My Great Pivot

Nicole Lipkin, an organizational and clinical psychologist, shares her journey as the founder of Hey Kiddo, a parenting partner app for caregivers of children from birth through age twelve. She traces the app's inspiration back to her late parents, South Bronx school teachers who made their home a psychologically safe space for every kid in the neighborhood. Nicole discusses why she walked away from private equity offers to sell her practice on her own terms, the emotional rollercoaster of startup life, the NSF grants that funded her R&D, and landing investors at a Shark Tank–style live pitch.Links:Hey Kiddo: www.hey-kiddo.comNicole Lipkin: https://nicolelipkin.comNicole's husband, comedian Matt Hyams: https://www.instagram.com/matthyams/My Great Pivot: www.mygreatpivot.comThe Female Founders Project: www.thefemalefoundersproject.comThe Female Founders Wishlist: www.femalefounderswishlist.comTakeawaysDeveloping a parenting app through many iterationsBuilding - and selling - a ventureTeam dynamics in a startupThe emotional rollercoaster ride of startup lifeFundraising strategyChapters00:00 The Birth of Hey Kiddo06:04 Hey Kiddo's Role as a Parenting Partner18:14 The Decision to Sell the Practice25:29 The Roller Coaster of Startup Emotions31:05 Building the Hey Kiddo Team36:30 Pressure of External Investment43:23 App Features and Functionality51:23 Fundraising Strategy#femalefounders #entrepreneurship #femaleentrepreneurs #startuplife #startups #womenentrepreneurs #techstartups #impactinvesting

Breanna Hoepner shares how she left a 24-year career in unscripted television to launch her own custom cake business, Once Upon a Cake Studio. She details how an assumption nearly kept her from pursuing this dream, and how a friend’s challenge and simple Google search revealed that it was far more accessible than she’d ever imagined. The conversation covers how her television production background has helped shape her client process and the design of her custom cakes, why her cakes have been a more powerful marketing tool than any paid advertising, her plans to scale, and how motherhood and a family legacy in the bakery business have informed each stage of her entrepreneurial journey.Takeaways:Passion-driven entrepreneurshipLaunching a cottage food businessAI and social media as tools in small businessesBalancing Business and FamilyLinks:Once Upon a Cake Studio homepage: www.onceuponacakestudio.comOnce Upon a Cake Studio on InstagramOnce Upon a Cake on FacebookMy Great Pivot podcast homepage: www.mygreatpivot.comThe Female Founders ProjectChapters:00:00 The Birth of Once Upon a Cake Studio31:14 Business #2: Athlete Highlight Reels37:08 Handling Pressure and Risk42:21 Balancing Business and Family48:00 Avoiding Inventory and Storefront53:18 Freedom and Balance#femalefounders #entrepreneurship #femaleentrepreneurs #startuplife #startups #womenentrepreneurs #cottageindustries #homebaker #smallbusiness #careerpivots

Carrie DeMartini shares her journey from copywriter to end-of-life doula and owner of the Wishing Well Center, a business focused on end-of-life planning and grief support.She discusses the multifaceted nature of her role, the importance of certification, and the challenges of carving out a unique business in a field with limited existing pathways.In sharing the challenges of monetizing a calling, Carrie outlines how a sliding-scale payment structure and options for individual, group, and community offerings make her services accessible to just about anyone who needs them.She also emphasizes the value of local resources and partnerships in building her business, and highlights the need for community-based healing and support for grief.Links:The My Great Pivot podcast: www.mygreatpivot.comWishing Well Center: www.wishingwellcenter.comKnoxville Entrepreneur Center: www.knoxec.comTakeawaysEnd-of-life doula work is a calling that involves emotional, spiritual, and practical support.Monetizing a calling presents challenges, but sliding scale models and group courses can make services more accessible.Intuition and discernment are crucial in navigating the challenges of entrepreneurship.Local resources and partnerships play a significant role in building a business and creating community-based healing.Grief is a complex and layered experience, and community support is essential for processing and healing from it.Chapters00:00 The Calling: Becoming an End-of-Life Doula11:51 Certification and Training as an End-of-Life Doula21:49 Pivoting Careers: From Copywriter to End-of-Life Doula32:20 Creating an End-of-Life Plan: Impact and Importance38:39 Carving Out a Unique Business45:20 Challenges of Social Media and Community-Based Healing52:05 The Role of Feminine Energy in Entrepreneurship01:00:29 Grief Retreats and Community Healing01:06:24 Balancing Motherhood and Entrepreneurship#femalefounders #entrepreneurship #femaleentrepreneurs #startuplife #startups #womenentrepreneurs #deathdoula #endoflifeprep #smallbusiness #careerpivots

