93. Staying Close to the Problem: Lessons for Business and Impact from Purpose-Driven Founder Neli Kools

A non-linear career can feel confusing while you’re living it, yet it often becomes the foundation for the most grounded leadership. Global entrepreneur Neli Kools shares how her journey—from architecture and urban planning, to studying music business in the US, to running a digital marketing agency—ultimately led her to co-found Intimate Queen, a plant-based wellness lingerie brand built to challenge a long-normalised question: why is discomfort “just part of being a woman”? This conversation explores the unfiltered reality of launching a women-led product in a taboo category, what it takes to move from idea to innovation through research and testing, and why authenticity, intuition, and staying close to the problem are often the real drivers of sustainable growth.About Our Guest: Neli Kools is a global entrepreneur and co-founder of Intimate Queen, a plant-based wellness lingerie brand focused on women’s comfort, confidence, and intimate skin wellbeing. With more than 14 years’ experience in digital marketing and brand building, Neli brings a rare blend of creative strategy and product innovation to mission-driven entrepreneurship. Her non-linear pathway spans architecture and urban planning, studies in music business in the United States, and the founding of a digital advertising agency—experience she now draws on to grow Intimate Queen across markets while navigating the challenges of building a women-led brand in a sensitive and often stigmatised category.📰 Read the accompanying article for this podcast episode ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join the Changemaker Q&A Community & ASK YOUR QUESTIONS HERE⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠💬 If you find this podcast valuable, it would really help us out to leave a rating & review wherever you're listening.Social Impact Foundations ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠FREE Training Bundle ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow HCN on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@humanitarianchangemakers⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow Tiyana on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@tiyanaj⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The views expressed in this podcast are those of Tiyana J & guests and are not reflective of all members of the Humanitarian Changemakers Network.