In this episode, we’re chatting with Nicole Denholder and Christine Yu about the challenges women face when it comes to getting VC funding and angel investment. We dig into why female founders receive less funding and share some practical tips on how women can start investing, even if they don’t have a big budget. Plus, we talk about how Taylor Swift’s genius at lead generation can actually inspire entrepreneurs. If you’re looking to learn more about funding, investing, or just leveling up your financial skills, you’ll love this conversation! Who else were you chatting about? DTC brands that Nicole and Christine love: ⁠https://retykle.com/⁠ ⁠https://nakedlab.com/⁠ ⁠https://re-vityl.com/⁠ Ollie founded by Rithika Gupta. And the incredible Taylor Swift! Who even are you guys? A question we sometimes ask ourselves x Just joking, find us on Instagram @lucycg and @yasminecheikh. Yasmine is the Co-Founder of Cloth Project: ⁠https://clothproject.co/⁠ Lucy is the Founder of The Leaf Group: ⁠https://www.theleafgroup.io/⁠ …aaaand they are both obsessed with ecommerce. Wait, who was your guest? Well we had TWO for you this week - Nicole Denholder and Christine Yu , the founders of Sophia! IG: @thesophiawomen Website: ⁠https://www.sophiawomen.com/⁠ Hang on, I want to join Ecomm Girls Club? If that is the case, we kindly request you slide into the DM’s @ecommgirlsclub on Instagram where you can find out more about joining the world’s best community for girls in ecommerce. Where, may I ask, is this mystical Ecomm Girls Club located? We are international BABY. Our community is connected across 7 countries and counting, but we regularly run in-person meetups in our main bases: London, Hong Kong and Dubai. What is a Spotlight Session and how can I join one? We run regular online interactive events, for free on a whole range of topics called Spotlight Sessions! EVERYONE is welcome, you don’t need to be an ecomm girl or even a girl at all, in fact, there’s a guy called Dave who has a 100% attendance record. Wait, where are you guys? Hong Kong is home for Lucy, and Yasmine lives in Dubai. We both grew up in the UK, but are both flight risks, evidently. We want to collaborate with you, what is the best way to get in touch? That sounds FUN, and we would love to hear about it! Email us at ⁠hello@ecommgirlsclub.com⁠

Is going viral all that it is painted out to be? In this episode, we’re joined by Celeste Hartley, a branding pro and viral poet who’s been making waves on TikTok. You might know her from her poem "Ladiez" about the magic of a girls' group chat, which blew up with 2 million views in just 24 hours (and yep, she wrote it in A&E!).

Celeste spills the tea on what it’s like going viral—both the highs and the hate, like that time her TikTok about flying to Spain for a Hinge date made headlines in the Daily Mail. She also shares her best tips for cracking TikTok and why she believes you’re just one brave decision away from changing your life. Don’t miss it! Who were you chatting to this time? The amazing Celeste Hartley! Who else were you chatting about? Celeste's business ⁠https://letterstomy.co.uk/⁠ Brand that Celeste loves ⁠https://hertilityhealth.com/⁠ Who even are you guys? A question we sometimes ask ourselves x Just joking, find us on Instagram @lucycg and @yasminecheikh. Yasmine is the Co-Founder of Cloth Project: ⁠https://clothproject.co/⁠ Lucy is the Founder of The Leaf Group: ⁠https://www.theleafgroup.io/⁠ …aaaand they are both obsessed with ecommerce. Wait, who was your guest? Celeste Hartley! IG: @celestehartley TikTok: @celestehartley0 Website: ⁠https://letterstomy.co.uk/⁠ Hang on, I want to join Ecomm Girls Club? If that is the case, we kindly request you slide into the DM’s @ecommgirlsclub on Instagram where you can find out more about joining the world’s best community for girls in ecommerce. Where, may I ask, is this mystical Ecomm Girls Club located? We are international BABY. Our community is connected across 7 countries and counting, but we regularly run in-person meetups in our main bases: London, Hong Kong and Dubai. What is a Spotlight Session and how can I join one? We run regular online interactive events, for free on a whole range of topics called Spotlight Sessions! EVERYONE is welcome, you don’t need to be an ecomm girl or even a girl at all, in fact, there’s a guy called Dave who has a 100% attendance record. Wait, where are you guys? Hong Kong is home for Lucy, and Yasmine lives in Dubai. We both grew up in the UK, but are both flight risks, evidently. We want to collaborate with you, what is the best way to get in touch? That sounds FUN, and we would love to hear about it! Email us at ⁠hello@ecommgirlsclub.com

In this episode, Yasmin and Lucy dive deep into the complexities of hiring within the e-commerce industry. They share personal insights and experiences on hiring mistakes, effective strategies, and the importance of finding the right cultural fit. The hosts also explore the benefits and challenges of remote work, opting for freelancers, and the delicate balance between work flexibility and team cohesion.

The discussion broadens to encompass the highs and lows of their entrepreneurial journeys, including Yasmin's engaging venture into TikTok Lives and Lucy's passion for Chinese social media platforms. The hosts candidly address the frustrating notion of shadow banning on platforms like TikTok and the necessity of understanding paid media to avoid potential pitfalls when working with agencies.

Timestamps:

04:07 Took a chance on TikTok, saw potential.

07:07 Struggle with online platforms; seek influential connections.

12:03 China's Little Red Book is Instagram equivalent.

14:32 Western brands emerging in influencer marketing trend.

17:39 Highly demanding lifestyle, but worth it socially.

22:17 Experiences with hiring: different models, challenges.

22:56 Rushing hiring process leads to costly mistakes.

28:11 Found great worker after interviewing 30 candidates.

32:04 Podcast "The Operators" is advanced and interesting.

33:24 Understanding paid ads pivotal for ecomm success.

36:27 Hire experts for what you love doing.

40:43 Balancing work and freedom seems challenging.

42:15 Best talent works freelance for better income.

Hit the subscribe button on YouTube or your favorite podcast platform to stay updated, and join the conversation by searching for @ecommgirlsclub on Instagram. Follow Yasmin and Lucy for more behind-the-scenes content at @yasminecheikh and @lucycg.

- Who were you chatting to this time?

Each other, because we do that all the time anyway, so we thought we’d hit record.

- Who even are you guys?

A question we sometimes ask ourselves x

Just joking, find us on Instagram @lucycg and @yasminecheikh.

Yasmine is the Co-Founder of Cloth Project: https://clothproject.co/

Lucy is the Founder of The Leaf Group: https://www.theleafgroup.io/

…aaaand they are both obsessed with ecommerce.

- Hang on, I want to join Ecomm Girls Club?

If that is the case, we kindly request you slide into the DM’s @ecommgirlsclub on Instagram where you can find out more about joining the world’s best community for girls in ecommerce.

- Where, may I ask, is this mystical Ecomm Girls Club located?

We are international BABY. Our community is connected across 8 countries and counting, but we regularly run in-person meetups in our main bases: London, Hong Kong and Dubai.

- What is a Spotlight Session and how can I join one?

We run regular online interactive events, for free on a whole range of topics called Spotlight Sessions! EVERYONE is welcome, you don’t need to be an Ecomm girl or even a girl at all, in fact, there’s a guy called Dave who has a 100% attendance record.

- Wait, where are you guys?

Hong Kong is home for Lucy, and Yasmine lives in Dubai. We both grew up in the UK, but are both flight risks, evidently.

- We want to collaborate with you, what is the best way to get in touch?

That sounds FUN, and we would love to hear about it! Email us at hello@ecommgirlsclub.com