From Donuts to Dynasties

From Donuts to Dynasties

In this episode, I sit down with Celine Bacani: Filipino Canadian entrepreneur, co-owner of Lee’s Donuts in Vancouver, and co-founder of YVT Real Estate Group. We dive deep into her journey of taking over a legacy brand, building a franchise system, and leading with a people-first, community-focused approach. Celine shares the challenges of scaling a business, navigating franchising, and staying true to her values while honoring a brand’s history. We also explore what it means to be a female leader in male-dominated industries like franchising and real estate, the lessons she’s learned from mentorship and experience, and the importance of slowing down to perfect systems before growth. If you have a fellow female founder in your life, please send this episode their way.  Connect with Celine: Instagram: @celinebacaniyvr [https://www.instagram.com/celinebacaniyvr/?hl=en] @leesdonuts.ca [https://www.instagram.com/leesdonuts.ca/?hl=en] @yvtrealestategroup [https://www.instagram.com/yvtrealestategroup/?hl=en] LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/celine-bacani-182a265a/] Links: Hey Bestie, Sign Up for Our Found-Her Newsletter! [https://found-her.ca/newsletter-sign-up] Website: https://found-her.ca [https://found-her.ca/] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kimberley.hiebert [https://www.instagram.com/kimberley.hiebert] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimberleyhiebert [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimberleyhiebert/] Door Gurus: https://doorgurusfranchise.com [https://doorgurusfranchise.com/]

Cancer, COVID, and a Pet Food Store: My Messy Middle Business Story

We love talking about our wins, but what about our failures? Today on Found-Her, I shine a light on one of the lowest points of my entrepreneurial journey: experiencing a failed business. I share what it was like running a pet boutique with my family while navigating the pandemic and my cancer diagnosis. Through all the loss, challenges, and overwhelm, I can now reflect on the lessons that shaped our growth as a family and as founders. This episode is about keeping things real, reframing failure, and using setbacks as the catalyst for bigger opportunities. Your next breakthrough could be around the corner. Don’t give up. If this one landed for you, connect with me over on instagram @kimberley.hiebert [https://www.instagram.com/kimberley.hiebert/] and tell me what you’re currently building. Links: Hey Bestie, Sign Up for Our Found-Her Newsletter! [https://found-her.ca/newsletter-sign-up] Website: https://found-her.ca [https://found-her.ca/] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kimberley.hiebert [https://www.instagram.com/kimberley.hiebert] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimberleyhiebert [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimberleyhiebert/] Door Gurus: https://doorgurusfranchise.com [https://doorgurusfranchise.com/]

Perfect is Not a Standard

I almost didn’t release this episode because, no matter how many times I hit record and started over, it still didn’t feel “perfect”. This moment led me into a deeper reflection on the middle ground that sits between perfection and sloppiness, and why most of us confuse perfectionism with excellence.  Drawing on my experience building a franchise system, I share the lesson it’s taken me a long time to learn: excellence is something we practice, not something we perfect and the fear of being judged for failing or acting sloppy should never hold you back from taking action on your dreams and goals. Your self-worth and value aren’t tied to how your work is received, but it is your responsibility to learn from your messy moments, act with integrity, and adapt to feedback. If this conversation landed with you, please leave a like and review. I’ll see you next time.  Links: Hey Bestie, Sign Up for Our Found-Her Newsletter! [https://found-her.ca/newsletter-sign-up] Website: https://found-her.ca [https://found-her.ca/] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kimberley.hiebert [https://www.instagram.com/kimberley.hiebert] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimberleyhiebert [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimberleyhiebert/] Door Gurus: https://doorgurusfranchise.com [https://doorgurusfranchise.com/]

From Survival Mode to Open Heart: Amanda Joy on Body-Based Trauma Recovery

Trigger warning: This episode contains discussion of sudden loss and the trauma that followed. Please take care while listening. In today’s episode of Found-HER, I sit down with Amanda Joy for a conversation that goes far beyond business and into the kind of deep, body-led healing most founders don’t realize they need. Amanda is a trauma-informed, body-based healing practitioner who blends somatics, breathwork, and lived experience to guide women out of survival mode and back into themselves.  After experiencing a life-altering tragedy, she began a journey of healing that transformed not only how she lives, but how she holds space for others. Together, we unpack what it really means to carry trauma in the body, why high-performing women often avoid the very work that would set them free, and how the “messy middle” of entrepreneurship is often a mirror for the deeper healing we’ve yet to face. If you’ve ever found yourself wondering why success still feels heavy, this episode will meet you exactly where you are. Please leave a review to support the show and connect with me on Instagram @kimberley.hiebert [https://www.instagram.com/kimberley.hiebert/], because I’d love to hear what this conversation unlocked for you. Connect with Amanda: Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/amanda.joy.77/] Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/amandajoyspiritualhealing/] Links: Hey Bestie, Sign Up for Our Found-Her Newsletter! [https://found-her.ca/newsletter-sign-up] Website: https://found-her.ca [https://found-her.ca/] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kimberley.hiebert [https://www.instagram.com/kimberley.hiebert] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimberleyhiebert [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimberleyhiebert/] Door Gurus: https://doorgurusfranchise.com [https://doorgurusfranchise.com/]

From "I'm Just Mom" to CEO

What do you do when life forces you to leave behind the identity you’ve built yourself on? Today on Found-HER, I talk to Katie Eberman, mother of three and the founder of Simply By Katie, a web design studio for women-led businesses ready to elevate their online presence and step into their fullest potential. Katie shares her journey from corporate life to seven years as a stay-at-home mom, and then into the unexpected reality of becoming a single mom and choosing to go all-in as an entrepreneur.  We talk about identity loss, self-worth, and what it actually looks like to rediscover yourself when your only option is to move forward. We also talk about the importance of visibility and storytelling, and why your website should feel like a home, not just a tool. If you’re a mom wondering if you can embody more than your current role, you’re going to love this episode. Please share this conversation with a fellow mom and subscribe to the podcast for more inspiring female founder stories.  Connect with Katie: Website [https://www.simplybykatie.com/] Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/simply_by_katie/] Links: Hey Bestie, Sign Up for Our Found-Her Newsletter! [https://found-her.ca/newsletter-sign-up] Website: https://found-her.ca [https://found-her.ca/] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kimberley.hiebert [https://www.instagram.com/kimberley.hiebert] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimberleyhiebert [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimberleyhiebert/] Door Gurus: https://doorgurusfranchise.com [https://doorgurusfranchise.com/]