Episode 568: How This High School Dropout Became a Self-Made Millionaire | Brittney Saunders – Detailed Summary

In Episode 568 of The Foundr Podcast with Nathan Chan, host Nathan Chan sits down with Brittany Saunders, a dynamic entrepreneur who transformed from one of Australia’s early YouTubers into the CEO of a thriving fashion empire. Released on June 13, 2025, this episode delves deep into Brittany’s inspiring journey, her entrepreneurial ventures, the challenges she overcame, and the insights she offers to aspiring business owners.

1. Early Beginnings and YouTube Career

Discovering YouTube: Brittany’s entrepreneurial spirit ignited in high school when she stumbled upon YouTube. At just seven or eight years old, she began experimenting with content creation, using a neighbor’s computer and Windows Movie Maker to film herself.

"Any chance that I got, I would go to their house and use their computer and I would use Windows Movie Maker on the little webcam and I would like talk to the webcam..." [13:52]

Facing Challenges: Despite being ridiculed by her peers for her YouTube activities, Brittany persisted, steadily growing her subscriber base. By age 21, she boasted 80,000 subscribers, which eventually skyrocketed to one million by age 24.

"I was at one weirdo that had this YouTube channel and they picked on me a little bit for it." [15:36]

Monetizing Her Presence: Brittany began collaborating with major brands like Colgate, earning her first paid sponsorship of $1,500 for promoting Optic White toothpaste—a partnership she humorously continues to honor by still using the product.

"The first brand that ever paid me was actually Colgate... $1,500." [18:14]

2. Transition to Entrepreneurship: Building Fate and Beyond

Leaving the 9-5 Grind: At 21, Brittany made a pivotal decision to leave her full-time job, driven by her growing YouTube success and budding interest in entrepreneurship.

"I just decided one day to quit my full time job... I'm setting up this little business in the shed again." [20:18]

Launching Fate: Using her substantial online following, Brittany launched Fate, a clothing brand, from her garage. This venture marked the beginning of her journey into building multiple multimillion-dollar brands.

"Fate was the one that stuck and actually turned into more than me just doing something at home." [13:28]

Diversifying Her Portfolio: Brittany didn't stop at Fate. She expanded her portfolio by creating brands like Staple Swim, Outdo Collective, Outdo Espresso, and Glazy. Her ventures included innovative projects like building a content studio and a coffee shop to support her growing business needs.

"I just think it's just me being me. And I will try anything that pops into my mind." [41:34]

3. Overcoming Challenges: Tax Issues and Trademark Battles

Facing Tax Debt: Without proper financial guidance, Brittany encountered a significant hurdle when the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) notified her of a $110,000 tax debt. This crisis highlighted the importance of financial management in business growth.

"I got a call from the ATO one day and it was, you owe $110,000 to the tax man." [34:08]

Trademark Litigation: Brittany's venture, Staple Swim, faced a trademark challenge from an existing company that owned the trademark for the word "Staple" since 2009. This legal battle forced her to pause new collections and navigate complex legal negotiations.

"We have been trying to get the Staple Swim trademark for so long by that point, and someone has challenged it." [44:04]

4. Building a Strong Community and Marketing Strategies

Organic Growth: Leveraging her YouTube and social media presence, Brittany emphasized building a community organically. Her ability to engage and entertain her audience played a crucial role in Fate's success.

"I think it's just using my common sense and my personality." [37:21]

Innovative Customer Engagement: Instead of traditional influencer trips, Brittany organized brand trips for her loyal customers, fostering deeper community ties. Her "Lucky Seven" event exemplified this by treating seven randomly selected customers to a luxurious experience, enhancing brand loyalty and generating substantial community content.

"We decided to do our first ever brand trip last year... we just treated them as if, though, yeah, they were influencers on a brand trip." [72:33]

Mastering Paid Advertising: Transitioning from outsourced agencies, Brittany took control of her advertising strategies. With the guidance of Anita from Hero Packaging, she became adept at managing ads herself, achieving impressive Return on Ad Spend (ROAS).

"Our roas is really good... on drop nights it's like 20." [64:36]

5. Shift in Business Focus: Slowing Down to Scale Sustainably

Pausing Expansion: In 2025, Brittany chose to halt the opening of new stores to focus on refining existing operations. This strategic slowdown allowed her to ensure sustainable growth and maintain quality across her established stores.

"We've put a pause on like continuing to roll out more stores for now... focus on the foundations of the company." [51:02]

Team Development: Emphasizing the importance of a strong team, Brittany highlighted the growth and evolution of her employees, showcasing how nurturing her existing team contributed to the company's stability.

"Grace started as a casual in our Newcastle store. Now she's a national retail manager of our five stores." [56:00]

6. Personal Insights and Advice for Entrepreneurs

Embracing Fear: Brittany's core advice centers around acting despite fear. Her mantra, "Do it scared," encourages entrepreneurs to push past doubts and take decisive action.

"Who gives a fuck? Do it scared... Just because you're scared doesn't mean that you shouldn't do it." [75:38]

Hands-On Leadership: Brittany remains deeply involved in her business operations, from managing ads to overseeing daily tasks. She believes in being a hands-on CEO to ensure the company’s smooth functioning and to maintain her passion for the work.

"I love doing all the things... I love pushing the budgets up to see if I can make a bit more." [60:15]

7. Authorship and Future Plans

Writing a Book: Responding to encouragement from her partner AJ and an invitation from Booktopia, Brittany authored a book titled "Just Getting Started." The book blends her personal memoir with business insights, offering a candid look into her entrepreneurial journey.

"The first sentence of the book is once upon a time... It's a memoir combined with a business book and a personal diary." [73:57]

Looking Ahead: While there are no immediate plans for international expansion, Brittany focuses on strengthening her Australian presence and enhancing her personal brand. Her strategic pause allows her to refine operations and ensure that her businesses remain robust.

"I feel like I'm still just getting started in Australia... I'm really happy with where we're at now in 2025." [51:11]

Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Facing Fear:
  "Do it scared. Just because you're scared doesn't mean that you can't do it." [75:38]

• Advertising Success:
  "Our roas is really good... on drop nights it's like 20." [64:36]

• Persistence Despite Ridicule:
  "I was at one weirdo that had this YouTube channel and they picked on me a little bit for it." [15:36]

Conclusion

Brittany Saunders exemplifies resilience, creativity, and strategic thinking in her journey from a high school dropout to a self-made millionaire. Her story underscores the importance of community building, organic growth, and embracing challenges as opportunities for learning and development. Aspiring entrepreneurs can draw invaluable lessons from Brittany’s experiences, particularly her ability to pivot, her hands-on leadership approach, and her unwavering commitment to her passions.

Whether you're just starting out or looking to scale your business, Brittany’s insights provide a roadmap for overcoming obstacles and achieving sustainable success.

For more inspiring stories and actionable business strategies, make sure to listen to the full episode of The Foundr Podcast with Nathan Chan.