Nancy Twine has built one of the most respected clean haircare brands in the world—but in this candid AMA, she peels back the curtain on what it really took to get there.
In this special solo finale of Makers Mindset Season 3, Nancy answers burning questions from her audience about entrepreneurship, life, love, mindset, and building a company from zero to a nine-figure exit. From bootstrapping Briogeo in a saturated industry to becoming the then-youngest Black woman to launch a product line at Sephora, her journey is as bold as it is intentional.
She shares her no-budget PR strategies, the mindset shift that changed everything, and why hiring for values—not just resumes—can make or break your culture. Plus, she opens up about dating while building an empire, how she created a life of freedom, and the biggest decision that skyrocketed her brand’s growth.
This is a rare behind-the-scenes look at the personal playbook of a founder who’s done it all—and is now paying it forward.
Timestamps:
[00:00] Introduction
[00:37] Nancy’s background and Briogeo journey
[01:00] How to market a first-of-its-kind product without a budget
[01:29] DIY press strategy for early brands
[01:54] Cold DM tips for reaching editors
[02:15] Low-cost influencer seeding advice
[02:35] What Nancy would do differently if starting today
[02:56] Why personal branding matters from day one
[03:16] What she would do the same if starting today
[03:39] Why hiring a social media manager early matters
[04:06] The early decision that had biggest brand impact
[04:25] How Sephora shaped Briogeo’s growth
[04:50] How to make your first sale without inventory
[05:11] Pre-order and waitlist strategies
[05:33] Using prototypes and content to drive pre-sales
[05:50] Using Kickstarter as a model for pre-orders
[06:05] Best ways to track performance when you don’t have a team
[06:26] Basic metrics every founder should track
[06:47] Profitability doesn’t need to happen immediately
[07:05] Why tracking repeat orders matters
[07:19] What is EMV and how to use it
[07:37] The importance of reading your reviews
[07:53] How Nancy designed her lifestyle over time
[08:17] Building a team helped her find more balance
[08:35] Why priorities shape your lifestyle
[08:53] Hobbies and passions Nancy makes time for now
[09:13] What she says no to in order to stay focused
[09:27] Nancy’s dating journey as a successful woman
[09:43] Advice for women balancing dating and ambition
[10:00] Why priorities should drive your dating decisions
[10:19] Making time to date like anything else
[10:36] Friends with careers, families, and healthy relationships
[10:54] What Nancy wishes she knew when building a brand
[11:30] When to hire support in your business
[11:52] Hire for values, not just skills
[12:10] Why defining your company culture early matters
[12:32] How the wrong hire can impact the whole team
[12:50] One mindset shift that changed everything
[13:06] How Nancy reframes hard things
[13:42] Why doing the hard thing creates the results you want
Follow Nancy Twine:
Instagram: @nancytwine
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