In this episode of How They Scaled It, I sit down with Chelsey Hayes, co-founder and CEO of Brown Babee. She shares how her decade-long fertility journey led to the creation of a purpose-driven skincare brand for infants and children with sensitive skin.
From overcoming cancer and endometriosis to trusting her instincts and betting on herself, Chelsey opens up about building with intention, leading with story, and finding strength in community. This episode is a must-listen for early-stage founders who want to launch mindfully and scale with heart.
00:00:13 – Chelsey introduces her 10-year path to motherhood
00:00:48 – Courtney introduces Brown Babee and the episode
00:01:27 – When Chelsey first knew she wanted to start a business
00:03:05 – From federal government contracting to founder
00:04:05 – Her daughter’s eczema diagnosis and early decisions
00:06:12 – Learning to formulate through YouTube
00:07:21 – Discovering her deeper “why”
00:08:29 – Learning to listen to intuition and filter the noise
00:10:00 – How surviving ovarian cancer shaped her mindset
00:12:44 – Early hurdles: funding and timing
00:14:17 – Betting on herself: the $90k turning point
00:19:18 – A co-founder leaves—and the lesson in that loss
00:21:54 – Balancing purpose with profitability
00:24:02 – Strategic partnerships and quality-first mindset
00:27:00 – Pushing back on the “move fast” mantra
00:28:48 – Why she stayed true to the name Brown Babee
00:33:08 – Accelerator programs and mentorship
00:36:02 – Building community as a pre-launch brand
00:40:03 – Her advice to her past self: “You are worthy”
00:41:56 – Where to follow Brown Babee online