How Founders Can Raise $1.2M and Still Burn Out Scaling a Fashion Brand with Emily McDonald
Welcome to The Art of Succession Podcast. Host Barrett Young talks with Emily McDonald, a business Strategist and mentor in EKM Strategy and Founder of TheStylist LA. Emily shares how she turned a dress rental idea into a fashion business, raised venture capital, and later shifted to coaching female founders. She talks about burnout, learning from failure, and building a business that supports your life.
Emily isn’t just a founder; she’s now focused on helping women build strong, balanced businesses. Her journey from renting dresses in her living room to raising over $1M shaped how she mentors others today. By sharing her wins and struggles, she shows that growth, honesty, and boundaries can lead to success without burning out.
She spent over 10 years building TheStylist LA before becoming a mentor to female founders. Her advice comes from real wins and hard lessons in growing a business. With a focus on honesty, mindset, and clear plans, she helps women grow strong businesses, avoid burnout, and lead with purpose and confidence.
Key Takeaways:
- Emily’s journey from dress rentals to venture-backed founder.
- Hard lessons learned from raising over $1M.
- Why she now teaches women to build smarter businesses.
- How burnout changed her view on hustle culture.
- The power of boundaries, mindset, and honest coaching.
Additional Insights:
- How Emily built a loyal customer base from scratch.
- Lessons from running retail and subscription models.
- The hidden costs and stress of taking VC funding.
- Why mindset and rest are key to long-term success.
- Helping women grow without chasing hustle culture.
Here are a few quotes from the episode:
- “You don’t have to work all the time to be successful.” - Emily McDonald
- “If no one hates your idea, you’re too late.” - Emily McDonald
- “Build a business that supports the life you want.” - Emily McDonald
Join Emily McDonald as she shares how real-life lessons, honest coaching, and a focus on balance are helping women grow strong businesses, lead with purpose, and build success on their own terms.
Episode Highlights
[00:00] - Teaser
[01:14] - Intro and Emily’s passion
[02:33] - Early Dream & Launching TheStylist LA in 2009
[08:22] - Sorority trunk shows and scrappy early marketing
[10:04] - Steady growth and first showroom in Venice
[13:11] - Angel investor support and Bachelor media boost
[16:23] - Expanding to San Francisco and managing both cities
[17:56] - Raising $1.2M through Jason Calacanis and VC firms
[22:54] - Burnout, pregnancy, and money struggles before COVID
[26:43] - Pandemic shutdowns, closing stores, and going online
[28:42] - Lessons on hustle culture, balance, and founder health
[31:46] - Setting Boundaries & Rethinking Hustle Culture
[34:51] - Taking VC money too late
[37:27] - Struggles of post-COVID recovery
[39:55] - Post-COVID: Starting a new, simple business
[42:50] - Coaching Women to Set Clear 90-Day Goals
[45:39] - Revisiting - Redefining Success with or without Co-Founders
[51:14] - What makes a great coaching client
[52:40] - How Emily views failure and growth
[55:29] - Building focus through rest and planning
[57:38] - First retreat and what’s next for Emily
FOLLOW THE GUEST:
- LinkedIn (Personal Profile): https://www.linkedin.com/in/ekmcdonald/
- Instagram (Personal Profile): https://www.instagram.com/emily_k_mcdonald/
Join my free community for female founders on Instagram for exclusive resources and live Q&A sessions: https://www.instagram.com/founderemily/
https://www.skool.com/money-moves-free-8097/about?ref=8021ec33afb74f77bcfe695a34c54e08
https://www.skool.com/money-moves-free-8097/about?ref=8021ec33afb74f77bcfe695a34c54e08
FOLLOW HER COMPANY:
- TheStylist LA: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thestylist-la/
FOLLOW THE HOST:
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/barrettyoung
- Company LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/gwcpa/
- Website: https://gwcpas.com/
- Email: bey@gwcpas.com
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