S5. Ep. 325 How Zibby Owens Built a Values-Driven Media Company by Trusting Her Instincts | A Female Founder Story
Join us for the FREE Dear FoundHer… Forum Open House + Networking (virtual) Event on January 28th. RSVP HERE we won’t host another Open House until later this spring.
A personal turning point became a company, a community, and a test of what values-driven leadership actually costs.
Lindsay Pinchuk sits down with Zibby Owens to talk about how a deeply personal reset evolved into a media company built on instinct, trust, and conviction. Zibby shares how her work as a podcaster grew from meaningful conversations with authors into live events, publishing, and a broader community shaped by paying close attention to what resonated. How do you keep building when there is no clear roadmap and the business keeps changing?
Zibby shares how she makes decisions inside a business that refuses to stay static. She explains how creating an umbrella brand helped her clarify who the company exists for and what truly belongs, even when that meant letting go of projects she loved. Structure arrived when it was necessary, not because she chased scale, but because the work demanded it.
Zibby also talks about the cost of showing up publicly with conviction after October 7th. She reflects on backlash, strained relationships, and the emotional weight of choosing to speak openly. That choice led her to step more fully into her role as an advocate, using Zibby Media to create an anthology that gathered stories and offered connection during a moment of crisis.
This episode shows listeners what it really takes to grow a business without a script, hold firm to your values, and keep showing up when the stakes are personal as well as professional.
Episode Breakdown:
00:00 Leadership, Visibility, And Responsibility After October 7th
02:22 Building Zibby Media Without A Traditional Business Plan
06:01 Becoming A Podcaster And Turning Conversations Into Community
08:16 Expanding From Podcast To Publishing Company And Bookstore
13:55 Rebranding To Zibby Media And Creating An Umbrella Brand
18:31 How To Know When A Business Idea Is Not Working
22:46 The Cost Of Speaking Publicly And Staying Authentic
26:45 National Book Awards Decision And Defining Values In Business
29:05 Creating An Anthology And Stepping Into Advocacy
34:39 The Hard Realities Of Growth: Hiring, Events, And Monetization
40:58 Advice For Women Building A Business
Connect with Zibby Owens:
Follow Zibby Publishing on Instagram
Follow Zibby’s Bookshop on Instagram
Follow Totally Booked with Zibby on Instagram
Join us for the Dear FoundHer... Forum Virtual Open House + Networking Event on January 28th to meet other amazing women business owners just like you. RSVP HERE to save yourself a seat, it's free.
