Ep. 49 with Mollie Windmiller | Owner & Founder, Lab MPLS

Beyond Social: Building Authentic Connections in Business

The intersection of entrepreneurship and motherhood creates a unique space where both roles can inform and strengthen each other—if we're willing to learn the lessons each has to offer. In this heartfelt conversation with Mollie Windmiller, founder of Lab MPLS, we explore how becoming a mother transformed her approach to running a creative agency and why authentic connection remains at the core of her business philosophy.

Mollie shares her journey from Sotheby's International Realty marketing director to launching her own design group in 2008, and later founding Lab MPLS in 2014 while pregnant with her first daughter. What makes her story particularly compelling is how she navigated these parallel paths with intentionality, creating what she calls "golden hours" of dedicated family time while still building a thriving business.

One of the most refreshing aspects of our discussion is Mollie's perspective on social media marketing. In a world where online presence often seems mandatory, she advocates for more meaningful ways to engage with communities. "There is a better way than always leaning into social media," she explains, emphasizing that Lab MPLS focuses on creating in-person experiences and building relationships that would survive if social platforms disappeared tomorrow.

We dive deep into the challenging decisions entrepreneurs face, including Mollie's difficult conversation with her business partner that led to combining her two businesses just before the pandemic—timing that proved fortuitous. Her guiding principle that "everything happens for a reason" helps her navigate both business hurdles and parenting challenges with the same resilient mindset.

Perhaps most valuable is Mollie's hard-won wisdom about recognizing the true value of time. After years of late nights and near burnout, motherhood brought clarity about setting boundaries and making tough decisions about where to invest her energy. This realization shapes how she now leads her team, encouraging them to protect their time as fiercely as she's learned to protect her own.

Whether you're a seasoned entrepreneur contemplating parenthood, a mother considering starting a business, or someone navigating both worlds already, this conversation offers honest insights about embracing evolution, building authentic community, and finding your people—both in business and in life.

Connect with Mollie:

• IG
• Website:

Contact the Host, Kelly Kirk:

• Email: [email protected]

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• IG: @ryh_pod & @thekelly.tanke.kirk
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Credits:

• Editor: Joseph Kirk
• Music: Kristofer Tanke

Thanks for listening & cheers to Reclaiming Your Hue!