Ladies Who Launch is an empowering podcast serving up the aspirational journeys of women who have made their mark in the world of business.
Starting from scratch to cooking up empires, join our host, Rochelle Humes, as she dives into the successes and challenges faced by female entrepreneurs. Sink your teeth into the inspiring stories of those who have fearlessly pursued their dreams whilst dishing out invaluable insights to listeners.
Get ready to be motivated and uplifted as Rochelle elevates the voices of these extraordinary women, showcasing their resilience, creativity and a side of determination to launch.
This is your girls’ group chat for business and beyond.
Steven Bartlett Gave Me £100K, Then We Grew 600%: Hello Klean | Ladies Who Launch
Épisode 97
mercredi 30 septembre 2026 • Durée 46:29
Rochelle sits down with Karlee Zhang, founder of Hello Klean, who opens up about her journey from self-funding an idea that nobody had believed in, to having half a million loyal worldwide customers and expanding into luxury retail spaces.
Karlee unpacks the discovery that turned a plumbing issue into a beauty revelation, and the reality of bootstrapping until you find the right investors. From a sealed social strategy to navigating rapid growth, Karlee shares an insight into her honest founder lessons and top tips.
In this episode we cover:
The moment a plumbing problem became a beauty product
The importance of educating consumers, and how Hello Klean earned trust with a free trial
How to navigate retail launches and streamlining the consumer experience
Building a social strategy that cuts through the noise
Navigating rapid growth and defining your success
If you’re an aspiring innovator with no clue where to start, this one’s for you!
We Are Ladies Who Launch!
CHAPTERS
00:00 Introducing Hello Klean
04:24 Identifying The Water Origin Problem
07:40 Turning Plumbing Into A Wellness Brand
10:07 Educating Before Selling
13:35 Building Co-Founder Roles Efficiently
15:05 Funding R&D And Our Subscription Model
16:57 Customers Don’t Understand Category
20:04 Social Was Our First Hire
23:13 Building A Brand Narrative
24:45 Balancing Brand and Conversion
26:52 Creating Creator Partnerships That Feel Real
28:00 My Dragons’ Den Experience
34:39 Post Dragons’ Den Growth Surge - 600%!
36:19 Finding The Right Investor Fit
39:54 Expanding Shower Care Category
41:33 Redefining Success Metrics
44:30 Karlee’s Leaving Advice
🔔 New episodes every Wednesday — subscribe so you never miss a launch.
Astrid & Miyu: From a £500 Website to a £50M Jewellery Brand
Épisode 96
mercredi 23 septembre 2026 • Durée 29:18
Connie Nam founded Astrid & Miyu from her flat in Notting Hill in 2012, with a £500 website and a bold £2,000-a-month bet on PR she funded from her own savings. Since then, the brand has grown to 30+ international stores and a reported £50 million in turnover.
In this episode, Connie breaks down how she built an entirely new jewellery category from scratch, why it took 11 years (not a viral moment) before she felt like she'd actually launched, and the naive assumptions that nearly sank her US and Middle East expansions. She also shares her honest take on why taking investment you don't need might be the biggest mistake a founder can make, and the line she now lives by when it comes to protecting company culture: it takes hundreds of people to build it, and only one to ruin it.
In this episode we cover:
The moment Astrid & Miyu really took off, and why brand awareness changed everything
How to find people as passionate as you and filter out bad apples
How to stand out in an overcrowded market
The realities of launching in the US and what it took to get there
Top founder tips for building a business that lasts
If you’re starting out and you feel like your growth is stunted, this one’s for you!
We Are Ladies Who Launch!
CHAPTERS
00:00 Introducing Connie Nam
01:51 Starting A Category Scratch
03:05 Taking A Risk on PR
04:44 Making Your First Hire
06:21 Finding Your USP
10:16 Competitor Mindset
14:18 Steady Growth Middle
17:39 The Launch of Astrid & Miyu Piercing
"Caroline Hirons Was The Biggest Risk I Ever Took": Colette Laxton | Ladies Who Launch
Épisode 95
mercredi 16 septembre 2026 • Durée 01:12:45
Colette Laxton co-founded The INKEY List in 2018 to make skincare less confusing and has since sold over 90 million products worldwide.
