Meghan, Duchess of Sussex: Why Ambition Is Her Jam | Aspire with Emma Grede

If you could rewrite your public narrative from scratch, is there anything that you would do differently? Is there any part of you that feels any sense of imposter syndrome? Today, you're going global. How can we not?

In the first wide-ranging interview about her new business venture, As ever, Megan, Duchess of Sussex, controversial, celebrated, and undeniably motivated, is reshaping her definition of influence. When you think about the failure rate for first-time entrepreneurs, does that ever concern you? My faith is greater than my fear. Today, she speaks candidly about her drive.

"When my husband and I, we think about investments that we make, it's value-aligned. Is it mission-driven?"

"It is perfectly okay for me as the founder and the owner of this company to say, 'Sorry, what does that mean?'" Breaking the rules. Really? Yes. Stop it, Megan. No, you don't. Do you do? And at a certain point, the only thing I want spread thin is my jam. And what it truly means to own your own narrative. It was a great way to get my voice back.

In this revealing episode of the Aspire podcast, Megan shares the hidden cost of ambition, how vulnerability fuels her resilience, and why her vision remains unapologetically bold. Would you ever do something just for the money? So, how do you walk the line between owning your own narrative and feeding the frenzy?

[Applause] [Music]

Megan, I'm so excited to have you here today. Thank you. No, thank you. Thank you for being here. So, there's so much to talk about today, and I am dying to get into this new brand launch because I think this specific audience is one that is obsessed with pivots, obsessed with, you know, changing what they're doing. A lot of people thinking about starting businesses or starting their own, you know, ventures. And that's exactly what you've done. But before we get into that, I really want to understand where you got the entrepreneurial bug. Did you have, you know, like business owners or founders in your family? Where does it come from?

Oh goodness. My, um, yes. Well, my grandfather on my mom's side, he used to have an antique store, and I would always be oftentimes after school with him, helping with his antiques and watching what it's like to, you know, just be in business and also customer service. And then my mom, though she was a travel agent for many years, she also used to do, um, you know, like not a county fair, but street festivals and things like that where you have little pop-ups and vendors. And so she would, we'd go downtown, she'd buy fabric and she'd make dresses and would sell those. And when we were down there, we'd go to downtown LA, I would buy with my allowance just sort of the overstock. You can buy like one yard at a time, and I started using my own sewing machine. I would make scrunchies. So when I was about fifth, sixth grade, I was selling scrunchies for a dollar a piece at school. And, uh, so I guess it starts young when you get to see that you can have your hands involved in something and really be able to share that more broadly, but also you can earn at the same time.

Yeah. You're stacking the cash. A dollar a scrunchie. I mean, come on. One dollar at a time. But it was great. It really did spark something in me. Yeah. And at that time, we were loving the scrunchies. So you were probably selling through a bunch of those. Imagine I was doing that now. It would probably be pretty good. It would work out, I'm telling you.

So, take me back to the beginnings of As ever because I'm guessing that like so many founders, you've been trying to get this business off the ground for a while. It's finally launched and to, to much fanfare. Oh, goodness. So, I'd love to know, um, just I want to understand like how did it start?

I knew that I wanted to put something in the world and for years, I mean, we've been out here for five years now, really trying to decipher what, what do I want to share? What do I authentically, organically want to share? And how to translate that. And, you know, truth be told, I had just been making a lot of jams and preserves at home and sharing them as holiday gifts with a lot of friends. And it was one morning, beginning of new year, so many friends at the same time had texted saying, "I don't know what it is, but your jams just make me so, so happy." And I thought, "Maybe that's the thing." Because I, I do believe it was probably more obvious to a lot of people that I would get into fashion or beauty. No doubt that that seemed like the natural inclination, but that's not what I was sitting around doing every day. And so my real passion was in this way of sharing, and I love being in the kitchen. I've always loved cooking. So, you know, I thought maybe I could translate into a smaller brand and then made a very big pivot, as you say, when I went from about to onboard a CEO and a small team to having Netflix as my partner. That takes it to a completely different level and totally different level. Yes. And goes very far beyond my ideas of, oh, I can sell locally. I could maybe be at a farmers market. I thought that would be cute. I'm going to do global. Netflix. Yes. So suddenly we just, it, it changed quite a bit, and then the offerings of course will expand to meet that same demand and that, you know, interest, which I'm grateful for.

So talk me through that partnership a little bit because so many people when they start, they're either bootstrapping or they're going out and raising money. You did actually what I did, which was to take a partner. So what does that look like for you right now?

Yes. Um, well, their consumer products division has typically done lots of merchandise and and bespoke and interesting brand work, but for pre-existing shows, right? So, it's like a Stranger Things, like the top titles. Yes. Stranger Things, Bridgerton. So, you could easily go Bridgerton Regency era, go and do an incredible collaboration with Pat McGrath or do something with Liberty of London with that thematic. So where things were different with me, of course, is that it wasn't a brand that was established. It was my ideation, and doing it with them, we're developing it as we're going. And so I think as, you know, in building brands, it doesn't happen overnight. It can't happen overnight. I guess the difference was with me is that so much of that work that can typically be done behind the scenes for most founders, there's just so much curiosity that you are building the plane while flying it at the same time, but you're still in the building phase. You still get to build and quiet.

Well, it's a gift and a curse, right? It's one of those things where there must be a part of you that's like, great, there's an interest in what I'm doing, but there's also just such scrutiny in what you're doing. There's a lot of focus on every detail and every moment of quiet. Do you, every single moment quiet and everything? It really does. It really runs the gamut. But at the same time, what a blessing that it creates and generates so much buzz and so much interest, but I'm still never willing to sacrifice or compromise on the quality and to take my time. Someone else's urgency is not my urgency.

Damn right. I mean, I honestly think that that's a great way to think about it with this partnership. Do you think it brings more scrutiny or is it all upside?

I don't think it brings more scrutiny. I think it certainly brings more attention and curiosity. How could it not? Especially because it's a new chapter for Netflix as well from the CPG side. And really, when you link it to the Netflix series with *Heart of Invictus*, it is where content and commerce can meet. Yes. In a really unique way. So I think with season two coming up, we've been able to really maximize that opportunity also and look at what I'm making in season two and see that reflected and complimentary in what the brand has an offering.

And how are you really thinking about that? Because obviously the brand will live in between the show. It's going to live while the show, you know, if the show doesn't continue, it will just, you know, I'm assuming that the brand just continues to grow. So how are you actually thinking about that partnership? Because I know when I started that initial partnership that you do in business, you know, you can get it really right. You can get it really wrong. God knows I got it wrong enough.

Oh my goodness. Yeah. Because, you know what? I certainly for me, there was such a sense of desperation to just get something done that the first person that was like, "Hey, we believe in you," I was like, "Great, me too. Let's go." And there were parts of it that were good, and parts of it that, you know, let's say I had to learn from a little bit. But when you look at this partnership, because it is pretty untraditional in that way, right? You're launching a brand with your content partner. So, I wonder what, like, where does the, you know, where does the brand live? How are you working together? Who does what? Is that all, you know, like prefigured out, or are you just working it out as you go along?

Well, I think what's different than what you're saying is your initial experience is that we've been in partnership with Netflix for five years already. Absolutely. My husband and I. So, there's familiarity and there's comfort. And while that was just on the content side, not on the commerce side, these are relationships and friendships now. So though I'm working more so with the other building of Netflix, it's still the same group of people. It's still the same points of contact that I can reach out to. I love having a friendship and a nice rapport with Bella. Bella Bajaria has been such a champion of both the series and of this brand. And, you know, it was only from me sending her fruit baskets and jams and whatnot that she said, "This is a show. You have to do a show." So I think that changes it because it's not as though you're jumping in with people that you don't know, which a lot of, a lot of founders, I think, to your point, if they are looking for partnership for capital, whether it's private equity, VC, or a partner in this way that I have, that's a very big relationship to take on. But if you have rapport running up to it, it does adjust it a little bit because you have a shorthand.

Yeah. And where are the lines? Like, what are you doing versus what are they doing? Because I imagine, especially when it's something that's so close to your heart and something that you clearly take a lot of pride in, how are you able to make sure that the product is what you want it to be, the brand is what you want it to be? Because there's a lot of compromise when it comes to partnerships. And I say this to founders all the time, right? When you give something, you have to imagine that something's coming back. And so what do, what does that partnership actually look like right now?

