Behind Her Empire Podcast

Cindy is a serial entrepreneur and champion for womens health and wealth. Over her 25+ year career in healthcare, shes built and sold two companies for over $1 billion, including Sprout Pharmaceuticals, where she launched Addyi, the first prescription drug for womens low libido and what many people call the female Viagra. Shes now the founder of The Pink Ceiling, where she invests in and mentors women-led businesses breaking barriers in health, wellness, and beyond. 

In this weeks episode, Cindy shares the lessons of building billion-dollar companies. She talks about why competence matters more than confidence, and how importance of taking the shot, even when you dont have all the answers. She shares how growing up constantly on the move taught her how to adapt quickly, build relationships, and embrace change skills that became her foundation in business. She opens up about the emotional toll of entrepreneurship, the power of building a strong team, and why women need to talk more openly about pleasure, power, and money, and so much more.

Disclaimer:

ADDYI is for premenopausal women with acquired, generalized hypoactive (low) sexual desire disorder who have not had problems with low sexual desire in the past, and who have low sexual desire no matter the type of sexual activity, the situation or the sexual partner. The low sexual desire is troubling to them and is not due to a medical or mental health problem, problems in the relationship or medicine or other drug use. ADDYI is not for use in men or to enhance sexual performance. Your risk of severe low blood pressure and fainting is increased if you drink 1-2 standard alcoholic drinks close in time to your ADDYI dose. Wait at least 2 hours after drinking before taking ADDYI at bedtime. Your risk of severe low blood pressure and fainting is also increased if you take certain prescription, over the counter or herbal medications, or have liver problems. Low blood pressure and fainting can happen when you take ADDYI even if you dont drink alcohol or take other medicines. Do not take if you are allergic to any of the ingredients in ADDYI. Allergic reactions may include hives, itching or trouble breathing. Sleepiness, sometimes serious, can occur. Common side effects include dizziness, nausea, tiredness, difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep and dry mouth. See full PI and Medication Guide, including Boxed Warning at addyi.com/pi or call 844-PINK-PILL.

In this episode, well talk to Cindy about:

* Competence is the key to overcoming challenges. [03:04]

* Disruption can be a catalyst for growth. [08:29]

* The power of curiosity during Cindys college years. [11:52]

* Lessons from Cindys first business. [22:45]

* Cindys mission to empower women. [28:43]

* Getting rejected by the FDA. [33:37]

* Women on pleasure and health. [43:47]

This episode is brought to you by beeya: 

* Learn more about beeya's seed cycling bundle at https://beeyawellness.com/free to find out how to tackle hormonal imbalances. 

* Get $10 off your order by using promo code BEHINDHEREMPIRE10

Follow Yasmin: 

* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yasminknouri/

* Stay updated & subscribe to our newsletter: https://www.behindherempire.com/

Follow Cindy: 

* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cindypinkceo/

* Website: https://thepinkceiling.com/

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Ever feel like your period is trying to tell you something, but you're not sure what it's saying? In this episode, women’s health coach and bestselling author Nicole Jardim (a.k.a. the “Period Girl”) breaks it all down. Whether you're dealing with PMS, painful periods, irregular cycles, or navigating the transition into perimenopause, this episode is packed with real talk and practical tools.

In this episode you’ll learn: 

* What your period symptoms actually mean

* The role of nutrition in hormone health

* How to start the fertility awareness method

* The most underlooked part of your cycle

* How to support your body through perimenopause

* What hormone tests to ask your doctor for

* And more…

Nicole is a Certified Women’s Health Coach and author of Fix Your Period, a step-by-step natural protocol for hormone balance. Known as the “Period Girl,” her work has helped tens of thousands improve PMS, period pain, and cycle irregularities through a blend of science, simplicity, and sass. She’s the founder of The Fix Your Period Collective—a first-of-its-kind membership that starts with a quiz and delivers a clear, personalized plan for better periods. Nicole is also the host of the top-rated podcast The Period Party and a trusted expert featured in The Guardian, Well+Good, mindbodygreen, and Healthline.

