Founders Outlook delivers essential insights for entrepreneurs at every level - from small business owners to startup founders and established CEOs.
Real stories & strategies from founders to fuel your business journey.
Inspiring entrepreneurs. Sharing growth, grit & success
Your go-to podcast for founders, business owners & future entrepreneurs.
She wrote the book "Girl Gone wild" and also a commedian
In this episode, Courtney Kosack discusses how she went from being a girl from a small town to winning awards.
6 Oct 2026
Michelle Doan (Emani): Building a Clean Beauty Brand After Escaping Vietnam
How do you build a clean beauty brand before clean beauty even exists?
Michelle Doan, founder of Emani Vegan Cosmetics, did it in 1998, after escaping Vietnam by boat, rebuilding her life in North America and turning her own battle with cystic acne into skincare for sensitive skin.
On this episode of FoundersOutlook, host Juliet Ochu sits down with Michelle to talk about starting a beauty brand from scratch as a single mom. They cover a major retail launch right before the 2007 financial crisis, a 60% sales drop during COVID, and how she kept adapting as her customers changed.
Michelle also breaks down her "3 P's" for evaluating skincare: potency, penetration and proven results. She talks openly about immigration, identity, being underestimated, and what 25+ years as a beauty entrepreneur taught her about resilience.If you're a founder, a skincare entrepreneur, or someone turning a personal struggle into a business, this immigrant founder story is for you.
CHAPTERS00:00 - Michelle’s story: from Vietnam to building a beauty brand
02:10 - Escaping Vietnam by boat and seeking refuge
04:06 - Rebuilding in Canada and moving to California
05:01 - Cystic acne and years of searching for a solution
08:01 - Learning about ingredients and the roots of Emani
09:40 - When a personal frustration became a business
10:37 - Building a niche brand without outside funding
11:07 - How motherhood and menopause shaped the brand
15:53 - Starting as a single mom and building from her kitchen
16:25 - Launching in Macy’s before the financial crisis
17:23 - COVID’s impact and the decision to pivot
18:21 - Shifting focus toward skincare
20:08 - Why founders need to adapt to change
21:20 - Immigration, belonging, and feeling like an outsider
23:13 - Turning rejection into conviction
24:34 - Emani’s expansion into Nigeria
26:34 - Hyperpigmentation and developing products for different skin tones
27:03 - A simpler approach to skincare and Korean technology
28:31 - How ingredient-processing technology supports the formulas
29:50 - Where to find Emani products
31:35 - Self-awareness, family, and the cost of living in fight-or-flight mode
33:01 - Self-love, forgiveness, and letting go
34:56 - Michelle’s three P’s for evaluating skincare🔗 LINKSEmani Vegan Cosmetics: https://emani.comFoundersOutlook: https://foundersoutlook.com
Be a guest: https://form.jotform.com/foundersoutlook/podguest-form👉
Subscribe for more real founder stories, with no highlight reels.💬 Comment below: What personal challenge could you turn into a business?
Every founder has a story. We're here for yours.
#FoundersOutlook #CleanBeauty #VisibilityIsPower
4 Aug 2026
How a Lawyer Turned Foodpreneur Built a Culture-Rooted Empire
Discover the inspiring journey of Nnneoma, founder of Black Spice Canada, as she shares how her love for bold flavors and cultural roots drove her to transform African and Caribbean cuisine into a thriving food business across Canada.
From her unique name origin stemming from her passion for spice and the color black to building a brand rooted in quality, integrity, and taste luxury, Nneoma reveals the challenges of operating a mobile catering service in Edmonton’s seasonal climate and the importance of maintaining high standards in food safety and authenticity.
You'll learn how she navigates a saturated market, the science behind pricing and flavor development, and her secret to creating a must-try dish the award-winning pepper rice. Get practical insights on running a flexible catering business without the overhead of a brick-and-mortar, plus how she balances her passion, family, and personal downtime. Whether you're a food entrepreneur or passionate about authentic cuisine, this episode offers invaluable advice on building a culture-rich, resilient food brand rooted in integrity and love for taste in a competitive market.
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