Behind Her Empire

Tata Harper is the founder of Tata Harper Skincare, a luxury clean beauty brand known for its non-toxic, high-performance products, handcrafted on an organic farm in Vermont.When her stepfather was diagnosed with cancer in 2007, Tata began questioning the safety of everyday products and what she was putting on her own body. This inspired her to develop a skincare line that prioritized natural ingredients, sustainability, and effective results without harmful chemicals. What began as a personal mission in her Vermont kitchen has grown into a globally recognized brand, with products formulated on her organic farm using over 300 raw ingredients sourced from around the world. Today, Tata Harper Skincare is available at top retailers like Sephora, Nordstrom, and Saks, as well as in luxury spas across the globe.In this week’s episode, Tata shares how growing up in Colombia sparked her love for self-care and beauty rituals.Though her mom encouraged her to study industrial engineering, she grew to love it, gaining problem-solving skills that shaped her career. Tata recounts her journey from working in real estate to experimenting on her organic farm, where she created the skincare products she had always imagined.Tata discusses the years of trial and error that went into building her brand and how planning, routines, and community support helped her stay balanced. She shares how she found confidence without a skincare background and offers advice for entrepreneurs starting outside their expertise.We dive into the emotional but strategic decision to sell her company in 2022 and her experience navigating that process. As a mom of three, Tata opens up about the challenges of juggling business and family, highlighting the importance of self-care, friendships, and embracing uncertainty along the way—and much more.In this episode, we’ll talk to Tata about:* Tata’s Colombian upbringing and entrepreneurial drive. [03:49]* Early ventures and key lessons [07:36]* Learning by doing without formal training. [19:45]* Inspiration behind Tata Harper Skincare. [22:00]* Building a manufacturing facility on their farm. [31:27]* Why making a revolutionary product takes time. [34:28]* Tata Harper Skincare’s sustainability efforts. [38:23]* Getting featured in Vogue. [41:40]* Managing business momentum and motherhood. [42:32]* Benefits of a business partner. [53:04]* Balancing business and personal life. [56:01]* Action as an antidote to fear—why staying busy helps. [59:20]* Selling Tata Harper Skincare [01:01:31]This episode is brought to you by Beeya:* If you or anyone you know have been struggling with hormonal imbalances and bad periods, go to https://beeyawellness.com/free to download the free guide to tackling hormonal imbalances and to learn more about Beeya’s seed cycling bundle.* Plus, get $10 off your order by using promo code BEHINDHEREMPIRE10Follow Yasmin:* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yasminknouri/* Website: https://www.behindherempire.com/Follow Tata:* Website: https://tataharperskincare.com/* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tataharperskincare/* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tataharper/

Dr. Julie Chung is the co-founder of T3, a premium hair tool brand known for its sleek, innovative designs that deliver professional-grade styling results.Growing up, Julie always knew she wanted to pursue medicine but had a passion for fashion and beauty as well. It wasn’t until she met her then-boyfriend Kent that her love for beauty was reignited. Their journey began in 2003 when they both realized that Julie would apply skincare and makeup—using only premium products that made her skin glow—only to finish with an inexpensive hair dryer that would ruin her hair. Kent saw her frustration and created their first product: the T3 Featherweight hair dryer. The brand quickly became a hit, selling out multiple times and eventually winning over retailers who were initially hesitant to stock it. Today, the company remains 100% privately owned by both Julie and Kent and is ranked as the #3 hair tools brand in the United States.In this week's episode, we chat with Julie Chung about her journey from medicine to entrepreneurship and how she manages to balance both worlds. Julie shares how embracing uncertainty has been key to thriving as both a physician and co-founder of T3. She opens up about taking a year off from medical school, her parents' concerns, and how that decision ultimately steered her into entrepreneurship. She also reflects on the pivotal moments that led her and her now-husband Kent to launch T3, how they pushed past skeptics who didn’t understand their vision for hair tools, and the challenges of balancing her medical career with building a successful business. Julie discusses her personal journey with infertility, motherhood, and the importance of community among women. She also shares valuable lessons from hiring a CEO, letting go of control, and navigating the ups and downs of running T3 for two decades.In this episode, we’ll talk to Julie about:* Life isn’t always black and white. [03:42]* Julie’s passion for medicine and creativity. [08:13]* Taking a gap year in med school and moving to New York. [10:44]* The unconventional journey to entrepreneurship. [11:53]* How the idea for T3 was born. [13:35]* The early stages of T3. [22:06]* Getting into Sephora in 2016 and other retail stores. [24:18]* The power of word-of-mouth when building a brand. [26:59]* Being fully self-funded since 2004. [29:03]* Learning to let go of control. [36:57]* Julie's relationship with comparison. [41:59]* Taking a year off and moving to London in 2020. [47:54]* Misconceptions about starting a business. [56:48]* Lessons from hiring a new CEO. [59:42]This episode is brought to you by Beeya:* If you or anyone you know have been struggling with hormonal imbalances and bad periods, go to https://beeyawellness.com/free to download the free guide to tackling hormonal imbalances and to learn more about Beeya’s seed cycling bundle.* Plus, get $10 off your order by using promo code BEHINDHEREMPIRE10Follow Yasmin:* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yasminknouri/* Website: https://www.behindherempire.com/Follow Dr. Julie:* Website: https://t3micro.com/* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/t3micro/* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/juliechung_t3/