Well, I think at the end of the day, what I appreciate is in the contract, they understand that this is my vision. Mhm. It's my vision, and also the success of the brand, I believe, is rooted in the fact that you can feel when I am involved in something. And so because I have been in this state of ideation of what I wanted to have as an offering for so long, the fact that they trust my final judgment is great on what I want to put out there. But equally, one of the things I've said from the onset, I love being part of the creative process. It's important to me. It's also where I find a lot of joy. So, the analogy I say is, don't bake the cake without me. Meaning, if I'm in the kitchen, I want to be part of making the batter. What's the flavor profile? And there's an entire team that can help put that cake in the oven, but I want to check it before it goes in the oven. And I want to be involved in frosting it and presenting it and the language surrounding it. I, I love the details of things, and I think that's where a lot of the magic comes in. And so in partnership, while we are every day in the weeds of minutia from packaging and unboxing to the language on a newsletter, which yes, I'm one of the people who's looking at all of that and making sure that it feels reflective of my vision for the brand. It's just a constant dance, and I think in any business, you're dancing all the time.

All the time dancing. Oh, you could choreograph it as well as you want, but at a certain point, you're gonna have to freestyle a little bit and improv and trust that your, your partner knows, like, okay, we're moving this way, and you're just doing that dance together.

And what about the less sexy side, the less creative part of it when you're thinking about, when you're thinking about the finances, when you're thinking about the backend infrastructure? Like, is that something that you are interested in getting involved in, or are you like, this is for my partner and I can trust them on that?

I'm very involved in that part. It matters because I think the misconception is when you have a very large machine and a very powerful and influential machine like a partner as with Netflix, and you have me and the profile and all of the attention that that brings as well, you have the two of us together. Yes. It's an incredible partnership with a lot of, I'm proud of them. They've got a lot of clout behind them, and at the same time, we're still a startup. Yeah. You're still a startup. We're a startup. Doesn't matter. It does. Mentality. So important, I think, like to, to have that there and to know it doesn't matter, like every single customer, every interaction really counts. And it's often that unsexy stuff that is the stuff that really impacts the customer as well. It's like, how quickly are they getting their delivery? How much can they rely on your site? Like, is what they order what they get in the package? So it matters. It all matters. And also just the customer service experience. That is your one-on-one interaction with the people that are supporting your brand. I want you to feel the way you would feel if, in the same spirit of hospitality, if you were a guest in my home. I see you. I want to make sure your needs are met. We're going to make sure you're comfortable. If something wasn't exactly as you imagined it, let's talk about it. How can we make it, make you comfortable? All of that is part of the spirit of the brand. And I think, you know, it might not seem as sexy, but it's fundamentally important.

So, tell me more about the actual brand and your aspiration because this is a notoriously difficult category. And I love that you mean, I mean, it's really hard. It's, you know, I always thought that when I started a business, I grew up with family that had flower stores and I remember like the inventory would always die. Like it was like, this is really a tricky business because you've got this window and then the inventory is literally dying. So your inventory. Thankfully, we're not in that situation. Products are shelf-stable for it. But it is a really tricky category, right? And even when you think about the distribution, once it gets outside of DTC, it's a, you know, it's a big complicated machine with big players in there. So, how do you think about the vision of what you're trying to create and also the fact that you've decided to take a chunk out of something that is really, you know, notoriously complex?

Well, I think I go back to the authenticity, right? It's what I love and it's what I want to share. So what I was cooking in my home, to figure out recipe testing, to scale that to a level where you can share it more broadly, and of course, compliance is different globally when we get into that market, which we will. You're going global. You are. How can we not? I mean, how can you not? Yeah. But it's, it's the spirit of sharing. I don't want to just share it here. I want to share it. It's better for the P&L. Well, there is that, Megan. Yes, that's true. Um, and in the spirit of sharing. Um, but I think, look, at the end of the day, if I had gone into beauty, for example, and I have a lot of. Was that a consideration at any point for you? It was definitely something that people were asking me to get involved with. I mean, in these past. Did you have any inclination? Were you like, this could be fun? I think it could be fun, and I think there'll be a time for that. I think there'll certainly be a time for fashion. You and I can talk about that later. Um, but I think, you know, ultimately I wanted to do what felt authentic, but I also recognized that yes, there are variables that you don't have to think about when you're doing composition of makeup, right? You can buy all of your products, you know, your supply chain, and you know that every single time you can count on those sort of scientific ingredients to yield the same product. One of your partners is not Mother Nature. If it's a bad season for berries, that's going to affect your product, but you're still going to wait until it all falls into place differently. So, there are more factors involved, but I do think at its core, it's still rooted in something that feels very true to me. And that's the springboard for everything else. Starts in the garden. Starts with this beautiful, humble pot of jam that I don't care who you are, you're a little bit charmed by jam. But then what does that do? That introduces you to what are the extensions of that that I want you to start or end your day with, that I want you to treat yourself with or gift to friends, and then you say, "Well, now you're in my home, so what are the other hospitality and hostess pieces I want you to be able to share?" And we move from the kitchen into a much broader space.

Who, I love you have big ambitions for As ever. I do. Yeah. I hope so. I mainly because I think there's so few people that can actually create truly global brands, and so why wouldn't you? Why wouldn't you take that opportunity? I mean, I certainly would. Yeah. I think it's. And it's also playful to be able to have fun in the exploration of what it could be. You can stay small. Well, the world's your oyster right now. I mean, you started with a few products, but you literally could do anything that you want to do.

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Is there any part of you that feels any sense of imposter syndrome? Do you ever sit back and get overwhelmed by how big the opportunity is and then, you know, pedal back from anything that might be?

I don't. I think I have, I think that I've always had a very entrepreneurial spirit, as we talked about, but equally I enjoy being in in a position of having a strong team around me, being able to help guide that team as a whole. Um, and I've also, you know, in the adventures of my life, I have certainly, I've certainly navigated through things that can in some ways feel bigger. Yeah. So this for me is just another chapter that I think is full of, you know, I'm a very curious person. New learns. I love learning something new all the time. I don't feel imposter syndrome. I feel like I'm exactly where I'm supposed to be right now.

Oh, I'm really happy you said that. I mean, I do think I speak to so many founders, and more often than not, they feel some sense of imposter syndrome. And I have so many women that will say to me, "Didn't you feel or don't you feel imposter syndrome?" And my answer is always no. I'm like, "If not you, then who?" Lately, why would you feel that way? Right? I feel like to some extent, we're all making it up as we go along. And even when you get a lot of experience and you've done, you know, multiple startups like I have, nothing is the same because you're never doing it in the same time, in the same culture, with the same people. Yes. And even if you're making it up as you go along, as you say, which I think is true, most people are doing that. Imposter syndrome is when you're posturing as though you know everything. You don't need to posture as though you know everything. It is perfectly okay for me as the founder and the owner of this company to say, "Sorry, what does that mean?" Yes. "Can you help me understand that?" And actually, I think it's a really great posture to take, or a truth rather, to take as a leader to show that yes, I know what I know, but I'm also so excited to have people on this team that know more about certain avenues than I do because we're learning from each other. That's great people. You find great people. You just got to find great people and get out of their way. And I really believe in that because I think that as a founder, knowing what you don't know is so important. Like, you got to be honest about it. Yes. Be honest about it. It's okay to not know everything. That's part of the beauty of it. But I can see that in the culture that you've created around here. You have an incredible team. You take care of your team. That is all reflected in your success because it takes a village. It really does. It takes a village every damn day. Yeah. Every day. All day. Every day. Every single day.

And what does your team look like these days? Because you do so many things and you've got a lot happening. Do you work with the same team, and then things get farmed out, or is it very, very separate, each and every little thing you do between, you know, the show and, you know, your philanthropic efforts and then the brand now?

Yes. Well, we have a small, I have a small and mighty team for my office, and then, um, I think obviously our foundation is independent of that, but those are the same executive directors we've had for a very long time who run it beautifully. And then you look at with Netflix, they have an entire team that they've devoted to this project specifically, being As ever, separate team for *Heart of Invictus*. That's a crew of about 80 people. It's a lot of people. It's a lot of people. So there's a lot of different teams, and at the same time, my core team that sits around me for all of the projects is, you know, very, very strong, savvy women. Mhm.

