Actually, I Can.

Stella Garber has been told her whole life that she is too direct. Too bossy. Too aggressive. She heard it as a kid. She heard it as a young manager. She’s heard it her entire career. And she’s spent years wondering whether she’d be getting that feedback at all if she were a man. Her answer: absolutely not.Stella is a repeat founder and the co-founder and CEO of Hoop, an AI customer support agent for e-commerce brands. She’s also Eastern European, a self-described high D on the DISC profile, and someone who has figured out - through years of managing remote teams, navigating co-founder relationships, and doing a lot of internal work - how to stop softening herself and start channeling her directness more effectively instead.In this episode, she talks about what it actually took to get there: the DISC framework she runs with every team she builds, the Claude project where she stores her co-founders’ profiles to prep for hard conversations, and why she thinks the real work of building a company - the seven-to-ten-year stretch after launch that nobody talks about - depends entirely on who you choose to do it with.What you’ll learn:Why “don’t be so direct” feedback - however well-intentioned - is often gendered, and what Stella thinks would happen if a man got the same noteThe one context where Stella thinks directness actually did need calibrating, and how she learned to root it in relationship firstHow she uses DISC profiles across her founding team, and why she keeps them loaded in a Claude project for sensitive conversationsWhat it sounds like when a high-D founder talks to a C co-founder: fewer claims, more metrics, and a much better outcomeWhy self-awareness is a double-edged sword for founders, and what you gain and lose at each stage of the journeyThe values exercise Stella and her co-founders did before they had a product, a raise, or even a company name, and why she thinks it’s the single biggest thing that makes co-founder relationships lastWhy who you partner with is the most important determinant of your long-term success as a founderWhat the real timeline of company building actually looks like, and why the emphasis on launching gets it completely backwardsAbout Stella GarberStella Garber is a repeat founder and the co-founder and CEO of Hoop, an AI customer support agent built for e-commerce brands. She has spent essentially her entire career working remotely, and has built and led distributed teams long before it became standard practice. Stella has co-founded with the same partners twice, first working alongside them, then building with them, and is a strong believer that the foundation of any company is the values conversation you have before you write a single line of code. She is a high-D DISC profile, an Eastern European who has heard “too direct” more times than she can count, and a founder who has turned that feedback into a leadership philosophy: know yourself deeply, build in the counterbalance, and find the people who bring out your best.This episode is for anyone who has been told to soften their edges, and is starting to wonder if the problem isn’t them, it’s the framing.📩 Subscribe to the newsletter: lindsaytjepkema.substack.com 🔗 Follow Lindsay on LinkedIn🔗 Follow Stella on LinkedIn🤖 Learn more about Hoop: hoop.app

Joy Hoover invented a lipstick with a panic button in the base and a drink-testing strip in the cap. She built a national nonprofit from nothing over 12 years that landed in the top 10% in the country. She won Top Tech of the Year in 2024. And when she decided to run for Congress - going up against a 14-year incumbent in a district that hasn’t flipped since 1972 - the people around her told her it would hurt her business, blacklist her, and blow up everything she’d built.She considered the advice for months. She looked at smaller seats. She tried to talk herself out of it. And then she couldn’t get it out of her gut.Joy is the founder and CEO of Esōes Cosmetics (SOS), a safety tech company built to fight the epidemic of sexual and domestic violence - a cause she’s been working on for 16 years in her community. In this episode, she talks about what it takes to keep going when the establishment tells you to stay in your lane, why she thinks more founders should run for office, and why she answers yes every morning even when she doesn’t feel like it in the afternoon.What you’ll learn:Why “it will hurt your business” advice - from the political establishment - almost stopped Joy from doing the thing she was most built to doWhat Joy invented, why she invented it, and the investor question that shocked her: “Why does anyone need that lipstick?”The mix of passion and delusion that Joy says every founder needs, and why she’s leaning on it now more than everWhy she couldn’t get Congress out of her gut, even when the timing was terrible and she was still displaced from a house fireWhat running a congressional campaign has in common with building a company from scratchWhy she called every one of her 100 angel investors before announcing her run, and the reaction she’ll never forgetWhy Joy believes more founders should run for office, and what the 17% statistic says about who’s wired for itHer advice for anyone whose gut is pulling them somewhere people are telling them not to go: know your why, find your people, and ask yourself every morning if it’s still worth itAbout Joy HooverJoy Hoover is the inventor, founder, and CEO of Esōes Cosmetics (SOS), a safety tech company that makes a first-of-its-kind tech-enabled lipstick, with a panic button that can dispatch authorities and a built-in drink-test strip for detecting drugging. Before SOS, Joy spent 12 years building a national nonprofit focused on anti-trafficking and anti-violence work, growing it to the top 10% in the country. She has zero background in engineering or science. She won Top Tech of the Year in 2024 anyway. She is currently running for US Congress in Nevada’s First District, challenging a 14-year incumbent in a race that hasn’t been won by a challenger since 1972. She launched her campaign while displaced from her home after a house fire. She has 100 angel investors, a husband who came around, and a gut she’s learned to trust.This episode is for anyone whose next step looks too big, too risky, or too unlikely, and who is trying to figure out whether that’s a reason to stop or a reason to go.📩 Subscribe to the newsletter: lindsaytjepkema.substack.com 🔗 Follow Lindsay on LinkedIn🔗 Follow Joy on LinkedIn💄 Learn more about Esōes Cosmetics: esoescosmetics.com

