to scale before she was ready, and how growing a fiercely loyal community from day one became the brand's greatest competitive advantage. From navigating the devastating business impact of COVID to knowing exactly when and how to grow a team, Lucy gives us the unfiltered blueprint for building a brand that lasts. In this episode, we cover: Why Lucy Said No To Virality The Power of Building Slow Growing the Never Fully Dressed Community When & How To Build Your Team Surviving COVID As A Fashion Brand Building Without Investment If you're a founder who's tired of being told you need to move faster, raise money, and go viral to win this one's for you. We Are Ladies Who Launch! CHAPTERS 00:00 Meet Lucy Aylen 02:51 Never Fully Dressed Anti Viral Strategy 07:52 Bootstrapped Ownership 13:51 Building Through Customer Feedback 20:10 Inclusivity and Sizing In Fashion 29:11 Community Loyalty Lessons 32:27 Small Team Big Energy 33:38 Founder Role Evolution 37:31 Motherhood and Boundaries 39:50 Detaching From Business Drama 45:19 Brand Identity to New Venture 50:05 Advice for New Founders 55:46 Work Life Blend Choices 59:05 The Beyonce Topshop Moment 01:00:03 Family First Routines 01:04:46 Mum As Mentor 🔔 New episodes every Wednesday — subscribe so you never miss a launch. #LadiesWhoLaunch #NeverFullyDressed #FashionFounder #BuildingABrand #CultBrand #FemaleFounder #BusinessPodcast #BrandBuilding #SlowGrowth #StartupStory FOLLOW LUCY Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lucyaylen7/ NFD Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/neverfullydressed/ NFD TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@neverfullydressed FOLLOW US Instagram: www.instagram.com/weareladieswholaunch/ TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@weareladieswholaunch YouTube: www.youtube.com/@Weareladieswholaunch Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Sarah Jossel, award-winning beauty editor, author, and presenter on This Morning, for an honest conversation about carving out a career in fashion and beauty when everyone's fighting for the same seat at the table. Sarah takes us from her early days breaking into the industry all the way to writing her book, Diary Of A Beauty Editor, and everything she learned (the hard way) in between. We get into what it really means to build authority and trust when the market is saturated, why authenticity is your most powerful career asset, and how to develop the editorial eye to know what's worth your time and what's just noise. We also go deep on beauty product red flags, the trends she's watching, and the questions every woman should be asking before she buys into the hype. In this episode, we cover: How Sarah broke into the fashion industry and navigated her way to the top Building credibility and authority in a saturated, competitive space Beauty product red flags and the trends shaping the industry right now The journey of writing a book and what it teaches you about your own voice Beauty product guidance for pregnant women and women with cancer Myth busting beauty perfection standards If you're building a career in a crowded space and trying to figure out how to stand out this one is for you. We Are Ladies Who Launch! CHAPTERS 00:00 Introducing Sarah Jossel 07:02 Making the Fashion to Beauty Shift 11:34 Building Credibility in your Career 29:07 Beauty Trend Red Flags 31:18 Smart Spending on Beauty Trends 34:54 Beauty and Confidence 39:07 The Journey of Writing a Book 42:59 Approach to Functional Makeup 45:12 Filters and Fake Realities 47:24 Finding Your Voice 53:13 Clean Beauty Marketing Myths 56:52 Clearing Up Clean Beauty Confusion 59:36 Pregnancy and Cancer Beauty Product Guidance 01:03:36 Pressures of Perfection Myth 01:13:33 Consistency Over Noise 🔔 New episodes every Wednesday — subscribe so you never miss a launch. FOLLOW SARAH Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahjossel/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sarah_jossel FOLLOW US Instagram: www.instagram.com/weareladieswholaunch/ TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@weareladieswholaunch YouTube: www.youtube.com/@Weareladieswholaunch Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.