So, talk to me a little bit about, um, the launch because I thought it was so, it was very, very well executed, but you basically sold out of everything in about 45 minutes.

Listen, I can't get you on that one because I don't know a business that I've had where, you know, a couple of hours in, every single thing has been gone. Everything. But it comes with a lot, right? That comes with this, you know, of course, you end up kind of fueling that idea of scarcity in your business, which is a great thing. It's never terrible to disappoint customers. But there's the flip side of it. And I remember when I started Good American, by, I don't know, the third hour, I was starting to pick up the phone and email customers. What did you do and how did you feel when everything was gone?

Well, I should ask you, was it planned? I mean, did you plan to actually? No. No. It was a beautiful surprise. I had a feeling there would be a lot of interest, and we planned for that. We didn't plan for everything selling out in under an hour. And so watching those metrics happen in real time, you know, I set my alarm for the exact moment we were going to go live, and watching it, getting texts from my friends saying it's already sold out, and then seeing, I, it was, um, amazing. And also to your point, because I'm business-minded, I'm immediately going, "Okay, well, this is going to be a big pivot. Now what?" Because I knew that I had a decision to make, which came down to, what is our timeline to be able to restock these products that we had? Well, we can restock what we had at those same quantities, but then I'll have another sellout. And I don't want that for people. I think scarcity is great if it happens organically at the onset, but at a certain point, even being consumer-minded, I would be fatigued if that kept happening and I was going to a website. So I said, "Okay, let's take this opportunity to grow, to have exponentially more more SKUs as well as more inventory." And, um, and that's what we've been doing. We went right back to making sure we could scale up to that level. Yes. And have the quality meet the quantity, which was very key. And then if we have that opportunity of more time, the luxury of that is, well, the products that have been in development that were going to be punted to this quarter, should we pull this in to this next launch? All right. This great. There's decisions to be made and like, what can our offering be at this point that is larger than what sold out in that first run? So, as a seasonal drop, I think that was really important to say, let's get it back, but let's get it back in a much bigger way, which is what we've been.

And those are really important decisions because you have to decide, and I'm guessing that you're learning all the time about reputation management, your customers, supply chain. Like, how are you thinking about those things? Because they are all such big decisions in the beginning for any founder. Like, you're the one that needs to decide how you're showing up for customers every day. It comes with a lot of pressure.

Because when that call comes down to you, when I have to make that call, you don't know if it's going to be the right call. You just have to trust your gut. And that's ultimately what it goes back to. I say, if I was the person that waited so long to get that product, do I want a second go-around not be able to get the product, or do I want to be able to buy it and share it with all my friends? So, I'm, I'm constantly putting myself in the mindset of someone who's supported me for a long time and want to be able to get it, or the 15-year-old girl who's saved up her money to be able to buy a couple of the offerings that we have. But it does come with pressure, and all you can do is make the best decision with the information that you have. And that's what I've been doing. And to trust, and again, to trust your gut.

I think that's so key. It is key. It is key, and it's hard to do, especially in the beginning when you don't have much information to go on. I think the number one thing that you have to do is again, like you said, put yourself in the position of your customers and just listen to your intuition. Yes. It'll never, it will never serve you wrong. So, at least not in my experience. Yes.

Well, and also trying to make sure you have all the metrics and all the learns that you can. But when everything sells out in 45 minutes, you don't get the same. You're like, "Okay, so now, okay, minute number five, this was tracking." Yeah. It tells you nothing. It's hard to learn from your business when it's like that. But really good problems to have. Good problems to have. Champagne problems, as they call them. Absolutely, they are. You know, the world is learning with me in real time. We're learning together.

You're, um, there are so many comparisons right now, right? It's like people are saying, you're the next Martha Stewart. You're the next Gwyneth Paltrow. So, two questions. How do you feel about that? But also, what's going to set this brand apart? Because you're in a very, very different time right now. It's a different culture. I think consumers are super, super wise. So, you know, I want to ask you those two things. How do you feel about it?

I think that's very flattering. Those are incredibly successful businesswomen. Um, so I, I don't take that lightly. That means a lot if there's any comparison made in that regard. And I also think it was really important to me. I remember where I come from, right? So I knew that I wanted things to be reflected in the same way that I put an outfit together for years. High-low. I knew I wanted this brand to be accessible and to come out of the gate with something luxury didn't make sense to me. So the price point itself, with nearly everything being under $20, was key. I think that's a differentiator. Never sacrificing on quality. Being engaging in a customer service, um, manner, I think is really important. But also, you know, the show reflects the spirit of what I ultimately want to put out in the world. And though they're not the same thing, and by design, look, the show and the brand are not named the same thing. Yeah. Smart, by the way. No, they're just not. They complement each other. They can talk in the same conversation, but they are not the same. And so knowing that I have a vehicle to be able to share the things that I love to do, and then a place where you can go and buy them if you don't want to necessarily make them on your own, feels like a very smart way to do the full and complete storytelling of what I'm after. So, you know, I feel flattered by the comparisons and I feel excited that I'm sharing things that are important to me and how I would do things in my own home, and that I hope people translate that to theirs as well.

No doubt. Given that the doubt, I feel it. I, I mean, I really do. I've watched the show. I feel like it's clear. I did not make anything. I'm not going to lie. Do you cook? I am such a cook. Like, such a cook. I cook, you know, it's like I, I don't have a lot of time to cook, but I take time off. Like Thanksgiving, the three days running up to Thanksgiving, I cook for three days straight. You do. Thanks. And I think the, like, literally it might be, for me, it's like Christmas practice, but it's also like a. But it's like a Sunday roast in the UK. Exactly. So, I'm an absolute expert of it. But I do like, you know, like an English-American mashup. So, it's like, you know, I do all of the, yeah. I do like a Yorkshire pudding and I do a roast potato, but of course I do, you know, like sweet potato pie, and I add in, I do like the greens and, you know, a ham and those type of things. But I don't get to cook nearly as much as I want. But I look at you and I feel like it feels like you're getting so much joy out of this. But it's an interesting thing when it's something that you love so much, but there's also huge ambition around it. And I wonder when you think about the way you set up this partnership, is that structure going to work for you as you go forward? Do you think there's a time you, you're going to have to go out and raise capital potentially?

It depends on what we want the growth trajectory to look like, but I think, you know, and all the contracts and and logistics surrounding it have really set up what the future can look like together and being mindful of the movements of that. There are a lot of surprises still with the series that we'll be able to share later this year. Obviously, season two coming, but I think what's really exciting about it is it's the evolution of the partnership that we've had with Netflix for so many years to now say we're doubling down in the growth of me as an entrepreneur and their support in that chapter. So, it's, it's huge. It's great. But yes, I mean, as we continue to grow, you know, you might be looking to expand certainly globally, and if there's a raise that's involved in that, then I think we'll be in a really good position to do that.

Yeah, no doubt you will be. I have absolutely no doubt in that. When you think about the failure rate for first-time entrepreneurs, I, does that ever concern you? Have you even let your mind go there?

I do not think about failing. No. You're not scared of failing? Is, is anything actually a failure ultimately? Because you're going to learn from it no matter what happens. But no, I feel confident in what I've been dreaming up for so long. I feel confident in the partner that I have, and I feel really proud of the team that I have. So that's not an option. It's not an option.

I love that you say that's not an option because there's just such an intense narrative around everything that you do. I can't imagine not being a bit scared. Like, I'm always scared when I start something, but nobody's even watching me. Like, I get to fail in a corner on my own with a glass of wine. Like, thank god nobody was watching that. But it's very different for you, and so I'm surprised that you say that.

I'm not saying that there aren't moments where I don't feel scared. Of course you do. But as I've continued to say to myself in whatever I'm going through, my faith is greater than my fear. I believe in myself. I believe in the team around me. I believe in our potential for success. And is that the same metric that someone else is putting on it? No. For me, it would have been a huge success and not a failure if I was selling my homemade jams at a farmers market and I'd gotten a cottage license. I applied for that in the county of Santa Barbara where you can literally go and, yes. I was like, great, you can make the goods in your home and sell them. That would have been a success for me. So, someone else's sense of what that looks like is not necessarily what my, what mine is. And that will continue to grow. But no, I don't, I don't see, I don't see the possibility of failure. Not when you can learn from everything that you've done.