Scott Leese’s first sales manager pulled him into his office, looked him dead in the eye, and told him to stop caring so much about his people. Stop going to lunch with them. Stop being their friend. Draw a harder line. Then he said something that has lived rent-free in Scott’s head for over 20 years: “Scotty’s little sales club is never gonna work.”Scott didn’t listen. He built his teams the way he wanted to; caring about the person first, more than the number, more than the company, more than the founders’ eventual payday. He hired the people everyone else passed on: someone living in their car, someone just out of prison, single parents rebuilding from scratch. He never looked at a resume. He asked people where they wanted to go and why they were finally ready to do what they’d been unwilling to do before. And he won. Over and over.He’s a six-time sales leader, serial entrepreneur, consultant to early-stage founders, and the guy who eventually named his own coaching community Scotty’s Little Sales Club… out of spite. In this episode, he talks about where that stubbornness comes from, what four years in the hospital taught him about what actually matters, and why caring about humans isn’t a soft strategy - it’s the only one that holds up.What you’ll learn:Why “draw a harder line” advice - from people who confuse rigidity with leadership - can cost you the trust that actually drives performanceWhat Scott’s four years in the hospital (and the years rebuilding after) gave him that no business school ever couldHow he built his teams by betting on the people everyone else had already written off. and why it kept workingWhat his one-on-ones actually looked like (hint: no pipeline reviews, lots of walks around the building)Why telling your employees that AI is going to replace them is not just tone-deaf - it’s strategically dangerousWhat the VC ecosystem looks like right now and why founders may need capital less than they thinkThe one question he asked every candidate instead of reading their resume: why are you willing now to do what you’ve previously been unwilling to do?Why “treat humans like humans” is the through-line from early sales leader to serial entrepreneur to founder coachAbout Scott LeeseScott Leese is a six-time sales leader, serial entrepreneur, and the founder of Scott Leese Consulting, where he works with early-stage companies navigating the zero-to-$25M go-to-market journey. He also runs Surf and Sales Summit, a consumer product business, a landscaping company, two venture capital firms, and two podcasts - because apparently he can’t stop starting things. Scott came to his career late: after four years in the hospital, nine surgeries, and kicking an opioid dependency at 27, he walked into his first sales job with no resume worth looking at and the unshakeable conviction that whoever took a chance on him wasn’t going to regret it. They didn’t. He’s spent the 20 years since paying that forward — hiring the people others overlook, leading teams with radical openness, and building a reputation as someone who genuinely gives a shit about the people who work with him.This episode is for anyone who has been told their style is too soft, their team is too close, or their people skills are getting in the way of real leadership - and is wondering whether the person saying that has ever actually built anything worth following.📩 Subscribe to the newsletter: lindsaytjepkema.substack.com 🔗 Follow Lindsay on LinkedIn🔗 Follow Scott on LinkedIn💼 Learn more about Scott Leese Consulting: scottleeseconsulting.com

