Back in 2006, Kiersten Hathcock was just trying to figure things out. She had left her job at A and E Television Networks a few years before and was bouncing around from town to town with her husband and their two kids. As she was, Kiersten did the very last thing that anyone expected: she founded a children’s furniture company called Mod Mom Furni…

Growing up in the South Side of Chicago, Amanda Moncada-Perkins wanted power. Her family had few resources to make do with, so she became an attorney when she grew up to unlock a better future. And today, Amanda is the Founding Attorney of her own firm, Stoutegy Law. But stepping into her power as a lawyer wasn’t without some major caveats. Amanda …

When Janice Person was first talking about farm-to-table in the 90's, people thought she was crazy. Even with a journalism and communications background, she found it tough to share the perspectives of a minority group that we don’t think about very often: the farmers who grow it. When Janice started out, she was doing PR for the agrochemical jugge…

**SPECIAL FOR OUR LISTENERS! Use code "SHELEFT20" for 20% off an order** Kaylin Marcotte’s early career wasn’t particularly fun. But when she was training as a management consultant at IBM in 2013, she met two promising, young female founders who wanted to start a media company...called theSkimm. So, she left to become their first employee. Kaylin’…

Lisa Lloyd will be the first to tell you that she’s not a genius...though she certainly seems like one. She invented her first product at 23, a hair styling tool called The French Twister, which eventually grossed $20 million. And over the years, she went on to license seven other products; getting featured on Shark Tank, Good Morning America, USA …

When Polina Ruvinsky stepped into a leadership role at Disney, she was told to not ask for permission. In 2018, she formed a women and tech employee group at the company. What started as a kind of experiment turned into a tight-knit community, allowing women at the company to come together, brainstorm, and offer support. The ripple effect of Polina…

Content Warning: This episode deals with sensitive topics like suicide, PTSD, divorce, and poor mental health. On the surface, Tereson Dupuy has led a pretty good life. She successfully ran her business FuzziBunz Diapers for almost two decades and kickstarted the modern cloth diapering movement. All in all, she sold $32 million dollars worth of pro…

In her previous life as a corporate recruiter, Maisha Cannon put on what she describes as a kind of “mask.” She wasn’t fully herself. Often, she’d fade into the background to try and get ahead as a black woman in corporate America. But for Maisha, getting into entrepreneurship meant putting aside those incidents where she experienced bias. It meant…

At first glance, you probably couldn’t tell that Mallory Greene is in the funeral industry. She’s not an older, stuffy man in a dark suit…she’s a young woman who got her start as a member of Wealthsimple’s founding team. Today, she’s the CEO and Co-Founder of Eirene, a funeral service provider that’s disrupting the industry with their affordable pr…

Alina Kravchenko has always loved inventing. Alina defines her entrepreneurial success based on one simple factor: how much creativity she’s able to express as a founder. But being raised by a single mom in Ukraine and eventually becoming a single mom herself meant there was no shortage of people who looked down on them both. When she drained her 4…

Bisila Bokoko says that our purpose is not defined by what we do...but by who we are. Growing up in Valencia, Spain with mixed Spanish-African heritage came with a heavy dose of discomfort. But these experiences drove her to learn more about her heritage…to become what she calls “culturally intelligent.” Cultural intelligence has been the key to Bi…

**Use code AndSoSheLeftPod to get $150 off your WNORTH Conference Pass!** In 2015, Heather Odendaal founded the WNORTH conference. The aim of WNORTH is simple: create more pathways for women to become business leaders through networking and collaboration. For the first 8 years, Heather worked as a solopreneur. Today, she's built a small but mighty …

We’re talking about Service Design. What is it, and how is it different from what we’d normally consider user experience design? Drew McLellan talks to expert Lou Downe to find out.By Smashing Magazine

Urbander CEO Samí Haiman-Marrero describes herself as an armadillo. She’s got thick skin, she’s scrappy, and she can smell insincerity from a mile away. Samí spent almost her entire life in Puerto Rico, but you can tell right away that she has roots in the Bronx. When she came back to New York to work in media and publishing, she soon found herself…

And So, She Left returns January 24. New episodes every Wednesday. We'd love to hear your feedback! Here's a quick 5-question survey. Your answers will help us to make the show even better: https://forms.gle/5JnfCUWbgLRw1NTa8 Hosted by Katherin Vasilopoulos. Made by Cansulta and Ethan Lee. Music by © Chris Zabriskie, published by You've Been a Wond…

Entrepreneurs love to set lofty, ambitious goals for ourselves…after all, it’s in our nature. But what separates those of us who reach our goals from those who don’t are the skills we obtain and use to get there. Leah Carr’s approach to entrepreneurship is a highly grounded one. She’s the CEO of a learning and development company called TILR (that’…

