Ep 25 | Ellen Bennett

Written By Yasmin Nouri
Ellen

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Ellen Bennett is the founder & CEO of Hedley & Bennett, an LA-based culinary workwear and lifestyle brand that has transformed the way professional (and home) chefs dress forever. By making her dream into a reality, she has created the largest gourmet apron factory in the world.

Being raised by a single mother who made her feel safe to try new things and get comfortable with failure, Ellen had confidence instilled in her from a very early age. So much so that when she graduated high school, she packed her bags and moved to Mexico City without a plan for four years. Never one to settle, Ellen once again started over when she moved back into her childhood home after her time in Mexico. She hit the ground running, landing a job as a line cook in some of LA’s most acclaimed restaurants which sparked the idea for creating stylish, functional, durable, and beautiful aprons for chefs like herself.

Now at the helm of a multi-million-dollar empire, Ellen does not sugarcoat what it took to get there, nor does she believe that being an entrepreneur looks the same for everyone. As a businesswoman who is so open to learning, willing to fail and reiterate, and in possession of some seriously unwavering self-belief, Ellen’s story will leave you inspired and show you that you don’t have to have all the answers to make your dream a reality.

Show Notes

  • How Ellen’s childhood, growing up between LA and Mexico, has influenced who she is today [2:22]

  • The values that Ellen’s mom instilled in her early on and how it’s impacted her as an entrepreneur [4:08]

  • Ellen’s decision to move to Mexico City at 18, a choice that changed the course of her life [8:07]

  • Why Ellen chose to leave Mexico City after she had built a successful life for herself there [13:03]

  • What happened when Ellen returned to LA and moved back in with her mom [14:50]

  • How Ellen came up with the idea for Hedley & Bennett when she only had $300 in her savings [20:00]

  • Ellen describes the power of community building to get her brand off the ground in the early days[25:48]

  • Why there is no such thing as an overnight success [26:39]

  • Ellen’s tips for entrepreneurs looking to self-fund their businesses early on [29:49]

  • Ellen discusses how to think about investors & what motivated her to bring on a strategic partner[33:05]

  • How the pandemic has affected Hedley & Bennett and the massive pivot they made [35:08]

  • Hear how Ellen takes care of her mental health and the practices that ground her as a entrepreneur [38:44]

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