What happens when a biomedical engineer combines her love of science, technology, and skincare to build a business of her own?

Meet Ammarah, founder of SkinSteps, a personalized Korean skincare business making it easier for women to understand their skin, find the right products, and build routines that actually work for them.

In this episode, Gabby sits down with Ammarah to talk about the journey behind SkinSteps, from her background in biomedical engineering and completing her MBA to taking the leap into entrepreneurship.

But this conversation goes far beyond beauty products.

Ammarah shares how her personal skincare journey inspired her business, why she believes customers should come before products, and how SkinSteps uses AI-powered skin analysis to help customers better understand their individual skin needs.

We also get into the realities of building a business, the importance of community, and what happens when you finally decide to trust yourself.

• From engineering to entrepreneurship: How Ammarah turned her biomedical engineering background and MBA into a business of her own.

• The SkinSteps difference: How AI-powered skin analysis helps customers identify their skin types and better understand their skincare needs.

• Stop guessing with your skincare: Why understanding your skin should come before buying another product.

• Korean skincare decoded: What makes Korean skincare unique, including its science, ingredients, and layering techniques.

• Building a customer-first business: Why Ammarah prioritizes helping customers find solutions instead of simply selling products.

• Starting a skincare routine: Where to begin if you feel overwhelmed by products, ingredients, and conflicting advice.

• The power of community: How local creatives, NARA Collective, and business support have helped Ammarah grow SkinSteps.

• Trusting yourself: Ammarah's advice to her younger self about confidence, identity, and believing in your own decisions.

Ammarah is the founder of SkinSteps, a personalized Korean skincare business combining science, technology, and a customer-first approach to beauty.

With a background in biomedical engineering and an MBA, Ammarah brings a unique perspective to the skincare industry. Her mission is to help people better understand their skin and feel confident choosing products that meet their individual needs.

Rather than overwhelming customers with endless product recommendations, SkinSteps focuses on education, personalization, and building skincare routines with intention.

Website: https://skinstep.online

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skinstepsofficial/?hl=en

Take the first step toward understanding your skin and finding a routine that works for you.

You don't need to have everything figured out before you start. Sometimes the next step is simply trusting yourself enough to take the first one.

This is No Plan B. We're here for the women building businesses, creating opportunities, and deciding that their ideas deserve a seat at the table.

Listen, learn, connect, and remember: there's always a way forward when you decide there is no Plan B.

In this episode, Gabriella sits down with Vidhi Shastri, holistic physical therapist and founder of Retrain Physical Therapy, to unpack what burnout really looks like — and why so many women are experiencing it on repeat.

Vidhi shares her personal journey through burnout while working in a corporate physical therapy environment during the COVID-19 pandemic, and how that breaking point led her to a deeper, body-led approach to healing. Through holistic practices, craniosacral therapy, and somatic work, she learned how to stop overriding her body and start listening to it instead.

Together, Gabriella and Vidhi explore why burnout is often normalized for women, how societal pressure disconnects us from our bodies, and why healing is rarely linear. Vidhi also shares how she supports mothers and babies through workshops designed to help them reconnect with their bodies after childbirth.

If this conversation resonated, you can learn more about Vidhi’s work and upcoming offerings at https://www.retrainphysicaltherapy.net/, connect with her on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/retrainptandwellness/, or reach out directly via email at vidhi@retrainphysicaltherapy.net .

This episode is an invitation to slow down, build internal resources, and trust that your body already knows the way.

In this episode of There Is No Plan B, Gabby sits down with marketing consultant and strategist Sarah Gemmell to give you a straight-up State of the Union for 2026 marketing.

If you’ve been hustling—posting on Instagram, networking, sending emails—but your revenue still feels like a rollercoaster (“I’m a bad bitch” one month, “Should I get a job?” the next 👀), this conversation is your reset button.

Sarah breaks down why the marketing you did in 2020–2022 doesn’t work the same anymore, how buyer behavior has changed, and why “just be consistent and provide value” is not a marketing plan in 2026. Instead, she walks you through how to think like a Chief Marketing Officer in your own business: looking at data, understanding buying behavior, and treating your marketing like a full ecosystem—not a random collection of posts.

• Why 2026 is a turning point for small business marketing (and why emotional FOMO-only marketing is dead)

• The difference between habitual marketing (“I just post on IG because I always have”) vs. intentional, data-driven marketing

• How to treat your business like it has a real marketing department, even if you’re a one-woman show

• Why relying only on Instagram, word of mouth, or one platform is putting your business at risk

• The three big questions:

  • Where are you getting visible?

  • How are you nurturing people?

  • How are you converting them?