Every once in a while, we hear a story that floors us. Christelle Biiga’s story is one of them. Today, she gets clients in front of the right podcast audiences to grow their businesses. Her company is called Exposure Maven. As a young girl in Cameroon, she bought into the American Dream. She knew no one in the states. Had no family or friends state…

If you asked your clients to describe you, what would they say? Today, customers want to know who you are. We’re living in the age of personal branding. Christina Minshull spent 15+ years in brand and social marketing for companies like SportCheck, WestJet, and LinkedIn. Today, Christina helps CEOs, Founders and brands unleash their LinkedIn potent…

No one warns you about the loss of structure when you leave the corporate womb. Suddenly, it’s all up to you. You’re the boss. You make the decisions. And you need to pin down the principles that create structure in your work life…or face the consequences. Michelle Peters is the CEO of Supplino, a thriving supply chain marketplace. When she left co…

Constriction and guidance are the two sides to the feedback coin. But sometimes, we have to squint to tell which is which. Can you? As a clinical psychologist, Cindy Wahler faced constant doubt. She was told that she’d never make it. But today, she uses her understanding of psychology to consult for organizations like Ralph Lauren, Exxon Mobile, an…

**A GIFT FOR "And So, She Left" listeners: until December 8, 2023, get 20% off all regular priced items at www.cheekbonebeauty.com with code ASSL20** With $500 in a basement in St. Catherines, Ontario, Jenn Harper started Cheekbone Beauty. She had zero experience working in the beauty space, making the leap from a career in the food industry’s hosp…

Entrepreneurs are deep thinkers. We each have a million ideas zipping around in our heads, and if we’re lucky, a great one pops up every now and again. But there’s a stark difference between the people who dream and the people who do. Tiffany Jones-Lewis made that realization after serving 8 years in the navy. Before launching TJL Collection, a fas…

Do you think of yourself as “tough?” It’s actually a challenging question to answer. We’re certainly eager as entrepreneurs, always ready to tackle the next challenge ahead. But what does toughness actually look like? Today’s conversation with Shara Ruffin reminds us that true resilience comes from hitting our lowest points. Today, she’s a bestsell…

This episode is sponsored by The Diversity Agency. A few weeks ago, we got to talk with Anita Grant (Hello Hair), Salem Berhane (IncluSV Beauty Solutions), Kristina Knox (Arbre), Monique Gallivan (Gyallivant), and Seyi Adaghe (ROUN Beauty) are the five winners of this year's Shea Moisture Dream Fund Grant. From Unilever brand Shea Moisture, The Dre…

We’re talking about Tech Unions. What part can unions play in a modern tech workplace? Drew McLellan talks to Ethan Marcotte to find out.By Smashing Magazine

Warning: this episode contains mild language and themes that some listeners may find upsetting. It’s hard for us to talk about money. We often squirm a bit, glance at each other, and muddle through most discussions about personal finance. But we also don’t talk about it enough…especially as it relates to gender. Kristine Beese is the founder of Unt…

This episode is sponsored by The Diversity Agency. Anita Grant (Hello Hair), Salem Berhane (IncluSV Beauty Solutions), Kristina Knox (Arbre), Monique Gallivan (Gyallivant), and Seyi Adaghe (ROUN Beauty) are the five winners of this year's Shea Moisture Dream Fund Grant. They know the costs and barriers of entrepreneurship. From Unilever brand Shea …

Content warning: this episode contains graphic content. Maisa Mumtaz-Cassidy thought she was going to die. She's the Founder & CEO of Consciously, an ethically-sourced and sustainable fashion platform. Between an incredibly tense childbirth, starting a business in the grips of COVID, and contracting the virus herself, it wreaked havoc on her mind a…

We’re talking about running grassroots conferences and meet-ups. What does it take to organise a small industry event for your community? Drew McLellan talks to WDC’s Alex Older to find out.By Smashing Magazine

Afton Brazzoni always had a deep passion for stories. From journalism to marketing and PR, Afton's storytelling muscle has had ample time to develop. But when she launched her own B2B content writing venture Scribe National, she soon learned about all of the other stuff that she had to grasp. Management. Budgeting. Leading. By embracing the unpredi…

Andria Barrett's career is like a slinky. From theatre to hospitality to sales, there are lots of twists and turns...but she's always kept momentum. When Andria's Jamaican grandmother taught her the concept of informal banking (known as a pawdna in her culture) Andria became fascinated with different models of cooperative finance. Today, she helps …

When Candice Collison's first daughter was born, she ran into a problem. She wanted to wear fashionable and functional clothing as a new mom that was ethically sourced. She looked everywhere...and found nothing. Seeing a major pain point for new moms and moms-to-be, Candice left her high-level job at Facebook to found Mod + Ethico - later, Of an Or…