In this episode, she breaks down exactly how she split her first £300K starting budget between stock, marketing and running costs, including why most of her marketing spend went on one person: Caroline Hirons!
We all know the success of The INKEY List but the growth came at a cost. Colette opens up about nearly going bankrupt, the burnout that put her in bed for two weeks straight, and the unpredictability of virality including how a product she never planned to sell became the number one body product on TikTok Shop. It's an honest look at what building a brand from nothing actually takes, budget breakdown included.
In this episode, we cover:
Leaving a decade-long career at Boots to join a scrappy startup
Exactly how she split her first £300K investment
Why most of her marketing budget went on: Caroline Hirons
The Cult Beauty call on launch day that changed everything
Launching The INKEY List into Sephora across North America within six months
Nearly going bankrupt, and what it actually takes to get "retail ready"
The burnout that put her in bed for two weeks straight
How a product she never planned to sell became #1 on TikTok Shop
If you’re looking to launch in the skincare space, this one’s for you!
We Are Ladies Who Launch!
00:00 Cult Beauty Calls Day One
00:55 Introducing Colette Laxton
03:10 Learning the Corporate Ropes at Boots
10:21 Realising The Skincare Gap
"Imposter Syndrome" Isn't Real: Dior Bediako | Ladies Who Launch
Épisode 94
mercredi 9 septembre 2026 • Durée 01:07:46
Everybody needs a life coach as their bestie, and in this week's episode of Ladies Who Launch, we’re welcoming back Dior Bediako to unpack the raw reality of running a business. We discuss the shocks of entrepreneurship, how to stop taking fails so personally, why being busy ≠ building, and why launching shouldn’t be your goal.
Dior shares her tips on success with tangible weekly goals, structure and accountability that actually create momentum, how to know when to admit something isn't working, and her top advice to beat imposter syndrome without ever using your goals against yourself.
Get Dior's design your future-self worksheet: https://pepperyourtalk.kit.com/736ece85c7
In this episode, we cover:
Why launching isn't the goal, and the real shocks of running a business
Busy vs building: why doing more ≠ more results
How to build structure that sticks: tangible weekly goals, accountability and results over process
The importance of knowing when to pivot
Mindset resets: stop comparing, stop using goals against yourself and beat imposter syndrome
If you’ve ever felt like your goals are bringing you down, this one’s for you!
We Are Ladies Who Launch!
CHAPTERS
00:00 Meet Dior Bediako
03:07 Using Business As Growth Tool
06:33 Why You're Busy Vs Building
14:29 Do Less, Get Better Results
18:42 When To Quit & Pivot
21:35 Find Your Bottom Left
25:00 Growth Needs Systems
32:17 Focussing On Being A Future Founder
Introducing Rochelle new skincare brand!
Épisode 93
mercredi 2 septembre 2026 • Durée 13:54
The cat's finally out of the bag! After months of hiding logos, dodging your questions, and biting my tongue every time you asked what "Roch Builds a Brand" was really about… I can finally tell you. Welcome to Eulah!
In this episode I'm telling you the full story: where the name came from, the Korean-inspired formulas the whole brand is built around, and how we've somehow managed to bring it to you for £8–£12 a product.
We're launching with 12 products including a gua sha companion that I am OBSESSED with. This is the biggest launch I have ever done and I’m so excited to share it with you.
Sign up at eulahskin.com to be the first to hear more, get early access to products, and find out how to meet Rochelle at launch.
We Are Ladies Who Launch!
CHAPTERS
00:00 Introducing Eulah
01:43 Eulah Brand Vision and Pricing
03:39 Where To Shop Eulah
06:14 The Meaning Behind The Brand Name
07:37 Join the Eulah Community
08:38 12 Products Sneak Peek
09:56 Road to Launch Plans
10:50 Expert Doctor Partnership
🔔 New episodes every Wednesday — subscribe so you never miss a launch.
