Founder Diaries Podcast
Founder Diaries Podcast shares honest conversations about building, growing, and leading a business. Hosted by Yvonne Kanyi, a founder and creator, it dives deep into the journey from idea to execution, covering wins, stumbles, turning points, and everything in between. Each episode offers practical insights, raw reflections, and human moments from entrepreneurs who have built something remarkable.
Episodes
SN2: Episode 10: How Kamau Nyabwengi Built a Golf Academy That Has Trained 4,000+ Golfers
One of the biggest barriers to golf is the perception that it's expensive, exclusive, and difficult to access.In Episode 10, we sit down with Kamau Nyabwengi, Founder and CEO of Yen Golf, to unpack his entrepreneurial journey, the business behind golf, and how he has spent over a decade making the sport more accessible to thousands of people.Kamau shares how Yen Golf has worked to reduce golf barr
SN2; Minisode 19: The Struggle of Many Founders and Managers
Hiring your first employee feels exciting.Managing them? That's where many founders discover an entirely different challenge.In this minisode, we will be reflecting on one of the biggest struggles entrepreneurs and managers face: navigating performance issues and having difficult conversations with employees.Many founders start by hiring based on attitude, education, and willingness to learn. But
SN2;Episode 9: From Makeup Content to Building One of Kenya's Leading Beauty Brands | Joanna K Pt. 1
What happens when the business you've spent years building no longer excites you?In Episode 9, we sit down with Joanna K, founder of Joanna K Cosmetics and one of Kenya's most influential beauty content creators, to unpack her journey from makeup enthusiast to building one of Kenya's leading beauty brands. 💄✨But this isn't just a business story.It's a conversation about creativity, content creatio
SN2; Episode 8: The Business Side of The Creative Business Nobody Talks About | FT. Abel & Judy
Welcome to Episode 8:Today, Abel Mutua and Judy Nyawira share the journey behind their creative careers, entrepreneurship, and the business lessons that completely changed how they approached the industry 🎬From humble beginnings, internships, and unconventional jobs to handling multi-million-shilling productions, this episode explores the reality behind building a sustainable creative business.Don
SN2; Minisode 15: Money Advice for Founders ( From My Experience)
Most founders learn money the hard way. Most of us figure it out through pressure, mistakes, survival, and experience.In Minisode 15, we unpack practical money advice for founders from years of building and running businesses; the lessons, mistakes, and financial habits that every entrepreneur should start thinking about early. Because somewhere along the journey of impact, growth, hiring, and sca
SN2; Minisode 14: Signal Vs Noise | Why Most Founders Stay Busy But Don't Grow
Back-to-back meetings,Constant notifications,Supplier issues,Endless tasks,New ideas every hour 👀And somehow… at the end of the day, it still feels like you’re not moving the business forward.In Minisode 14, we unpack the powerful concept of Signal vs Noise inspired by Steve Jobs’ return to Apple in 1997 and how it helped transform the company. In this minisode, we explore:The origin of Signal vs
SN2; Episode 7: Money Trauma, Debt, Business & Self-Worth | Ft. Susan Wanjiku
In Episode 7, we sit down with Susan Wanjiku, founder of The Legacy Hub, a platform focused on making financial literacy simple, accessible, and personalized. From growing up in poverty, accumulating over 1 million in debt, losing her job during restructuring, surviving through online writing, and eventually building a personal finance coaching business. Susan shares a deeply honest story about mo
SN2; Minisode 13: You Don`t Have To Do Everything