The way that you speak about both imposter syndrome and failure, because these are two things that again, uniquely are in the kind of language of so many female founders, and they're re, they're real for so many people, and that's fine. But I do also want to demystify the idea that like we have to feel that, that we have to go around feeling really scared, and we have to believe that this is not a journey for us. And so I wonder what in your life and your history has got you to the point where you can feel like that.

Well, I think words matter, and I think certain words and terms become very topical and trendy, and they just become part of the vernacular. I believe that. Right. And, and at a certain point, you go, why do I keep reinforcing this idea? Because it's topical, right? And I ultimately believe the more that you can change your thoughts, you're going to change the things around you.

So you're a big believer in mindset. You have to be. Yes. I think as a female, as any founder, but as a female founder, you have to train your mind to literally be so focused on what your goal is to be. So, as I said in the podcast I was doing, laser-focused on what your intention is. There isn't room for a tremendous amount of self-doubt with that. It will be there, but when it appears, when it appears, you have to train yourself out of it. And I shut it down. Yeah. And I don't think that it's helpful to indulge some of the language that is going to be self-limiting. I don't think that that helps anyone grow. And I don't think being fear-based, yes, being risk-averse, very valuable. Being clear and realistic about the landscape that you're walking into, very helpful. Talking yourself out of it or talking yourself into negative self-talk is not valuable as a founder.

So, how have you trained yourself to do that? Do you think that comes from your background as an actress?

Could be. I mean, you know, when I was an auditioning actress, and this was, this is well before *Suits*. You have to think at that time, there were certainly not a lot of mixed-race parts. Really? No. Really? No. There weren't a lot of. If I was going in for an audition, it was either, you have to remember this was a very different time than it is now. It was Girl Next Door, that was typically blond-haired, blue-eyed, and a certain look. But because I'm half-white, I would also be submitted for those roles. And then if it was a character that had any sort of ethnicity, there was always a bit of an edge to those characters, but I'd be submitted for those roles. And I also, to a lot of people in casting, they thought I was Latina. So I share that because, and I've shared this before, it was a numbers game. If I'm only up for 10 parts, that could be 10 nos. But if I'm up for 30 parts because I can fit into so many different rooms, that could be 30 nos. That is a lot to chip away at your self-esteem. That is really hard. And I think so much of that, like I went through my chapter of self-doubt as an auditioning actor and beyond that. And when you're so consumed with what everyone around you thinks of you, that can be a really hard way to live. So, I think as I've gotten older, certainly in my 40s and as a mom, you want to, you want to set the example for what your children are going to think about themselves. And that you can't have an imposter syndrome around. No way. You have to be so authentically the role model and the example of competence, self-forgiveness, kindness, fun, all of those things. You can't fake that. You want to model that for them. So all of that really shifted in the past six years of becoming a mom for me. Yeah.

Know, I, I really understand that, and I think that you're completely right. Are there practices that you have to tune out self-doubt? Like, are there things that you do in your day?

Oh, I wish I could say that I meditated every day, or I don't, I, no, I don't. And then when I say to someone, like, "I don't have time to meditate," they say, "Well, you should meditate twice as long," and that's really a cue that you need to do it twice. I would love to take my own advice and say, meditate. I, I don't. I jump right into things. I will always phone a friend when I'm having moments, and I'm very fortunate to have a lot of female friends that are founders who have been through some version of. Are you calling on them? Of course. I'm so lucky in that regard. Oh my gosh, guess what just happened? That's totally normal, Meg. Totally normal. Just power through it. So talking to someone who's been through it and is on the other side of it with tremendous success is valuable, um, to get a mentor. But, um, no, I mean, I do, I try to hike. I try to connect with outdoors. I definitely make time for my children. I make time for date nights. You have to make time for balance. So you have perspective. You can be so in the weeds of building a business, but you have got to find a moment to look up and see that there's a lot more going on around you than just that. M. You have to, otherwise, I think your judgment is skewed.

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Do you think that there are skills that you got from your days as an actress that are transferable into this new entrepreneurial world that you're in?

Of course. I mean, again, having a thick skin, um, partnerships and the value of, you know, having great relationships when what you when you're building certainly lots of different SKs is key. And so, a piece of advice I was given years ago as an auditioning actress was don't try to book the part, book the room. Meaning, it doesn't matter if you don't get that role. You might not be right for it. You might remind the director of an ex-girlfriend that broke his heart. Doesn't it could be any number of reasons. It's not about the part. You're going to see those producers and those casting directors put so many other opportunities. Book the room. Let them see that you're talented. Let them see you have something to bring to the table. Treat them with kindness. All of those relationships end up coming to fruition. You don't know when, but just like with life, relationships matter. So, I learned that in the very long road of auditioning for sure.

Do you ever miss acting?

Sometimes. Sometimes. But you know what? Actually having a large team, being back on set with with Love Megan was great because I realized how much I had missed my crew. I love being around a crew.

It must be hard to let that go.

Yeah, that was different. And also, it was such a unique time because we couldn't say that I was leaving necessarily. It was speculated. So, after seven years on the series, we couldn't have a going away party. I couldn't say my goodbyes.

Sad.

I know. So, um, my crew is watching it. I've missed you guys. I wish I could have said bye.

Do you miss them? You must do.

Oh, yeah. You work with people for seven years. For seven years. That's a really strong connection. And I love I loved the crew. Um, so I think for me having the series, even though it wasn't scripted, was really great to get that piece back, but then also building my own business. You have a team and that's really what I was craving as well.

Yeah. No, I can imagine that. I wanted to ask you a little bit about the public narrative because when you sign up to be an actress, you know that people are going to start recognizing you. They're going to start speaking to you on the street, but that's very different from what you have now, which it is, Emma. It's very different.

No [ __ ]. Um, I wonder and listen, I want to say this to you in in the best way because I wonder if you could rewrite your public narrative from scratch. Is there anything that you would do differently?

Yes, I would ask people to tell the truth.

You're very measured about it. I mean, I feel like I don't know. I'm such a hotthehead. I I Are you? What's your sign?

I'm a Libra, but I I know it's like it I don't know. I just I don't know. Maybe I'm just a bit, you know, ghetto with it. Like a little bit hood. I just get I would just get so angry if I felt like everyone was lying about me all the time. Like don't you ever feel like just like script like just being like just leave me alone like let me show you. Is there a part of you that ever is just like just leave me alone?

Peaks and valleys. Peaks and valleys, you know. No, I mean like very elegant. But it's true. Of course. I've gone through those chapters and you do a lot of work. You do a lot of selfwork and go what's the why? It's happening for a reason. And um my dear friend Serena, who I'm sure you know, I love Serena. She's like my girl crush. Talk about successful entrepreneur by the Oh yeah. Yeah. She um she's doing so well. I mean she's literally it's it's amazing that she can have like that type of career and then this type of business career. I don't even know that people fully have grasped like how successful she is. But also translating knowledge from the court and being dedicated and all the things to another avenue. It doesn't mean that you have to stay in one lane lane for your whole life. It means that you can translate those skills somewhere else. That that's probably part of the magic. But she told me years ago, a lie can't live forever. Eight years is a long time, but um not forever.

So, how do you walk the line between owning your own narrative and feeding the frenzy? Because again, when you have a business, you need to go out and promote it. You need to go and do, you know, whatever it is that you might need to do. Speak to the media, turn up at a retailer convention, like whatever it might be. So, how for you are you able to tow the line?

I think it's a it's a fine line, but it's also setting up boundaries, which I would say to anyone, no matter what you're going through, what your experience has been. You set boundaries of where you're comfortable, and it's okay to say no. It's okay to say, "I'm not comfortable answering that. It's okay to pivot."

Oh, yeah. And to really get to the place where you don't feel as though you have to explain yourself. Um, and I think that's that comes with time, maturity, work, support surrounding you. M um but also to be authentic. You know, I I don't think there's any value either in being so rehearsed and just having your talking points and just saying the thing. No, just talk. It's just not the time for it. I think that there is an element of where we are in culture right now that like it or love it, we crave authenticity that we want those people that we believe, rightly or wrongly are telling us the truth. rehearsed, you know, a narrative that is fully written out. You have to be authentic. Just be authentic.