Ann McFerran is the founder and CEO of Glamnetic, a Los Angeles-based beauty brand that specializes in magnetic lashes, press-on nails, and eyeliners.Ann immigrated from Thailand to the U.S. when she was 7, joining her mom in a small California town where she was one of the only Asian kids in the area. Although she felt different and self-conscious, she found comfort and a sense of control in wearing false lashes, which helped her feel like she belonged. In 2019, Ann identified a gap in the beauty market for magnetic eyelashes, and with no business experience, she taught herself everything from product development to marketing, and founded Glamnetic from her small LA apartment with just a few thousand dollars. To get her business off the ground, she bootstrapped it, even offering free pizza to anyone willing to help pack and ship products. In July 2019, Glamnetic launched, and by 2021, Ann had sold over 1.5 million sets of nails, generated $50 million in sales, and achieved all of this while remaining completely self-funded.In this week’s episode, Ann opens up about her tough childhood in Thailand, the challenges of moving to the U.S., and the lessons she learned about stress and resilience. She shares how she went against her family’s expectations and made the bold decision to leave pre-med in college to pursue her passion for art and entrepreneurship. Ann discusses the early days of building her business from her Koreatown apartment, how creativity and visualization helped her manifest her goals, and the exact steps she took to create her first product – from finding suppliers to marketing the product with no money. She also shares how the business grew exponentially since its launch, and the challenges that come with that, how she navigated imposter syndrome along the way, how her definition of success is ever-changing, and so much more.In this episode, we’ll talk to Ann about:* Ann’s childhood and upbringing [03:17]* Moving to America and witnessing a new life for herself. [09:33]* Life as a Thai immigrant and family expectations. [10:46]* Pursuing a career as an artist. [12:35]* The inspiration behind Glamnetic. [17:11] * Funding the first order and launching with 100 units. [22:39]* Early launch strategy & hitting over $1M monthly. [25:30]* Hiring the right people is crucial for growth. [33:06]* Approach in handling business challenges. [39:11]* How Ann met her business partner. [42:42]* Challenges in scaling the business. [45:59]* The evolving definition of success. [52:32]* Visualizing to manifest goals. [57:10]This episode is brought to you by Beeya:* If you or anyone you know have been struggling with hormonal imbalances and bad periods, go to https://beeyawellness.com/free to download the free guide to tackling hormonal imbalances and to learn more about Beeya’s seed cycling bundle.* Plus, get $10 off your order by using promo code BEHINDHEREMPIRE10Follow Yasmin:* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yasminknouri/* Website: https://www.behindherempire.com/Follow Ann:* Website: https://www.glamnetic.com/* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/glamnetic/* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themodernartista/

Feeling overwhelmed and always tired? You’re not alone, and it doesn’t have to be this way. In this episode with Dr. Amy Shah, we explore powerful strategies to combat burnout and boost your energy. Don’t settle for feeling “normal”—watch this to learn how to effectively manage sugar cravings, align your lifestyle with nature's rhythms, and reclaim your vitality with her practical tips.In this episode you’ll learn: * Hormone basics for all life stages* The truth about adrenal fatigue* How to combat sugar cravings* The role of dopamine in cravings* When women should and shouldn’t fast* And more…Dr. Amy Shah is an MD and nutrition specialist. She works in clinical medicine, allergy/immunology, and over the last 10 years has developed a world-renowned wellness education platform, written bestselling books, and has been featured on The Today Show, Good Morning America, Mel Robbins Podcast, and Ed Mylett Podcast. She has worked with companies like Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan, Alo, and more. She works to discover less invasive interventions, promote wellness, and teach others how to impact their health via nutrition and exercise—using medication as a last resort. Her goal is to empower people to “save themselves” through nutrition and lifestyle changes.This episode is brought to you by Beeya:* If you or anyone you know have been struggling with hormonal imbalances and bad periods, go to https://beeyawellness.com/free to download the free guide to tackling hormonal imbalances and to learn more about Beeya’s seed cycling bundle.* Plus, get $10 off your order by using promo code BEHINDHEREMPIRE10Follow Yasmin:* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yasminknouri/* Website: https://www.behindherempire.com/Follow Dr. Amy:* Website: https://amymdwellness.com/* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fastingmd/