In this episode of the My Great Pivot podcast, Erica Tuggle shares her journey from corporate marketing director to founder of Livin, a platform that connects busy families and professionals to affordable home chefs in their area.The discussion highlights the evolution of Erica's idea and the challenges she's faced in the early stages of the business. We cover a range of topics, including evolving your business model, fundraising strategy, VC guidance and support, the challenges of being an underrepresented founder, and advice for aspiring entrepreneurs.Links:The My Great Pivot podcast: www.mygreatpivot.comLivin: www.chooselivin.comTakeawaysThe entrepreneurial journey: from leaving a job to launchingAcceleratorsEvolving a brand and business planRaising capitalChapters00:00 Introduction to Livin and Erica's Journey23:00 Partnerships for Health and Nutrition28:19 Fundraising Strategy and Investor Selection33:36 Customer Subscription and Brand Experience39:52 Rebranding and Emotional Connection#femalefounders #entrepreneurship #femaleentrepreneurs #startuplife #startups #womenentrepreneurs #techstartups #appdevelopment #careerpivots #foodstartups

In this episode of the My Great Pivot podcast, Lindsay Scherr Burgess shares her journey scaling an Etsy side hustle into a successful business, Green Wallscapes, which creates stunning preserved moss walls for clients.Since launching in 2018, Lindsay and the Green Wallscapes team have created over 1,000 moss walls, generating millions in revenue out of their West Palm Beach studio.The conversation delves into the realities of entrepreneurship, the importance of adaptability, and strategies for building and growing a successful business. We also drive into pricing strategy, staff conflicts, and how motherhood has impacted her business and personal outlook.Links:www.greenwallscapes.comwww.mygreatpivot.comTakeawaysFinding inspiration for a new businessAdaptability and resilience in entrepreneurshipManaging staff as you scalePricing strategyMaintaining a business through new motherhoodChapters00:00 From Hobby to Business06:05 Navigating Challenges and Growth11:52 The Journey of Building a Business18:07 Expanding the Product and Market27:47 Aesthetics and Client Preferences35:33 Impact of Motherhood on Business#femalefounders #entrepreneurship #femaleentrepreneurs #startuplife #startups #womenentrepreneurs #greenwallscapes #careerpivots #homedecor #interiordesign

Kacie Darden shares her inspiring pivot from middle school science teacher to owner of her own thriving travel agency, Blue Pineapple Travel. Less than two years after setting a cycling world record, Kacie landed in the ICU, nearly dead from complications during the birth of her twins. Resulting health issues forced her to leave the teaching job she loved, so she decided it was time for a professional pivot - and found motivation in her love of exotic travel.So just how do you launch a travel agency? Kacie tells all, from kick-starting her new career by getting in with a host agency to acquiring other agencies to fuel Blue Pineapple's growth. She shares how Blue Pineapple's focus on providing exceptional customer service helps her agency stand out in an industry dominated by digital tools. And lest you think the travel agency is all sunshine and rainbows, she recalls the dark days when COVID travel bans nearly bankrupted her agency - and how they made it through.This episode is a testament to Kacie's indomitable spirit and knack for seizing opportunities in the face of adversity.My Great Pivot is a production of The Female Founders Project. Find out more at www.mygreatpivot.com00:00 The Impact of COVID-19 on Business00:40 Introduction to the Podcast and Guest01:41 Kacie Darden's Early Life and Career05:34 Transition from Teaching to Travel Agency09:27 Starting Blue Pineapple Travel15:30 Navigating COVID-19 Challenges23:30 The Diverse World of Travel Planning24:08 Challenges and Misconceptions in the Travel Industry26:55 The Importance of Support and Partnership28:34 Lessons Learned and Business Growth33:20 The Role of Communication and Education40:37 Future Plans and Industry Insights45:57 Favorite Travel Destinations47:43 Conclusion and Contact Information#femalefounders #entrepreneurship #femaleentrepreneurs #startuplife #startups #womenentrepreneurs #travelindustry #traveladvisor #smallbusiness #careerpivots