The One Piece of Advice Every Founder Needs, ft. Emma Grede, Jo Malone, Sam Faiers & Perrie Sian
Épisode 92
mercredi 26 août 2026 • Durée 11:18
This week on Ladies Who Launch, we’re taking a break from regular scheduled programming to revisit some of the most iconic moments of honesty, vulnerability, and advice from previous powerhouse founders, including Emma Grede, Ella Mills, Sabrina Elba, Sam Faiers, Mona Kattan, Amy Liu, Perrie Sian, Conna Walker, Frankie James, Vivien Wong, Aimee Smale, Penelope Cheshire, Ama Hill, Jessica Sepel and Jo Malone.
This mastermind compilation is your spark and start to finding your idea and taking the first leap to building the business of your dreams. It includes all of those golden nuggets of advice from our Ladies who’ve Launched; from how to take the first leap, and turn personal problems and passion into purpose-led businesses, to building resilience through startup struggles, influencer growth and unwavering self-belief.
In this episode, we cover:
Taking the leap & founding from a personal problem
Turning your passion into a career
Navigating early startup struggles
The moment you truly ‘launch’
Embracing failure and backing yourself through it
If you’re in need of a reminder of why you started and why you shouldn’t give up, this one’s for you.
We Are Ladies Who Launch!
Chapters
00:00 From Fear to First Leap
00:31 Why Founders Start
01:05 How Personal Experience Sparks Ideas
03:05 Believing in Your Product Vision
04:20 Quitting and Going All In
06:18 Starting Small Operations
06:50 Bootstrapping, Solo Hustle and Managing It All
08:34 Launch Breakthrough Moment
09:11 Advice for New Founders
11:03 Why Not Me
She's Making AI-Generated Foundation In 90 Seconds | Ruth De Leo, DCYPHER Beauty
Épisode 91
mercredi 19 août 2026 • Durée 01:01:54
Have you ever experienced having to mix 3 different foundations just to find your shade? Well your problems have been sold because DCYPHER Beauty is the World’s first beauty tech brand creating formulations from scratch, one at a time, personalised in minutes.
In this week's episode, Rochelle sits down with Ruth De Leo, skincare founder of DCYPHER and mentee of Charlotte Tilbury, to share how AI-powered shade-matching is solving the personalisation problem no beauty giant could crack.
We discuss the real expectations vs reality of launching a brand, learning from the best brands in the industry, and the non-negotiables that keep DCYPHER running. Ruth gets honest about founder life, unexpected customer feedback, and the advice she wishes she never listened to.
In this episode, we cover:
Ruth’s beauty-industry background and discovering the gap in the market that sparked the brand.
Charlotte Tilbury mentorship that impacted her career.
How AI and personalisation formulas solved the universal shade-match struggle.
The expectations vs reality of starting up, and how she switches off.
Business non-negotiables, the advice she ignores, and Ruth’s top tip.
If you’ve ever wanted to learn how technology can benefit skincare, this one’s for you.
We Are Ladies Who Launch!
Chapters
00:00 Industry Meets Problem
01:59 Pain Points & Waste In Makeup And Waste
06:33 Scaling Brands And Building Confidence
07:44 Charlotte Tilbury Lessons On Trust
17:49 DCYPHER Tech Explained
26:08 Launching In John Lewis
34:55 Data Driven Foundation Formulas
From Launch to SpaceNK in 3 years: Behind the Growth of Mimétique
Épisode 90
mercredi 12 août 2026 • Durée 52:19
Ever wondered how to launch a skincare brand? This week’s episode is with Fabienne Sebaoun, founder of Mimétique, who unpacks the raw reality of building a self-funded beauty brand from scratch. We then go into how Fabienne tapped into her science based roots to build a niche within an overcrowded space.
From facing university as a mature student to navigating the chaos of a first launch, Fabienne shares the do's, don'ts, and business non-negotiables that shaped Mimétique into a brand built on storytelling and substance.
