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13. $140K/Day... But My Life Was Falling Apart! – Sera Cruickshank
Sera Cruickshank’s journey is a testament to resilience, transformation, and entrepreneurial grit. From stepping into a struggling diamond business and turning it into a multi-million dollar brand to navigating personal upheavals, including divorce and unexpected media scrutiny, Sera shares the unfiltered reality of building a powerhouse life. In this episode, she opens up about making bold decisions, trusting her intuition, and redefining success on her own terms.About our guest:Sera Cruickshank is an entrepreneur and CEO known for revitalizing The Diamond Shop, a legacy jewelry brand in New Zealand. With a background in marketing and branding, she transformed the business by pioneering online sales and embracing industry innovations. Beyond business, Sera is a mother, a leader, and an advocate for owning your story—no matter how unconventional it may be.Follow Our Guest:Guest Website: https://thediamondshop.co.nz/Guest Instagram Shop: https://www.instagram.com/thediamondshopFollow Us On:Host Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_powerhouse_alliance/Episode Highlights:00:00 - Episode Trailer02:01 - Sera’s unconventional journey into the diamond industry08:25 - Taking over a business in the middle of a global crisis14:40 - Balancing motherhood and entrepreneurship21:15 - Navigating major life upheavals and trusting intuition32:30 - Public scrutiny, media backlash, and owning your narrative40:15 - Lessons in resilience and personal transformation50:10 - Redefining success and what’s next for Sera
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12. “This Podcast Pulled Me Out Of Depression!”
In this episode of The Powerhouse Diaries, Yaela Raber takes you behind the curated social media feeds and into the raw, unfiltered realities of entrepreneurship.Speaking candidly about her own experience with burnout, executive depression, and the pressure of maintaining the image of success, Yaela shines a light on the darker side of building a business—one that often goes unspoken. This episode is a must-listen for ambitious female founders, entrepreneurs, and leaders who are tired of the unrealistic narratives and craving honest conversations about what it really takes to thrive.Yaela shares her journey of rediscovering her worth beyond business success, breaking free from the societal conditioning that ties identity to achievement. She opens up about the messy middle of entrepreneurship and why embracing authenticity is the key to sustainable leadership.If you’ve ever found yourself questioning your worth, feeling alone in your struggles, or searching for the permission to lead in your own way—this conversation will meet you exactly where you are. Walk away with powerful insights on redefining success, reconnecting to your vision, and leading from a place of integrity and inner knowing.Follow Us On:Host Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_powerhouse_alliance/Episode Highlights:00:00 - Episode Trailer01:12 - Why This Solo Episode Matters03:40 - The Burnout That Changed Everything06:18 - Executive Depression & Feeling Numb09:29 - The Impact of Curated Success Stories12:03 - Why We Need More Authentic Female Leadership15:44 - Reclaiming Your Power as a Female Founder18:12 - Letting Go of External Validation21:40 - Your Worth Is Not Tied to Your Business24:33 - The Truth About Success in Entrepreneurship27:18 - Redefining Success on Your Own Terms30:05 - What’s Coming Next for The Powerhouse Diaries
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11.”Three Hours Into Giving Birth I Was Emailing My Clients!” - Gaelle Thieme
Gaelle takes us behind the scenes of creating her waterless beauty brand, Dust&Glow, sharing the challenges of crafting a product that not only works but aligns with her core values—eliminating water, plastic, and harmful ingredients. She opens up about the hurdles of finding like-minded manufacturers and staying true to her mission amidst skepticism and setbacks. Gaelle also discusses the urgent need for innovation in the beauty industry, particularly around packaging and sustainability, and stresses the importance of self-care to drive meaningful change. As the conversation wraps, Gaëlle reflects on the legacy she hopes to leave—one built on positive impact and resilience.About our guest:Gaelle Thieme is a Senior Marketing Consultant based in Auckland, with over 13 years of experience in FMCG and beauty industries across New Zealand, France, and the USA. She has a proven track record of driving brand growth and delivering strategic and tactical projects for both corporate and SME environments. Gaelle is passionate about innovation, with a strong background in product development, spanning industries such as FMCG, beauty, natural skincare, and food. Her unique ability to see the big picture while being hands-on in managing complex projects and teams has been a key to her success. Gaelle specializes in product development, category innovation, consumer and market insights, brand strategy, and project management. Currently, she is focused on her own start-up, Dust&Glow, a waterless beauty brand, and is not taking on new work in the beauty industry.Follow Our Guest:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gaelle-thieme/Follow Us On:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_powerhouse_alliance/Episode Highlights:00:00 - Episode Trailer02:47 - Beauty with a conscience04:41 - 80% water in shampoo06:14 - "Who have I become?" moment13:37 - When vision meets rejection16:30 - To create the product is easy, support isn’t20:16 - Rewiring my “more, more, more” mindset25:42 - Empty cup, no vision clarity28:23 - Legacy? More about no regrets31:56 - Plastic? Never an option34:22 - The hard part? Unlearning it all37:21 - Can't please everyone, that’s fine43:30 - Advice for Women Trying to Make an Impact
