Share

Ladies Who Launch
Ep 62: How I Turned Instagram Followers Into A Global Fashion Empire ft Matilda Djerf
How did Matilda Djerf go from posting outfit photos in her bedroom to launching a global fashion brand in Selfridges? In this episode of Ladies Who Launch, she sits down with Rochelle Humes to reveal the reality behind the "influencer to founder" pipeline.
They pull back the curtain on the reality of the "influencer to founder" pipeline. Matilda opens up about the early days of building her profile online, the vulnerability of sharing personal struggles with millions of followers, and exactly how she launched Djerf Avenue with a lean team during a global pandemic.
In this episode, we cover:
- How Matilda recognised the opportunity to build an online profile
- The balance of sharing personal struggles while building an online profile and running a business
- Launching Djerf Avenue with a small team during the pandemic
- How to hire the right people who protect your culture
- Knowing when to step away and hire for the role of CEO
- The journey to launching Djerf Avenue in Selfridges
If you are an aspiring founder or content creator, this conversation is a masterclass in staying true to your vision while scaling a business.
We Are Ladies Who Launch!
CHAPTERS
00:00 Introduction to Matilda Djerf
06:49 Early Influences and Aspirations
13:59 Discovering Social Media
16:21 Building an Online Presence
20:58 Transitioning to a Full-Time Influencer
30:14 Founding a Business
30:47 The Birth of Djerf Avenue
34:46 The Big Idea: Starting Our Own Brand
44:35 Navigating a New Business in the Pandemic
48:28 Building a Strong Team
52:58 Hiring a CEO
58:03 Entering Retail: The Selfridges Launch
01:02:24 Balancing Personal and Professional Life
01:04:00 The Importance of Authenticity and Brand DNA
01:09:07 Future Plans and Exciting Collaborations
01:12:09 Rocket Round: Insights and Reflections
🔔 New episodes every Wednesday — subscribe so you never miss a launch.
FOLLOW MATILDA
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/matildadjerf/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@matildadjerf
DJerf Avenue: https://www.instagram.com/djerfavenue/
FOLLOW US
Instagram: www.instagram.com/weareladieswholaunch/
TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@weareladieswholaunch
YouTube: www.youtube.com/@Weareladieswholaunch
More episodes
View all episodes

66. Ep 66: Scaling, Pregnancy & Endometriosis: The Reality of Being Stef Williams
01:23:14||Ep. 66Stef Williams transitioned from a macro fitness influencer with over 2.2M followers to a serious tech founder building for a huge exit. She is the founder of WeGlow and SEFI, and reveals the unfiltered reality of scaling a digital empire while navigating severe endometriosis and pregnancy.In this episode of Ladies Who Launch, we dive deep into the build of Stef’s business, unpacking exactly how she evolved her relationship with social media to stay relevant in an ever-shifting digital landscape. What we cover:Staying relevant in the ever evolving world of social mediaAdapting to training and lifestyle with Endemetriosis The journey of how WeGlow started Stef’s evolving relationship with social media Building business for an exit Balancing pregnancy with career & business We Are Ladies Who Launch! CHAPTERS00:00 Introduction to Stef Williams02:01 Early Instagram Fitness Era06:34 Branching Beyond Workouts12:27 Endometriosis and Body Pressures18:45 From Creator to Founder23:53 Building Teams and Hiring Lessons30:17 Product Business Hard Lessons38:09 Why Subscription Business Models Win43:43 WeGlow Vision and Women’s Health45:15 Cycle Syncing Workouts51:29 Building A Brand Beyond You55:47 Pregnancy Pressures01:10:59 Trust Your Gut When Hiring01:13:37 Dream Collabs And Mentors01:19:16 Stef’s Dream LunchWhether you are a marketer trying to understand community-led growth or a founder designing a business to sell, Stef shares the realities of what it’s like to build at scale. 🔔 New episodes every Wednesday — subscribe so you never miss a launch.FOLLOW STEFInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/stef.williams/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@stefanie_williamsFOLLOW USInstagram: www.instagram.com/weareladieswholaunch/TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@weareladieswholaunchYouTube: www.youtube.com/@Weareladieswholaunch
65. Ep 65: The Truth About What Really Happened with Plantmade ft Ama Hill