Did you see my baby mama dance?

I mean, stop it. First of all, can I just tell you the timing of that? The timing of that. We were We maybe watched it like 20 times yesterday and I was like, "Is that is that her?" Oh my god. Prince Harry there with the fingers and the Okay. Okay. Get in, Harry. Let's go.

But I think it's But that's you, right? Like that's you in a way that we kind of haven't been able to see you before. And I did like a little secret cheer cuz I was like, well, that's what I kind of want to see from you. Like I want to see that happiness and that honesty and that like I don't give a [ __ ].

But also, by the way, that wasn't yesterday. No, that was four years ago. So, it's also a really great reminder that with all the noise or whatever people do, there's still a whole life, a real authentic fun life that's happening behind the scenes. I'm just grateful that now being back on social as well, I have a place where I can share it on my own terms.

On your own terms and that's really, really important. You've really embraced social media. Do you enjoy it or does it feel like a bit of a drag?

No, it doesn't feel like a drag. It feels liberating. I have to look again. What was my intention? I came back, started the account in January of this year.

Was it only January?

Yeah. Oh, the last time I was on social, boomerang was around. Oh lord, it's been a minute. There was no stories there. All of it's new. There were no gadgets or you could have a little tripod that I'm sitting. You should see me sitting there trying to figure the magnet on things and figuring I don't have key lights and all. I don't have all this business yet, but I'm just

I don't know if you need it. I think if part of it is just being able to authentically share in real time the things that are happening that I think someone might be able to laugh with or enjoy or be inspired by, then I want to do that in a way that feels like I can still have my hands on it and not be overproduced.

But are you thinking about it in the way that so many of us do as also a business tool?

Not for my personal account.

Really?

For my personal account? Yeah. No.

Well, that's the one we're all following. Well, good. That's the one we're following as ever. dropped.

No, I think for me it was a great way to get my voice back. Yeah, you have to get my voice back a million%. Yeah, and that's that's really it's my space and my channel for joy. That is the intention of of my handle.

Well, I think that your voice carries such unbelievable influence. I remember a time where you were like, "Step out with a sweater. The sweater would sell out. It's crazy." like how do you how do you feel about that? Was that part of the reason for you starting a brand? Like have you been able to reconcile the fact that you have that type of influence? And I wonder how you think about you know that as it relates to your advocacy work that as it relates to your business ventures because it's a it's a lot it's a lot to carry around.

Well, I you know, it's funny because that's been now for several years that effect. And again, I think my feelings surrounded surrounding it have ebbed and flowed because they say imitation is the best form of flattery. And at the same time, you start to watch how it's being monetized at such a huge level globally, often times not giving credit to the brands and the designers who actually made those pieces. Right. So, it was that fine line between, well, do you want to spoon feed who the brands and the designers are and then it feels promotional? Um, when I have no skin in the game in any of those arrangements and at the same time, do you want people to mislabel it? Because when I didn't feel as though I had as much of an opportunity to speak, what can you say with what you're wearing? You can say a lot. Quite a lot. You can say a lot. And so being able to support especially female founded designers, small local brands, any territories we would go to on certain tours, I always tried to tap into local designers to really see their business just do so well as a result or how many people they could help or how much they could give back or

And you're saying you were purposeful with that.

Of course. Of course. I'm there's an intention. And so I think in moments where I found I wasn't as empowered with my voice, I still wanted to be able to be heard in other ways. I still wanted women to know that I was supporting them. I still wanted people to feel like even if I didn't get an uplift from that that they did. And in some ways that actually did uplift me because I went, "Oh my gosh." Like there was a company um um they made jeans and they would help women.

Was a good American. No, you weren't around then. You weren't around then. But they made jeans and they they gave the uh the positions and the roles to women who would have been trafficked and they took them off the streets and they put them into this labor force to be able to have a well-paying job where they were well taken care of. To be able to help that company and get letters from those founders saying we were able to help save 25 women because of you wearing these jeans. That is a huge privilege of influence and I never took that lightly. So I think you know had I chosen to just maximize the opportunity of the financial element of having a business doing fashion would have been very obvious as we talked about but I wanted to go with what my heart was really responding to in this moment.

Was there ever a time when the influence you have actually really surprised you?

Um at the beginning of course at the beginning what is happening what is going on but a sweater around my shoulder I mean yeah wild but um but you have to think too the seven years before that on suits that was a very fashion driven show and people loved Rachel Zayn's wardrobe which I was very very involved with because I wanted it to look like a capsule that a real woman would wear mix and match and I was one of the only characters that rewe pieces but that was by design. So, I knew that there was influence there, but yes, um it it certainly got bigger. It really got bigger. Got bigger. Got a lot bigger.

Are you comfortable with that?

I have to be. It's my life. Yeah. Yeah. You get comfortable basically. You get comfortable. You get to be an acceptance of what is. Yeah.

No, completely. But I also think it's really amazing that you can participate in that now because after a while it can, you know, I think it's wonderful and it's great that everybody can gain from it. But I do think that there is a a time and a place in your life where you need to you need to have some skin in the game. You need to have a piece of that for yourself.

Yes. And I think what was so wild, maybe the surprise came in when anything that my children were wearing started to get monetized and affiliate sales and part of headlines and things. That's where it became a little uncomfortable. But at the same time, you know, it when it comes from a place of love and excitement, very very different. It's very different. Yeah. Then you can be happy about it and say, of course, have the same dress that Lily has. It's when it comes from a different side. But that's true of most things in life.

So with Archwell, you've built this ecosystem of philanthropy, storytelling, you know, it's just, it feels like, you know, you've now got the commerce and the brand piece of that. So it, you know, it really is. like a an empire that you're building, like a media and commerce empire. And I wonder if you thought about it in the sense of having real guiding principles for what you will be involved in, what you allow yourselves to get involved in. Was that a part of your, you know, was it part of what you were thinking about as you started bringing all these things together?

There was a lot of again flying the plane while you're still building it, but always at its origin being so value aligned with what my husband and I believe in. Um, and that's where it started. It started when we moved out here and building the foundation. Um, but you know, as things expanded and certainly talking about what sort of content we want to put out, what sort of documentaries we want to make, what stories we want to tell, those expanded under the Archwell Universe with the production company and you know, building out in my own office, my brand and my business has felt really exciting and different. They all still are value aligned. When my husband and I and we think about investments that we make or certainly my own personal portfolio, it's is it value aligned? Is it missiondriven? Is it purpose driven? And that can run the gamut. You know, some of the investments that I started to make in women and female founded companies started with things as simple as what is the meaningful impact that a beautiful latte that you can make at home will have. It sounds so silly, but when it's adaptogens and it's good for you, like with clever, I was really proud to be her first investor and it was my very first investment also. So, I learned quite a bit there. On the flip side of that, you look at a company like Midi, which is women talking about permenopause and menopause, and that is a chapter of their life that's making a very meaningful impact for a lot of women. I look at who's on the cap table. Melinda Gates is one that's there, and I look at whose company I'm going to be in as I support these brands, as I'm sure you do, too.

Well, I wanted to ask you about that because I feel like investing is so different from everything else. And I wonder, you know, it's very clear to me that you've got a lot of principles around who you're backing, but is there anything else that you're like, are you out there specifically looking? Are things coming to you? How do you think about that side of your business?

Both. I'm I'm looking at what comes through organically, not just through the people that can help put the portfolio together, but friends that are in VC, female founders that you're sort of tracking and saying, what are they up to next? Really interested in fintech. I also, you know, I I think financial literacy for young women especially is just so important. And um, so from my standpoint, not leaning away from things like that that might not be as trendy or topical to talk about, but they are vital. So I look at things where that's going to move the needle for young women and their education and what they can have access to and feel a lot of growth from in a substantive way. Um, and at the same time, where can you find some fun and playfulness? Where can you take some bets and say it's not just about the brand? When I think about investments, it's about the founder as well. I really need to believe in the people that are that are driving that.

Number one, it's so important, you know, and I watched your episode of Shark Tank and really like that critical thinking that has to come in when you are talking about real capital that you're going to put up for someone else's dream. You have to entrust that they are going to bring that dream to reality responsibly.