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10. “How I am Revolutionizing Beauty with Natural Makeup That Slows Aging!”- Emma Peters
In this episode, I hang out with Emma Peters, the powerhouse behind Aleph Beauty, and we get into all the juicy bits of her journey. She spills the tea on a brutal moment when her mentor told her to "put a bullet in it" with her online store—which, let's be real, stung—but it ended up being the kick she needed to find her true passion. We dive into how pregnancy turned her into a label-reading ninja, and why she decided to create makeup that’s as good for the planet as it is for your skin. Emma’s got stories about battling the beauty industry's dirty little secrets and why her brand is all about high performance without the guilt. Trust me, you don’t want to miss this one!About our guest:Emma Peters is the founder of Aleph Beauty, a New Zealand-made natural makeup brand born from her passion for health-conscious, sustainable beauty. As a professional makeup artist, Emma became increasingly aware of the potentially harmful ingredients in mainstream products. Frustrated by the lack of options that combined high performance with clean, vegan, cruelty-free formulas and sustainable packaging, she set out to create her own solution. Aleph Beauty embodies Emma’s vision of a minimalist, multi-functional makeup range that enhances natural beauty while prioritizing the health of people, the planet, and its animals.Follow Our Guest:Website: https://alephbeauty.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aleph.beauty/Facebook: https://web.facebook.com/alephbeautyFollow Us On:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_powerhouse_alliance/Episode Highlights:00:00 - Episode Trailer05:55 - Pregnant, needed an extractor fan09:25 - Found NZSCC, met key people14:25 - Retail store to Aleph21:30 - Seasons of life and business25:15 - Mistakes are just detours27:43 - When everything crumbles29:15 - What matters is right here33:25 - Organic products in plastic? No!37:09 - People say, "You look rested!39:40 - Mitochondria = cell powerhouse42:34 - Stay on track, pivot when needed45:11 - Focus on creativity, not contraction47:03 - Biggest mess-up moment
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09. Building A Charity, Battling My Self Worth and Impacting Women -Anna Paterson
Anna Paterson, founder of Everlasting, shares her emotional journey of building a nonprofit that empowers women through affordable clothing and styling services. From starting in her garage to managing a growing organization, Anna reflects on the challenges of entrepreneurship, including learning how to lead a team and managing the weight of societal expectations. She talks openly about the moments of self-doubt, the mental toll of running a charity, and how important it is to take care of yourself in the process. This episode is a heartfelt exploration of self-worth, resilience, and the power of clothing to transform lives—reminding us all that success is about more than just achieving goals; it’s about how we grow through the journey.About our guest:Anna Paterson is the Founder and CEO of Everlasting, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to helping women feel confident and empowered through their clothing. As a wife, mother, daughter, sister, and friend, Anna has spent years discovering her own worth and is now passionate about helping other women do the same. With over nine years of experience in the styling industry, she founded Everlasting with the vision of creating a space where women can feel fabulous in their clothes. All profits after costs are donated to related charities or reinvested into the organization to support its mission.Follow Our Guest:Website: https://shop.everlasting.org.nz/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/everlasting_recyclingwithlove/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/everlastingnzFollow Us On:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_powerhouse_alliance/Episode Highlights:00:00 - Episode Trailer04:35 - Clothes give you power06:13 - Put on your alter ego10:16 - The guilt of donating: Is it really making a difference?13:01 - Different visions, business vs. charity15:54 - Giving back: clothing for women in need20:49 - Kids' needs first, my own last24:30 - Husband holds down the fort financially28:48 - Feeling like a butcher, baker, candlestick maker36:37 - Change approved: Brutiful is now a thing!39:34 - Someone tests my boundaries when I need a break42:38 - I’ve cried more since running this charity49:33 - We carry the heart of everlasting51:41 - Your legacy is how you make people feel
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