Jennifer Meyer is the founder and creative director of Jennifer Meyer Jewelry, a fine jewelry brand handmade in Los Angeles.

Jennifer’s story starts early. At six, she was discovering her love for jewelry while creating pieces with her grandmother. Fast forward: she hustled her way into getting a job at Glamour magazine, then worked in fashion and PR with Ralph Lauren and Giorgio Armani. In 2005, she finally followed her passion she felt for years and launched her brand at her kitchen table, teaching herself everything from molds to pricing. Her big break came when Jennifer Aniston wore the leaf necklace in The Break-Up, and suddenly her pieces were on the shelves at Barneys and Net-a-Porter. Nearly two decades later, Jennifer Meyer Jewelry has become a Hollywood staple, worn by everyone from Reese Witherspoon and Taylor Swift to Selena Gomez and so many more.

In today’s episode, Jennifer gets real about what it took to build from zero. We talk about how her upbringing & working at a young age shaped her resilience, the scrappy hustle that got her first big break at Glamour, and the leap from side passion to a real business. She shares the chaos of those early orders, the moment Jennifer Aniston put her work on the map, and what it was like to scale while raising her daughter. We dig into money lessons from her dad, why she chose slow and steady growth, and how to bet on yourself when there’s no roadmap. Jennifer also opens up about navigating comparison, leaning into social and how it’s impacted her business, and redefining what success means to her over the years. If you’ve ever felt “not enough,” this conversation will remind you that passion, persistence, and kindness can take you farther than you think.

In this episode, we’ll talk to Jennifer about:

* Why staying focused and trusting your passion has guided her career. [02:46]

* Early work experiences and family influences that shaped her values. [05:26]

* Building work ethic and discipline from a young age. [09:06]

* From Glamour to Ralph Lauren and the lessons she carried forward. [12:05]

* The pivotal decision to pursue jewelry design full-time. [20:04]

* Confronting fear and taking the leap into entrepreneurship. [22:59]

* Scrappy beginnings and the early challenges of launching her brand. [26:40]

* How Jennifer Aniston wearing her jewelry became a breakthrough moment. [29:00]

* Landing Barneys at the same time and learning how to manage momentum. [32:26]

* Balancing motherhood and entrepreneurship from the very start. [39:29]

* Why investing in yourself is always worth it. [45:07]

* The importance of leading with kindness and authenticity. [47:44]

* How her definition of success has evolved over the years. [49:36]

* Navigating emotional challenges and the resilience it takes to keep going. [51:35]

This episode is brought to you by beeya:

* Learn more about beeya's seed cycling bundle at https://beeyawellness.com/free to find out how to tackle hormonal imbalances.

* Get $10 off your order by using promo code BEHINDHEREMPIRE10

Follow Yasmin:

* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yasminknouri/

* Stay updated & subscribe to our newsletter: https://www.behindherempire.com/

Follow Jennifer:

* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jenmeyerjewelry/

* Website: https://jennifermeyer.com/

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Why do mood shifts, cravings, and PMS happen before your period? Dr. Sarah Hill, author of “This is Your Brain on Birth Control” and “The Period Brain”, breaks down the latest science on hormones, the luteal phase, and how progesterone affects the brain and body.

In this episode you’ll learn:

* How to survive and thrive in the luteal phase

* Why PMS exists (and its functional purpose)

* How progesterone impacts mood and stress

* The connection between birth control and attraction

* What contributes to postpartum depression

* And more…

Sarah E. Hill, Ph.D. is an award-winning researcher, consultant, writer, scientist, communicator, and professor. With almost 25 years of research experience, she's authored 100+ research publications, and two books that have changed the conversation about hormones and birth control for women. She earned her Ph.D. in Evolutionary Psychology at the University of Texas at Austin with Dr. David Buss and has called Texas home since moving here for graduate school in 2000. She has used the latest science on the dynamic changes in women’s hormonal states to write her newest book, "The Period Brain" with the goal of helping people feel seen, heard, and understood.

This episode is brought to you by beeya:

* Learn more about beeya's seed cycling bundle at https://beeyawellness.com/free to find out how to tackle hormonal imbalances.

* Get $10 off your order by using promo code BEHINDHEREMPIRE10

Follow Yasmin:

* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yasminknouri/

* Stay updated & subscribe to our newsletter: https://www.behindherempire.com/

Follow Dr. Sarah:

* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahehillphd/

* Website: https://www.sarahehill.com/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Joan Nguyen is the co-founder and CEO of Bumo, a platform revolutionizing childcare with flexible, on-demand options for families.

Raised by Vietnamese refugee parents who taught her that education was both a privilege and a pathway, Joan’s entrepreneurial journey began at just 20 years old when she founded MeriEducation with $3,000 in savings, eventually growing it into an Inc. 5000 company. Years later, as a working mother, she teamed up with Chriselle Lim to launch Bumo in 2019. From pitching over 200 investors with repeated rejections, to losing her home in the LA wildfires, to pivoting the company into a virtual school in just eleven days during the pandemic, Joan has demonstrated remarkable resilience. Today, Bumo has raised over $10 million and built a nationwide marketplace connecting families with thousands of licensed childcare providers.

In this week’s episode, Joan opens up about the pivots that shaped her journey. She shares what it was like navigating survival mode versus thriving mode as a founder, building a supportive community, and finally breaking through with investors. We talk about the challenges of fundraising and adapting quickly during the pandemic to save her business. Joan also shares the lessons she’s learned about resilience, setting boundaries as a parent and leader, and the power of asking for help. If you’ve ever faced setbacks that felt impossible to overcome, this conversation is proof that your hardest seasons can set the stage for your biggest breakthroughs.

In this episode, we’ll talk to Joan about:

* The power of pivots and why Joan always leads with serving her community. [02:21]

* How every job and connection came full circle in her entrepreneurial journey. [04:34]

* Lessons in resilience and perspective from her refugee parents. [07:35]

* Surviving vs. thriving: the mindset shift as a founder. [09:51]

* Losing her home, kids’ school, and 300 daycares in the LA fires. [11:29]

* Running a fashion line and tutoring before choosing education. [13:50]

* From “glorified intern” to co-founder & CEO of Bumo. [18:57]

* Pitching 200+ investors and the early rejections. [23:31]

* Building community with the Bumo Digest parenting newsletter. [25:35]

* Landing her first lead investor (& literally breaking open doors). [28:16]

* Pivoting during the pandemic and launching a virtual school. [30:45]

* Why 2022–2023 were some of Bumo’s hardest years. [33:40]

* The traction and proof points that led to raising $10M. [40:26]

* How Joan has evolved as a leader. [41:28]

* The power of focus, hiring right, and clear communication. [51:18]

* Setting boundaries as a founder and parent. [47:08]

* Why asking for help can change everything. [51:07]

This episode is brought to you by beeya:

* Learn more about beeya's seed cycling bundle at https://beeyawellness.com/free to find out how to tackle hormonal imbalances.

* Get $10 off your order by using promo code BEHINDHEREMPIRE10

Follow Yasmin:

* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yasminknouri/

* Stay updated & subscribe to our newsletter: https://www.behindherempire.com/

Follow Joan:

* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bumoparent/

* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joan.bumo/

* Website: https://wp.bumo.com/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.