What happens after you achieve the dream of scaling and selling your business? In this episode of Women's Million Dollar Conversations, Alice Tang sits down with Ana Chaud, the visionary founder behind Garden Bar. Ana shares the raw, behind-the-scenes story of building a beloved brand from scratch, reaching the million-dollar mark, and the eventual global acquisition of her company.

Ana discusses the "Identity Crisis" that many founders face after an exit and explains why she pivoted into coaching to help other entrepreneurs navigate the same emotional terrain. If you are currently in the trenches of scaling or preparing for a transition, Ana's insights on the "Foundational Five" and the importance of self-leadership are a must-watch.

In this episode, you'll learn:
-The strategic steps Ana took to scale Garden Bar to multiple locations.
-How to manage the intense pressure of a high-growth hospitality brand.
-Why Ana views the "exit" as the beginning of a new self-discovery journey.
-Practical tips for founders to protect their mental health during rapid expansion.

Key Moments:

00:48 – Background: The inspiration behind the Garden Bar concept.

02:42 – The Value of Money: Moving from a survival mindset to creative freedom.

05:15 – Reaching $1M: The specific shift from "Owner-Operator" to "CEO."

08:20 – The Scaling Challenge: Navigating the "Messy Middle" of multiple locations.

13:45 – The Exit: Preparing the business to be sold to a global brand.

16:10 – Advice: The importance of self-leadership during rapid growth.