Feminist Founders: Building Profitable People-First Businesses

In this episode of Feminist Founders, Becky Mollenkamp sits down with Allison Davis to explore how to do sales differently, centering ethics, empathy, and human connection. They discuss how traditional sales techniques, often dominated by white male voices, have perpetuated harmful practices, and how feminist business owners can shift to more values-aligned approaches. From compassionate sales tactics to consent-based selling, this conversation dives deep into how business owners can thrive while staying true to their principles. Whether you're navigating B2B sales strategies, focusing on service-based business growth, or just looking for more ethical sales techniques, this episode is packed with actionable insights.

Allison Davis (she/her) is the founder of Sales Done Differently, a consultancy focused on founder-led sales. Drawing from her 20 years of sales experience at companies like National Geographic and Time Out North America, Allison helps her clients leverage their strengths into consistent revenue-generating systems. In the past year alone, Allison’s clients have sold millions of dollars in services to organizations like Charles Schwab, Gartner, Planned Parenthood, Levi’s, Hulu, ACLU and more.

Website | LinkedIn

Discussed in this episode:

• How to build sales strategies for small businesses without sacrificing values
• Ethical sales techniques that foster trust and long-term relationships
• Relationship-based sales as an antidote to high-pressure tactics
• Sales done differently: Approaches that challenge traditional norms
• The importance of a progressive sales approach in today’s market
• Feminist sales strategies that center the buyer’s humanity
• Sales coaching for women in service-based industries
• Why compassionate sales tactics lead to better outcomes
• Consent-based sales and its role in building customer trust
• The intersection of anti-capitalist values and sustainable business growth
• Transformational sales practices that foster authentic connections
• Tips for recovering from sales trauma and mindset coaching for resilience
• How values-based sales can transform your business model
• The role of empathy in sales, particularly in B2B environments
• Organic lead generation and sales without manipulation

Resources mentioned:

• Allison's monthly sales roundtable
• “Snap Selling” by Jill Konrath
• Animal Kind (Hudson, NY)

In this episode of Feminist Founders, Becky Mollenkamp sits down with personal empowerment coach Amy Green Smith to discuss the pervasive issues of people-pleasing, fear, and assertive communication in both business and personal life. Amy, an expert in emotional intelligence and leadership, breaks down the difference between feeling "not enough" and believing it, and how this impacts our boundaries and vulnerability in the workplace. Together, they tackle the critical conversation about how women, especially those with marginalized identities, can break free from the trauma response of people-pleasing and reclaim their voice.

Amy shares valuable insights into overcoming fear and stepping into assertive communication without crossing the line into aggression. This empowering conversation is full of practical advice for anyone struggling with boundaries in professional relationships, self-worth, and the ever-present challenges of balancing vulnerability and strength in the workplace.

Amy Green Smith (she/her) is a certified and credentialed life coach and hypnotherapist, masterful speaker, and personal empowerment expert. Amy uses her roles as coach, writer, podcaster, and speaker to move individuals to a place of radical personal empowerment and self-worth. With acute focus on helping people “find their voice”, she is highly sought after for her uncommon style of irreverence, wisdom, and humor and has been a featured expert in Inspired Coach Magazine and on Fox 5 San Diego.

Website | Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn

Discussed in this episode:

• Self-Worth and Language: Understanding the difference between feeling "not enough" and believing it, and how language shapes our perception of self-worth.
• People-Pleasing and Boundaries: Practical strategies for stopping people-pleasing and setting healthy boundaries in both personal and professional environments.
• Overcoming Fear: Embracing a "fear-optimized" mindset, allowing fear to coexist with action rather than waiting for the fear to disappear.
• Assertive Communication vs. Aggression: How to communicate assertively without being aggressive, and why vulnerability is a powerful tool in the workplace.
• People-Pleasing as a Trauma Response: Exploring the roots of people-pleasing as a trauma response, especially in marginalized identities, and how it often stems from self-preservation.
• Social Media and Mental Health: Discussing the impact of social media on mental health, particularly in contributing to feelings of inadequacy and "not enoughness."
• Emotional Intelligence and Leadership: Cultivating emotional intelligence and leadership skills as a feminist entrepreneur to lead with empathy, assertiveness, and authenticity.