01:17:20||Ep. 65In this episode of Ladies Who Launch, Rochelle sits down with Ama Hill, the founder of Plantmade, to finally share her side of the story. From rapid growth to going to business administration, this is the raw, unfiltered truth behind one of the most talked-about brand controversies in recent years.Ama opens up about what was really happening behind the scenes as Plantmade scaled, the cashflow pressures that many founders underestimate, and the exact moment she realised the business was in serious trouble. She breaks down the realities of administration, what actually happened when the new owner took over Plantmade, and how it feels to watch the company you built be run without you.This conversation goes beyond the headlines and social media speculation. It’s an honest look at the emotional, legal and financial realities of losing Plantmade and what it takes to rebuild your identity and confidence as a founder afterwards.We Are Ladies Who Launch! CHAPTERS00:00 Introduction03:02 Rewinding to March pressure05:44 Administration day 09:13 How the debt started15:35 Falling into the scale trap25:38 Failed promises and roles of the restructure 32:21 Choosing administrators and buyers38:52 The uncertainty post business sale40:29 Relaunch red flags43:03 Contracts, equity and legal49:58 Communication failures 52:57 Juggling a wedding and business breakdown58:36 Responding to ownership claims01:02:31 Moving on to what’s next01:09:36 Founder advice and self trust01:14:35 Lessons from Plantmade🔔 New episodes every Wednesday — subscribe so you never miss a launch.FOLLOW AMAInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/amaa__official/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@amaamoagyeiFOLLOW USInstagram: www.instagram.com/weareladieswholaunch/TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@weareladieswholaunchYouTube: www.youtube.com/@Weareladieswholaunch
64. Ep 64: Behind Atlantis The Royal’s Beyoncé Launch ft Hanan Eissa
42:42||Ep. 64In this week's Ladies Who Launch episode, Rochelle sits down with Hanan Eissa, the powerhouse Marketing Director behind some of the most iconic moments in hospitality history including launching Dubai’s Atlantis The Royal with Beyoncé, unveiling the hotel to the world.Together, they unpack what it really takes to build and launch a world-class destination brand that never blends into the noise.In this episode, we cover: • The behind-the-scenes of launching Atlantis with Beyoncé – from concept to global headlines • The exact principles behind marketing a world-class launch and how you can apply them to your own brand, product, or campaign • How to scale your brand Globally • Why having the right team is non-negotiable for high-stakes launches • How to get brand partnerships right and the common mistakes brands still makeIf you’re a founder, marketer, or brand leader looking to elevate your launch strategy, secure meaningful partnerships, and build campaigns that people actually talk about, this episode is your new masterclass.We Are Ladies Who Launch! CHAPTERS00:00 Introduction 06:56 Inside Atlantis The Royal Launch10:25 The Moment Beyonce Said Yes15:16 How To Create A Global Story17:42 Marketing Principles for Startups20:10 Creating An Authentic Brand 23:15 Launch Lessons Learned30:32 Enjoy Success Milestones36:58 How To Pitch Like An Underdog39:50 What’s Next For Atlantis🔔 New episodes every Wednesday — subscribe so you never miss a launch.FOLLOW HANAN Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hananeissa?igsh=OWw0azBvazhsdWt0LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hananeissa/FOLLOW USInstagram: www.instagram.com/weareladieswholaunch/TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@weareladieswholaunchYouTube: www.youtube.com/@Weareladieswholaunch
63. Ep 63: From L’Oréal to Glow Recipe | Sarah Lee’s Exact Path to a $300M Beauty Empire
01:25:34||Ep. 63Glow Recipe co-founder, Sarah Lee, joins Ladies Who Launch to share how she built a $300M beauty brand by rewriting the rules of Korean skincare. From landing her dream first job at L’Oréal and moving to NYC, to navigating intense work culture and building the foundations of her career, Sarah breaks down the pivotal experiences that prepared her to become a founder. Inside the episode, Sarah opens up about the exact path to starting Glow Recipe, their journey on Shark Tank, finding the right Co-Founder and how they set out to change the global narrative around K-beauty.In this episode, we cover: Key insights from working inside a legacy beauty giant (L’Oreal) to building a startupHow Sarah identified white space in the U.S. market for Korean skincareTaking the Leap: Leaving L’Oréal & Launching Glow RecipeGlow Recipe's Shark Tank JourneyGoing from DTC to Sephora ShelvesEvolving the Glow Recipe Brand & Category LeadershipIf you’re curious about building a beauty, consumer or community-led brand, this conversation is packed with honest and relatable formulas and behind-the-scenes insight that you can adopt and feed into your strategy.We Are Ladies Who Launch! CHAPTERS00:00 Meet Sarah Lee: Glow Recipe Co-Founder & Co CEO03:17 From Watermelon Rind to Watermelon Glow: Ingredient Inspiration05:27 Landing the Dream Job at L’Oréal Korea & Learning the Beauty Business16:56 Finding her Co-Founder & Spotting the K-Beauty Gap in the US Market22:22 Quitting L’Oréal & Taking The Leap29:42 The Shark Tank Experience41:05 Choosing Mentorship vs. Money45:44 Dealing with Sell Out Product47:07 The Glow Recipe Partnership with Sephora54:18 Reacting to Viral Product Moments01:00:37 How the Co-CEO System Works01:06:15 $300M Business & What’s Next01:17:31 Founder Advice & How to Build Good Company Culture🔔 New episodes every Wednesday — subscribe so you never miss a launch.FOLLOW GLOW RECIPEInstagram: www.instagram.com/sarah_glowGlow Recipe Instagram: www.instagram.com/glowrecipeGlow Recipe TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@glowrecipeFOLLOW USInstagram: www.instagram.com/weareladieswholaunch/TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@weareladieswholaunchYouTube: www.youtube.com/@Weareladieswholaunch