During COVID, Brooke Sellas posted something honest on Instagram - two words: “I am so tired.” She wasn’t complaining. She was being human. The mentor she’d hired to help her build her personal brand told her it was a mistake. Leaders only show the good parts, they said. Brooke almost believed it.Brooke is the founder and CEO of B Squared Media, a social media agency she bootstrapped - with no funding, no sales team, just herself - to a seven-figure business over 14 years. Her company’s whole philosophy is built on a trademarked tagline: Think Conversation, Not Campaign. So when a paid expert told her to hide her real feelings and only project perfection, it didn’t just sting personally. It cut against everything she’d built.In this episode, she unpacks why that advice was so damaging, why she almost took it anyway, and what it actually takes to trust yourself when someone you respect tells you you’re wrong.What you’ll learn:Why “only show your best self” advice - however well-intentioned - can quietly undermine the trust you’re trying to buildThe social penetration theory Brooke studied in college that still explains why vulnerability works on social media (and in business)What she did when a mentor lambasted her for showing up authentically, and how long it really took to recoverWhy imposter syndrome hits women founders harder, and what helped Brooke finally snap out of the spiralHow to build discernment about whose advice is worth taking, and how to spot when advice isn’t actually coming from a good placeThe question every founder should ask before taking advice: “Who benefits from me doing this?”Why Brooke now publicly shares when her business is down, and what happened when she didAbout Brooke SellasBrooke Sellas is the founder and CEO of B Squared Media, a social media agency specializing in VIP customer care on social channels for enterprise clients. She bootstrapped B Squared to seven figures over 14 years without outside funding or a sales team. Her company’s approach is rooted in a simple but powerful idea - Think Conversation, Not Campaign - and in the psychology of how humans actually build relationships and trust. Before founding B Squared, Brooke spent years in social media strategy at another company, and her undergraduate thesis on the social penetration theory has shaped her philosophy ever since. She’s a connector, a community builder, and a founder who has learned - sometimes the hard way - that being real is always the right strategy.This episode is for anyone who has been told to put a better face on it, and is wondering whether their real face might actually be the better strategy.📩 Subscribe to the newsletter: lindsaytjepkema.substack.com 🔗 Follow Lindsay on LinkedIn🔗 Follow Brooke on LinkedIn💼 Learn more about B Squared Media: bsquared.media

Katie Robbert has been told to stay quiet, stay in her lane, and let someone else be the face of the company. She heard it from a mentor she respected. She heard it from investors. She heard it so many times she almost believed it. She didn’t. Katie is the CEO of Trust Insights, an AI education and analytics firm she co-founded eight years ago. And she holds that title deliberately, because someone told her she shouldn’t. In this episode, she pulls back the curtain on what it actually took to get there: the verbally abusive VP she was told to just tolerate, the investor feedback that nearly made her hand over the CEO seat, and why she’s now built a virtual version of herself to run ideas past before they get to her. The answer is always the same: it’s going to ask a million questions.What you’ll learn:Why “don’t rock the boat” advice - however well-intentioned - can quietly wire you to shrink instead of leadWhat Katie did when investors told her a female CEO would tank her chances of fundingHow to tell the difference between a battle worth fighting and one that will just cost youWhy the people who say yes to everything are the ones who keep leaving, and what Katie looks for insteadHow Trust Insights built a virtual Katie Robbert AI trained on her own decision-making style (and why the team runs ideas past it first)What real community looks like for founders who need someone to be honest with - not impressed by themAbout Katie RobbertKatie Robbert is the CEO of Trust Insights, a data analytics and AI education firm she co-founded with Christopher Penn in 2017. With over 15 years in AI and analytics, she has built a reputation for asking the questions other people are afraid to ask - in client work, in company culture, and in every room she walks into. Trust Insights serves organizations navigating real-world AI adoption and has been a resource in the space long before generative AI became a boardroom talking point. Katie is an introvert who runs a public-facing company, a pragmatist who works alongside one of the most innovative minds in marketing AI, and a CEO who was told she shouldn’t be one.This episode is for anyone who has been handed advice that was really just a request to make themselves smaller — and is trying to figure out when to ignore it.📩 Subscribe to the newsletter: lindsaytjepkema.substack.com 🔗 Follow Lindsay on LinkedIn🔗 Follow Katie on LinkedIn💼 Learn more about Trust Insights: trustinsights.ai

