In this episode of Emotional Business, host Olga Skipper is joined by Laura Dittscheid — seasoned marketing leader, former CMO, and now the founder of NOOLA, a better-for-you food brand built publicly and intentionally for women navigating low-energy seasons and demanding everyday rhythms.
Laura steps into the conversation at a pivotal moment: the first months of building her own venture after an already successful career, a full family life, and years spent leading and scaling major female-focused D2C brands. Together, Olga and Laura explore what it truly feels like to start something new from a place of maturity, clarity, and lived experience—far beyond theory or youthful trial-and-error.
This episode takes you inside the emotional, strategic, and deeply personal layers of stepping into entrepreneurship: leaving a senior role, confronting unexpected realities, and managing the internal dialogues that shape every major transition.
In this episode, we explore:
- Stepping Away from the CMO Identity — what it takes to detach from a high-status role and start fresh
- Redefining the Terms of the Journey — setting boundaries, expectations, and non-negotiables in a new chapter
- The Shift from Strategist to Executor — the shock of doing everything yourself after years of leading teams
- When Your Network Helps—and When It Overwhelms — managing advice, opinions, and the noise of well-meaning supporters
- The Complex Reality of Finding a Co-Founder — from mapping competencies to dealing with misaligned readiness
- Navigating the Comparison Trap — why comparison surfaced so strongly and how Laura is learning to regulate it
Together, Olga and Laura move beyond the glossy narratives of entrepreneurship and dive into the real tension, honesty, and inner negotiations that shape a founder’s earliest months.
This episode is for seasoned professionals or executives considering a shift into entrepreneurship – especially later in their careers. It will resonate deeply with anyone battling comparison, external pressure, or the emotional weight of building something meaningful from the ground up. Founders wrestling with the search for the right co-founder will find this conversation particularly grounding.
So get comfortable and enjoy this rich, resonant, and insightful conversation.
Don’t forget to subscribe and share this episode with a fellow entrepreneur!
CHAPTERS
00:00 — Introduction to Emotional Business
00:19 — Meet Laura Dige: From CMO to Entrepreneur
00:59 — The Journey of Transition
06:18 — Challenges and Realizations
14:43 — Finding Balance and Overcoming Obstacles
27:27 — The Search for a Co-Founder
Connect with Olga:
Instagram: Olga Skipper
LinkedIn: Olga Skipper
Website: www.olgaskipper.com
Connect with Laura:
LinkedIn: Laura Dittschield