61. Ep 61: The Truth Behind My Perfect Feed: Imposter Syndrome, Debt and Doubt
01:29:23||Ep. 61In this episode of Ladies Who Launch, we celebrate one of the most incredible "glow-up" stories in the influencer industry. From humble beginnings to becoming a powerhouse brand founder, Perrie Sian reveals the blueprint behind her success. This conversation isn't just about making money; it's about dreaming big, showing up relentlessly, and proving that where you start doesn't dictate where you finish.Perrie opens up about the transformative power of consistency and how she turned a passion for fashion into a multi-million pound empire. She shares the pivotal moments of her career from landing her first game-changing brand collaboration to the exact mindset that helped her sell out collections in minutes.In this episode, we cover:The incredible journey from humble beginnings to industry icon.Why showing up every day is the secret to building an empire.Perrie’s secrets to connecting deeply with millions of people.Finding the right Co-Founder in Adam FrisbyHow Perrie achieved the "impossible" £1M revenue in 20 minutes.How to turn self-doubt into fuel for your ambition.Learning to accept compliments and enjoy the journey.If you’ve ever felt like you’re "faking it" despite your hard work, or you want to know what it really takes to scale a personal brand to 7 figures, this conversation is for you.We Are Ladies Who Launch! CHAPTERS00:00 Introduction to Perrie Sian06:17 Career Beginnings and Retail Experience09:23 Transition to Content Creation12:40 Rise to Social Media Fame16:24 Navigating Influencer Life31:23 Overcoming Imposter Syndrome33:02 The Journey to Founding a Brand37:12 The Challenges of Launching a Fashion Brand 38:44 Running reasn with Adam Frisby45:05 Reflecting on Personal and Professional Growth59:07 Perrie Sian’s Primark Partnership01:03:28 Redefining Success and Personal Growth01:15:55 The Dream Collaboration and Future Plans01:18:13 Mentorship and Inspiration from Taylor Swift01:24:53 Perrie’s Lunch Hour and Daily Routine🔔 New episodes every Wednesday — subscribe so you never miss a launch.FOLLOW PERRIEInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/perriesian/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@perriesianreasn: https://www.instagram.com/reasn/FOLLOW USInstagram: www.instagram.com/weareladieswholaunch/TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@weareladieswholaunchYouTube: www.youtube.com/@Weareladieswholaunch
60. Ep 60: Inside ILIA’s Growth: The Realities Of Building A Beauty Brand
01:00:02||Ep. 60When is the bravest move as a founder to step back instead of push harder? In this episode, ILIA cosmetics founder, Sasha Plavsic, shares how letting go of the CEO role became the key to truly scaling the brand and what that decision revealed about growth, control, and identity as a founder.We go behind the scenes of ILIA’s journey from early experiments in “clean beauty” to becoming one of the most recognisable brands in the category. Sasha opens up about the unglamorous realities of building a beauty business, the emotional cost of growth, and what it actually looks like to hand over the reins to someone else.In this episode, we cover:How Sasha’s formative years shaped the vision for ILIAThe beginning of clean beauty and what it took to stand out in a new categoryThe realities of scaling a beauty brand Raising money as a female founder Why Sasha decided to bring in a CEO, and how she knew it was time to step backNavigating balance as a woman in business, leadership, and lifeIf you’re a founder, entrepreneur or brand builder who’s ever wondered whether holding on is secretly holding you back, this conversation is for you.We Are Ladies Who Launch! CHAPTERS00:00 Introduction to Sasha Plasik and ILIA Beauty05:17 School Years and Early Career Aspirations11:24 The Birth of ILIA Beauty19:14 Early Business Challenges and Breakthroughs26:10 Scaling Challenges and Operational Growth32:49 Balancing Personal Life and Business35:24 Selling ILIA Beauty37:03 Bringing In a CEO44:16 Future Plans and Product Development46:31 Rapid Fire Questions56:11 Final Thoughts and Advice for Entrepreneurs🔔 New episodes every Wednesday — subscribe so you never miss a launch.FOLLOW SASHAInstagram:https://www.instagram.com/sashaplavsic/https://www.instagram.com/iliabeauty/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@iliabeauty?lang=en-GBFOLLOW USInstagram: www.instagram.com/weareladieswholaunch/TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@weareladieswholaunchYouTube: www.youtube.com/@Weareladieswholaunch
