Key Takeaways from Lululemon’s Fearless Female Founders Panel
Insights on Leadership, Resilience, and Entrepreneurship
This past International Women’s Day, I had the incredible opportunity to sit on a Lululemon panel at their GlowUp Studio in New York City, alongside three powerhouse women: Kristin Sudeikis, founder of Forward Space, and Melissa Ben-Ishay, founder of Baked by Melissa moderated by the dynamic Kayla Jeter, Lululemon ambassador, athlete, founder and mental health coach. The studio was alive with women eager to connect, learn, and celebrate each other!
The panel was a deep dive into what it truly means to build something from the ground up while facing fear, challenges, and resistance head-on. The big theme of the night was overcoming challenges. I shared my personal journey, emphasizing that fear and doubt have been some of my greatest challenges and that they aren’t something to eliminate—they’re something to navigate.
"It's not about having the feelings; it's about how I respond to them and what I let them do to me and my actions," I shared.
Fear has been a constant companion in my entrepreneurial journey, whispering doubts and worst-case scenarios. But the magic lies in recognizing those fears and choosing to move forward anyway.
Starting the Bushwick Film Festival came with countless challenges—funding obstacles, a lack of diversity in the industry, and most importantly, my own mindset. I realized I didn’t fully believe in myself. I wasn’t pursuing certain opportunities because I was afraid of failing, or deep down, I didn’t feel I deserved them. It took me almost ten years into being a founder to really confront that. Working to shift this mindset has been a game-changer. I started pushing beyond my own limitations, asking for what I wanted more often, and becoming less likely to let external voices dictate my path. It’s all about the progress!
Throughout the panel, we all touched on the unique paths that led us to where we are. Melissa spoke about turning a career setback into a multimillion-dollar cupcake empire. Whoa! And when asked about recent wins, she reminded us to pay attention to the small wins, especially the moments we share with our loved ones.
Kristin shared how dance taught her resilience, shaping her leadership at Forward Space. She also spoke about the beautiful and intense transformation of a butterfly—its metamorphosis, which includes breaking down, completely dissolving, and reforming until the process is complete. I’m sure we can all relate to feeling completely broken down at times, uncertain of what’s next, only to emerge stronger, transformed, and ready for a new chapter.
“The grace of dance provides community in a moment.” - Kristin Sudeikis,
Kayla guided us on how to sustain ourselves on this journey. She had recent run 234 miles and was in awe of what her body & mind were able to accomplish. She shared that in that experience, she learned that our resilience is a testament to how far women can go when we’re fully supported.
I told a story about my first dream—becoming a professional basketball player. Before I was 18, it was my whole world. But in college, I had a coach whose harsh approach left me paralyzed, making me second-guess everything I knew and struggle to perform on the court. One day, she sat me down and told me she didn’t think I had what it takes. At the time, I didn’t understand trauma responses the way I do now, so I internalized her words as truth instead of recognizing them as just her perspective. Instead of pushing through and realizing I had options, I walked away from something I loved.
After years of personal growth and life experience, I now understand that we have the power to choose. If we encounter people telling us no—that our vision is too big, too unrealistic, or that we should do something else—we don’t have to accept it.
Resilience against fear and doubt—both internally and externally—is a muscle we all have to build, especially if you're chasing something big, scary, and audacious! So from now on, I invite you to see every past experience of failure or “giving up” as just you pumping the resilience iron—and soon enough, you will have the power to say, "Actually, I do have what it takes!" 💪✨
Don’t let anyone—not even the experts, not your family, not your friends, not even your mentors—define what’s possible for you. You have to decide for yourself.
Another key takeaway I shared from this experience is when building a team, try your best to work with people who naturally bring out the best in you. I know we don’t always have a total choice! But If someone makes you shrink, doubt yourself, or second-guess your abilities, they’re not your people. Find those who amplify your strengths and push you toward your best self—while having fun along the way!
A few other things we all agreed on was whether it’s finding joy in small wins, fueling our minds and bodies, or surrounding ourselves with a supportive community, it’s entrepreneurship is a long game.
As the panel wrapped up and the mingling continued, I felt deeply grateful—not just for the opportunity to share my journey, but for the reminder that we don’t have to do this alone. When women support, uplift, and share hard-earned wisdom with one another, we create the momentum that breaks barriers and paves the way forward.
Kayla had so many amazing questions, and she wrapped up with this: “If you could meet your younger self for coffee, what is one piece of advice you would share with them?”
Kristin would tell her younger self, “Keep dancing.”
Melissa would tell her younger self, “You’re the best.”
I would tell my younger self, “Don’t worry. It’s all going to work out.”
Which, honestly, is what I need to remind my current self every day too!
So, what would you tell your younger self? Take a moment, write it down, and put it somewhere you’ll see it. Chances are—you need to remind your present self of it too.
Oh and thanks for reading my very first Substack! 🥳
p.s watch official promo and my best panel moments 😎—and visit my site at www.kweighbaye.com to stay in the loop!
You definitely have what it takes!