93. Staying Close to the Problem: Lessons for Business and Impact from Purpose-Driven Founder Neli Kools

About this episode

Neli Kools discusses her non-linear career path and the challenges of launching a women-led product in a taboo category.

A non-linear career can feel confusing while you’re living it, yet it often becomes the foundation for the most grounded leadership. Global entrepreneur Neli Kools shares how her journey—from architecture and urban planning, to studying music business in the US, to running a digital marketing agency—ultimately led her to co-found Intimate Queen, a plant-based wellness lingerie brand built to challenge a long-normalised question: why is discomfort “just part of being a woman”? This conversation explores the unfiltered reality of launching a women-led product in a taboo category, what it takes to move from idea to innovation through research and testing, and why authenticity, intuition, and staying close to the problem are often the real drivers of sustainable growth. About Our Guest: Neli Kools is a global entrepreneur and co-founder of Intimate Queen , a plant-based wellness lingerie brand focused on women’s comfort, confidence, and intimate skin wellbeing. With more than 14 years’ experience in digital marketing and brand building, Neli brings a rare blend of creative strategy and product innovation to mission-driven entrepreneurship. Her non-linear pathway spans architecture…

People in this episode

Host: Humanitarian Changemakers Network

Guest: Neli Kools

Topics covered

• entrepreneurship
• women's health
• sustainable growth
• product innovation
• digital marketing

Keywords

• Neli Kools
• Intimate Queen
• women-led brand
• plant-based wellness
• digital marketing

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Intimate Queen

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