• Why you should bootstrap manually at first (conversations, local networking, testing channels) before trying to automate everything

• How to decide which platforms to go all in on based on your strengths and your audience’s behavior—not what a guru says

• The real talk on courses, plug-and-play frameworks, and cookie-cutter strategies (and how to use them without handing over your power)

• Why most service providers don’t need thousands of buyers—just a few more right-fit clients per month

• Sarah’s biggest advice from “future you” in 2026: stay the course and give your strategy time to work

• Service-based entrepreneurs and solopreneurs who’ve been in the game for a bit and have proof of concept, but inconsistent sales

• Founders who feel like they’re doing “all the things” and still can’t predict their revenue

• Anyone who’s ready to stop chasing trends and start acting like the CMO of their own business

• Instagram: @sarahgemmell_

• Website: sarahjeanco.com
  Slide into her DMs or submit a contact form for a free clarity call to audit your marketing ecosystem and map out your next moves for 2026.

In this episode of There Is No Plan B, Gabriella Borrero sits down with Neli Rodriguez, founder of Embellished Ribbon.

During her postpartum depression, Neli found herself struggling quietly, doing what so many women do: holding it together on the outside while unraveling on the inside. Candle making became her outlet — a grounding ritual, a way to calm her nervous system, and a space where she could finally breathe.

Those moments turned into something bigger. Each Embellished Ribbon candle is hand-poured and paired with affirmations pulled straight from Nellie’s personal journals — words she wrote for herself before she ever imagined sharing them with the world.

This conversation is about healing out loud, building something meaningful without having it all figured out, and how community, collaboration, and courage can turn your hardest seasons into your most impactful work.

If you’re a woman who’s ever thought “I should be further along by now” — this one’s for you.

• Some of the best businesses are born in survival mode

• Healing doesn’t always look like therapy — sometimes it looks like creating

• Affirmations can regulate your nervous system when words feel hard

• You don’t need a perfect plan to start — just permission

• Motherhood changes you, and your business gets to evolve too

• Community support is non-negotiable for women entrepreneurs

• Collaboration > competition (always)

• Growth happens one small, brave step at a time

• Celebrating yourself matters — especially when no one else is watching

In this episode of There Is No Plan B, Gabriella Borrero sits down with Laura Haraka, founder of Feel to Heal Wellness, for a deeply honest conversation about the mind-body connection and how chronic pain — especially pelvic pain — shows up in women’s lives.

Laura opens up about her own journey navigating chronic pelvic pain, feeling dismissed within the healthcare system, and ultimately learning to listen to what her body was trying to say. Together, Gabriella and Laura explore how stress, emotional suppression, people-pleasing, and societal expectations placed on women can manifest physically in the body.

This episode is a powerful reminder that pain is not “all in your head” — it’s information. Laura shares practical tools for healing, reframing pain responses, and why community, self-advocacy, and self-care aren’t luxuries, but necessities on the healing journey.

If you’ve ever felt disconnected from your body, overwhelmed by stress, or unheard in your health journey, this conversation will meet you exactly where you are.

• The mind-body connection plays a critical role in how pain is experienced and processed

• Chronic pain in women is often linked to stress, emotional suppression, and societal pressure

• Pain can be the body’s response to emotional, mental, and physical overload

• Healing begins when we understand the root cause — not just the symptom

• Women are conditioned to neglect themselves while caring for everyone else

• Honest emotional expression supports physical healing

• Community and shared experiences can accelerate the healing process

• Leaning into moments of safety and positive sensation can help calm pain responses

• Self-criticism and shame can intensify physical symptoms

• Advocacy and self-trust are essential parts of women’s health and wellness

🔑 Key Takeaways

In this episode of There Is No Plan B, Gabriella Borrero sits down with financial coach Devhuti Patel, founder of Devaar & Associates, for an honest and empowering conversation about women, money, and financial independence.

Together, they explore why so many women remain stuck in financial survival mode, how cultural conditioning impacts our relationship with money, and what it actually takes to move from reacting to finances to leading them with intention.

Devhuti breaks down the foundational pillars of financial literacy — earning, spending, saving, and security — while offering practical steps women can take today to gain clarity, build wealth, and protect their future. This episode is a must-listen for any woman ready to stop avoiding her finances and start owning her financial narrative.