Anna Li's been to over 90 countries. Burned out, anxious, and depressed from her job in tech, she started out side-hustling as an Airbnb host. But rather than bringing the world to her, Anna left everything behind to backpack through Southeast Asia. A few years later, her company Healing Journey Retreats is organizing a retreat to Tulum, Mexico. An…

When Paula Festas was a young girl in Mozambique, her father was her greatest mentor. He taught her many important lessons about mentorship, but one stood out: treat your employees like family and friends. It’s a piece of wisdom that saved his life. Today, Paula’s the Co-Founder and CEO of Huumans, a financial services and cloud accounting company …

Content Warning: This episode contains themes that some listeners may find disturbing or upsetting. Chrystal Toop has been through a lot. Chrystal is the founder of Blackbird Medicines, an indigenous spiritual and cultural wellness practice in Canada. Born in the small town of Marathon, Ontario, and raised in challenging family circumstances, Chrys…

Content Warning: this episode contains references to discrimination, xenophobia, and Islamophobia. Nadia Butt grew up in a predominantly white community. Born to Pakistani immigrants near Boston, growing up as someone often perceived as "different" shaped her perception of identity and community. She's faced challenges like navigating Islamophobia …

In this episode, we're exploring the theme of family. Family is something that many of our guests talk about. The way our families shape us and leave lasting impressions is something we can't ignore. Often, it's only when we look back that we see how much our family has influenced us. Join Katherin, Cansulta's Founder Alex Kapelos-Peters, and show …

In this special episode, we're doing something different. Instead of featuring a guest, we're focusing on a theme that keeps coming up in our episodes: family. It seems like everyone we talk to mentions their family. Family experiences undoubtedly shape the entrepreneurial journey. Our family leaves lasting marks on us as we grow up. They can influ…

We're talking about headless content management systems. What are they, and how do they differ from more traditional systems? Drew McLellan talks to Alvin Bryan to find out.By Smashing Magazine

Felicia Shakiba will tell you that effective leaders know when to take a step back. Felicia is the Founder of CPO Playbook, a global consultancy that places people at the heart of its strategic blueprint. Being raised in a family of immigrant entrepreneurs nurtured her aspiration to build her own venture, which she was fully prepared to do. But she…

This is special bonus episode about Anti-Striving from our previous guest Nadine Kenney Johnstone's podcast Heart of the Story. The pace of life is too frantic; the grind is unsustainable. What do we do to combat unhealthy striving and hustle culture while still pursuing our passions and doing work we love? Nadine shares her own story of getting of…

Nadine Kenney Johnstone has always surrounded herself with words. As a child in the Southside of Chicago, Nadine found herself nose-deep in countless books, drawing strength and understanding from the narratives within. Her local library was where her passion for literature bloomed, where she learned to nurture relationships with her loved ones and…

Thilde Peterson understands the influence of legacy and the importance of respecting the time we have. From her father's military experience to her vibrant sister's correspondence with Frank Sinatra, the extraordinary lives of her family have shaped Thilde into the insightful individual she is today. Their values and teachings continue to resonate …

We're talking about The Transitional Web. What is it, and how does it describe the technologies we’re using? Drew McLellan talks to Chris Ferdinandi to find out.By Smashing Magazine

Jessie Frances was never really drawn to social media. Growing up in Southeast D.C., Jessie gravitated towards fashion, spending what little money was available to her on thrifted clothing to bring her joy during a difficult time. It started as a way to connect with her mother. Today, her outfits have been viewed over 50 million times on Instagram …

Vivian Chen was always meant to be an entrepreneur. Growing up in an American Midwest immigrant family, Vivian discovered her passion for business at an early age coupled with a natural sense of urgency and ambition, channeling these traits to find work in the fashion and beauty industry. But when her friends started venturing into tech, Vivian fou…

Born in Quebec, Canada, Rosemary Thompson grew up with two passions: journalism and music. Initially, she chose the path of journalism and spent 22 memorable years covering everything from the Met Gala to the tragic events of 9/11. But as time went on, Rosemary found herself faced with a difficult decision. Struggling to balance her demanding caree…

Content Warning: This episode contains mature themes including self-harm and trauma. After 30 years as an award-winning radio producer in Boston, Katherin’s mentor Michelle Redo left her old life behind, relocating to a farm in rural Maine with her husband to pursue creative ventures. It was a change she never anticipated. Life on the farm has give…

We ask what is a Design Manager? What does it take and how does it relate to the role of Designer? Vitaly Friedman talks to Slava Shestopalov to find out.By Smashing Magazine

Content warning: this episode contains references to self-harm and other issues related to mental health. As an entrepreneur, drawing a line between personal value and the success of your venture can be a daunting task. But when your personal journey intimately intertwines with the quality of your services, that line becomes increasingly blurred. O…