Takin' Care of Lady Business®

Scale Without Selling Out with Elisa Marshall of Maman

Takin’ Care of Lady Business Episode 142 The fastest way to lose your edge is to stop sweating the details. Today’s guest built a category-defining cafe brand by doing the opposite, then scaled it without letting the soul get stripped out.In this episode of Taking Care of Lady Business, host Jennifer Justice sits down with Elisa Marshall, Founder and Chief Brand Officer of Maman, to talk about what it really takes to build a beloved brand, protect the vision, and still grow fast. Elisa shares how Maman started in 2014 as a personal passion project, why the name is a nod to home and French culture, and how a tiny Soho cafe turned into 51 locations in just over a decade. Elisa gets candid about the messy middle, what happens when you grow too quickly, how burnout shows up for founders and teams, and the mindset shift from doing everything yourself to building a team that can carry the work better than you can. She also breaks down what partnering with private equity actually felt like, what she was afraid would change, and how to choose partners based on what you truly need.In this episode, you’ll learn:How to protect brand integrity while scaling from 1 location to 51What to look for in investors and partners so they support the vision, not override itWhy delegation is a power move, especially when you stop pretending you are good at everythingHighlights:(00:00) Meet Elisa Marshall(02:12) The entrepreneurship blueprint she grew up with(04:21) Building the first Soho cafe from scratch(07:44) Going from Soho to 51 locations(08:10) Bootstrapping, then the COVID expansion window(09:17) Taking private equity without losing the brand(11:22) Why signature details matter more than people admit(19:09) Community first marketing over chain energy(21:31) The mistake of growing too fast(38:09) The worst advice she ever gotAbout Our Guest:Elisa Marshall is the Chief Brand Officer and Co-Founder of Maman, the beloved cafe and bakery known for its warm hospitality, thoughtful design, and signature blue and white details. Since launching the first location in Soho in 2014, Elisa has helped scale Maman to more than 50 locations across New York, the Tri-State area, DC, Virginia, Maryland, Florida, Canada, and beyond. She is passionate about building community centered spaces, sweating the details that make a brand memorable, and proving that growth does not have to come at the cost of soul.Elisa Marshall’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elisa-marshall-92836b213/ Explore Maman NYC: https://mamannyc.com/Explore Maman NYC’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_mamannyc_/ About Jennifer Justice and The Justice Dept.JJ’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-justice-354a0b99The Justice Dept: https://www.thejusticedept.com/JJ’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jenniferjusticel/ Newsletter: https://tkolb-newsletter-a50814.beehiiv.com/The Justice Dept. is a female-focused advisory, consulting, and law firm advocating for female founders, talent, execs, and brands. We represent bo$$ ladies to make them 💰💰.If you love what you hear, please subscribe and share with a friend.This is a Lady Business LLC Production.