As founders, every day we discover another thing the business needs.Another task, another responsibility, another thing added to our plate. But what if the answer isn’t working harder but building systems?In Minisode 13, we unpack the importance of systemizing your business, delegating, and creating workflows that allow consistency without everything depending on you. The goal isn’t to become the
SN2; Minisode 12: She Built a Beauty Empire With Just 4 Products | The Estée Lauder Story
One determined woman, Four products, One counter, and a Relentless belief in herself. In Minisode 12, we unpack the incredible backstory behind Estée Lauder, the founder who built one of the world’s most iconic beauty companies starting from her kitchen.Before the global brand, before luxury counters and worldwide recognition, she was mixing creams, going door-to-door, giving free samples, demonst
SN2; Episode 6: From Doing it For Free to Charging KSH.3,500 to KSH.600,000 | Coach John Paul Nyiha
What does it actually take to build a successful coaching business? In Episode 6, we sit down with John Paul Nyiha, an online fitness and dietary coach who has spent over 9 years building a coaching business tailored specifically for Kenyan women.This conversation goes beyond fitness, we unpack the business side of coaching: the inception, positioning, pricing, client acquisition, and the mindset
SN2; Minisode 11:Systems Before Scale | The McDonald’s Story Every Founder Needs To Know
In today`s minisode, we break down the story of how two brothers transformed a simple drive-in restaurant into one of the most scalable business models in the world—by doing something radical.In 1948, Richard and Maurice McDonald shut down their restaurant, simplified their menu, and rebuilt their entire operation around speed, consistency, and repeatability. The result? The Speedee Service System
SN2; Minisode 10: When Should Founders Pay Themselves? And How Much?
When is the right time to start paying yourself as a founder, and how much should you actually take home? 🤔A lot of businesses are started with one goal: to make money for you. But somewhere along the way, many founders end up underpaying themselves… or not paying themselves at all.In this episode, we break down the reality of founder compensation and why paying yourself isn’t optional - It’s a co
SN2; Episode 5: You’re Not an Entrepreneur (Yet) | Profit, Value & Wealth ft. Waithaka Gatumia
What if everything you thought about profit, business, and your personal value… was wrong? 👀In Episode 5, we sit down with Mr. Waithaka Gatumia, a financial literacy coach, who breaks down the realities of business, money, and what it truly means to build wealth.From transitioning out of Media & Communications into financial education, to helping people grow sustainable wealth, this conversati
SN2; Minisode 9: Why Kenyan Founders Fear Funding | The Truth About Bootstrapping
Why are so many founders determined to use their own money to build businesses? 🤔In this Minisode, we unpack the deeply rooted mindset behind self-funding and bootstrapping, especially among Kenyan founders, and ask the uncomfortable question:Is it always bravery… or sometimes fear and lack of awareness?From selling personal assets, borrowing from chamas, and taking high-interest loans, to wearing
SN2; Episode 4: Tara Nicole | Turning Creativity Into Income Streams
In this episode of Founder Diaries, we sit down with a creative entrepreneur, Tara Nicole as she shares her journey of building, evolving, and reinventing herself across multiple creative industries.From painting on t-shirts and shoes, to diving into food photography for brands, to creating props and drops —Tara’s story is one of constant evolution, bold pivots, and following curiosity.Today, she’
SN2; Minisode 8: Opening A New Branch!