In this episode, we cover:
How Fabienne’s science-based background led her to launching building a niche in the crowded beauty space
Lesson from building Mimétique completely self funded
How storytelling and brand identity became her edge in an oversaturated market
Do's and don'ts of launching a modern brand and managing the conflict that comes with it
Fabienne’s top tip for solo founders
If you’re an aspiring founder looking to launch in the beauty space, this one’s for you.
We Are Ladies Who Launch!
CHAPTERS
00:00 Meet The Mimétique Founder
01:55 Dermatology Family Roots
07:16 Going Back to University at 40
13:03 From Lab Vials to Le Bon Marché
15:38 The Challenges Of A Self Funded Launch
17:44 Building the Team
23:27 Designing the French Pharmacy Look
27:00 Founder Dos and Donts
33:06 Letting Go to Grow
35:18 Fabienne’s Five Year Vision
41:49 Rocket Round
Gigi & Olive: How 4 Business Pivots Built a Seven-Figure Brand
Épisode 89
mercredi 5 août 2026 • Durée 01:06:35
This week, we’re joined by Georgie Le Roux, founder and CEO of Gigi & Olive, the luxury bridal and personalised gifting brand that has grown through four major business pivots and over 85% year-on-year growth.
In this episode, Georgie shares the behind-the-scenes reality of building a product based business from manually managing personalised orders in Google Sheets to scaling a luxury brand, navigating operational chaos, and the £30,000 Meta Ads mistake that nearly derailed Black Friday.
We also dive into why profit matters more than revenue, how to know when it's time to pivot, building a community-first brand, and the founder lessons no one talks about.
In this episode, we cover:
The £30,000 Meta Ads horror story every founder should hear
Why Gigi & Olive pivoted four times before finding its winning model
The operational reality of running a personalised product business
Why chasing revenue can be a dangerous growth strategy
How customer obsession became Gigi & Olive's biggest competitive advantage
The Gigi & Olive podcast is launching September 2026
Building a luxury brand through community, not just marketing
The mindset shifts every founder needs to scale with confidence
Whether you're building an e-commerce brand, scaling a business, or simply love hearing the real stories behind successful founders, this episode is packed with honest lessons and practical insights.
We Are Ladies Who Launch!
CHAPTERS
00:00 Meet Georgie Le Roux, founder of Gigi & Olive
01:57 Introducing Gigi & Olive
05:47 How to Track Trends in Products
07:31 First Big Pivot to Own Designs
09:25 Building Personalisation Operations
Why Every Entrepreneur Needs Better Friends | Frankie James Founder of Ideas Fest
Épisode 88
mercredi 29 juillet 2026 • Durée 01:01:04
In this week's episode of Ladies Who Launch, Frankie James unpacks her founder story, from the uncertainty of figuring out a career path as a young adult to building Ideas Fest into a must-attend industry event. We get into turning setbacks into strategy, mastering assertive communication, navigating the grey area between business and friendship, and the financial tools every founder needs to know.
In this episode, we cover:
Frankie's founder journey from career uncertainty to building Ideas Fest
How to turn setbacks into strategic opportunities
Networking, rapport-building, and navigating the blurred lines between business and relationships
Gaining the confidence to be assertive in the business world
Financial support tools, top tips, and how to be a strong team player
If you’ve ever wanted to start a business but don’t know where to begin, this one’s for you.
We Are Ladies Who Launch!
CHAPTERS
00:00 Meet Frankie James
02:33 Finding Your Path
12:44 Family Business Dynamics
15:31 An Intro To Ideas Fest
17:08 Pandemic Spark & First Festival Launch
21:53 Building A Founder Community
31:55 What’s Next For Ideas Fest
35:59 Rocket Round
36:11 Community Non Negotiables
39:31 Hiring For Vibe, Not Titles
43:45 Adopting The ‘Why Not Me’ Mindset
54:48 Frankie’s Top Tips
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