What happens when you earn two degrees, land a good tech job, and realize that the life you worked so hard for isn't the life you want?

For Gabrielle Brandt, founder of TRAKK, the answer was unexpected: leave her software job after just four months and build a merino wool trail sock brand from Edmonton, Alberta.

In this episode of FoundersOutlook, Gabrielle shares the honest story behind her entrepreneurial journey, from studying biology and computer science to launching a business inspired by the outdoors. And there's one more twist: her orange tabby cat, Jack, has become the company's unofficial Chief Adventure Officer.

We get into the realities of starting a business, taking risks, finding your own path, and building a brand when you're still figuring things out.

IN THIS EPISODE, WE DISCUSS:

→ Why Gabrielle left her tech job after four months
→ What two university degrees taught her about career choices
→ Why she decided to start a merino wool trail sock business
→ The story behind TRAKK and its Elk Island, Rock, and Northern Lights sock designs
→ What it's really like building a business in the early stages
→ How she got TRAKK products into Edmonton outdoor retailer Track 'N Trail
→ How to compete with established brands as a new founder
→ Whether university was worth it and what she would do differently
→ How Gabrielle is building her personal brand in public
→ Why Jack the cat might be the company's best marketer

MEET GABRIELLE BRANDT

Gabrielle is the founder of TRAKK, an Edmonton-based outdoor sock brand with the tagline "Land On Your Feet." Her journey is a reminder that your career doesn't have to follow a straight line, and your education doesn't have to determine your future.

Follow Gabrielle:
Instagram: @gab.builds
TRAKK: @trakkbyjack
LinkedIn: Gabrielle Brandt

ABOUT FOUNDERSOUTLOOK

FoundersOutlook shares the stories behind the businesses, the decisions, the risks, and the lessons that rarely make it into the highlight reel.

Through founder interviews and practical conversations, we help entrepreneurs learn from one another, build visibility, and grow with intention.

Subscribe for more founder stories, entrepreneurship lessons, small business insights, and honest conversations about building something of your own.

Every founder has a story. We're here for yours.

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In this episode, Courtney Kosack discusses how she went from being a girl from a small town to winning awards.

How do you build a clean beauty brand before clean beauty even exists?

Michelle Doan, founder of Emani Vegan Cosmetics, did it in 1998, after escaping Vietnam by boat, rebuilding her life in North America and turning her own battle with cystic acne into skincare for sensitive skin.

On this episode of FoundersOutlook, host Juliet Ochu sits down with Michelle to talk about starting a beauty brand from scratch as a single mom. They cover a major retail launch right before the 2007 financial crisis, a 60% sales drop during COVID, and how she kept adapting as her customers changed.

Michelle also breaks down her "3 P's" for evaluating skincare: potency, penetration and proven results. She talks openly about immigration, identity, being underestimated, and what 25+ years as a beauty entrepreneur taught her about resilience.If you're a founder, a skincare entrepreneur, or someone turning a personal struggle into a business, this immigrant founder story is for you.

CHAPTERS00:00 - Michelle’s story: from Vietnam to building a beauty brand

02:10 - Escaping Vietnam by boat and seeking refuge

04:06 - Rebuilding in Canada and moving to California

05:01 - Cystic acne and years of searching for a solution

08:01 - Learning about ingredients and the roots of Emani

09:40 - When a personal frustration became a business

10:37 - Building a niche brand without outside funding

11:07 - How motherhood and menopause shaped the brand

15:53 - Starting as a single mom and building from her kitchen

16:25 - Launching in Macy’s before the financial crisis

17:23 - COVID’s impact and the decision to pivot

18:21 - Shifting focus toward skincare

20:08 - Why founders need to adapt to change

21:20 - Immigration, belonging, and feeling like an outsider

23:13 - Turning rejection into conviction

24:34 - Emani’s expansion into Nigeria

26:34 - Hyperpigmentation and developing products for different skin tones

27:03 - A simpler approach to skincare and Korean technology

28:31 - How ingredient-processing technology supports the formulas

29:50 - Where to find Emani products

31:35 - Self-awareness, family, and the cost of living in fight-or-flight mode

33:01 - Self-love, forgiveness, and letting go

34:56 - Michelle’s three P’s for evaluating skincare🔗 LINKSEmani Vegan Cosmetics: https://emani.comFoundersOutlook: https://foundersoutlook.com

Be a guest: https://form.jotform.com/foundersoutlook/podguest-form👉

Subscribe for more real founder stories, with no highlight reels.💬 Comment below: What personal challenge could you turn into a business?

Every founder has a story. We're here for yours.

#FoundersOutlook #CleanBeauty #VisibilityIsPower