In this episode, Naama Nicotra, the co-founder of NakedPak, shares her inspiring journey developing edible food packaging NakedPak, which aims to reduce plastic waste.Naama discusses the journey from the initial concept, inspired during her studies in Helsinki, to creating a tangible product with significant industry interest. She highlights the importance of finding the right co-founder, bootstrapping, raising funds from friends and family, and the critical role of mentorship and accelerators.She also delves into the challenges and rewards of launching a startup, the strategies for gaining validation, and the B2C trial of this B2B product, which targets the outdoor food market with ready-to-cook meals wrapped in this innovative packaging. Naama's story exemplifies the importance of perseverance, market testing, and impactful innovation in the startup ecosystem.My Great Pivot is a production of The Female Founders Project.00:00 The Entrepreneur's Advice: Bootstrap and Raise Funds00:38 Introducing NakedPak: The Future of Food Packaging03:04 The Inspiration Behind NakedPak05:16 From Concept to Company: The Birth of NakedPak06:20 Finding the Perfect Co-Founder10:08 Turning Ideas into Reality: The Role of Food Lab16:55 The Power of Friends and Family Funding21:06 Understanding Fundraising Strategies22:28 The Challenges of Fundraising24:41 Innovative Packaging Solutions27:26 Targeting the Outdoor Market30:32 Gaining Investor Confidence35:43 Networking and Mentorship41:02 Market Testing and Revenue Strategies42:50 Final Thoughts and Contact Information#femalefounders #entrepreneurship #femaleentrepreneurs #startuplife #startups #womenentrepreneurs #techstartups #foodstartup #esign #milandesignweek #sustainability #sustainablestartup #missiondriven #impactinvesting

In this episode of 'My Great Pivot,' we speak with Alice Park, an inspiring entrepreneur who left a secure engineering job to launch Park Studios, a thriving photography business in Atlanta, Georgia.Alice shares some of the struggles that come with launching and owning a business, and how she drew inspiration from her parents' entrepreneurial spirit. She discusses the continuous need for innovation, especially as the market for photography services has evolved. Tune in to learn from Alice's story of resilience, adaptability, and passion for her craft.00:00 The Struggles of Small Business Ownership00:30 Introduction to the Podcast and Guest01:07 Alice Park's Entrepreneurial Roots03:55 The Journey Through Engineering06:15 The Unhappiness in Corporate Life06:33 Meeting the Catalyst: Kyu09:25 The Decision to Leave Corporate10:59 The Birth of Park Studios15:15 The Importance of Pivoting20:39 Adapting to Market Changes#femalefounders #entrepreneurship #femaleentrepreneurs #startuplife #startups #womenentrepreneurs #photographybusiness #careerpivots #photographycareers

A sneak preview of the first season of the My Great Pivot podcast, where we interview female founders at all stages of the entrepreneurial journey. Catch a glimpse of some of the founders we speak to this season, including:- a teacher who followed her bliss after a life-threatening childbirth... and launched a business that's taken her around the world-a founder who parlayed an Etsy side-hustle into a bustling business that's generated millions of dollars in revenue-an entrepreneur who found the funds to launch her dream from an unlikely source-a marketing executive who shares how her careful planning led to a million-dollar pre-seed investment round for her startupThese are just some of the compelling stories coming this season on My Great Pivot, launching January 15, 2026.Find out more about the podcast at www.thefemalefoundersproject.com