Opening a new branch sounds like growth but it can quickly become pressure if you’re not fully prepared.In this minisode, we’re unpacking the real conversations every entrepreneur needs to have before expanding, because having cash flow doesn’t always mean you have overflow, and that distinction can make or break your next move.We get into:Why data matters more than hype; Understanding your market
SSN2; Minisode 7: Sage Sknn At 1 | Key Decisions I had To Make When Building
Sage Skin officially turned 1 last month and in this episode I get to share some financial decisions that almost cost me the business and how we've managed to pivot since then. Partner Spotlight;We’re honored to have Sarova Hotels as our Season 2 partner on Founder Diaries. From creating beautiful spaces to curating unforgettable experiences, Sarova is the best fit for your staycation, business me
SN2; Minisode 6: Building Founder-Led Brands and Doing Founder-Led Marketing
In today’s episode, we explore the power of founder-led brands and what it really means to build through founder-led marketing.More than just visibility, founder-led marketing is about becoming the primary channel for trust, storytelling, authority, and distribution. It’s strategic, intentional, and deeply human.If you’re building a brand, this episode will challenge you to step forward not just a
SN2; Episode 3: Lynn Ngugi | Transitioning From A Well Paying Job To Her Own Law Firm & Businesses
In today`s episode, we feature Lynn Ngugi (commonly knows as Miss Turu), who is a well celebrated Advocate of the High Court of Kenya, and founder of ANO Advocates LLP as she takes us through her journey of becoming a lawyer, transitioning from a well paying job into building businesses that are thriving in the market.Partner Spotlight;We’re honored to have Sarova Hotels as our Season 2 partner on
SN2; Minisode 5: The 5 Systems Every Business Needs to Grow
This episode is a follow-up on Minisode 4, where we go deeper into what it really takes to build systems that support growth, not just survival.We break down the power of SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures), the franchise mindset, and scaling properly and how small consistent structures allow a business to scale.Partner Spotlight;We’re honored to have Sarova Hotels as our Season 2 partner on Foun
SN2; Minisode 4: Working On Your Business VS Working In Your Business
In this episode, we unpack key insights from The E-Myth Revisited by Michael E. Gerber—and the hard truth about what’s really holding most businesses back.The difference between working in your business and working on your business.Most small businesses don’t fail because the owner lacks skill but because the owner never stops being the technician.Technical skills may generate income, but systems
SN2; Episode 2: Building Melvin’s - Flora Mutahi and the Birth of the Flavored Teas We Love & More
Did you know that the Melvin Marsh company didn’t start as a tea brand—it started by solving a practical everyday problem through Kenya’s first free-flowing salt? In today`s episode, we sit down with the Founder & CEO of Melvin Marsh International as she shares her journey into building this well celebrated tea brand that has become a household name across boarders. Partner Spotlight;We’re hon
SN2; Minisode 3: Consumer Behaviour, The GOOD reason vs The REAL reason
According to Rory Sutherland, (a well-known behavioral science expert at Ogilvy in the U.K), human beings don't buy things for purely logical or practical reasons. Instead, their decisions are driven by subconscious desires, emotional triggers, and perceived meaning.In this episode, we’ll be unpacking the real reason VS the practical reason behind consumer behaviour, exploring what truly influ
SN 2; Minisode 2: A Brilliant Business Idea! Analogue Is So Back
Imagine having a phone that doesn`t force you to be on your screens all day but you still get your notifications on time. In this episode, we talk about an entrepreneur called Kat Goetze who invented a bluetooth landline phone that is able to connect to your smartphone, which means if your phone rings, the landline rings. The phone was designed to help users reduce screen time by allowing them to
SN2; Episode 1: Data is What Drives Your Business - How Much Do You Know? | Michelle Watiki, Co-founder Duck Analytics
Imagine being able to access real data to understand your business operations, reduce stock-outs and who your consumers are. In this episode, Michelle Watiki, Co-founder of Duck Analytics takes us through the importance of data and client segmentation in business building to make better decisions that boost revenue. Duck Analytics helps retailers optimise their pricing and location strategies usin
Minisode 1: From selling Noodles in Highschool to building two successful Brands
Welcome to Season 2 of Founder Diaries! 🎙️In this first minisode, I take you back to where it all began—my story, my journey into business, and how we got here. From selling noodles in high school to building two thriving beauty and skincare brands, this is a raw and honest look at the process behind the progress.One thing I’ve learned? Skincare is like math—there’s a formula for everything.If you
EP 8: Building A Billion Dollar Business in Africa by Africans For Africans | Ken & Kui Njoroge on Building Cellulant & Komini
Listen to the story of how Cellulant was built, the businesses Ken Njoroge built prior to getting investors into the business. He built with a larger market in mind and today that is a reality. Today's hustle is Komini which is a business built to create community for small business owners and helping them "arrive alive." Then hear the perspective of Kui Njoroge who built alongside h
Minisode 23: Marketing Outside of Social Media
Hear my thoughts on how I would market my business if social media was no longer available. Social media is becoming saturated and more people sensitive to promotional content thus affecting it's effectiveness. We need to start thinking about offline ways to engage and attract new customers. What are your ideas? Engage us in the comment section. Find our host on socials:Instagram TikTok Foll
EP 7: Waithera Mugo on Building A Niche Business, Tax Law & How To Legally Pay Less Taxes
Catch up on Waithera Mugo's story and how she went from a law student to owning her own firm and building a niche business with Ithera Africa, a tax & wealth advisory firm. I learned from here there are so many ways to legally reduce your tax liability as a business and to think through your corporate structure and the implications that has on your tax points. The true point of a business
Minisode 22: Get To Know The Host - Q n A
Find our host on socials:Instagram TikTok Follow Founder Diaries on socials: InstagramTikTok - @founderdariespodcast Reach out to DigiTax to make your eTIMS compliance much easier: HERE | +254795279403This podcast has been proudly sponsored by Beauty Square Ke, and Sage Sknn. Visit and patronize at beautysquareke.co, and use the code FOUNDER10 for some coins off.