Resources mentioned:

• Bold-Faced Truth podcast
• Amy Cuddy’s TED Talk, “Your body language may shape who you are”
• “You Are Your Best Thing” by Tarana Burke and Brené Brown
• Dr. Tee Williams Foundations of Social Justice program
• Speak Up for Yourself Without Being a Dick
• Planned Parenthood
• ActBlue
• “Atlas of the Heart” by Brené Brown

NOTE: Feminist Founders is a listener-funded podcast. Your contributions enable us to continue bringing you these important conversations. To support the mission and to receive bonus content from this episode, sign up for a subscription.

In this episode of Feminist Founders, Becky Mollenkamp sits down with Chelsey Goodan, author of Underestimated: The Wisdom and Power of Teenage Girls. Chelsey shares her journey in writing the book, her commitment to intersectional feminism, and her work with teenage girls. The conversation delves deep into the challenges and opportunities of raising feminist, empowered young women, as well as the importance of healing our inner teenage selves. Becky and Chelsey explore how these themes apply not just to parenting but also to leadership and women’s empowerment in the workplace.

Chelsey Goodan (she/her) is the author of the USA Today national bestseller, “Underestimated: The Power and Wisdom of Teenage Girls” (Gallery Books), which has been endorsed by Oprah's Book Club, saying: “If you have a teenage girl in your life, you need to read this.” Amazon's Editorial Director chose “Underestimated” as her "Editor's Pick, Best Nonfiction,” featuring it on CBS Mornings, and when Chelsey was on TODAY with Hoda & Jenna, they exclaimed: "We couldn't stop talking about your book."

Website | Instagram | TikTok | LinkedIn

Discussed in this Episode:

• Underestimated: Becky and Chelsey discuss the inspiration behind Underestimated: The Wisdom and Power of Teenage Girls, a book that challenges societal stereotypes and advocates for the empowerment of young women.
• Intersectional Feminism: The conversation highlights the importance of intersectional feminism, with Chelsey sharing how her book draws on the work of influential feminist thinkers like bell hooks and Maya Angelou.
• Empowering Teenage Girls: Chelsey offers insights into how we can support and empower teenage girls, encouraging them to embrace their emotions and develop self-trust.
• Feminist Parenting: Becky and Chelsey discuss the challenges of feminist parenting, particularly in creating a safe space for daughters to explore their identities and make independent choices.
• Healing Your Inner Teenager: The episode touches on the importance of healing the wounds from our own teenage years, including overcoming perfectionism, self-doubt, and shame.
• Communication Strategies for Leaders: Chelsey shares how the lessons she’s learned from working with teenage girls can be applied to leadership, particularly in creating psychologically safe environments where team members feel seen, heard, and valued.
• The Role of Social Media: Chelsey addresses the pros and cons of social media for teenage girls, emphasizing the importance of guiding them to use these platforms in empowering ways.

Resources mentioned:

• Underestimated by Chelsey Goodan
• “Why Does Patriarchy Persist” by Carol Gilligan and Naomi Snider
• “Pleasure Activism” by adrienne maree brown
• DemocraShe
• A Call to Men

Subscribe for More: For additional content, including a bonus conversation about Chelsey’s work with A Call to Men, subscribe to the Feminist Founders newsletter on Substack.

In this episode of Feminist Founders, Becky Mollenkamp interviews Sean Adams, founder of Drowned in Sound and music industry expert, to discuss the complexities of feminism in the music industry. They explore the challenges for female musicians, the barriers to equality in music, and how allyship plays a crucial role in creating ethical and empowering spaces. Sean shares his insights on toxic masculinity in music, the importance of safe spaces for women in live music, and what it means to promote an inclusive, values-driven business model in the music world. This conversation dives deep into how the music industry can better support marginalized artists, combat sexism and misogyny, and work towards equality in every facet of the industry.