59. Ep 59: 3 Mindset Shifts To Rewire Your Brain For Success ft Izzy Utterson
01:01:19||Ep. 59This week, Rochelle Humes sits down with mindset coach Izzy Utterson for a much-needed conversation about the person behind the performance, especially for founders, business owners, and women constantly on the go. Together, we break down why self-care is so often put on the back burner, the myths around what self-care “should” actually look like, and the trap of chasing productivity at the expense of your well-being.Izzy shares actionable tips for building sustainable habits that nourish your body and mind. We dive deep into setting boundaries, protecting your energy, and how to find time in your day for you. We also chat about digital boundaries, the power of positive self-talk, and why progress starts with tiny, realistic steps. In this episode, we cover:Why “self-care isn’t just a face mask” and what’s actually essentialManaging burnout and energy for founders & busy womenSetting boundaries (without the guilt) in business and lifeMicro-habits and practical rituals to reset your mindsetBuilding a Positive Self-Concept and Protecting Your EnergyBook recommendations including “The Mountain Is You” and “Atomic Habits”Morning and evening routines that really workWhether you’re feeling burned out or just want to find practical ways to fill up your cup, this episode is packed with wisdom, helpful hacks, and accessible tips. Get ready to rethink your approach to self-care and pick up some small but mighty changes you can make today.We Are Ladies Who Launch! CHAPTERS00:00 Introduction01:05 The Importance of Self-Care for Founders03:21 The Evolution of Self-Care and Modern Challenges09:30 The Impact of Social Media on Self-Perception12:02 Practical Tips for Maintaining Mental Health16:54 Setting Boundaries and Digital Detox33:21 Digital Boundaries and Dopamine Hits34:04 Top Three Priorities for Women This Year38:50 Practical Tips for Habit Formation45:05 The Power of Books and Journaling50:49 Manifesting and Positive Mindset54:36 Nourishing Your Body and Morning Rituals58:44 Small Changes for Big Impact🔔 New episodes every Wednesday — subscribe so you never miss a launch.FOLLOW IZZYInstagram:https://www.instagram.com/izzyutterson/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@izzyuttersonFOLLOW USInstagram: www.instagram.com/weareladieswholaunch/TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@weareladieswholaunchYouTube: www.youtube.com/@Weareladieswholaunch
58. Ep 58: The Only 3 Numbers Your Business Needs To Track
55:49||Ep. 58In this episode, Rochelle Humes, sits down with Rachel Harris, the accountant who’s changing the narrative around finances and business for women. Together, they dive deep into Rachel’s journey from growing up with financial scarcity to championing practical financial education, especially for women and small business owners.This conversation covers everything from the emotional baggage we bring to money, why financial literacy should be on the national curriculum, practical habits for business success, and the nitty-gritty of tax. In this episode, we cover:The power of financial educationWhy women feel uncomfortable talking about money and how to overcome itThree key things to create your own ‘business dashboard’ Simple habits to track finances and avoid common tax pitfallsHow money is an amplifier of your valuesWe Are Ladies Who Launch! CHAPTERS00:00 Introduction 01:12 Rachel Harris: Breaking Financial Stereotypes02:54 The Emotional Side of Finances04:49 Empowering Women to Talk About Money14:57 Practical Financial Tips for Entrepreneurs23:05 Delegation and Quality of Life29:36 Creating Financial Processes30:30 Common Financial Mistakes for Female Entrepreneurs30:56 The Importance of Tax Planning33:41 Monthly Financial Check-ins37:57 HMRC and Self-Employment Tax Essentials43:01 Actionable Financial Takeaways55:21 Final Thoughts and EncouragementWhether you're a creative dreading the numbers, a woman with big dreams, or just want to get smarter about your finances, this episode is packed with relatable stories, actionable takeaways, and honest advice about building real confidence—financially and beyond.🔔 New episodes every Wednesday — subscribe so you never miss a launch.FOLLOW RACHELInstagram: www.instagram.com/accountant_she/?hl=enTikTok: www.tiktok.com/@accountant_sheJoin Rachel's Insider List: https://accountantshe.myflodesk.com/lwlFOLLOW USInstagram: www.instagram.com/weareladieswholaunch/TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@weareladieswholaunchYouTube: www.youtube.com/@Weareladieswholaunch