Carrie Johnston has spent two decades helping communications professionals land roles they never thought they could get - and now she’s bringing that same “look beyond the resume” lens to her consultancy, The Comms Connector. In this episode, Carrie and Emily unpack what actually moves the needle in comms careers right now: storytelling, writing, networking, and a LinkedIn presence that doesn’t hide behind “people already know me.”

They also get real about AI - why it’s a powerful tool and a fast track to reputation damage if you don’t fact-check - plus what supportive workplaces should look like when life hits hard.

Fashion is a massive environmental problem - but Julia Dietmar isn’t building Open Wardrobe as a guilt machine. She’s building it as a behavior-change product: a platform that digitizes your closet, uses AI to help you create outfits, and plugs into resale + repairs so “mindful” becomes frictionless.

In this episode, Emily Jean sits down with Julia Dietmar, founder of Open Wardrobe, to unpack the operator side of building in fashion tech: why her retail background (Walmart), resale exposure (thredUP), and personalization work shaped the product, how she thinks about training AI responsibly, and what it takes to convince consumers to do the one thing every marketplace-adjacent product needs - take the first action.

Arielle Loupos built her career helping DTC brands scale - then took a hard left into product development to solve a problem she was personally fed up with: disposable period products that felt outdated, uncomfortable, and not body-safe. In this episode, the founder of Flower Girl shares what it really took to develop period underwear from scratch in Los Angeles (two years of testing, textiles, and iteration), why “cute” turned into a much bigger mission around non-toxic materials and cycle syncing, and how she’s growing a taboo category through community-first marketing.

If you’re building a consumer brand, navigating manufacturing, or trying to turn a wellness mission into a product people actually buy - this conversation is equal parts practical and mindset-shifting.

Maija Morton didn’t plan to become a mindset coach - a torn ACL and meniscus in Byron Bay literally knocked her into a new path. Now, she helps women (especially early-stage entrepreneurs) break self-sabotaging patterns like people pleasing, self-doubt, and burnout so they can build businesses - and lives - that actually feel aligned.

In this episode, Maija and Emily get real about what mindset coaching is (and what it is not), why “just be positive” can backfire, and how confidence is built through action plus reflection - not personality type. They also dig into the sneaky ways “I’m not good enough” shows up in your pricing, boundaries, decision-making, and even your sleep.

What does it look like to build a fashion brand where human dignity is the bottom line? Shahd Alasaly, founder of Blue Meets Blue, joins Emily Jean to share her journey from sociologist to fashion founder, creating a sustainable clothing line that employs refugee artisans in the United States. From sourcing Damascus brocade from the last remaining maker in Syria to creating safe spaces for refugee women to heal through craft, Shahd's story challenges everything we think we know about fashion, activism, and what it means to build a business that truly matters.

Eleanor Mooney is the co-founder of Verdant, a New York City-made luxury lingerie line built for real life - not just the fitting room. In this episode, she and Emily Jean get into what it actually takes to create high-quality lingerie from the ground up: sourcing European fabrics, obsessing over stretch and recovery, wear-testing every sample, and building an e-commerce experience that still feels like boutique-level service.

If you’ve ever wondered why some bras look amazing for five minutes and then fall apart by lunchtime, Eleanor breaks down the details most brands overlook - plus how Verdant is designing for “stillness and motion” so women can move, work, commute, mom, and live without adjusting straps all day.

Verdant is a masterclass in what “premium” is supposed to mean: fewer pieces, better materials, better fit, and an obsession with how a woman actually moves through her day. If you’re building a product brand (or just tired of bras that don’t keep up with your life), this conversation will make you rethink what’s worth investing in - and how service and craftsmanship become the real differentiators.

Personal branding isn’t about perfect pictures or chasing likes - it’s about whether your audience actually learns something from you. In this episode, Emily Jean sits down with Ayesha Ameer, founder of Mentoria Digitals, to unpack what real LinkedIn influence looks like, why executives from Louis Vuitton to Visa are investing in personal brands, and how founders can build visibility without burning out or losing authenticity.

From starting her career in a marketing apprenticeship at 16 to helping leaders generate 20M+ impressions, Ayesha shares what she’s learned about positioning, consistency, and why “looking polished” is often the fastest way to dilute your brand long term.

This week, Emily sits down with Vimbai Midzi, the founder of Deeper Beauty, a melanin-first skincare brand born out of frustration, lived experience, and a whole lot of brilliance. Vimbai grew up never finding products that worked for her dark skin — and instead of settling for “making it work,” she built the solution herself.

In this honest, eye-opening conversation, Vimbai shares what it’s really like to build a beauty brand as a woman of color, why “universal” skincare often excludes most of the world, and how she created a sunscreen that works for every skin tone without the white cast, greasiness, or thickness most people hate. She breaks down the inclusivity gap in beauty, the realities behind formulation, and how her global background shaped her approach to representation and product design.