Minisode 21: The Inventory Trap - Everyone in Retail Business Should Hear This
You know… running a product business will teach you math you didn’t even know you needed.Not the cute math… the painful math.The “why is my cash gone yet my shelves are full?” math.Today we’re talking about inventory mistakes, the true cost of dead stock, and why inventory turnover and run rate are non-negotiable if you want a healthy business.Inventory is a beast to master and has to be mastered
Minisode 20: On Pricing, Mistakes I and You Are Making and Signs It's Wrong
Pricing might seem straightforward — but over time, I’ve learned that most of us underestimate how many things quietly eat into our margins.We price for the product.But we forget to price for the business. Your pricing should factor in: Your salary and compensation as a founder/directorGovernment compliance (taxes, licenses, statutory requirements)Rent and operational overheadsStaffing and laborSo
Minisode 19: The One Time I Really Nearly Quit
I've been in business for many many years and I have one particular season where I truly thought about quitting. I sat down to figure out how to replace my income and actually got the ball rolling until I realized where the pain point truly was. What happens when you're faced with the end of the business you built from scratch?This podcast has been proudly sponsored by Beauty Square Ke and
EP 6: Liz Njuguna On Hiring Husbands, Flipping 20k\Month into a 700K Lumpsum
Hear the story of Liz Njuguna and how she started off with buying and flipping land at 19. She started off with one parcel being paid in installments of 20K a month which down the road was flipped into 700K pain in a lumpsum. Learn how her discipline and reinvesting grew that hustle into Risiih Investments. Five years down the road Risiih is working on putting more land into the hands of women and
Minisode 18: Why Dreaming Big Is Easier Than Actually Doing It
Dreaming is dopamine and doing is discipline. It's not because you're lazy or lack of motivation. Thinking about your dream life of driving the car you'd want, the freedom of time you crave and dream travel destinations is VERY easy but different to when it comes to taking the action required to achieve that. There is a physiological reason to this - your nervous system is wired to avo
Minisode 17: How I Stopped Running My Business Like a Kiosk
At some point, every founder has to ask:Am I building a real business… or just surviving?In Minisode17, Yvonne shares the practical shifts that helped her stop running her business like a kiosk and started structuring it properly, from paying herself consistently, building systems, delegating intentionally, to planning financially and creating cash reserves.If you’re still in survival mode, this o
Minisode 16: Your Business Venture Doesn’t Need to Be Complicated
We’ve been sold the myth that businesses need to be revolutionary, AI-powered, or completely novel to succeed.In this minisode, we strip it back to the basics and unpack the 4 pillars of a good business — and why simple, needed, profitable ideas often win.If you’ve been overthinking your idea, this episode is for you.Let’s share about our partners, DigiTaxAs someone running a business, staying com
Minisode 15: Does Your Business Stop When Your Stop?