Breaking Rules to Drive Change with Shelley Zalis of The Female Quotient

Takin’ Care of Lady Business Episode 141 The rules of work were written by the people who benefited from them — so why are we still playing along? Today’s guest says it’s time to redesign the system with empathy, leadership, and collective power.In this episode of Takin’ Care of Lady Business, host Jennifer Justice sits down with Shelley Zalis, CEO of The Female Quotient, widely known as the “Chief Troublemaker”, to discuss how she’s breaking barriers in leadership and equality. Shelley shares her journey of founding Female Quotient and building a global community of women leaders dedicated to creating spaces for meaningful conversations and real change.Shelley explains how passion, compassion, and empathy are essential skills for leadership, not soft skills, and why these qualities are more important than ever in today’s business world. She reflects on her experiences of creating the Girls Lounge and the FQ Lounge, spaces that empower women to collaborate and lead with purpose.In this episode, you’ll learn:Passion, compassion, and empathy are vital for effective leadershipCreating safe spaces for collaboration can spark meaningful changeConscious leadership drives success and fosters inclusive work environmentsHighlights:(00:00) Meet Shelley Zalis(01:38) The vision for Female Quotient(02:58) Origin story and boardroom moment(07:04) The girls lounge and power the pack(10:15) Davos breakthrough and making a mark(18:37) Stop naming new gaps and focus on action(19:27) How COVID proved change can happen fast(21:21) Fixing the care problem with wallets(22:34) Closing the pay gap systemically(32:37) Breaking rules and finding FQAbout Our Guest:Known as the “Chief Troublemaker,” Shelley Zalis, CEO & Founder of The Female Quotient, is a trailblazing CEO, entrepreneur, and global advocate for women in the workplace.  A three-time movement-maker, she pioneered online research before selling her company to Ipsos for $80 million; co-founded #SeeHer, a groundbreaking initiative to ensure accurate portrayals of women in media; and built The Female Quotient, known for both its signature Equality Lounge® and having the largest global community of women in business. Recognized as one of LinkedIn’s Top 20 Most Influential Voices globally, Zalis is a sought-after thought leader and contributor to TIME, Forbes and IMD. Her numerous accolades include–most recently–the Matrix Award from New York Women in Communications, the Global Leaders 50 List and the Industry Legend Award from the AdClub.Shelley Zalis’ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shelleyzalis/ Explore The Female Quotient: https://www.thefemalequotient.com/ About Jennifer Justice and The Justice Dept.JJ’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-justice-354a0b99The Justice Dept: https://www.thejusticedept.com/JJ’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jenniferjusticel/ Newsletter: https://tkolb-newsletter-a50814.beehiiv.com/The Justice Dept. is a female-focused advisory, consulting, and law firm advocating for female founders, talent, execs, and brands. We represent bo$$ ladies to make them 💰💰.If you love what you hear, please subscribe and share with a friend.This is a Lady Business LLC Production.

S3Ep140: Owning the Pivot with Andy McNicol, Founder of AMstudio

At some point, every ambitious woman faces a moment that tests who she really is. When the title disappears, the safety net falls away, and all that’s left is her own voice. For Andy McNicol, that moment came after 22 years inside one of the most powerful talent agencies in the world. Laid off in the middle of a pandemic and preparing to become a single mom by choice, she had to decide whether to chase another job… or finally build something that was entirely her own.What happened next wasn’t just a career pivot. It was a reclamation. Andy created AMstudio, rebuilt her identity from the inside out, and turned uncertainty into independence. Her story is every woman’s reminder that starting over isn’t a detour. It’s often the most direct path to your power.Key Takeaways:- The job doesn’t define you — your voice does.- There’s no “right time” to start a new chapter.- Following your passion isn’t reckless — it’s how you find your purpose.- Community is your greatest asset in both business and motherhood.- Authenticity beats “faking it” every time.Learn More About Andy:Website: amstudio.meLinkedIn: Andy McNicolInstagram: @mcnicsAbout Our Guest:Andy McNicol is a Senior Agent at Aevitas Creative Management and founder of AMstudio - an advisory firm focused on content creation and its marketing. She has represented New York Times bestselling books for Sophia Amoruso, Chrissy Teigen, The Lady Gang, Tory Burch, and the #1 New York Times bestselling memoir, Melania and Me. She represents the writer and activist Tommy Dorfman, Jenna Lyons, as well as the national bestsellers -  All The Cool Girls Get Fired by Laura Brown and Kristina O'Neill, First Gen by Alejandra Campoverdi and We've Decided to Go in a Different Direction by Tess Sanchez. She works with the lifestyle brands La Double J and Flamingo Estates.  Andy has spent her career in publishing, including 20 years with WME, where she was a partner and founding member of the Branded Lifestyle Group. She began her own strategic advisory - AMstudio in 2020, offering a holistic, 360-degree approach to multi hyphenate talent and market activation, and joined Aevitas Creative Management as a senior agent in 2024.Andy and her work have been featured in The New York Times, Variety Magazine, and Adweek. She speaks regularly at industry events, on podcasts, and conferences on how to develop successful books and content platforms. Andy holds a bachelor’s degree in English and Art History from Yale University. She lives in Manhattan with her son Luke.About Our Company, The Justice Dept.A female-focused advisory, consulting, and law firm advocating for female founders, talent, execs, and brands. We represent bo$$ ladies to make them 💰💰.Website:  https://www.thejusticedept.com/YouTube: www.youtube.com/@jenniferjustice6653If you love what you are getting out of our show, please subscribe.This is a Lady Business LLC Production.