This episode is brought to you by beeya: 

* Learn more about beeya's seed cycling bundle at https://beeyawellness.com/free to find out how to tackle hormonal imbalances. 

* Get $10 off your order by using promo code BEHINDHEREMPIRE10

Follow Yasmin: 

* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yasminknouri/

* Stay updated & subscribe to our newsletter: https://www.behindherempire.com/

Follow Nicole: 

* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nicolemjardim/

* Website: https://nicolejardim.com/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nancy Twine is the founder of Briogeo, one of the first clean haircare brands to land in Sephora, and eventually one of the fastest-growing in the category.

But her story didn’t start in beauty. Nancy began her career in finance, landing a role at Goldman Sachs in 2007, right as the global financial crisis hit. By her mid-twenties, she was a VP on Wall Street. Then, everything changed in 2010 when she lost her mother unexpectedly. That moment reshaped her purpose and gave her the clarity to build something of her own. With no background in chemistry or beauty,  she started Briogeo from her tiny New York apartment—self-funding it for six years, researching at the public library, and pitching investors with just drawings, all while working full-time. Briogeo launched in 2013 with four products. Within a year, Nancy cold-emailed her way into Sephora, becoming the youngest Black woman to launch a line with the retailer. In 2022, Briogeo was acquired by Wella Company.

In today’s episode, Nancy talks about the mindset and grit it took to keep going when the path ahead wasn’t clear, and how learning to trust her instincts changed everything for her. We talk about how she taught herself the beauty industry from scratch, and why believing in herself, even when the odds were stacked against her, became her greatest strength. She shares the early days of Briogeo, building the brand at night while working on Wall Street, pitching investors and getting many rejections, and navigating the challenges of growth. She also reflects on the pivotal moment with Sephora, the decision to finally walk away from her corporate job, and how she grew into the role of CEO as the company scaled.

Nancy opens up about selling Briogeo, what it meant to let go of something she built from scratch, and why she’s now focused on mentoring other women founders through her new platform, Makers Mindset. If you’ve ever questioned your timing, doubted your path, or needed a reminder of what’s possible when you bet on yourself, you’re going to love this episode. 

In this episode, we’ll talk to Nancy about:

* The mindset needed to overcome entrepreneurial challenges. [02:57]

* Cultivating confidence and shutting down self-doubt. [05:18]

* How her mother and grandmother shaped her upbringing. [07:46]

* How personal loss sparked a life and career reevaluation. [17:04]

* Nancy’s first steps in starting Briogeo. [18:47]

* A pivotal moment: meeting Sephora buyers. [23:59]

* Lessons from fundraising journey. [25:44]

* The power of self-belief in entrepreneurship. [28:41]

* Leaving a secure job to pursue a passion. [38:36]

* Why selling the business was strategic. [46:19]

* Transforming Nancy’s passion into new ventures. [49:33]

This episode is brought to you by beeya: 

* Learn more about beeya's seed cycling bundle at https://beeyawellness.com/free to find out how to tackle hormonal imbalances. 

* Get $10 off your order by using promo code BEHINDHEREMPIRE10

Follow Yasmin: 

* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yasminknouri/

* Stay updated & subscribe to our newsletter: https://www.behindherempire.com/

Follow Nancy: 

* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nancytwine/

* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/briogeo/

* Website: https://www.briogeohair.com/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Laney Crowell is the founder & CEO of Saie, a clean beauty brand dedicated to making high-performing products that are elevated, effortless, and always easy to use.

Laney’s path to entrepreneurship was anything but traditional. The daughter of a diplomat, Laney spent her childhood bouncing between continents, learning to adapt before she even knew the word for it. She began her career in entertainment, pivoted into editorial at ELLE and Lucky, and eventually found herself leading digital strategy at Estée Lauder – just as social media was transforming the beauty industry. But even with a dream job and a coveted title, something felt off.

While pregnant with her first daughter, Laney stepped away from corporate life to start a wellness blog called The Moment. She didn’t have a master plan – just a desire to create space for more real & honest conversations around beauty and wellbeing. That blog would spark an incredible community and eventually give birth to Saie, the clean beauty brand that’s now backed by Gwyneth Paltrow and Unilever Ventures, and leading a new wave of what beauty can look and feel like.