Grace Na is the founder and creative director of Pistola, a LA-based premium denim label offering contemporary ready-to-wear collections designed by women for women who are going places. Grace started her career in fashion as a planner at the department store Mervyn’s and quickly climbed the ranks in the industry, eventually landing an executive role at BCBG. Along the way, she realized there was a big gap in the market for denim designed for women that was stylish, functional, and accessible. She left her corporate career and launched Pistola in 2013 to fill that void. Over a decade later, Pistola is now an eight-figure business with a growing direct-to-consumer channel and has placement in top retailers like Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, and Shopbop.In this episode, Grace shares her journey growing up with immigrant parents, the valuable lessons she learned, and how early career rejections led her to pursue a job in the fashion industry. We discuss how she ideated the concept for Pistola and the key factors that fueled its year-over-year growth since they launched. Grace also reflects on the brand’s hypergrowth during the pandemic and the many challenges that came with it. Throughout the conversation, she emphasizes the importance of self-care in sustaining the life of a founder and mother of three, as well as the leadership skills needed to manage a growing team. We also chat about how to build an authentic brand, what people get wrong in entrepreneurship, the importance of community when building your business, and so much more. In this episode, we’ll talk to Grace about:* Grace’s upbringing and early fascination with fashion. [03:07]* Career path: from finance to fashion. [07:07]* How early career experiences shaped Grace’s entrepreneurial mindset. [10:52]* The first steps in building her brand. [17:47]* Taking the leap and going all-in with Pistola. [21:09]* Building self-confidence in the early stage of business. [23:42]* Challenges faced in running a family business. [27:26]* How to market & create brand authenticity. [32:45]* Transitioning from wholesale to direct-to-consumer. [35:21]* Navigating hypergrowth during the pandemic. [37:55]* The importance of self-care. [42:01]* Key entrepreneurial lesson: nothing in life is perfect. [49:45]* Pistola's spotlight: Greta Gerwig wearing the pink jumpsuit on the Barbie set. [52:22]* Lessons learned in leadership and resilience. [55:05]* Future plans for Pistola. [59:49]This episode is brought to you by Beeya:* If you or anyone you know have been struggling with hormonal imbalances and bad periods, go to https://beeyawellness.com/free to download the free guide to tackling hormonal imbalances and to learn more about Beeya’s seed cycling bundle.* Plus, get $10 off your order by using promo code BEHINDHEREMPIRE10Follow Yasmin:* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yasminknouri/* Website: https://www.behindherempire.com/Follow Grace:* Website: https://www.pistoladenim.com/* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pistoladenim/* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/grey_slim/

Ripley Rader is the founder and CEO of Ripley Rader, a dynamic and innovative apparel company dedicated to creating stylish, high-quality clothing.Ripley started her career performing on Broadway before moving to Los Angeles, never imagining she would one day start a clothing brand. While working multiple jobs to make ends meet in LA, she continued making her own outfits out of necessity because it was what she could afford. What began as a personal hobby turned into a life-changing opportunity when she wore one of her handmade jumpsuits to a concert, where a buyer from Fred Segal noticed her design. This chance encounter launched her fashion brand, which has since gained a reputation for its inclusive, stylish, and comfortable pieces, especially their viral pants. Her clothing has been embraced by celebrities like Amy Schumer and Gigi Hadid and is proudly made in America, with a focus on using high-quality fabrics that ensure a perfect fit and long-lasting wear.In this week’s episode, Ripley shares the early challenges of growing her brand, from celebrating small wins like selling 20 units a week to managing the business as it skyrocketed many years later. She emphasizes the importance of separating your identity from your business success, staying true to your mission and authentic self, and avoiding the comparison game in entrepreneurship. Ripley also talks about the freedom that comes with pushing past fears and limiting beliefs, and how she’s stayed true to her brand in the ever-changing world of fashion. She discusses her biggest business challenges, why she doesn’t believe in competition, and the importance of finding personal fulfillment in life and work, versus chasing external markers of success—and so much more.In this episode, we’ll talk to Ripley about:* The power of not knowing and not being the “expert” when starting a business. [02:54]* Life before entrepreneurship: Working in Broadway. [11:31]* How Ripley self-funded the business. [17:45]* How Ripley deals with “no’s” and rejections. [22:29]* The biggest challenges faced in the business. [27:05]* Starting a business and making sacrifices. [29:23]* Realities of being a founder. [32:07]* Nine years of building the brand and what went into it. [36:38]* Pivoting during the pandemic. [38:00]* Investing in marketing. [39:30]* The success of the “viral pants”. [42:03]* The challenge of scaling. [48:45]* The importance of defining success on your own terms. [54:55]* How to get clear on what you really want. [56:42]This episode is brought to you by Beeya:* If you or anyone you know have been struggling with hormonal imbalances and bad periods, go to https://beeyawellness.com/free to download the free guide to tackling hormonal imbalances and to learn more about Beeya’s seed cycling bundle.* Plus, get $10 off your order by using promo code BEHINDHEREMPIRE10Follow Yasmin:* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yasminknouri/* Website: https://www.behindherempire.com/Follow Ripley:* Website: https://ripleyrader.com/* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shopripleyrader/* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ripleyrader/

