Dear FoundHer...

No one tells you that scaling a business while raising kids means choosing which fire to put out daily.From hand-blending baby food to building a thriving national franchise, Tara Gilad shares how motherhood sparked the idea for Vitality Bowls and how grit, intuition, and smart decisions powered its growth. She walks through the early days of self-funding and flying blind without a marketing team or social media, what franchising really requires, and how she’s learned to lead without sacrificing her health. Tara also opens up about the hard lessons around hiring, the power of asking for help, and why a supportive network isn’t optional, but a requirement.Whether you’re growing your first business or juggling multiple roles, this episode is packed with insights on scaling with purpose, staying grounded, and building a business that still lights you up over a decade in.Episode Breakdown:00:00 Introduction03:00 Meet Tara Gilad, founder of Vitality Bowls04:00 From homemade baby food to a national franchise06:00 Building Vitality Bowls09:00 Balancing motherhood and entrepreneurship11:00 Rapid growth, franchising, and team-building14:00 What makes Vitality Bowls different17:00 Franchise marketing strategies then vs. now21:00 How to franchise: legal, logistics + lessons learned26:00 Why asking for help matters28:00 Personal growth, boundaries, and burnout prevention33:00 Launching Harvest Kitchen: their new virtual brand38:00 Advice for aspiring founders + what’s next for TaraConnect with Tara Gilad:http://www.instagram.com/vitalitybowls http://www.instagram.com/taragiladMMS sign up: https://www.lindsaypinchuk.com/mmsspring2025Dear FoundHer... on Tour: https://www.dearfoundher.com/tourDear FoundHer Forum: https://www.dearfoundher.com/dear-foundher-forumDon't forget to follow Lindsay on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lindsaypinchukPodcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

Aliett Buttelman didn’t wait for a big break; she built one herself and turned a glitter freckle into a seven-figure moment.Lindsay Pinchuk sits down with Fazit co-founder Aliett Buttelman to talk about how a scrappy, self-funded beauty brand ended up on Taylor Swift’s face, and what happened next. From a background in modeling and a degree from Columbia to an unexpected pivot into product development, Aliett shares how she and her co-founder Nina trusted their instincts and created a product that caught fire during Coachella weekend. That early traction led to a viral moment seen by millions and a surge in sales.How does a small team pull something like this off without a PR agency or outside funding? What turns a viral spike into lasting growth? Aliett breaks down the moves that mattered most, including their approach to seeding, their packaging strategy, and the retail partnerships that followed, including Urban Outfitters and CVS. She also reflects on what it means to stay lean and human in the middle of rapid growth.This conversation is packed with lessons for anyone trying to create their own momentum, and proof that a well-timed idea, executed with intention, can change everything.Episode Breakdown:00:00 Introduction07:11 Founding Fazit10:00 Early Success and Challenges13:14 Building Brand Awareness on TikTok17:00 Importance of Seeding Product20:10 Viral Success with Makeup Patches22:20 Taylor Swift’s Impact on Fazit25:20 Scrappiness and Resourcefulness in Business31:11 Innovation and Future Product Development36:20 Importance of Authenticity in Marketing39:15 Embracing Imperfection in Marketing44:08 Actionable Advice for Female FoundersConnect with Aliett Buttelman:http://www.instagram.com/aliettbuttshttp://www.instagram.com/fazitbeautyMMS sign up: https://www.lindsaypinchuk.com/mmsspring2025Dear FoundHer... on Tour: https://www.dearfoundher.com/tourDear FoundHer Forum: https://www.dearfoundher.com/dear-foundher-forumDon't forget to follow Lindsay on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lindsaypinchukPodcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

Building a successful brand takes more than a great product. It takes showing up, sharing your story, and earning trust, day after day.Lindsay Pinchuk sits down with Ali Bonar, the co-founder and the CEO of Oat Haus, to talk about turning personal struggles into a business with real impact. After spending years battling an eating disorder, Ali wanted to change how people experience food. That journey led her to create granola butter, the world’s first oat-based spread. Now, Oat Haus products are stocked in over 5,000 stores, including Target and Whole Foods. But getting there wasn’t easy.Ali shares what it took to bring a completely new product to market, why consistency matters more than overnight success, and how social media became a powerful tool for connection and credibility. She also reflects on her experience on Shark Tank and why not getting a deal turned out to be a blessing.What does it really take to grow a business in a crowded industry? How do you build trust with customers before they even try your product? Ali’s story offers answers. If you’re an entrepreneur wondering how to stand out and keep going, this episode is for you.Episode Breakdown:00:00 Introduction05:30 Ali’s Journey and Inspiration09:00 Early Challenges and Development11:00 Bringing on a Culinary Expert13:00 Initial Production and Scaling Up15:30 Marketing and Customer Education17:00 Leveraging Social Media for Growth19:00 Authenticity and Building Trust23:00 The Myth of the Big Break25:00 Importance of Telling Your Story27:00 Current Scale and Retail Presence29:00 The Role of Press and PR31:00 Shark Tank Experience35:00 Funding and Investment Strategy37:00 Profitability and Lean Operations39:00 Challenges and Realities of Being a Founder41:00 Marketing to Moms and SchoolsConnect with Ali Bonar:https://www.instagram.com/alibonarhttp://www.instagram.com/oat.hausGet on the Marketing Made Simple Waitlist: https://lindsaypinchuk.myflodesk.com/waitlistDear FoundHer Forum: https://www.dearfoundher.com/dear-foundher-forumDon't forget to follow Lindsay on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lindsaypinchukPodcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

