In this special live episode of Conejo Valley Visionaries, we sit down with an inspiring panel of women founders for an honest conversation about what it really takes to build something meaningful.

Recorded during our sold-out second annual Female Founders event at Hub 101 in Westlake Village, this conversation explores the realities of entrepreneurship—from turning an idea into momentum and building a brand with intention, to prioritizing self-care and leaning on community along the way.

Featuring insights from Gacia Laidrey Coffee Roasters, Dr. Rachael Cappuccino, Hilary Linderman of Rabbits & Oaks, Dr. Bieta Kia, and Lindsey Colhoun of Lindsay Colhoun Interior Design and Haven by LCD, this episode is filled with practical wisdom and inspiring perspective for founders, creatives, and anyone building what’s next.

If you’ve ever wondered what growth really looks like behind the scenes, this conversation is for you.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to the Event and Participants

11:00 Grounding Exercise with Monica Bloom

16:39 Panel Discussion on Physical Therapy and Women's Health

30:08 Community Engagement and Brand Building

37:05 Building Community Connections

43:35 Overcoming Fear and Self-Doubt

49:15 Transitioning from Fashion to Interior Design

57:07 Creating a Retail Space: Haven

01:05:00 Challenges in the Design Business

01:22:42 Deciding to Go All In or Quit

01:26:55 Finding Balance in Ambition

We’re just days away from the 2nd Annual Conejo Valley Visionaries LIVE Female Founders Event, taking place March 24 at Hub101 in Westlake Village, CA!

In this episode, host Cristina Dennstedt shares a behind-the-scenes look at the event planning process, what it takes to produce a live experience for female founders, and what attendees can expect from this year's "bigger and better" event.

Cristina also answers her most frequently asked question and gives insight into the vision behind Conejo Valley Visionaries.

Grab your tickets here https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2nd-annual-conejo-valley-visionaries-live-female-founders-series-tickets-1984436369601?aff=BTSPodcast

Cristina Dennstedt sits down with restaurateur Jacopo Falleni, the owner behind Nonna in Westlake Village, CA and the recently opened Sette Sorelle in Newbury Park, CA.

Jacopo shares the story of his journey from Florence to New York and eventually California, and how those experiences shaped his approach to hospitality, leadership, and building community through restaurants.

Despite joking that his advice to entrepreneurs is “don’t open a restaurant,” Jacopo also reveals why the work becomes an addiction — and how his passion for growth, team culture, and storytelling has helped him build both successful restaurants and a strong social media presence.

In this conversation, Jacopo talks about the realities of restaurant ownership, the importance of relationships and resilience, and the drive that keeps entrepreneurs pushing forward even when the industry is challenging.

GET YOUR TICKETS: The 2nd annual Conejo Valley Visionaries LIVE Female Founders event will take place at Hub101 in Westlake Village on March 24. Get your tickets to the event here https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2nd-annual-conejo-valley-visionaries-live-female-founders-series-tickets-1984436369601?aff=Jacapo

Connect with Conejo Valley Visionaries ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Connect with Nonna here

Connect with Sette Sorelle here⁠

If you want to share your visionary story on the podcast, send an email to conejovalleyvisionaries@gmail.com - we are always open to guest nominations!

This episode was produced by Cristina Dennstedt and Justin K. Sloan. Conejo Valley Visionaries is edited by Justin K. Sloan and ⁠J.Sloan Productions⁠.