Yes. Well, this is also your money. It's not monopoly money. It is not this is not monopoly money. This is real and it really I think changes how you explore. You can have an incredible concept in front of you, but if you don't really firmly trust and have incredible confidence in the people that are running it and have brought that vision to life, it's not going to work. So there have been a lot of opportunities that I've had to say no to based on that. And at the same time, you know, that there's so much creativity out there that I want to find the person and the people that are working quietly behind the scenes and then help maximize that for them and put a huge spotlight on that for them to see them go and change their family's life. And it really is about changing their family's life. I mean, when I think about investing, that's why I was asking you about your principles. You know, I'm often I have like a pretty impressive deal flow at this point in my career. I bet you do. But I'm really trying to look for those people and I think this came from all those, you know, couple of seasons that I did on Shark Tank, but I'm always looking for people that I don't think would get the funding elsewhere because I've been in those rooms. I've, you know, it wasn't so long ago when I was trying to raise money for businesses myself and really getting the feeling that I'm walking out of here with nothing. Like these people don't understand what I'm doing. they don't understand me. I don't sound like they want them me to sound like it's just you know I don't have an educational background but you know at some point when you don't have anything behind you it's it's very very difficult and so for me it's always about finding these founders that I think they are not going to be able to walk into a room and walk out with the check and so when you think about investment principles are there are there reasons because again there's such a thread running through everything that you're doing right now and is this following that same type of trajectory of everything else that you've got going on.

I think everything that I am working on is an extension of me. It's an extension of my personal taste. It's an extension of my values. It's an extension of how I like to show up in the room, right? And and and ultimately, I really value thoughtfulness. I really value attention to detail. And you know, I've said playfulness a lot, but I think that seriousness in business and playfulness do not need to be mutually exclusive. I value that as well. You see that in the series. You see that in the podcast. And certainly in the brand, not everything can be so earnest. You can have something that is bestin-class, incredible quality, thoughtful in its design, but with a little cheek. Yeah. And a little wink.

And would you ever do would you ever do something just for the money if you thought this is going to kill, this is going to be an amazing business?

I have turned down a lot of opportunities that do not feel value aligned. No. There's it's it's very easy to say no. No matter the price, if you aren't going to be able to sleep well at night, totally. Don't sacrifice.

No, but hopefully you can find, you know, some investments that let you sleep well at night and make loads of money. So, I'm always looking for

Is that a page in your playbook?

100%. Okay. So, we talk about that. I've got those and I've got those. Yeah. No, at the moment it's all in this one lane. I love that. No, but that's really it's it's interesting because I think we all come at these things from, you know, a very different background. And when I think about putting my money to work, to me, literally feels like that. It's like I want that money to work and there's a piece of what I do that is very firmly sits over here and it's for those people I don't think would get funding and there's another piece of it that is just purely opportunistic and I say that without apologizing because like I made this money and I need this money to work for me. It's like I've got things to do, you know?

Yeah. Well, and it's also very refreshing to hear a woman in business say that because I think often what happens is we are trained as young girls to not talk about money. We are trained as young girls that it's very go to talk about finances, but that's a part of life. Well, that's what keeps us out of making all the money.

Fair. This is it, right? Because the minute you don't speak about something, you know, it's just like for years when women didn't talk about uh, you know, their own sexual pleasure. Well, guess what? Like, they missed out on a lot of fun times. And it's exactly the same with money. But it is, you know, I don't think of those things as any any more different. It's like if you elegantly avoid the subject of money, you will find that the money somehow elegantly avoids you. And so I talk about it all the time. I'm like, do you know what I mean? Or like just blatantly. So we have to be able to speak about money. We have to be able to, you know, articulate what we need and what our value is because those two things are inextricably linked. And if we're not talking about it, we ain't going to get it.

Yes. And you have no shame in talking about it. There's nothing as you're talking about. Do you know Melody Hobson?

Oh, the dream. First of all, I love Melody so much. She was my second guest on the podcast.

Oh my gosh, I didn't realize that. I loved I love her so much. And I mean, her episode was amazing because, you know, Melody's, you know, she's all about the finance. Like, that's her career. That's her what she is so knowledgeable about. And she speaks about it in such an elegant way, but that's her whole life. She's not shying away from having those conversations.

Of course not. She and I did an episode of Dealbook together years ago and I must have Yeah. years ago because I just had Lily. Um, and I think it's just so empowering to hear a woman and especially a woman of color stand in the truth and the knowing that she does not need to shy away from a conversation that a man would comfortably have. And ultimately, especially as moms and as working moms, you want that to be part of the modeling that you do for your daughter and your son. But for your daughter, I think it's it's pivotal for them to understand that they cannot be afraid of those conversations. You're only selling yourself short. You're only selling yourself short.

Do you have I mean, your kids are really little. Mine are a bit older. Do you have conversations with your kids about money? Like, how are you even beginning to think about that type of thing?

Well, we sometimes do a little farmers market stand. Yes. So, we have That's so American. I love that idea. like a little lemonade stand just makes me feel like that is like perfect Americana in Monteito with a farm stand. But we do we grow a lot of veggies and they I part of what I want go and sell these. Part of what I want them to learn is and gardening is really really so great for children because it teaches them patience, teaches them to value and appreciate their food. Um so you start from seed and you watch it grow and they wait. But with that, it's like now, do you want to sell your harvest and do you want to share it with our community? And also, what do you want to do with those funds once you have them? So, really starting to understand as they're learning counting and numbers and all of those things that there's a cost and a price for things. Yes. And I think that's key for children to understand that, especially children who are very lucky to have a home that has privilege, you need to know that, you know, just like manners, you need and taking care of the things around you, there is a value on things. And in our life for my husband and I, it's really important they understand the value of things.

Yeah, I couldn't agree more. I mean, Melody wrote the book on it actually for all of the kids. So, it's a great one. It's just such a It's such a beautiful book. Um, switching gear, I want to talk about your podcast, Confessions of a Female Founder.

It's fun. It's so fun. I mean, it is really, really fun. But the whole idea of that podcast is that you are spotlighting female entrepreneurs, right? And I just want to ask you, I mean, why that show and why right now?

It was perfect synergy. Think about the timing of that. I was like, she's going to school. This is what's happening. Think about the timing of that. I literally I was so fortunate to find Lemonatada. I love that it was a female founded company that was doing podcast. The women running it, incredible. They actually just uh had an acquisition. Amazing. Proud of them. Um Stephanie and Jess, good job ladies. And you know, knowing that it was in a safe place where we could have these conversations when it came to what do we want to talk about? What do I want this podcast to be as I knew I was in this building phase of my business? What an amazing opportunity to pull back the curtain and let people see what's happening at the start. Yeah. At the start when all the twists and turns are there. And you know, for me to have the opportunity to talk to so many female founders who've been on that full trajectory that are on the other side of success, still at certain chapters in their career and their growth, but to be able to be really candid and vulnerable personally about my learns and stumbles along the way, and to then take everyone's advice and mine included, and to say, "I love that there's so much excitement and desire for another season, but I need to focus on my business."

So, you've done how many episodes did you do?

We did eight and a bonus episode. So, Tina Nolles came on to do the last one. Oh, Tina, that's one. That's such a good one. Okay, so wait a minute. But this was a decision to say, "Okay, I'm going to stop this now because you having like huge success." I mean, I was hearing about that podcast everywhere and you've decided, "I'm going to stop and focus on the business."

Have to. Nice. Have to. Because at a certain point, I was thinking about this this morning. You like this too much. Well, people That's what I was thinking this morning. People seem Yes. Well, people seem to forget that very rarely do people see everything that's happening behind the scenes. I could show a small glimpse of that, but equally, yes, I wrapped season one of my Netflix series. Still had to promote it. Still had to be in the edits for season two. We were in pre-production of one season while we were doing post-production of the other. It's constant. I just wrapped edits on season two of With Love Megan last week. So, it's still ongoing while also doing a podcast, while also building my business. And at a certain point, the only thing I want spread thin is my jam. Okay. And I think I just I realized, wow, I'm I'm using this opportunity to share and I love that, but I also need to use this opportunity to listen. I have very valuable insight coming from women who have been through this before. And if I'm not going to take the cue that we are teaching people, what's the point? So, does it mean it won't come back? No. But I would love to bring the show back when I am at a different end of my founder journey when I've gone through Q4 and say here are my proof points. Here's this. Wow, what a year it's been or even longer than that. I think a different time will be so exciting to be able to compare and contrast. But yeah, I know people I know people want another one. I just made a choice to say it's a really good time to make a to put all of my energy into the thing that I'm building.

Well, I think that that focus is an absolute necessity when you want to be successful, right? Like just doubling down and being excellent at what you're trying to do is just one of the most simple and powerful things that you can do in business. Like just giving everything to one thing. And it's so difficult when you have so much opportunity, right? When seemingly everything's coming at you and you, you know, it's like you're the the hot girl that's out there and you have a lot of opportunity, it's hard to say, "No, I'm going to put this thing first."

Were there things from the podcast that you have taken like straight into your business?

Um, yes. Again, this idea, and we talked about that earlier, that someone else's urgency is not my urgency. Most of the women that I spoke to are working moms, and this is such a That's a big deal. Yes. And this is such a key age. I don't want to miss a moment for my children. And I love that I can do drop off and pick up at school and do meetings in between and go to Disneyland for two days uh as we just did and you know volunteer to serve hot lunch at school or be the chaperone for the kindergarten field trip.

So good. You're making me look so bad.

No, stop that. I never volunteer.

Well, you can start. No, I cannot. I don't want to. Well, then that's when you're But you know, this is and I think that this is a really important point because people often say to me, you know, Emma, like, is it is it bad that I go and drop my kids every day? Is it bad that I want to volunteer? I'm like, no, you have to do what you want to do. You have to do the thing that makes your heart sing in the morning. For me, it's like, I don't want to volunteer, so I don't. But there's lots of other things that for me are just non-negotiables, right? It's like, I like to put my kids outfits together. I'm crazy about their packed lunches. Now, I don't pack them, but it's like I know what's in every lunch every day cuz that's just the type of person I am.

So, packing the lunch box. You do? Yes. That's like Stop it, Megan. No, you don't. Do you do you like make shapes and like make it look all be Is it Is it a sprinkle situation? Are we putting sometimes? Oh my god. I love my kids are all going to move into your house. No, stop.

I think but but look to your point like that sounds ridiculous, but I love it at the end of a long day. the kids are down to bed at like 7 7ish. I can go downstairs, have a glass of wine, I'm doing their little lunch. I find joy in it for whatever reason. And it can be therapeutic. Yes. So that for me is one of my simple pleasures. So I'm like, "Oh my gosh, that works for me. What works for you works for you." But I, you know, I think with all of the projects that I had going at the same time and how much my the valuation that I put on time with my family, yes, is so high. it matters so much to both uh my husband and I that um yeah, I just wouldn't I just wouldn't trade that for anything. And so I think it's really important to have that conversation with yourself, especially if you're ambitious, to say all of these things are exciting to me and I can do all of them well enough, but can you do all of them exceptionally well? Probably not. Something is going to not get the same love and attention that it needs. And so to be able to say, "What's my focus right now?" My family always and growing as ever. And to be able to be so committed to those two things fills my cup in a very different way. Um, because there's time for the rest of it. Yeah. There's going to be time.

There's nothing in you though that's like, "Oh, there's like this little thing over here that I could possibly do." Because I struggle with that. I love I mean I love starting new projects and and a new project for me is like very very very hard to turn down.

Yeah. So and again I say the same thing to you. It's like when you have so much opportunity it must be difficult to just go like that's not a priority. I mean I love the creation stage. Mhm. So yes, now that I can see with more dedicated focus on the brand, knowing our trajectory, looking at the business plan, being able to pinpoint where these key moments are going to be, I can also very comfortably say as this continues to grow to where I want it to scale, what's my next thing going to be? because that dreaming phase and daydreaming key it's it's really it's really key I think to keep your creative juices flowing and that doesn't go anywhere and I think a lot of that is is what I'm excited about for the next phase.

What's the common thread as you were going through Confessions of a Female Founder? What do you think the common thread was with the entrepreneurs that you interviewed in terms of like successful founders, the way they think about strategy? Did you did you find anything that you were like that they all have this?

They all, no matter their background, they all were incredibly focused. Um, they all have regrets. They all have regrets. Most of them regretting not spending more time with their family. Um, or taking things personally. A lot of them talk about that, you know.

Do you do that? Taking things personally.

Yeah, of course. I'm human. Um, and that can be really hard. So, you can do all the practices and things that you want to do, but at the end of the day, you're still human. You're still going to cry. You're still going to take something to heart, especially if you've poured so much of yourself into it. Yeah. You know, when I want the jam spread thin, I don't mean I mean spread thin on toast. Yes. Right. I mean, I want everything that I'm thinking about that I have poured my heart and soul into. It's not just jam. Could I just go and make a preserve somewhere and stick my name on it? Of course. Not what I wanted to do. So, I loved that it was winning all these blind taste tests and I love that people loved it. Oh, I was making that in my kitchen. That's how you'd feel if you're at my house. Thank you. It works. And um, so if there's some hiccup along the way that doesn't land in the same way even like in a small internal team on how it's on how it's tracking I go well okay all right I was really excited about it but let's think about how we can make this something that really works at scale because I don't want this to be a niche product line. Um, but yes taking things personally is a human reaction. Yeah.

You know, it's so interesting because the more I am um doing this podcast and it's interesting because it seems to be just the men, they talk about how much fun they have like in the deal, in the failure, in the but like like they're just like that's fun to me like not like in the I'm having fun doing my business dayto-day like the hard stuff and how fun that is. And I think that it to me it has uh it's just so interesting because as women we tend to take things so much more personally and that means when things don't go well or when you have those inevitable fail failures or when you know like whatever like it doesn't you have a bad drop you have a bad product you have something that kind of you know [ __ ] hits the fan whatever it is that becomes about us and I feel like I've trained myself to say like that's not me that's that thing, right? It's like that thing didn't work. It's not like I didn't work. I couldn't make it happen. And it just struck me somewhat like the the couple of men that have been on this podcast and I've made a point to make sure that I have a lot of men here because I think we have so much to learn from all of these very very successful men. And that mindset to me really struck me cuz I was like you're having fun and you are definitely not taking these failures as you're up. You're like throwing you in the corner and you're right having to you're just like moving toast and jam like like they just getting on with it. And I thought that there's a real distinction in that somehow that you know it's not about them. They can easily just say like this was something that happened. I think inherently probably just listening to what you're saying as women and maybe that's part of that conditioning from when we're young we're more people pleasing as well. So in leadership you want everyone to like you. Yeah. You can't be a people pleaser and a leader.

Well yeah and no and I think ultimately one of the biggest lessons that you can learn no matter if it's in high school because it will still feel big or in a high-profile position or just as a business leader. No, there's not a single person in the world that everyone's going to like. So the goal cannot be that everyone likes you. The goal can be that everyone respects you. And as a woman to make peace with that I think can be a life's work frankly. But the moment that that can click and that you aren't, as I've said before, in the prove it game, where you're not trying to prove something to everybody anymore, that you're very clear on who you are and you know your intention is pure and good, that you can release a lot of that attachment and and ultimately be much more successful because many men would not be tethered to this idea of needing everyone to like them.

Yeah. No, it's a it's a really really important point. You speak a lot about financial literacy and I know that you're interested in that space from an investment point of view. of course. What's your own relationship to money like? Because that is one of the things that really evolves the older that you get. And so I wonder what that feels like now as you enter this new journey as a founder.

I think my my background really informs this. I grew up clipping coupons. I um was always money conscious. Um always looking for a sale right in high school, college, always finding the promo code. I still look still go on retail me not before I buy something online to see if there's a promo code even if it's free shipping. Um I'm just ingrained and wired in that way. And then as an auditioning actor, you never know when your next paycheck is coming. So you're very very mindful of spending. And so I've been very financially responsible for a long time. And I've applied that in a lot of ways where yes, even if there is incredible capital to be able to work with to build the brand, I still want to make fiscally wise decisions that are in the best interest of the brand. I am not frivolous in spending. Um it's it's just it's not in you. It's not in me. No, it's not in me. And so I think that is part of one of part of the learning when you have a large partner as well that there's more comfort in numbers going out the door whereas I would go well hold on a minute a minute hold on a minute I have a friend that I can do Netflix money. No I have a I have a friend that can do that. What's the quote on that?