Ted Harrison has heard the advice a hundred times: negotiate everything, ask for the friends and family discount, don’t spend what you don’t have to. He heard it from other agency founders. From coaches. From people who have genuinely built successful businesses. He thought about it, and then he emailed a vendor to ask them to charge him more. That’s not a bit. That’s just how Ted builds.The founder of Neuemotion, a 360 full-service B2B marketing agency, Ted doesn’t believe in treating cash as scarcity. His first principle as a company: operate out of the abundance of what’s possible, not the fear of what might happen. Two and a half years in, bootstrapped, and named one of Ad Age’s Best Places to Work, he’s got some evidence it’s working.What you’ll learn:Why “save your money” advice - however well-intentioned - can quietly wire you to build from fear instead of possibilityHow Ted’s 10 company values actually function as a decision-making system (and why one of them explicitly says Neuemotion is not your family)What building a business inside Twitter taught him about transparency, ownership culture, and running a p&lWhy Ted has a personal AI agent trained on years of his own writing - and uses it as a gut-check mirror when no one else is in the roomThe one piece of advice Ted gives every founder: build values that actually fit you - because friction you create for yourself is the worst kindAbout Ted HarrisonTed Harrison is the CEO and Founder of Neuemotion, a 360 full-service agency for B2B marketers. Before starting Neuemotion, he spent six years at Twitter - including a year at X post-acquisition - where he built an internal business that drove significant revenue and learned what it actually looks like to run a company from the inside out. He left in 2023 and bootstrapped Neuemotion from day one, building it around 10 company values that function less like a culture deck and more like an operating system. Neuemotion was named to Ad Age’s Best Places to Work in 2026. Ted is also a believer in paying full price - especially for friends.This episode is a masterclass in what happens when you stop optimizing for the worst-case scenario and start building from what’s actually possible - and why that shift in mindset might be the most practical business decision you ever make.TIMESTAMPS[0:00] The Bad Advice: “Don’t Spend Your Money”[00:42] Meet Ted Harrison[03:23] Abundance Over Scarcity[04:14] Friends Pay Full Price[06:17] Spend on Quality People[08:15] Values in Daily Decisions [13:35] Neuemotion Values[19:55] Using AI as a Mirror[21:54] Discernment in Spending [25:26] Best Advice for Founders📩 Subscribe to the newsletter: lindsaytjepkema.substack.com 🔗 Follow Lindsay on LinkedIn🔗 Follow Ted on LinkedIn💼 Learn more about Neuemotion: https://www.neuemotion.com/