In this episode, Lindsay Pinchuk discusses her Marketing Made Simple program and the SWEEP method, which focuses on utilizing social media, websites, emails, events, partnerships, and publicity to grow small businesses. She emphasizes the importance of consistency, community engagement, and practical steps that entrepreneurs can take to enhance their marketing strategies. The episode provides actionable insights for small business owners looking to improve their marketing efforts and build a strong brand presence.Join the Dear FoundHer Forum: https://www.dearfoundher.com/dear-foundher-forumGet on the waitlist for Marketing Made Simple for Small Business:https://lindsaypinchuk.myflodesk.com/waitlistDon't forget to follow Lindsay and Dear FoundHer... on Instagram: Interested in Flodesk? Here's 50% off your first year.

Success isn’t always smooth, and Laura Geller knows that firsthand. She built a beauty empire, but the road to get there was filled with financial setbacks, employee betrayals, and the constant pressure of running a business.Lindsay Pinchuk sits down with Laura, the founder of Laura Geller Beauty, to talk about the moments that defined her journey. How did a New York City makeup artist with no business background end up creating a brand that changed the beauty industry? What hard lessons did she learn along the way? Laura shares the highs and lows of opening her first store in Manhattan, struggling to keep up with a rapidly growing business, and learning the realities of managing people and money.In 1997, everything shifted when QVC entered the picture. The opportunity to sell her products on a national platform gave Laura the resources to create her own formulations and connect with customers on a larger scale. She reflects on the power of storytelling, the trust she built with her audience, and why authenticity matters more than ever.Laura also opens up about selling a majority stake in her company, the unexpected challenges of private equity, and the decisions she would make differently today. Her insights on mentorship, resilience, and trusting your instincts are lessons every entrepreneur can learn from.Join Lindsay and Laura for an honest conversation filled with hard-earned wisdom and advice that can help founders avoid common pitfalls.Episode Breakdown:00:00 Introduction05:20 Laura Geller’s Early Career10:05 Opening the Makeup Studio12:13 The Impact of QVC17:01 Learning Through Mistakes20:08 Challenges with Employees24:25 Selling a Majority Stake32:19 Navigating the Sale Process36:11 The Happy Ending40:14 Gratitude to Her ParentsConnect with Laura Geller:http://www.instagram.com/lauragellerbeautyhttp://www.instagram.com/laurajgeller Get on the Marketing Made Simple Waitlist: https://lindsaypinchuk.myflodesk.com/waitlistDon't forget to follow Lindsay on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lindsaypinchukPodcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

Join the Dear FoundHer... Forum to build your business with the support of a community who truly gets it. The Dear FoundHer… Forum is exclusively for female entrepreneurs over forty who are building, growing, or scaling their businesses. There’s no gatekeeping here—just actionable support, real conversations, and access to insights that truly matter. Use the code FOUNDHER for 20% OFF. Click here to check out about the networking community everyone's talking about. In this episode, Lindsay Pinchuk discusses the importance of building a community around your brand and the realities of growing a business. Lindsay outlines big picture steps for launching a business or a new product or service, emphasizing the need for consistency and using her SWEEP method for content marketing. SWEEP, utilizes your Social Media, Website, Emails, Events, Partnerships + Publicity to generate and execute, cost effective, community-centric marketing strategies that grow your brand.Lindsay introduces this concept in today's episode and challenges the listener to think about how they can apply it to their own marketing practices in business. Tomorrow she'll be back with more micro level tips on applying SWEEP to your own business. Join the Dear FoundHer Forum: https://www.dearfoundher.com/dear-foundher-forumGet on the waitlist for Marketing Made Simple for Small Business:https://lindsaypinchuk.myflodesk.com/waitlistDon't forget to follow Lindsay and Dear FoundHer... on Instagram: