Behind Her Empire

Durana Elmi is the Co-founder and COO of Cymbiotika, a high growth health and wellness company offering a range of products, including probiotics, vitamins, minerals, and more.Durana’s inspiring journey began when she moved from Afghanistan to the US and defied all traditional expectations imposed on her being a woman. Determined to write her own narrative, Durana pursued higher education instead of marrying young, forging a successful corporate career in defiance of her father's wishes.In our conversation, we explore the pivotal moment when Durana left her stable corporate job to embark on her first entrepreneurial venture. She candidly discusses the challenges and how she and her husband navigated this decision while raising a young daughter. Durana also walks through the valuable lessons she learned in her first business, which was in an entirely different industry, and how she applied these lessons to Cymbiotika. We talk about the early days of Cymbiotika when it was just one product, the pivotal moments that helped propel the incredible growth, and the steps they’ve taken over the past few years to get the company to over $40 million in revenue. We also chat about the importance of self-love, the role positive affirmations have had on her life, and steps we can all take to truly manifest the life we want, and so much more.In this episode, we’ll talk to Durana about:* Durana’s childhood and upbringing as an immigrant from Afghanistan. [​​02:43]* Importance of self-love and how Durana cultivated it in her own life early on. [04:12]* Durana's relationship with her father and how she defied all traditional expectations for her. [09:00]* The book 'Obstacles Welcome' by Ralph de la Vega and how Durana embodies its principles in her life. [14:00]* Durana's turning point: leaving corporate America alongside her husband to start their first business. [17:24]* The importance of creating your own story and having full control of your life. [20:15]* The challenges of transitioning from corporate to starting her own business. [23:15]* Durana's career journey and her evolving definition of success. [27:00]* The transformation of Cymbiotika: from a supplement into a lifestyle brand. [31:27]* How Cymbiotika went all in during the COVID pandemic. [39:33]* The early stages of Cymbiotika and its journey toward Cymbiotika 2.0. [41:08]* The significance of recruiting the right individuals and placing trust in their abilities. [45:49]* It's all about the journey and having faith in the process. [47:55]* Durana's daily routine and mindset for maintaining her mental health. [48:56]* Manifesting life and practicing gratitude shape the ecosystem of your personal karma. [54:44] 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 BEHINDHEREMPIREFollow Yasmin:* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yasminknouri/* Website: https://www.behindherempire.com/Follow Durana:* Cymbiotika Website: https://www.cymbiotika.com* Durana's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/duranaelmi

Have you ever tried meditating but couldn’t make it past 5 minutes without thinking about your dog or what’s for dinner? We have good news from today’s guest, Megan Monahan, who says meditation doesn’t have to look one way—and ANYONE can create an impactful practice that works just for them.In this episode you’ll learn: * How to actually redirect your thoughts* Secrets to creating a consistent practice* How to find your style of meditation* Practical ways to bring mindfulness into your life* How to transform stress and anxiety* And more….Meditation expert, mindset coach and best-selling author Megan Monahan is passionate about making meditation accessible and relatable. Her goal is to infuse a modern-day “realness” into the all too often esoteric landscape of meditation. Since learning to meditate in 2009 with Deepak Chopra and becoming a Chopra-certified instructor, she has taught thousands to meditate through her platform.As a mindset coach and meditation guide, Megan is a senior educator at Unplug Meditation, works with brands like Asics, Goop, Chopra, Lululemon, Wix, Sweetgreen, Netflix and Facebook, and with clients internationally, always bringing her spiritual real talk. Her first book, Don’t Hate, Meditate was published in 2019 by TenSpeed Press.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 BEHINDHEREMPIREFollow Yasmin:* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yasminknouri/* Website: https://www.behindherempire.com/Follow Megan:* Website: https://www.meganmonahan.com/* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/megmonahan/

Fawn Weaver is a serial entrepreneur and NYTimes bestselling author, and when she learned about the story of Uncle Nearest Green — the slave who taught Jack Daniel how to distill whiskey — she decided to create a company that would bring his legacy to life. After learning about Uncle Nearest and Jack Daniel's interconnected history, Fawn followed the story down to Tennessee, which led her to purchase the 300-acre farm in Lynchburg, Tennessee, where Nearest taught Jack how to distill. She initially thought of honoring Nearest's story with a book or movie, but decided the best way to preserve his legacy was with a bottle of the best Tennessee whiskey she could make. With no background in distilling, she threw herself into an industry mostly dominated by white men and a few major corporations. Since they launched, Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey has become the fastest growing whiskey brand in US history, and has over $100+ million in revenue.In our conversation, Fawn discusses the importance of confidence in leadership and success, and what we can all do today to build more confidence in our lives. She shares her early life challenges, from homelessness to suicidal thoughts, and how she overcame the toughest of times and the biggest learnings she had along the way. Fawn talks about the serendipity around her launching her business and the biggest factors that have helped create the incredible growth they’ve seen, and so much more.In this episode, we’ll talk to Fawn about:* How Fawn has cultivated her confidence in the darkest of times. [02:51]* Faith's role in Fawn's confidence. [04:40]* Practical approach to how Fawn overcomes any fear in her life. [06:05]* Handling bad days; giving herself space and having a pray-first approach in everything. [09:58]* Fawn's most impactful experience: Leaving home at 15, third homeless shelter* Fawn's perspective on boundaries and outgrowing people. [26:06]* The pivotal moment when Fawn learned about Uncle Nearest and Jack Daniel's interconnected history and how it inspired her journey. [30:28]* Fawn's whiskey venture epiphany without prior experience. [39:32]* Having an all-women leadership team in a male-dominated spirits industry. [41:51]* Early brand awareness tactics and business growth factors. [46:34]* Fawn’s experience fundraising and how she managed the rejections early on. [50:23]* Finding the gem inside failure and how it builds confidence and strength. [56:49]* The importance of knowing your "Why” when it comes to starting a business. [58:49]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 BEHINDHEREMPIREFollow Yasmin:* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yasminknouri/* Website: https://www.behindherempire.com/Follow Fawn:* Uncle Nearest Website: https://unclenearest.com/* Uncle Nearest Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unclenearest/* Fawn's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fawn.weaver/