Nomiki Petrolla gets told to think smaller. A venture contact - someone who didn’t know her well enough - looked at her vision for Theanna and decided the problem she’s solving is probably just a “lifestyle business.” Nomiki, who has been obsessively building for 15 years, collecting data points and ignoring the noise, heard the feedback and thought: no thanks. Then she moved on.What you'll learn:Why “think smaller” advice usually says more about the advisor’s belief in you than the actual size of your ideaHow to turn founder feedback into data - and why documenting everything changes the way you filter signal from noiseThe four things your inner circle actually needs to have (hint: one of them is macro and micro-economic fluency)How Nomiki found investors, founders, and $138K in ARR through organic TikTok - by building in public before it felt safeWhy the self-work isn’t a side quest - it’s the whole game for founders who want to think and build bigAbout Nomiki PetrollaNomiki Petrolla is the Founder and CEO of Theanna, an AI platform that combines community and adjacent systems to help women builders create companies. She started Theanna because she identified systemic gaps in how women founders access product development knowledge. Before Theanna, she spent 15 years in the zero-to-one stage of business, surrounded entirely by founders and builders. She’s been networking that long too, which is why her founding engineer is someone she worked with in her first job in 2012. She lives all of this out loud on TikTok, which is also somehow where she found investors.This episode is a masterclass in data-driven discernment — how to collect feedback obsessively, filter it ruthlessly, and trust yourself anyway. Especially when the feedback is coming from venture.TIMESTAMPS[00:00] The Bad Advice[00:39] Meet Nomiki Petrolla, Founder & CEO of Theanna[01:01] Think Smaller? [03:06] Filtering Feedback with Data[05:05] Document and Analyze Advice[06:35] Gut Checks and Trusted Circle[08:58] Finding the Right People[10:10] Networking and TikTok Flywheel[14:40] Mission Values and Why It Matters[18:27] Family Support and Relationships[23:07] Reframing Think Smaller[25:20] Closing and Call to Action📩 Subscribe to the newsletter: lindsaytjepkema.substack.com 🔗 Follow Lindsay on LinkedIn🔗 Follow Nomiki on LinkedIn🌱 Learn more about Theanna: theanna.io

Alina Vandenberghe gets asked constantly: "Why don't you seek an exit?" In CEO communities, at events, from advisors, the assumption is always that a $3 billion exit is the ultimate goal every founder should pursue. She's been building Chili Piper for a decade. She's not selling.What you'll learn:Why the standard exit advice completely misses the point for values-driven foundersHow Alina transformed from someone who "didn't comprehend human connection" to organizing intentional dinners and building real relationshipsThe daily pressure founders face (and the one thought that keeps Alina going when the arrows come flying)Why proving capitalism can look different became her actual mission - not the exit fantasyHow to withstand relentless pressure when you're building something that doesn't fit anyone else's playbookAbout Alina VandenbergheAlina Vandenberghe is the co-founder and co-CEO of Chili Piper, a company helping marketing teams and GTM ops people get more pipeline with agents. She started the company to create an environment where she and her husband could thrive, solving complex puzzles with fun people, remotely, with joy and compassion. Before Chili Piper, she climbed from intern to SVP at publicly traded companies across FinTech, healthcare, and education. She made a lot of money. She was very unhappy. Now she's building her own definition of success.This episode is a masterclass in what happens when you have the audacity to reject everyone's advice and discover your own path - and why the courage to simply be yourself might be the most important work you do as an adult.TIMESTAMPS[0:00] The Bad Advice[0:35] Who Alina Is and How Chili Piper Started[2:46] "The Most Important Thing We Do Is Have the Courage to Be Ourselves"[14:35] The Relationships Revelation: The Communication Course That Changed Everything[17:37] Why Exits Are Tempting (And Why She Says No Anyway)[18:13] "If You Can't Do It, There's No One Else Who Can Do It"[19:24] Advice for Founders Feeling the Pull📩 Subscribe to the newsletter: lindsaytjepkema.substack.com 🔗 Follow Lindsay on LinkedIn🔗 Follow Alina on LinkedIn🌶️ Learn more about Chili Piper: chilipiper.com

Actually, I Can is a show for founders who are tired of being told how they’re supposed to bring their vision to life.Every episode focuses on guidance the guest received that turned out to be terrible advice for them as a founder. Host Lindsay Tjepkema talks with founders about these moments, how they responded to them, and what happened because of it. These are not origin stories or victory laps. They’re real conversations about pressure, doubt, tradeoffs, and decision-making when the stakes are high.Through each story, Lindsay helps surface how founders stay aligned with who they are: their vision, values, relationships, creativity, and energy - even when the world seems to constantly push them to pursue the predictable path.If you’re building something that doesn’t fit the mold, questioning the advice you’re getting, or trying to protect the thing that made you start in the first place, this show is for you.

