Kacie Darden shares her inspiring pivot from middle school science teacher to owner of her own thriving travel agency, Blue Pineapple Travel.

Less than two years after setting a cycling world record, Kacie landed in the ICU, nearly dead from complications during the birth of her twins.

Resulting health issues forced her to leave the teaching job she loved, so she decided it was time for a professional pivot - and found motivation in her love of exotic travel.

So just how do you launch a travel agency? Kacie tells all, from kick-starting her new career by getting in with a host agency to acquiring other agencies to fuel Blue Pineapple's growth.

She shares how Blue Pineapple's focus on providing exceptional customer service helps her agency stand out in an industry dominated by digital tools. And lest you think the travel agency is all sunshine and rainbows, she recalls the dark days when COVID travel bans nearly bankrupted her agency - and how they made it through.

This episode is a testament to Kacie's indomitable spirit and knack for seizing opportunities in the face of adversity.

My Great Pivot is a production of The Female Founders Project.

Find out more at www.mygreatpivot.com

00:00 The Impact of COVID-19 on Business

00:40 Introduction to the Podcast and Guest

01:41 Kacie Darden's Early Life and Career

05:34 Transition from Teaching to Travel Agency

09:27 Starting Blue Pineapple Travel

15:30 Navigating COVID-19 Challenges

23:30 The Diverse World of Travel Planning

24:08 Challenges and Misconceptions in the Travel Industry

26:55 The Importance of Support and Partnership

28:34 Lessons Learned and Business Growth

33:20 The Role of Communication and Education

40:37 Future Plans and Industry Insights

45:57 Favorite Travel Destinations

47:43 Conclusion and Contact Information

In this episode, Naama Nicotra, the co-founder of NakedPak, shares her inspiring journey developing edible food packaging NakedPak, which aims to reduce plastic waste.

Naama discusses the journey from the initial concept, inspired during her studies in Helsinki, to creating a tangible product with significant industry interest. She highlights the importance of finding the right co-founder, bootstrapping, raising funds from friends and family, and the critical role of mentorship and accelerators.

She also delves into the challenges and rewards of launching a startup, the strategies for gaining validation, and the B2C trial of this B2B product, which targets the outdoor food market with ready-to-cook meals wrapped in this innovative packaging. Naama's story exemplifies the importance of perseverance, market testing, and impactful innovation in the startup ecosystem.

My Great Pivot is a production of The Female Founders Project.

00:00 The Entrepreneur's Advice: Bootstrap and Raise Funds
00:38 Introducing NakedPak: The Future of Food Packaging
03:04 The Inspiration Behind NakedPak
05:16 From Concept to Company: The Birth of NakedPak
06:20 Finding the Perfect Co-Founder
10:08 Turning Ideas into Reality: The Role of Food Lab
16:55 The Power of Friends and Family Funding
21:06 Understanding Fundraising Strategies
22:28 The Challenges of Fundraising
24:41 Innovative Packaging Solutions
27:26 Targeting the Outdoor Market
30:32 Gaining Investor Confidence
35:43 Networking and Mentorship
41:02 Market Testing and Revenue Strategies
42:50 Final Thoughts and Contact Information

In this episode of 'My Great Pivot,' we speak with Alice Park, an inspiring entrepreneur who left a secure engineering job to launch Park Studios, a thriving photography business in Atlanta, Georgia.

Alice shares some of the struggles that come with launching and owning a business, and how she drew inspiration from her parents' entrepreneurial spirit. She discusses the continuous need for innovation, especially as the market for photography services has evolved.

Tune in to learn from Alice's story of resilience, adaptability, and passion for her craft.

00:00 The Struggles of Small Business Ownership
00:30 Introduction to the Podcast and Guest
01:07 Alice Park's Entrepreneurial Roots
03:55 The Journey Through Engineering
06:15 The Unhappiness in Corporate Life
06:33 Meeting the Catalyst: Kyu
09:25 The Decision to Leave Corporate
10:59 The Birth of Park Studios
15:15 The Importance of Pivoting
20:39 Adapting to Market Changes

A sneak preview of the first season of the My Great Pivot podcast, where we interview female founders at all stages of the entrepreneurial journey.

Catch a glimpse of some of the founders we speak to this season, including:

- a teacher who followed her bliss after a life-threatening childbirth... and launched a business that's taken her around the world

-a founder who parlayed an Etsy side-hustle into a bustling business that's generated millions of dollars in revenue

-an entrepreneur who found the funds to launch her dream from an unlikely source

-a marketing executive who shares how her careful planning led to a million-dollar pre-seed investment round for her startup

These are just some of the compelling stories coming this season on My Great Pivot, launching January 15, 2026.

Find out more about the podcast at www.thefemalefoundersproject.com