Feminist Foundations in Business: Becky Mollenkamp's Strategy for Societal Transformation
In this episode, Madeline chats with Becky Mollenkamp, an accountability coach and powerhouse feminist community builder. Together, they deep dive into the realms of ethical business practices, feminist entrepreneurship, and personal growth.
In this episode, Becky shares her transformational journey from journalism to business mindset coaching after enduring a major season of personal change and tragedy. Emphasizing the significance of aligning businesses with personal values, Becky and Madeline discuss strategies for dismantling traditional capitalist and patriarchial structures and advocating for systemic change.
Both reflect on the struggles of diverging from the 'girl boss' narrative to foster a more equitable and sustainable business ecosystem. The conversation also touches upon the cultural impact of the feminist-themed Barbie movie, analyzing its approach towards feminism and representation, and our thoughts about how we need to ignite deeper discussions on diversity and societal conditioning within the feminist community.
Listen in as we speak about:
Challenging the Norm
Power of Introversion
Defining Feminist Business
A Journey of Unlearning
Collective Progress for Change
Rebuilding Personal Narratives
Embracing Feedback and Growth
And much, much, more!
Challenging the Norm
Becky’s story, beginning with her midwestern roots and a journey marked by personal trials, sets the stage for her transformative approach to life and business. Her background in journalism and content marketing morphed into a gateway for helping others align their businesses with their deepest values, a testament to her commitment to feminist entrepreneurship.
Power of Introversion
Madeline and Becky, both identifying as introverts, shed light on the powerful balance and commitment to self-care that is needed for introspective entrepreneurs. They emphasize the importance of understanding energy, setting boundaries, and finding like-minded friends for deeper connections, highlighting the underappreciated value introverts bring to business and leadership.
Defining Feminist Business
A feminist business, according to Becky, is about prioritizing people and the planet over profits. It’s about uprooting traditional capitalist mindsets and embracing ethical practices and social justice. It's a rebuke of the “Jeff Bezos” ethos, advocating for sustainable growth and collective well-being.
A Journey of Unlearning
Madeline and Becky discuss the importance of unlearning societal conditioning, fostering connections in feminist circles, and embracing vulnerability. They touch on the impact pop culture, like the Barbie movie, can have on feminist narratives and the responsibility to represent diversity and challenge toxic masculinity.
Collective Progress for Change
The dialogue invariably veers towards the power of collective action. They advocate for dismantling patriarchal structures not just in thought, but in the lived experience of business, invoking feminist principles for a creative and equitable economy.
Rebuilding Personal Narratives
A significant portion of the episode is dedicated to personal rebuilding. Becky’s candid sharing of her life post-divorce, the introspection that came from her life’s hardest seasons, and her pivot towards accountability coaching is a powerful narrative of using one's experiences to fuel growth not only in oneself but also in the community of feminist founders.
Embracing Feedback and Growth
In a culture that often stigmatizes vulnerability and feedback, Becky states her growth journey through embracing feedback, especially that which challenges privileged identities. The path involves overcoming fears and anxiety and building a compassionate community of other aligned feminists that are equally passionate about using business as a tool for positive change.
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