What does it look like to build something that companies aren't ready for? Justin Clifford is the CEO of Bereave, a company helping organizations navigate death, bereavement, and grief support in the workplace. Justin opens up about what it’s like to lead a “death tech” company, the resistance he’s faced, and how he’s building a platform that changes the way we're supported through loss. Because grief is universal, but support isn’t.If you've ever been told that your vision was too heavy, too different, or too taboo, this conversation is for you. Learn more about Justin's work with Bereave. Stay connected with Lindsay:Connect with Lindsay on Linkedin.Learn more about Lindsay's work here.Subscribe for monthly updates, resources, and events from Lindsay here.

What if the path you’re on isn’t the one you’re meant to stay on? Fabian Rodriguez opens up about the power of letting go of outdated definitions of success, the invisible toll of constantly trying to “prove” yourself, and the freedom that comes from finally asking: What do I want?From golden handcuffs to questioning the definition of "dream life," this episode is a reminder that you have permission to choose YOU. Learn more about Fabian's work with Culture Collaborative Media.Stay connected with Lindsay:Connect with Lindsay on Linkedin.Learn more about Lindsay's work here.Subscribe for monthly updates, resources, and events from Lindsay here.

What if the version of your life that feels “off course” is actually the one that leads you exactly where you’re meant to go? Coach, creative, and former attorney Kelly Ramsdell (the powerhouse behind another business called Actually I Can) unpacks how to stop "shoulding" all over yourself, why no path is ever wasted, and how self-love and nervous system regulation are non-negotiables for bold action. From inventory management to law, from poetry to painting, and from chronic illness to personal reinvention, Kelly shares her deeply personal journey of reclaiming her life, rewriting her inner dialogue, and helping others do the same.Learn more about Kelly's work with Actually I Can.Stay connected with Lindsay:Connect with Lindsay on Linkedin.Learn more about Lindsay's work here.Subscribe for monthly updates, resources, and events from Lindsay here.

What do the military, marketing, and murder mysteries have in common? According to Ian Faison, everything. Founder and CEO of Caspian Studios, Ian reminds us that creativity belongs in ever boardroom. His unwavering belief that B2B content doesn't have to be boring has redefined what is possible in business storytelling, even while swimming in a sea of skepticism.  Whether you’re a marketer, a dreamer, or someone who’s been told “that’s a little crazy,” this episode is your reminder that the most meaningful ideas often start with one brave voice.Learn more about Ian's work with Caspian StudiosStay connected with Lindsay:Connect with Lindsay on Linkedin.Learn more about Lindsay's work here.Subscribe for monthly updates, resources, and events from Lindsay here.

What if the next chapter, the next business, or the next pivot could start at 40? Social media strategist and coach Dorien Morin sits down to remind us that it's never too late to start over and build something new. From the power of naiveté to what it really means to be visible, she shares that the best coaches are the ones who become the person they once needed. If you've ever doubted your ability to reinvent yourself, or even to get in front of the camera and hit record, this is for you. Learn more about Dorien's work with More In Media Connect with Dorien on LinkedinStay connected with Lindsay:Connect with Lindsay on Linkedin.Learn more about Lindsay's work here.Subscribe for monthly updates, resources, and events from Lindsay here.

What if the secret to sustained success isn't more hustle but better energy? Adam Barney, energy coach and author of Make Your Own Glass Half Full, shares his own journey of being laid off twice during his career, the loss of his mother, volunteering post-Hurricane Katrina, and talking with thousands of founders. This conversation uncovers the value of protecting your most important resource: your energy. Whether you've ever felt like the underdog or need a reminder to protect your peace, this episode is for you. Learn about Adam's work here. Get Adam's book.Connect with Adam on Linkedin.Stay connected with Lindsay:Connect with Lindsay on Linkedin.Learn more about Lindsay's work here.Subscribe for monthly updates, resources, and events from Lindsay here.

What if building a meaningful career wasn’t about choosing one path but weaving together many? From Google to Alaska to co-founding a startup, Melissa Moody shares what it takes to walk away from the expected and build something on your own terms through the messy, rewarding journey of entrepreneurship, life pivots, and human-first marketing.This episode is a masterclass in embracing change, honoring what matters most, and designing a career (and life) that you love. If you've ever felt like your interests don't fit neatly in a box, this conversation is for you.Learn about Melissa's work with Wednesday Women. Listen to Melissa's podcast The Joy of Connecting.Stay connected with Lindsay:Connect with Lindsay on Linkedin.Learn more about Lindsay's work here.Subscribe for monthly updates, resources, and events from Lindsay here.

What if entrepreneurship wasn’t about having all the answers, but having the courage to move forward anyway? Matt Heinz explores what it really means to build something meaningful from navigating imposter syndrome to redefining success beyond revenue. Matt shares personal stories and hard-won wisdom about starting a business, building lasting relationships, and embracing the unknown.If you're questioning what success looks like, or wondering if you're allowed to rewrite the rules, this episode is for you.Learn about Matt's work here.Stay connected with Lindsay:Connect with Lindsay on Linkedin.Learn more about Lindsay's work here.Subscribe for monthly updates, resources, and events from Lindsay here.

What if the life you actually want isn’t something to earn someday but something you can start living right now? Mindset coach Erica Ballard dives into embracing the messy and magical journey of being a high-achieving human who also craves meaning and presence. From corporate boardrooms to sound bowls, Erica’s path has been anything but linear. She explains how ambition and spirituality aren't opposites and why the biggest flex is actually learning how to slow down without losing your edge (yes, it's possible).Whether you're in the midst of building a company or on the edge of burnout just trying to hold it all together, this episode will help you redefine self-worth and get weird in all the right ways. Learn about Erica's work here. Stay connected with Lindsay:Connect with Lindsay on Linkedin.Learn more about Lindsay's work here.Subscribe for monthly updates, resources, and events from Lindsay here.

What happens when you launch a company during a global crisis, while raising a newborn, and everyone around you thinks you're making a mistake? Palash Soni shares his bold leap from India’s startup scene to Harvard Business School and eventually into the high-stakes world of building a venture-backed company in the U.S.Palash digs into the importance of discerning advice (especially when everyone has an opinion), and why trusting your intuition might just be your most underrated superpower as a founder. From unexpected pivots to navigating external validation, this conversation is a raw look at the realities of entrepreneurship and the resilience it demands.If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by the noise, or wondered whether to keep going or change course, this one’s for you.Learn about Palash's work at Goldcast.Stay connected with Lindsay:Connect with Lindsay on Linkedin.Learn more about Lindsay's work here.Subscribe for monthly updates, resources, and events from Lindsay here.

How do you stay bold when the market (and investors) aren’t really ready for your vision? Oana Manolache unpacks  what it takes to build an innovative brand in a skeptical market and the complexities of fundraising as a female founder. She shares her lessons in resilience and the realities of building in a fast-moving environment. For anyone daring to build something bold, something that doesn’t yet exist, this episode will remind you why staying close to your vision and your people matters most.Learn more about Oana's work with Sequel.ioTune into the Game Changers podcast.Stay connected with Lindsay:Connect with Lindsay on Linkedin.Learn more Lindsay's work here.Subscribe for monthly updates, resources, and events from Lindsay here.

Have you ever felt like your big ideas and long game thinking was a curse? That something was wrong with you? Jasen Coldiron digs into the critical relationship between visionaries and integrators and why personal connection and support are essential to long-term success. Jasen shares his own journey through career transitions, imposter syndrome, and the fear of failure and reminds us why surrounding yourself with the right people can change everything. This episode will remind you that don't have to (and shouldn't) navigate business all on your own. Learn more about Jasen's work with INOV8RStay connected with Lindsay:Connect with Lindsay on Linkedin.Learn more Lindsay's work here.Subscribe for monthly updates, resources, and events from Lindsay here.

What if you stopped living by other people's expectations and chose yourself instead? Lisa Mitchell dives into navigating life transitions, the struggles of feeling hopeless, and the courage found in desperation. If you're in the midst of change, feel stuck, or hesitant to put yourself first, this conversation will remind you that it's not only possible to redefine success for yourself—it’s necessary.Listen to Lisa's podcast, Divorce Curious, here. Stay connected with Lindsay:Connect with Lindsay on Linkedin.Learn more Lindsay's work here.Subscribe for monthly updates, resources, and events from Lindsay here.

What does it take to carve a new path for a business while remaining true to yourself? Paige McPheely, founder of Base, digs into building a company with your best friend, embracing support systems, and why there's never a perfect time to make big moves whether it be personal or professional. If you’re an entrepreneur looking to build the life and business you truly want, this conversation is for you.Connect with Paige on Linkedin and learn about Base.Stay connected with Lindsay:Connect with Lindsay on Linkedin.Learn more Lindsay's work here.Subscribe for monthly updates, resources, and events from Lindsay here.

How do you build a brand (and a life) that reflects YOU? Kate DiLeo explains how confidence, kindness, and discernment shape leadership and why leading from invitation, not desperation, is the key to success. Whether you're a founder navigating challenges or a leader seeking balance, this episode is for you.Learn more about Kate and her work here.Stay connected with Lindsay:Connect with Lindsay on Linkedin.Learn more Lindsay's work here.Subscribe for monthly updates, resources, and events from Lindsay here.

What happens when you step away from a traditional career path to chase something unknown? From attorney to entrepreneur, Matt Tait shares his journey and reminds us of  the role of failure in growth. If you've ever questioned your path, this episode is for you. Listen to Matt's podcast, After The First Million.  Stay connected with Lindsay:Connect with Lindsay on Linkedin.Learn more Lindsay's work here.Subscribe for monthly updates, resources, and events from Lindsay here.

How do you ensure your voice is heard? Alex Perry is a speech-language pathologist turned entrepreneur empowering you to find your voice in public speaking but also in life. We discuss why authenticity is the key to connection and remind you that your voice matters, your story has power, and you can define success in alignment with what is uniquely you. Learn about Alex's work, Practically Speaking, here.Stay connected with Lindsay:Connect with Lindsay on Linkedin.Learn more Lindsay's work here.Subscribe for monthly updates, resources, and events from Lindsay here.

How do you break the mold and own your uniqueness? If you’ve ever questioned your worth or struggled to balance professionalism with your unique personality, this conversation will remind you that being different is your greatest strength. Christina shares her unconventional path from comedy to sales leadership, revealing how humor, resilience, and embracing individuality can redefine success.Learn more about Christina's work here.Stay connected with Lindsay:Connect with Lindsay on Linkedin.Learn more Lindsay's work here.Subscribe for monthly updates, resources, and events from Lindsay here.

What does it take to turn a dream into reality—while balancing family, culture, and business? Marcos and Laura Perera, the founders of Che Chori, share the challenges of starting a business, the importance of adaptability and community, how their children play a hands-on role, and and what it’s really like to build a company as a couple. The husband and wife duo remind us why understanding the "why" behind your business matters and their story is an inspiring reminder that success often comes from unexpected paths and a willingness to evolve. Stay connected with Lindsay:Connect with Lindsay on Linkedin.Learn more Lindsay's work here.Subscribe for monthly updates, resources, and events from Lindsay here.

The confidence gap holding female founders back and how to overcome it. If you're a founder navigating self-doubt, societal conditioning, or the pressure to please everyone—this conversation is for you. Margaret Weniger dives into why taking credit for your wins is crucial and a simple yet powerful tool for recognizing achievements and fostering growth. Download Margaret's QRX template for FREE with code ACTUALLYICANLearn more about Margaret's work here. Stay connected with Lindsay:Connect with Lindsay on Linkedin.Learn more Lindsay's work here.Subscribe for monthly updates, resources, and events from Lindsay here.

What if the voices that say "you can't" and "you shouldn't" are wrong? Actually, I Can. is a celebration of bold choices, courageous journeys, and the deeply personal stories of founders, visionaries, and leaders who dared to defy the doubters and choose "yes" even when the world kept saying "no."This isn’t about growth hacks or formulas—it’s about the raw, human moments that shape real leaders. Host Lindsay Tjepkema sits down with real leaders and digs deep into the grit, grief, and reinvention that turned real dreams into exceptional realities.Whether you're an entrepreneur, a dreamer, or on the edge of your next big move, Actually, I Can. will inspire you to trust your intuition, bet on yourself, and redefine success on your own terms.