In this powerful episode, Lizzy Savetsky shares her remarkable journey from fashion influencer to one of the most prominent Jewish activists on social media. Lizzy opens up about the pivotal moments that shaped her path—from growing up in Fort Worth, Texas with dreams of being a singer, to building a successful fashion blogging career, to making the courageous decision to pivot to full-time Jewish advocacy in 2021. She discusses the personal and professional sacrifices she made, including being dropped by her management company, receiving death threats, and hitting rock bottom with alcoholism before finding sobriety. Lizzy's story is one of authenticity, resilience, and the power of living your truth out loud, even when it costs you everything.

• [1:22] Growing up in Fort Worth, Texas and early performing dreams
• [5:40] Meeting her husband and the journey to Orthodox Judaism
• [9:37] The decision to study in Israel at Neve Seminary
• [20:00] Breaking into fashion PR and starting her blog
• [27:50] Discovering Instagram and building a following
• [39:20] The turning point: May 2021 and pivoting to Jewish advocacy
• [53:00] Getting dropped by management and facing death threats
• [59:00] The importance of authenticity vs. performing your life
• [62:30] Hitting rock bottom with alcoholism and finding sobriety
• [66:45] Rumors of "Lizzy for Mayor" and potential political future
• [70:15] Fast Five: Biggest mistakes, sacrifices, and superpowers
• [70:00] Final message: Invest in yourself and find your purpose

Lizzy Savetsky is a Jewish activist, digital advocate, and social media influencer known for her unapologetic defense of Israel and the Jewish people. With a background in fashion PR and blogging, Lizzy made headlines when she pivoted from fashion content to full-time advocacy work in 2021, following attacks on Israel. Despite facing death threats and losing lucrative brand partnerships, she has built a powerful platform speaking at rallies, delivering speeches nationwide, and mobilizing the Jewish community online. A mother of four and wife to a plastic surgeon Ira Savetsky.

This episode is sponsored by Roth & Co innovators in accounting and business advisory. To learn more visit https://rothcocpa.com/

In this episode of Inspire to Lead, host Talia Mashiach sits down with Chayale Kaufman, founder of the Jewish Content Network and Consult Write Media. Chayale shares her remarkable journey from her early days in print media to becoming a trailblazer in digital marketing and nonprofit strategy. Discover how she built two thriving companies, the sacrifices and grit required for true success, and the unique challenges and triumphs of women in leadership.

• 01:30 – Chayale's Early Career and Founding Her Companies
• 06:00 – What Makes Consult Right Media Unique
• 10:00 – The Power of Personal Branding
• 14:00 – Marketing Strategies for Businesses and Nonprofits
• 20:00 – Lessons from 15 Years in Print and Digital Media
• 25:00 – The Role of Grit and Sacrifice in Success
• 30:00 – Women, Leadership, and the Value of Mentorship
• 36:00 – Navigating Partnerships and Financial Confidence
• 42:00 – The Impact of AI on Marketing
• 48:00 – Balancing Family, Business, and Personal Growth
• 54:00 – Overcoming Guilt and Embracing Support
• 1:00:00 – Chayale's Superpower: Tenacity and Moving Forward
• 1:05:00 – Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs
• 1:10:00 – Final Reflections and Takeaways

Guest Description:
Chayale Kaufman is the founder and CEO of the Jewish Content Network and Consult Write Media, two innovative agencies specializing in digital and print marketing, PR, and strategic communications for businesses and nonprofits. With over 15 years of experience in the industry, Chayale is recognized for her expertise in campaign strategy, branding, and her deep commitment to helping organizations amplify their impact. She is a passionate leader, mentor, and advocate for women in business, known for her authenticity, creativity, and relentless drive to make a difference in the Jewish community and beyond.

In this episode, Melissa Bernstein shares her remarkable journey from a creative, "unsettled" child to the co-founder of Melissa & Doug. She opens up about channeling her internal chaos into creativity, the early struggles and scrappy beginnings of the company, and the mission-driven philosophy that guided their growth. Melissa discusses the challenges of entrepreneurship, the importance of resilience, and the lessons learned from both setbacks and successes from building a business from her basement to selling the company for over a billion dollars. She also talks about balancing business and family, working with her husband, and her new venture, Lifelines, which focuses on well-being and helping others find meaning. Melissa's story is a testament to the power of creativity, grit, and staying true to one's mission.

Timestamps

• 03:45 – Channeling chaos into creativity: the start of Melissa & Doug
• 08:30 – Melissa's upbringing and search for meaning
• 13:00 – Quitting corporate jobs and the fateful weekend
• 16:30 – Early mission and building a company from scratch
• 22:00 – First product, "fuzzy puzzle," and manufacturing challenges
• 27:00 – Getting burned by a factory agent
• 32:00 – Serendipity, resilience, and finding the right factory
• 36:00 – Building the business from their home
• 41:00 – Balancing family, business, and self-funding
• 48:00 – Sales, rejection, and learning to overcome objections
• 55:00 – Expanding categories: puzzles, wooden toys, plush, costumes
• 1:05:00 – Entering mass market and the Amazon story
• 1:15:00 – Taking on investors and the eventual sale
• 1:25:00 – Leaving the company, starting Lifelines, and finding new meaning
• 1:33:00 – Advice for entrepreneurs, women, and parents
• 1:38:00 – Melissa's book and mentoring the next generation
• 1:45:00 – Final thoughts: creativity, meaning, and living authentically

Guest Description
Melissa Bernstein is the co-founder of Melissa & Doug, one of the world's leading toy companies, and a passionate entrepreneur, creator, and advocate for mental health and authentic living. Over 35 years, Melissa and her husband Doug built their company from scratch, focusing on sparking children's imaginations with high-quality, open-ended toys. After selling the company for over a billion dollars, Melissa launched Lifelines, a new venture dedicated to well-being tools for adults, and authored the book "The Heart of Entrepreneurship." Her journey is marked by creativity, resilience, and a mission-driven approach to business and life.