If you’re thinking about conceiving, have a diagnosis of PCOS or endometriosis, have experienced miscarriages or are anxious about pregnancy, this episode is for you. We sat down with our medical advisor and fertility expert, Dr. Corina Dunlap, to discuss the who, what, when and how as it relates to preparing the body for a baby.In this episode you’ll learn:* How to optimize your health before conceiving* When you should start preparing your body* Why fertility doesn’t just fall on women* What to eat during preconception* How men can support their sperm healthDr. Corina Dunlap is a licensed naturopathic doctor (ND) and women’s health and hormone specialist. She is the creator of Health by Design, a deeply personalized women’s healthcare program, and The Healthy Hormones Method, a transformational framework for women. Specializing in the treatment of conditions that range from irregular periods to PMS, thyroid imbalances, endometriosis, pelvic pain, and menopause, she is an internationally recognized expert in natural fertility optimization and women’s health at all stages of life. Dr. Dunlap is a clinician, researcher, educator, and speaker.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 BEHINDHEREMPIREFollow Yasmin:* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yasminknouri/* Website: https://www.behindherempire.com/Follow Dr. Corina: * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drcorinadunlap/* Website: https://drcorinadunlap.com/Get Dr. Dunlap’s NEW Preconception by Design course: https://www.healthbydesignnaturopathicllc.com/preconceptionbydesign

In this week's episode we're re-airing one of our top episodes with Sarah Gibson Tuttle, the CEO and founder of Olive & June, an innovative at-home nail-care brand that's disrupting the industry. Risking everything you have to pursue a dream can be the scariest but most rewarding thing a person can do in their life. Today’s guest has done just that. Sarah spent a decade in equity sales trading at Morgan Stanley and JP Morgan. She never thought she'd become an entrepreneur until her love for Drybar inspired her to create the same thing, but for nails. Although everybody thought her idea was crazy, Sarah was confident it would work and put all her savings into the first flagship store. Olive & June is now successfully democratizing nail care with their full suite of at-home mani and pedi products. In today's episode, we talk about how life's curveballs can be the biggest gift to sending you on a new path to rediscover your purpose and Sarah explains what it was like for her to ditch her safe corporate job to follow her passions, what kept her in her previous job for so long, and how her divorce added to her motivation to shake things up. She also shares the fears and imposter syndrome she overcame on the journey and the importance of therapy in her personal and professional life. Tuning in, you’ll hear how Sarah got funding, how she built a strong community around her brand, and how she has successfully pivoted over the years (especially during COVID). She also shares the importance of delegating and how, as a wife, mother, and entrepreneur, she manages it all. For a very vulnerable real conversation on what it takes to build a multimillion-dollar company from scratch, tune in today!In this episode, we’ll talk to Sarah about:* Overcoming career leap obstacles. [03:27]* Sarah's enduring passion through entrepreneurial challenges. [05:31]* Sarah's lengthy tenure as an equity sales trader. [08:52]* How divorce spurred her to shake things up. [12:25]* Building connections, embracing resistance. [17:38]* Therapy, empathy, and the impact of divorce. [22:50]* Overcoming fear and investing life savings. [26:03]* Creating a brand community. [29:02]* Balancing vision and adaptability. [37:05]* Olive & June's pandemic pivot and community support. [38:09]* Sarah's fundraising approach and investor relations. [40:32]* Valuable investment advice appreciated in hindsight. [44:18]* Juggling different life aspects. [48:22]* Team-building, delegation, and relinquishing control. [52:39]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 BEHINDHEREMPIREFollow Yasmin:* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yasminknouri/* Website: https://www.behindherempire.com/Follow Sarah: * Sarah's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gibsontuttle/* Olive & June Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oliveandjune/* Olive & June website: https://oliveandjune.com/* Get 20% off your first nail system - use code: BEHINDHEREMPIRE10

Are you always fighting cravings? Or in a never ending battle with your weight? In today’s episode, we sat down with a Registered Dietitian to get to the bottom of weight loss woes, popular advice, Ozempic, hunger cues and everything you need to know if your goal is to lose and maintain your weight—without depriving yourself.In this episode you’ll learn:* How to take back your relationship with food* Most common weight loss MISTAKES* How to maintain weight in perimenopause* The truth about taking Ozempic* How to STOP sugar cravings fast* Why your hunger cues are offKim Shapira M.S., R.D. is a celebrity dietitian (Kaley CuoCo, Brittney Snow, Marla Sokoloff and many more), nutritional therapist, and author of This is What You're Really Hungry For releasing July 25th, 2023. With a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology from Tulane University and a Master’s degree in Human Metabolism and Clinical Nutrition from Boston University. Kim has spent over 25 years helping people lose weight and keep it off (with a giant emphasis on keeping it off), both in her private Los Angeles practice as well as in hospitals, sports clinics, addiction centers and universities around the States. Kim Shapira has been at the forefront of nutrition therapy since the early 2000s, helping clients to truly understand their relationship with their bodies and correcting life long negative behaviors. Kim has been featured in Yahoo! News, Vanity Fair, Pop Sugar, Sky News, Just Jenny, Dr. Drew and many more.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 BEHINDHEREMPIRE10Follow Yasmin:* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yasminknouri/* Website: https://www.behindherempire.com/Follow Kim: * Website: https://www.kimshapiramethod.com/* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kimshapiramethod/