In today’s episode, Laney opens up about the real journey behind the brand: how she built Saie without industry connections or startup experience, the moments she almost gave up, and why learning to trust her gut was the best business strategy she never planned. We talk about persistence, resilience, the unglamorous side of fundraising, and the unexpected ways motherhood reshaped her leadership—and her mission. If you’ve ever felt like the outsider in the room, or you’re dreaming of building something meaningful on your own terms, this episode is for you.

In this episode, we’ll talk to Laney about:

* What “perfectionism” looks like for Laney. [02:26]

* How Laney’s childhood shaped her comfort with discomfort. [04:37]

* Struggling to fit into corporate culture. [06:40]

* Breaking into the editorial world. [08:37]

* Working at Estée Lauder and finding expanders. [11:11]

* Launching her blog and building community. [13:19]

* The inspiration behind founding Saie. [14:28]

* How past work experience prepared her for Saie. [17:09]

* Laney’s first experience with motherhood. [18:13]

* Early days of creating Saie. [19:09]

* Biggest lessons from fundraising. [20:40]

* Secured key investors including Unilever and Gwyneth Paltrow. [25:00]

* Developing Saie’s first product. [28:00]

* How building Saie changed Laney as a person. [31:07]

* How motherhood made her a stronger businesswoman. [35:40]

* Awareness as a key driver of Saie’s growth. [39:30]

* The power of trusting her team to lead and grow. [43:09]

This episode is brought to you by beeya: 

* Learn more about beeya's seed cycling bundle at https://beeyawellness.com/free to find out how to tackle hormonal imbalances. 

* Get $10 off your order by using promo code BEHINDHEREMPIRE10

Follow Yasmin: 

* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yasminknouri/

* Stay updated & subscribe to our newsletter: https://www.behindherempire.com/

Follow Laney: 

* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laney/

* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saiebeauty/

* Website: https://saiehello.com/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In today's conversation, we sit down with Martha Soffer, renowned Ayurvedic expert and founder of Surya Spa in Los Angeles, to explore how ancient wisdom can support modern women's health. Martha unpacks the foundational principles of Ayurveda, and how understanding your constitution can be a game-changer for balance and vitality in every stage of life.

In this episode you’ll learn: 

* How the doshas influence your body and mind

* Ayurveda for navigating menopause

* Herbal remedies to support balance

* Postpartum care through an Ayurvedic lens

* Natural relief for period cramps

* The power of panchakarma for deep detox

* And more…

Internationally acclaimed Ayurvedic Panchakarma expert, Ayurvedic Chef, Herbal Rasayanist, and master Ayurvedic Pulse diagnostician, Martha Soffer is the founder of Surya, the recognized leader of modern Ayurveda. Martha’s focus on “Ayurveda for Modern Life” is achieved through a system of practical and easy self-care, helping each individual attain balance and wellness through healing retreats, restorative beauty, wellness and food products, as well as educational guidance and support. Working to restore Ayurveda to its authentic, spiritual, and most effective roots, Martha is an innovator in making Ayurveda a viable modern and complementary system of wellness and health. A frequent guest on the CBS talk show “The Doctors,” Martha also works with MDs who refer patients when western medicine cannot deliver a satisfactory solution, and who often come themselves for seasonal treatments. Martha teaches and lectures, and is featured in publications such as Vogue, Vanity Fair, In Style, Allure, the L.A. Times, New York Magazine, and Goop. With the Surya team, Martha brings long-term vitality and health to clients who range from next-door neighbors to the top stars of the film and entertainment industries.

This episode is brought to you by beeya: 

* Learn more about beeya's seed cycling bundle at https://beeyawellness.com/free to find out how to tackle hormonal imbalances. 

* Get $10 off your order by using promo code BEHINDHEREMPIRE10

Follow Yasmin: 

* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yasminknouri/

* Stay updated & subscribe to our newsletter: https://www.behindherempire.com/

Follow Martha: 

* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/suryabymartha/

* Website: https://suryawellness.com/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.