Many founders think they’re building businesses... but have actually created full-time jobs for themselves.In this minisode, we unpack the difference between being self-employed and being an entrepreneur, the signs your business depends too heavily on you, and practical steps to start building systems that scale without burning you out.If your business stops when you stop, this episode is for you.
EP 5: From Selling Black Forests At Home To Running Multiple Corporate Cafeterias
What does it take to build a sustainable catering business?In this episode of Founder Diaries, Yvonne sits down with Esmeralda Founder & CEO of Spez Catering Limited, to unpack her journey from starting to running multiple corporate cafeterias.We talk about:• Why event catering alone isn’t sustainable• How corporate cafeterias create steady daily cashflow• Turning one client into long-term ins
Minisode 14: The One Book Every Founder Must Read | Outwitting The Devil
What if the reason your business feels stuck isn’t strategy —but mindset?In this Minisode, Yvonne breaks down Outwitting the Devil by Napoleon Hill — the one book she believes every entrepreneur must read.This episode explores how fear, drifting, habits, and lack of purpose quietly control founders and keep businesses stagnant. Framed as a psychological conversation, the book reveals how most peop
Minisode 13: Just Because It Didn’t Make Money, Doesn’t Mean It Failed
Just because an idea didn’t make money doesn’t mean it failed.In this minisode , we unpack why founders often label ideas as “failures” too quickly and how that mindset can cost you valuable insight, growth, and momentum.We talk about:Why failure feels personal (and why it shouldn’t)How to reframe “failed” ideas What to audit after an idea doesn’t perform financiallyWhy money is not the only metri
Minisode 12: Why I Struggled With Delegation & What Finally Changed
Delegation sounds great in theory… but in practice? It can be terrifying especially when it comes to the big things.In this Minisode of Founder Diaries, Yvonne shares her personal journey with delegation …from doing everything herself , to slowly handing over responsibilities, to finally bringing in management-level support.We talk about: •Why founders cling to control (even when it’s hurting the
Minisode 11: Why Every Founder Needs A Job Description
In this minsode of Founder Diaries, we’re unpacking something most founders never stop to define …your job description as the founder or CEO.So many of us struggle with focus, delegation, and time management not because we’re lazy or disorganised, but because we’ve never clearly defined what our role actually is in the business.We talk about: •Why founders end up doing everyone else’s job •How not
EP 4: More Than a Creator: Murugi on Business, Motherhood & Starting Early
In today’s episode of Founder Diaries, we sit down with Murugi Munyi for a conversation that goes beyond content creation…the space most of us know her for.Murugi shares her journey of starting her first business while still in university, navigating entrepreneurship as a young mum, and growing into a founder who has built multiple businesses over time.We talk about starting before you feel ready,
Minisode 10: 6 Lessons From 6 Years In Business
In today’s episode, Yvonne shares 6 lessons from 6 years in business…From hiring and money to boundaries, self-awareness and trusting your instincts, this episode is a reflection on what it really takes to build and sustain a business over time.If you’re building something of your own, or thinking about it …this one’s for you.