And I think that's a great way for you to approach it though. I mean that feels so responsible and exactly as you should be running a startup because again I think there was a time that we were all feeling very very different in businesses like just chasing growth and you know trying to get as big as possible but it feels to me like what you're trying to build isn't necessarily about that. You you have a distinct product and a distinct offering that you're putting out into the world and so you have to tinker with that. You have to get it just right and you have to do things that you're really proud of. Yes. Incredibly proud of. Also, when you're not trying to be trend driven, there's there's a rush to jump on a trend. There is no rush if you're working towards something that could ultimately and hopefully become a heritage brand. Yes. When you're looking for what is like my personal aesthetic, I find it

To be classic, timeless. There is a reason that I, I'm sure there was puff sleeves were cool and trendy for a moment. I didn't catch that. I wasn't doing that. You know, you were still in your white button down. I was still in my crisp white button-down and jeans. And so, you know, when I look at the brand through that same lens, I think it's really important to say then there is there isn't the same sense of urgency and rush because you're not trying to meet a moment. You're trying to meet something that can be evergreen.

Yeah. You're doing something that's with that's classic and has tradition and it's and like you said, it's like it's an evergreen proposition that's just going to keep growing and growing. Yes. Sounds like it will be a wonderful business. A business for the long term. Thank you.

What are you most proud of in your career when you think about everything that you've done today? In my career? Yeah. Or in your or in your like in your career and your business life if you like? Investing in myself. I had spent so many years since we came over here really even prior to that investing in the success of other women and their companies. And I loved being able to do that as we talked about with fashion. And I loved being able to have a portfolio female founders. But I do think it takes a little bit of courage to bet on yourself.

Yeah. And that's felt really good. Yeah. It really does. It really, really does. What's the most surprising thing that you've learned about yourself as you've been like, you know, in this brand building moment of your life? Um, that I can bounce back pretty easily because you can have the best laid plans for your brand and if you are too attached to it when you do have to pivot that can be crushing and to learn that as I was saying earlier it's a dance, okay, well let's take a minute, get our footing and dance over here, let's twirl over there. So I think similar to what you're saying about men in business being able to find the playfulness and joy in it even though the stakes are high.

Yes. Just really try to have fun in all of it. It's a great muscle to try and train yourself like to get there. Yeah. To be playful in it. Yeah. Who are your idols? Um, I'm obsessed with Oprah, so if you could tell her for me, please. Oh, I'll tell her. Yeah. Thank you. Do you know her? Have you met her? Oh my god. Megan, have you met her? Okay. I met her once. Okay. Like very recently. How'd it go? I'm so annoyed with myself. I don't even know why I'm telling this story. So, I know Gail really well and I'm at like, you know, like DVF has an Oscar lunch and I'm feeling good. You know, it's like I've had a hard week, but I was feeling good. I look good and I see Gail and next to Gail is Oprah and I'm like, Gail and I like she doesn't like lip breed me. So, I run up to Gail and I'm like, "You have to introduce me to Oprah." And by this point, like she's gone far. She's gone like up the hill. And so Gail like screams like, "Oh." And I'm like, "Oh my god." And so everybody, the whole party like turns to look at me. Oprah's walking towards me. And you know, in my head, I've been preparing for this conversation my whole life. I have sunglasses on. I don't take the sunglasses off. I sweat profusely. She's holding my hand. And I don't even remember what I said. And I was like, "Oh no, like that wasn't my Oprah moment." Like that wasn't it. But you'll have another moment. No, there'll be. Listen, I'm 100% sure. I'm channeling her into me. Like, I'll know I'll have another moment. You come up to Monto for lunch. We can plan a lunch. Oh my god. That's it. We can finish the podcast now. Bye.

But is there anyone that gives you the Oprah sweats like I got? Um, or maybe not the sweats, just someone that you admire or you just find so intriguing or whatever it might be. Oh gosh, there I mean there are so many people in in business, male and female. We talked about Melody Hobson. I admire her so much. Her business acumen. Um, you know, I think there probably too many to to count and a lot of it also comes down to they're going to be people that are so well-known and then they're close friends that value their privacy in a different way that I want to say their names so badly right now. But I, one of my idols is my very best friend. She's the godmother to our children. I love how she carries herself in business. I think she is just a remarkable human being. So, it's important to say that the idols that exist on a very large scale, there's value there without question. But you can sometimes look at the people that are right in front of you and see them as idols as well.

Yeah. Listen, life gets really good when you are like that with your idols, when they're in your life. And that's something that you can say with honesty. I think that's pretty pretty impressive actually. I really do. Um, looking ahead, what audacious goal do you have that you are like looking forward to and is like on your mind right now? Oh goodness. Um, the scale of this business. I don't know if that's an audacious goal. That's a. That's. Is it audacious? Yeah, I think so. I'll take that. Okay. Yeah. Yes. I'll take that. And then the what comes after that? I'm. What does come after that? What do you have a like do you know what you want to be doing in the next 10 years? Not exactly, but probably in the wheelhouse of what it could be. I want to continue to work with really strong creative people. I want to tap into the audience and the demographic that's with me in that present moment. And so this is one chapter. Life has many chapters. And you have to think and you know the next 10 years we're both going to be in our 50s. Get excited. It's going to be great. Are you excited? Yeah. Would you ever do your 20s again? Hard no. I I can't even get the words out. No. My 20s are choking me. Absolutely not. Never. No. So girls, enjoy your 20s right now. If it's hard, don't worry. It will pass. Do that. It will pass. I think the 50s. I think 50s are going to be great. That will be a different audience I'm speaking to or they will have grown with me. So I, yeah, I'm sort of noodling on what I want to do then. And that planning starts now. That planning really starts now.

Finally, what advice would you give your younger self about ambition, about purpose, about public life? What would you say? That is that is such a full question. Go on. That's. Give me a. Give me a full answer. Oh my goodness. Well, I would say that life is full of surprises. And also that, you know, life is short and I I really believe that no matter what anyone is going through, that if you are able to say that, yes, this is going to pass or this is amazing and let's really embrace it that you're ultimately going to have that perspective we talked about earlier. You, you know that Khalil Gibran book, A Tear and a Smile. Oh, it's such a good one. You need both. It's such a good one. You need both in this life. And I think the moment that you can recognize that both are going to be true in your life, you cannot just be in acceptance of it. You can actually be in gratitude for it. And to see what others might say is, I don't know, Jordan has a great quote and I'm going to butcher it, but he literally says like, there are no failures because every time I failed, I was learning something. So you're actually winning because that knowledge is what you carry with you. So, I think yeah, my younger self, gosh, she was my 15-year-old self, she was class president, she was multicultural club president, she was so busy. And, um, yeah, I think my 15-year-old self would be really proud of me today. I do. And that makes me happy. You should be. Thanks. I have no doubt. No doubt.

What are you currently aspiring for in your business life? Success. Not just financial success, emotional success. Great answer. And what are you currently aspiring for in your personal life? Success. Emotional success. Yeah. Happiness. What is a book that changed your life? Oo, Atomic Habits. It's a good one. It is a great book. It's a great book. Uh, yeah. Atomic Habits, The Four Agreements. Oh, another really good one. Yeah. Yeah. Different ends of the spectrum. Total different ends of the spectrum, but equally valuable. Yeah. Really, really teachable. Um, what's something that you valued when you were starting out that you no longer value? It's not that I. It's not that I no longer value it, but decision by committee. Meaning, when you're like, "Do you think it's good? Do you think it's good? Do you think it's good? Do you think it's good? Do you like that? Do you think it's good?" Mhm. Well, if you start asking everybody all the time, you will be dizzy with the ideas of it. So, instead, ask your two trusted people or three, whatever your handful of your, you know, your little consiglieri, and then trust yourself.

What's something that you value now that you didn't back in the day? Giving myself permission to take the space and the time that I need. The space for grace. Giving yourself a minute until you feel clear and you feel confident is key. And at the beginning, I probably did feel a little bit more of like, okay, well, if there's expectation at the moment that you can just like rejig that, I appreciate that I'm there now. It's a great answer. I love that one. Beautiful. Thank you so much. Thank you so much. So good. Thanks for joining me on the Aspire podcast. For more strategies on how to build the life of your dreams, be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel. [Music]