From a New Jersey dairy farm to co-founding a boutique marketing agency trusted by early stage tech founders, Amy Winner has built her career on grit, intuition, and an uncanny ability to spot potential where others don’t. In this conversation, Amy breaks down the real state of marketing today, why early founders consistently focus on the wrong things, and how AI will change (and already is changing) the entire industry. This episode is a rare blend of honesty, strategic depth, and founder-to-founder truth-telling you won’t hear anywhere else.

When you meet Grace Lancer, you immediately know she was never meant for the 9-to-5 grind. As a personal branding and marketing strategist for powerhouse female coaches, Grace helps women sell with undeniable conviction—ditching the funnels, the scripts, and the self-doubt to build businesses fueled by authenticity and confidence.

In this episode, Grace joins Emily Jean to talk about quitting corporate, building a personal brand that actually converts, and why personality—not perfection—is your most profitable asset.

What if the chaos in your business wasn’t a sign of growth but a symptom of broken systems? Noor Barrage, also known as The Systems Girl on LinkedIn, joins Emily Jean to challenge hustle culture and show founders how structure can actually unlock freedom. From fitness coach to COO to running her own consultancy, Noor has seen the pitfalls of scaling without foundations and now she’s teaching entrepreneurs how to build businesses that last without burning out.

What does it mean to scale your business without burning out? Nikki St Paul, leadership coach and nervous system guide for purpose-driven women, joins Emily Jean to share how subconscious beliefs shape our success, why rest is a power move, and how female founders can lead with both strength and ease. Nikki blends neuroscience, embodiment, and mindset work to help women step fully into their power while creating sustainable businesses they love.

What does it take to build a women’s community of 50,000 in just three years and why does Bitcoin belong in that story? Emily Dempsey, founder of The Brickell Babes, joins Emily Jean to share her journey from New York fashion buyer to Miami community builder to tech founder weaving Bitcoin into the future of female entrepreneurship. From her first happy hour meetup to launching a curated membership platform, Emily has redefined what it means to connect women in business and life.

How do you stand out in a sea of sameness on LinkedIn? And how do you build a personal brand that feels authentic and drives real results? In this episode, Emily sits down with Ciara O’Neil, founder of Brandfulness and rising voice in the personal branding space, to break down exactly how she grew to 10,000 followers in under a year and what it takes to turn visibility into opportunity. From her background in law and psychology to building a thriving strategy business, Ciara shares the playbook for founders, solopreneurs, and creatives who want to be known, remembered, and respected for what they do.

Ella McMahan leads marketing for Spring Fertility and its sister brands Open Fertility and Nest Donor Bank. In this conversation, Ella breaks down the realities of IVF and egg freezing, why education beats fear, and how patient-first marketing, community events, and smart influencer partnerships can literally change lives. If you care about building brands that feel human and drive outcomes, this episode delivers.

She moved to Japan at 19 and never looked back. In this episode of Founders in Jeans, Emily Jean sits down with Fanny Berteaud, Country Manager at Selectra, who built the company’s Tokyo operations from the ground up and now oversees both the Japanese and Australian markets. From cultural shocks in academia to navigating business as a young foreigner in Japan, Fanny’s story is equal parts bold, inspiring, and refreshingly honest.

If you’ve ever wondered what it really takes to launch and scale a business abroad while balancing identity, leadership, and personal passions, this conversation will give you a front-row seat.

In this episode, Quinn McLaughlin, founder of Praerie, shares her journey from tech to fashion, the philosophy behind her brand, and the challenges of running a sustainable fashion business. She discusses the importance of design, the slow fashion movement, and the realities of marketing and sales in the fashion industry. Quinn also reflects on her personal growth as an entrepreneur and her aspirations for the future of Praerie.

In this inspiring episode, host Emily Jean sits down with Leah Garcia, founder of Nulastin, to explore how Leah’s rodeo grit and entrepreneurial spirit turned a small idea into a $17 million beauty brand. Leah shares her journey from rodeo competitor to innovative beauty brand founder, discussing how resilience, customer care, and integrity have driven Nulastin’s success in the crowded beauty industry. If you’re looking for stories of women in business, entrepreneurship, and founder success, this episode delivers real insights on building a brand with heart.

In this episode, Emily Jean interviews Sofia, the founder and CEO of a Ukrainian wellness program. Sofia shares her journey of building a successful business focused on helping individuals develop a healthy relationship with food and their bodies. The conversation covers her experiences in scaling the business, the importance of personalized nutrition, and the challenges of launching an app. Sofia emphasizes the significance of community support, debunks common nutrition myths, and provides valuable insights for aspiring entrepreneurs.

In this conversation, Emma Bradford discusses her journey from set design in the film industry to creating her unique pillow brand, Dream Giggles. She shares insights on the emotional connections people have with her pillows, the aesthetic trends in home decor, and the therapeutic aspects of her art. Emma also delves into the challenges of building a community around her work, navigating social media, and the importance of sustainability in sourcing materials. She expresses her aspirations for the future of Dream Giggles, including merging her love for puppetry with her pillow designs and engaging more with her audience through workshops and creative projects.