Minisode 9: You're Spending Too Much Time On Planning
In this episode, we’re talking about overplanning and why it’s quietly holding you back.Planning feels productive because it’s safe. You get to keep the idea in your head without exposing it to the world. But real clarity doesn’t come from thinking, it comes from moving.In this episode, I share: •Why money loves speed •How getting the first ball in motion forces execution •Why you don’t need the f
Minisode 8: Why Seeking Validation Is Killing Your Momentum
In this episode, we talk about why founders struggle to trust their own decisions, and how constantly seeking validation slows down execution, growth and impact.If you were given responsibility early in life, you might feel the need to overthink every move, ask multiple people for approval, or wait until something feels “perfect” before acting. But the truth is, clarity often comes after action.We
Minisode 7: How Unhealed Traumas Shows Up In Your Business
In Minisode 7 of Founder Diaries, Yvonne shares why going to therapy is not a weakness…it’s a leadership toolUnhealed trauma shows up in how we lead, delegate, price, overwork, avoid hard conversations and even burn out.You don’t leave your past at the door when you build a business
Episode 3: The Business Therapist On Burnout, Pressure & Priorities As A Female Founder
In this episode, Yvonne sits down with Robert, an executive leadership coach and entrepreneur trainer (also known as The Business Therapist) for a deep and honest conversation about burnout, pressure, identity, and what it really costs to “hold it all together especially as a female entrepreneur/founder.This episode goes beyond business tactics and zooms in on the person behind the business …becau
Minisode 6: Being Constantly Busy Doesn't Equal To Impact
Minisode 6 of the Founder Diaries, Yvonne shares why working longer hours doesn’t always lead to better results.She breaks down the shift from being busy to being intentional and why clarity, decision-making, and systems matter more than constant hustle.If you’ve been feeling stuck in overwork mode, this episode is a gentle but honest reset.Let’s talk about our partners, DigiTaxAs someone running
Minisode 5: Minisode 5: Work Life Balance...Is There Such A Thing?
In this minisode, Yvonne shares her honest take on work-life balance, especially as a woman and a mother.She explores why balance often feels impossible and offers a more realistic approach: creating harmony by aligning your calendar with your values, roles and season of life.A grounding listen for founders juggling many responsibilities.Watch on Youtube: https://youtu.be/RouYAzRrqbMInstagram: htt
Minisode 4: A Practical Reset For Overwhelming Days
Feeling overwhelmed at work or during a busy day?In this minisode, Yvonne shares a simple, practical framework she uses to reset when everything feels urgent and overwhelming, especially on days filled with deadlines, interruptions and mental overload.She walks you through: •How to pause and re-center •A simple way to organize your tasks •How to plan your time more realistically so t
Minisode 3: When Overworking Becomes Your Identity| Founder Diaries Podcast
Welcome to Minisode 3 of the Founder Diaries Podcast.In this episode, Yvonne dives into a tough but necessary conversation about overworking…and how many of us unknowingly tie our identity and self-worth to productivity, roles, and output.She unpacks how long-term stress, early responsibility, work culture and capitalism condition us to feel “safe” only when we’re busy.When rest, silence or slowne
Episode 2: From Hustle to Purpose | Charles, Founder of Royal Reel Photography
In this episode , we sit down with Charles, the founder of Royal Reel Photography and one behind the production of the Founder Diaries Podcast.Charles introduces himself as a visual strategist, someone who goes beyond photography and videography to intentionally create visuals that communicate meaning for brands and personal brands.He shares how his journey didn’t begin with a polished plan or a g
Minisode 2: The Perfect Morning Routine for Productivity | Founder Diaries Podcast
In Minisode 2, Yvonne walks through a simple morning formula for a productive day...why avoiding social media first thing matters, how to ground yourself before the day begins and small habits that help you pour into yourself before giving to the world.
Minisode 1: What’s Your Tip for Success | Founder Diaries Podcast
What’s Your Tip for Success? This is a Minisode segment of the Founder Diaries Podcast, where Yvonne shares hot takes, tips, tricks, and real experiences from the entrepreneur journey.In this 1st minisode, Yvonne talks about her personal tips for success ... the lessons, mindset shifts, and practical tips that have guided her journey as a founder and entrepreneur.An important plug: We have to shar
Episode 1: Building & Scaling Multiple Businesses | Founder Diaries Podcast
In our very first episode of Founder Diaries Podcast with Yvonne Kanyi, we sit down with Victoria, a serial entrepreneur building and scaling multiple businesses in Kenya.She shares her journey running a multi-branch spa VSPA Kenya, alongside her other ventures, Titi Kenya and Thao Tree and talks about how marketing strategy has been key to her growth. She also opens up about the realities of lead