Sean Adams (he/him) founded the music community and music publication Drowned in Sound in 2000. It grew to be a record label that launched the careers of artists such as Kaiser Chiefs and Bat for Lashes, as well as pioneering with an award-winning podcast back in 2005, developing groundbreaking playlist features, and launched spin-off websites like The Quietus. Alongside running the media organization, Sean has also managed various musicians including Charlotte Church, Ed Harcourt, and The Anchoress. Outside of music, he’s a member of The Movement Forward political group alongside the likes of Carol Vorderman and was the launch producer for The Trawl podcast hosted by Marina Purkiss & Jemma Forte.

Website | Instagram | Threads

Discussed in this Episode:

• The challenges facing female musicians and the barriers created by gender inequality
• How men can be better allies to women in the music industry
• The pervasive nature of toxic masculinity in music spaces
• Why supporting marginalized artists is crucial for creating equality in music
• Insights into promoting female artists and empowering women in music
• The importance of safe gigs for women and fostering safe spaces in live music settings
• Social responsibility in music and ethical music business practices
• Misogyny in live music and how the feminist music movement is pushing back

Resources Mentioned:

• Safe Gigs for Women
• Drowned in Sound

NOTE: Feminist Founders is a listener-funded podcast. Your contributions enable us to continue bringing you these important conversations. To support the mission and receive bonus content, sign up for a subscription at https://feministfounders.substack.com/

SUMMARY: Today we are joined by Rachel Formaro, a seasoned entrepreneur who navigated the tumultuous journey from overwhelmed solopreneur to thriving CEO. Rachel shares her profound insights on transitioning from the solopreneur mindset to embracing empowering business leadership. We delve into the fear of delegating and the essential mindset shift necessary for sustainable business success. Rachel illuminates the distinction between leadership and management, advocating for values-driven decision-making and building a supportive work culture. She emphasizes the importance of investing in a team for sustainable business expansion and shares strategies for navigating short-term challenges while prioritizing long-term gains. Moreover, Rachel candidly discusses prioritizing self-care, overcoming imposter syndrome, and setting boundaries to maintain work-life balance during periods of growth. Join us as we explore Rachel's empowering journey of resilience, growth, and redefining success as a values-driven CEO.

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Rachel Formaro (she/her) is the founder, CEO and a senior consultant at Blu Pagoda. With more than 25 years of broad career experience, Rachel is a top-performing communications and business management professional. She is known for her creativity, compassion, and commitment to achieving results.

While Rachel’s specialty is financial services, she also has experience with technology and consumer goods. She has assisted Fortune 500 with their business and communications challenges—particularly in the area of complex programs. Rachel has experience in both the United States and Canada and has assisted companies with initiatives in both countries, including mergers and acquisitions.

Outside of her work at Blu Pagoda, Rachel loves being a mom, wife, cook and avid reader. She stays engaged with her local community through volunteering and is a board member with the Chrysalis Foundation for Girls and Women.

Website | LinkedIn

Discussed in this episode:

• Rachel’s relationship with feminism and how it became more intersectional
• Her journey from Corporate America to self-employment, back to Corporate America, and finally starting Blu Pagoda
• How Rachel balances her anti-capitalist beliefs with serving clients in Corporate America
• The ways Rachel is trying to buck capitalist norms inside her business
• Getting comfortable with the CEO title by redefining what it means
• The importance of enlisting experts to help you grow as a CEO
• Modeling the self-care behaviors she wants her employees to feel empowered to do
• Setting boundaries around time and not making assumptions about others’ needs
• The weight of responsibility for other people’s livelihoods
• Navigating an economic downturn without losing sight of people-first values
• Creating a legacy and owning the word “philanthropist”
• Navigating aging and ageism as a woman business owner

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• “Hood Feminism” by Mikki Kendall
• Sister.is
• Clifton Strengths
• Drive to Survive on Netflix
• “Rest is a Resistance’ by Tricia Hersey
• Moms Demand Action
• Chrysalis Foundation for Women and Girls
• “This Chair Rocks” by Ashton Applewhite

Learn more about accountability coaching with host Becky Mollenkamp at https://beckymollenkamp.com