• Why financial survival isn’t a long-term plan

• How cultural beliefs shape women’s money habits

• The four pillars of financial literacy every woman needs

• Budgeting without restriction or shame

• Why emergency funds are essential (and how much you need)

• The power of paying yourself first

• How small daily spending habits impact long-term wealth

• Why financial awareness matters regardless of marital status

• Simple steps to regain control of your finances

• How asking for help accelerates financial confidence

00:00 — From survival to strategy
02:47 — Why women fail to plan (and how to change it)
05:40 — Earning, spending & saving fundamentals
08:40 — Emergency funds & financial security
11:32 — Cultural conditioning & money mindset
14:36 — Taking ownership of your finances
17:17 — Practical financial next steps
20:31 — Resources for financial empowerment

• “People don’t plan to fail — they fail to plan.”

• “Choose your discomfort.”

• “Pay yourself first.”

• “Survival isn’t a strategy.”

Devhuti Patel is a licensed financial coach and founder of Devaar & Associates, where she helps women move from financial stress to strategic independence through education, clarity, and accountability.

Women who:

• Feel overwhelmed or anxious about money

• Want financial clarity without judgment

• Are building wealth, not just covering bills

• Want to feel confident and informed about their finances

• Are ready to stop surviving and start planning

In this episode of There Is No Plan B, Gabby sits down with Jay Benjamin, founder of TrimMD Wellness in Morristown, NJ, to unpack what it really looks like to leave a stable corporate career and build a purpose-driven wellness business from scratch.

Jay shares her unconventional journey out of 14 years in supply chain and into opening a full-service wellness storefront, navigating fear, family expectations, imposter syndrome, and the realities of betting on yourself — especially as a woman from an immigrant background.

Together, they dive into the deeper conversation behind women’s health today: burnout, inflammation, weight changes, hormonal shifts, and why so many women are caring for everyone else except themselves. Jay breaks down how TrimMD goes beyond weight loss to offer customized, hands-on support across nutrition, metabolic health, IV therapy, and whole-body wellness.

This episode is a powerful reminder that taking care of yourself isn’t selfish — it’s essential — and that sometimes the boldest move is choosing yourself anyway.

• Jay’s transition from corporate supply chain to entrepreneurship

• Navigating fear, family expectations, and cultural pressure

• Why Morristown was the right (and risky) location for TrimMD

• Imposter syndrome and betting on yourself anyway

• What women are really coming in for at TrimMD

• Inflammation, fatigue, perimenopause, and metabolic health

• Why wellness isn’t one-size-fits-all

• The ripple effect of women prioritizing their health

• Building confidence through personalized care and accountability

• Leading by example for daughters and families

• Expanding TrimMD with IV therapy and telehealth

• Jay’s philosophy: “If not you, then who?”

• Stability doesn’t always equal fulfillment

• Women’s health symptoms are often signals, not silenced nuisances

• Small, consistent changes compound into life-altering outcomes

• You can’t pour from an empty cup — wellness is leadership

• Betting on yourself creates permission for others to do the same

Jay Benjamin is the founder of TrimMD Wellness, a women-forward wellness clinic located in Morristown, New Jersey. TrimMD offers personalized care across weight loss, nutrition planning, metabolic health testing, IV hydration, vitamin therapy, and more — helping women feel better in their bodies and lives at every stage.

📍 TrimMD Wellness
25 Lindsley Drive, Suite 204
Morristown, NJ

🕒 Office Hours:
Open Wednesdays–Saturdays (phone support Monday–Saturday)

• IV Hydration Special: $100 for any IV drip (excluding NAD+)

• Weight Loss Services: 25% off when you mention code GABBY

“Bet on yourself. If not you, then who?”

⏱ Episode Highlights & Talking Points🧠 Key Takeaways for Listeners💼 About the Guest🎁 Podcast Listener Specials📚 Quote to Remember

In this episode, Gabriella Borrero sits down with Deborah Jones, a fractional CFO, entrepreneur, and former corporate leader who transformed a pandemic layoff into the launch of her thriving financial consulting firm called Jones Foston. Together, they break down the truth that most entrepreneurs overlook: if you want your business to grow, you need to know your numbers.

Deborah shares her journey from climbing the corporate ladder to becoming a sought-after consultant for small business owners. She opens up about navigating job loss, building a company rooted in partnership, and developing the financial skills that every entrepreneur needs but is rarely taught.

Listeners will learn how to
• understand the story their finances are telling
• track income and expenses with clarity and consistency
• approach pricing with confidence and strategy
• use financial software to support smarter business decisions
• recognize the difference a fractional CFO can make in long-term growth

Throughout the episode, Deborah reminds us of the mindset required to lead a sustainable business. High expectations, self-advocacy, clear financial goals, and community impact are not optional; they are the backbone of success.

This conversation is a must-listen for service providers, new entrepreneurs, and anyone ready to take control of their financial future. Gabriella and Deborah close the episode with an invitation to step into deeper clarity before the year ends through Deborah’s Year-End Financial Clarity Session.