Today, we’re tackling a question that many of us find pretty complicated: “What’s your relationship with food?” To help us unravel the nuances, we sat down with two doctors who share their personal experience and dish out how food can sneakily influence our lives.In this episode you’ll learn: * How to know when food is controlling your life* What your cravings are trying to tell you* How thoughts about food can affect its impact* Strategies for healing your relationship with food* And more…Tanda Cook is a naturopathic physician, food expert, published author, international speaker, blogger, health coach and farmer who is wildly passionate about educating and inspiring women to take steps towards health. Dr. Katie Collier is a naturopathic physician with a shared mission. Together, these practitioners work to help people feel their best in both clinical practice and their monthly class, The Soapbox Docs.Follow Yasmin:* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yasminknouri/* Website: https://www.behindherempire.com/Follow Dr. Tanda:* Website: https://drtandacook.com/* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drtandacook/Follow Dr. Katie:* Website: https://drkatiecollier.com/* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drkatiecollier/

Mari Llewellyn is the founder of Bloom Nutrition, a health supplement company designed to help everyone bloom into their best selves. Although she is now a renowned expert, serial entrepreneur, and influencer in the health and fitness industry, her journey wasn’t always this way.During her college years, Mari weighed 250 pounds and was diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder. This marked the lowest point in her life. Realizing that something had to change, she turned to fitness, which became her passion. This journey ultimately planted the seed for what would eventually become her company, Bloom Nutrition. In her early days of getting healthy, she walked into a GNC and noticed that most products were geared toward men. In response, she and her husband launched Bloom in 2019 to fill that gap. Fast forward to today, Bloom ships over 100,000 orders a month and is the top-selling greens powder on Amazon, amassing more than 100 million views on TikTok each month.In this episode, Mari shares her story from growing up and hitting rock bottom in college to dropping out and completely transforming her life. We dive into how she lost 90 pounds and the critical role nutrition played in improving her mental and physical well-being. Mari also discusses how a single Instagram post, when she had just 900 followers, sparked the growth of her brand and community. Although she didn't plan on becoming an entrepreneur, her passion for sharing her story led her to start a business selling PDF fitness guides, which later expanded to resistance bands from her dad's attic.Mari gives a behind-the-scenes look at launching Bloom, covering challenges like product pivots, rejections from retailers like Target and Walmart, and how they eventually succeeded. We discuss the power of influencer marketing, building a community, managing multiple businesses, launching a podcast, and so much more.In this episode, we’ll talk to Mari about:* Mari's struggles with mental health. [03:03]* Her diagnosis of borderline personality disorder. [06:33]* Mari’s fitness journey of losing 90 pounds. [12:31]* Posting her before-and-after photos on Instagram. [20:07]* Organic growth and community building in business. [22:47]* The success of Bloom’s PDF guide. [24:59]* Development of Bloom’s popular greens powder. [31:07]* Securing product placements in Target and Walmart. [33:40]* The influencer program & how it impacted their growth. [38:25]* The biggest challenges in scaling the business. [42:13]* Bringing in a business partner and future plans for Bloom. [49:07]This episode is brought to you by Beeya:* If you or anyone you know have been struggling with hormonal imbalances and bad periods, go to https://beeyawellness.com/free to download the free guide to tackling hormonal imbalances and to learn more about Beeya’s seed cycling bundle.* Plus, get $10 off your order by using promo code BEHINDHEREMPIRE10Follow Yasmin:* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yasminknouri/* Website: https://www.behindherempire.com/Follow Mari:* Website: https://bloomnu.com/* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bloomsupps/* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marillewellyn/