A Founder's Life

The Truth About Balance, Career Pivots & Leadership - Alison Weick - S5 - E2

Leo Gestetner Season 5 Episode 2

This episode of A Founder’s Life is brought to you by Thankz — helping founders scale with reliable remote talent. Get $1,000 off your first month by emailing founders@thankz.com with the subject line Founder’s Life.

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👤 Connect with Today’s Guest – Alison Weick
•LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aweick/
•Instagram: @Alison_Weick
•Company: https://www.jewlr.com/

What happens when a corporate strategist jumps into early-stage chaos and discovers that passion and ownership matter more than titles?

In this episode, Alison Weick, CEO of Jewlr, shares her nonlinear journey — from finance and consulting, to Weight Watchers and Barnes & Noble, to running a public company through Chapter 11, and now leading a full turnaround of a global DTC brand.

She opens up about reinventing her career, running a Toronto-based business while living in NYC, raising two boys, staying healthy on the road, and why she believes in blending work and life instead of chasing balance.

A must-listen for anyone navigating reinvention, growth-stage leadership, or the messy middle of work + family.

What you’ll learn:

• Passion > profit

• How to transition from corporate to startups

• Lessons from Chapter 11

• Leading manufacturing for the first time

• Her “blend, don’t box” philosophy on balance


👉 Subscribe for more founder stories, real lessons, and honest conversations about growth, family, and meaning.

⏱️ Timestamps

0:00 – Intro & sponsor (Thankz)
1:10 – Meet Alison Weick: CEO of Jewlr, DTC personalized jewelry
1:43 – From finance → consumer brands → startup operator
3:03 – Discovering her passion for consumer psychology & brand
3:56 – Early-stage startup lessons: no pens, no process, full chaos
5:18 – From CMO to public-company President → Chapter 11
5:53 – Why she joined Jewlr & leading from New York
6:01 – Running manufacturing for the first time (and loving it)
6:39 – Family life: two sons, 10 & 12, navigating travel
7:18 – What health looks like: Pilates, supplements, sleep
8:30 – Fun: NYC restaurants, shows, friends, exploring the city
9:13 – Why she rejects traditional “balance”
10:30 – Pivotal moment: leaving big company paths for impact
11:58 – Advice: don’t start a company for money — solve a problem
13:14 – Where to find Alison (LinkedIn + Instagram)

LinkedIn

linkedin.com/in/leogestetner

Website

leogestetner.com/leo

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