I recently went one on one with Lori Caden, founder and CEO of Belly Bandit.

Adam: Thanks again for taking the time to share your advice. First things first, though, I am sure readers would love to learn more about you. How did you get here? What experiences, failures, setbacks, or challenges have been most instrumental to your growth?

Lori: My sisters and I have all been entrepreneurs since we were young. We love the passion, the grit, the drive, and the fun of growing a business all 3 sisters and best friends. We started Belly Bandit 14 years ago after I just had a baby. I was mistaken for still being pregnant after I had given birth while shopping at Target and that was when a lightbulb went off. We wanted new moms like myself to look and feel their best, so we designed a belly band to give them the support and confidence they needed. Fast forward and we’ve become a household name in the mom and baby space, have worked with almost every celeb who’s been pregnant and are sold at retailers globally. It’s been an amazing ride; one that took hard work and perseverance (and a lot of blood, sweat, and tears).

Adam: How did you come up with your business idea? What advice do you have for others on how to come up with great ideas?

Lori: We wanted new moms like myself to look and feel their best, so we designed a belly band to give them the support and confidence they needed. There are so many amazing products on the market but building a brand comes down to art and science. Your customers need to feel inspired by your messaging and look, as well as compelled by the product itself. We’re laser-focused on designing the best product possible, to answer as many needs as possible, but we also want women to know how much we care and how dedicated we are to helping them solve maternity, postpartum and period challenges (we are all about fitting a square peg in a round hole).  If you have a great idea, test it in the real world and see if you have an audience. Refine your messaging and find a way to stand out from the crowd. Be the #1.

Adam: How did you know your business idea was worth pursuing? What advice do you have on how to best test a business idea?

Lori: We began to hear from friends and customers how much our products were changing their lives. We knew that we could design more products in the same space to solve aches and ailments. Again, take your samples to focus groups, let friends try them, and ask for feedback. Sugar coating won’t move you ahead so ask for truthful feedback even if it’s harsh.

Adam: What are the key steps you have taken to grow your business? What advice do you have for others on how to take their businesses to the next level?

Lori: We’ve grown the Belly Bandit business steadily and bootstrapped it ourselves over the years. We have invested in our teams and found people who excel in their areas to move us forward. Having the right team that is loyal and motivated will always be the greatest asset.

Adam: What are your best sales and marketing tips?

Lori: Hustle! Don’t be afraid to reach out to retailers, editors, writers, influencers, celebrities, or websites that you know will positively impact your business. You never know what can happen unless you go for it (you miss 100% of the shots you don't take)! Try all different types of marketing – when your customers respond positively, you’ll know which direction to take things.

Adam: In your experience, what are the defining qualities of an effective leader? How can leaders and aspiring leaders take their leadership skills to the next level?

Lori: Be kind, lead by example, be fair but always let your expectations be known. You want to inspire people with the business mission and the way you do business with partners.

Adam: What is your best advice on building, leading, and managing teams?

Lori: Empower your teams and work collaboratively. Test and learn, know that not everything you try will be a success - keep on trekking! 

Adam: What are your best tips applicable to entrepreneurs, executives, and civic leaders?

Lori: Know your strengths and know your worth. I can’t emphasize this enough; but when it comes to products, test (and learn), test, and test again.
Adam: Is there anything else you would like to share? 

Lori: Hard work, determination, and staying the course is a proven track to success! 


Adam Mendler is an entrepreneur, writer, speaker, educator, and nationally-recognized authority on leadership. Adam is the creator and host of the business and leadership podcast Thirty Minute Mentors, where he goes one on one with America's most successful people - Fortune 500 CEOs, founders of household name companies, Hall of Fame and Olympic gold medal-winning athletes, political and military leaders - for intimate half-hour conversations each week. A top leadership speaker, Adam draws upon his insights building and leading businesses and interviewing hundreds of America's top leaders as a top keynote speaker to businesses, universities, and non-profit organizations. Adam has written extensively on leadership and related topics, having authored over 70 articles published in major media outlets including Forbes, Inc. and HuffPost, and has conducted more than 500 one on one interviews with America’s top leaders through his collective media projects. Adam teaches graduate-level courses on leadership at UCLA and is an advisor to numerous companies and leaders. A Los Angeles native, Adam is a lifelong Angels fan and an avid backgammon player.

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