What does it actually look like when a woman sees a gap in the world and refuses to wait for someone else to fill it?

This International Women's Day episode is a love letter to the women who build—not quietly, not cautiously, but with conviction, creativity, and a whole lot of intention. I am spotlighting eight extraordinary founders from my community and network who each identified something missing in the world and chose to create it on their own terms: from luxury handcrafted handbags and clean hand care rituals, to leak-proof nursing bras and ergonomic slippers that have landed in Vogue.

But this episode goes deeper than a roundup. I open with a grounding reminder of why supporting women-owned businesses matters far beyond a single day on the calendar. With women entrepreneurs consistently underfunded and underrepresented—and women of color facing those barriers at an even greater scale—every intentional dollar spent is an act of economic redistribution. These eight founders are proof that when women build, the whole world benefits.

Key Talking Points:
In this episode, we discuss…

Why women-owned businesses are worth supporting year-round, not just on International Women's Day
The economic impact of supporting female entrepreneurs and redistributing economic power
How women-led businesses outperform in revenue growth, team culture, and product innovation despite being underfunded
Eight inspiring women-owned brands across diverse industries—from luxury goods to conscious marketplaces
Practical ways to support women entrepreneurs beyond making a purchase
The common thread that connects conscious female founders: turning personal gaps into solutions that serve others

Time Stamps:
[01:31] Introduction to International Women's Day
[03:00] Why Support Women-Owned Brands?
[04:33] DESERI - Luxury Handbags
[06:12] HEIRÉE - Clean Hand Care
[07:39] Just Call Me Shirley - Beverages
[08:59] Pearl Spark Pages - Journals
[10:20] Mave & Chez - Luxury Slippers
[12:18] Veganist - Conscious Marketplace
[13:30] Lunnie - Leak-Proof Nursing Bras
[14:48] Yvonne Liao NYC- Designer Footwear
[16:40] The Common Thread
[17:48] How to Support Women-Owned Businesses
[18:59] Closing & Community Shoutouts

Connect with These Featured Women-Owned Brands:

DESERI - Luxury handbags handmade in Spain | deseri.com
HEIRÉE - Clean, elevated hand care | heiree.com
Just Call Me Shirley - Fun twist on classic beverages | drinkshirley.com
Pearl Spark Pages - Journals for female founders | pearlsparkpages.com
Mave & Chez - Luxury ergonomic slippers | maveandchez.com
Veganist - Conscious marketplace for planet-friendly brands | veganist.com
Lunnie - Leak-proof nursing bras | lunnie.com
Yvonne Liao NYC - Designer footwear for day to night | yvonneliaonyc.com

Community Shoutouts:

The 10th House (Female Founders Collective)
Entreprenistas
Ragdoll PR
Set PR NY

Connect with Ashley Graham:
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