S3Ep139: When the System Leaves Us Out, We Build Our Own with Lisa Myers, Founder & CEO of Ceres Chill

There’s a moment every woman hits, that quiet breaking point between what the world expects of us and what we know we deserve. For Lisa Myers, that moment came somewhere between court filings, breast pumps, and 3 A.M. feedings. The world had innovated for everyone else except working moms.Lisa didn’t have an engineering degree, a trust fund, or an army of advisors. What she had was an idea and the audacity to believe she could build it herself. That spark became Ceres Chill, a company changing how women move through motherhood, work, and life.But this isn’t just Lisa’s story. It’s every woman’s story. The one where we’re told to stay quiet, be humble, play nice, and wait our turn. And like Lisa, it’s about what happens when we stop waiting and start building.Key Takeaways:- Success is creating something that helps women live and lead on their own terms.- You don’t need permission to start.- Talking about what you’ve built isn’t showing off — it’s showing what’s possible.- Community is the real engine of success.- Disruption starts with one woman saying, “This isn’t good enough.”Learn More About Lisa:Website: cereschill.comLinkedIn: Lisa MyersInstagram: @cereschillAbout Our Guest:Lisa Myers is the Founder of Ceres Chill, a company dedicated to ensuring the success of breastfeeding parents and the health of the world’s most vulnerable infants. In just the last few years, Lisa became a mother of two, was promoted to equity partner at an international law firm and created a company - all while enduring universal breastfeeding challenges. She struggled and failed to meet her breastfeeding goals. Through her struggles, she was inspired to invent a patented breast milk chilling thermos to help women all over the world keep their breastmilk safe and achieve their breastfeeding goals. She will never stop advocating for working women and breastfeeding families.About Our Company, The Justice Dept.A female-focused advisory, consulting, and law firm advocating for female founders, talent, execs, and brands. We represent bo$$ ladies to make them 💰💰.Website:  https://www.thejusticedept.com/YouTube: www.youtube.com/@jenniferjustice6653If you love what you are getting out of our show, please subscribe.This is a Lady Business LLC Production.

S3Ep138: The Power of the Hype Woman with Erin Gallagher, Founder & CEO of HYPE WOMEN

Erin Gallagher spent fifteen years doing everything right. Working hard, staying grateful, keeping her head down. But “doing everything right” almost cost her everything. When she became a mother, the illusion of safety in corporate America shattered. She realized she had been abandoning herself in service to everyone else. Her job, her bosses, her expectations.So she walked away.What started as a bold leap turned into a revolution. Erin launched companies built to empower women, led equity work for major brands, and created Hype Women, a global reminder of what happens when women celebrate each other without competition, apology, or restraint.Key Takeaways:- The patriarchy thrives when women compete; it crumbles when we collaborate.- The “mean girl” inside you is learned behavior that you get to unlearn.- You don’t need permission to take up space.- Real power comes from connection, not competition.- Burn the bridge if it keeps you small.Learn More About Erin:Website: hypewomen.comInstagram: @erin.gallag.herBook: Hype WomenAbout Our Guest:Erin Gallagher is the CEO and Founder of HYPE WOMEN, an inclusive ecosystem hyping women to remember who the f*ck they are; author of Hype Women: Breaking Free from Mean Girls, Patriarchy and Systems Silencing You; host and co-producer of the Hype Women Podcast; and creator of the global Hype Women Movement and “The Fairway” - a dinner series and membership invested in networthing for women. She began her career at Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN), a non-profit legal services watchdog dedicated to ending the ban on LGBTQAI+ in the military (which they ultimately achieved). A two-time founder, Erin has spent her 20+ year career creating movements and leading global marketing, branding, communications, strategy and PR for agencies and global brands. She has counseled The White House, Fortune 100 C-suite and senior leaders at some of the world’s biggest and best brands and companies.About Our Company, The Justice Dept.A female-focused advisory, consulting, and law firm advocating for female founders, talent, execs, and brands. We represent bo$$ ladies to make them 💰💰.Website:  https://www.thejusticedept.com/YouTube: www.youtube.com/@jenniferjustice6653If you love what you are getting out of our show, please subscribe.This is a Lady Business LLC Production.