Who—and what—comes to mind when you think of a typical CEO?

Maybe it’s a white guy in a suit with a serious look on his face… or maybe you think of Steve Jobs with the black turtleneck or Mark Zuckerberg and the grey hoodie.

And while those might be the typical CEOs of the past, the business world is changing and the future is female.

Today’s guest–and our first one ever on the Rule Breaker podcast!—is Ellen Marie Bennett—cook turned founder and CEO of Hedley & Bennett, the leading Los Angeles based culinary workwear brand.

Quite literally, Ellen is the opposite of the “typical” people we see in CEO positions and a Rule Breaker in every way: she’s changing the way people think about what a founder looks like, what she sounds like, and how she connects with her customers to be totally transparent about what’s going on behind the scenes—from manufacturing to design to delivery of her products.

And did we mention that Ellen’s CEO closet consists of bright jumpsuits? Just take a look at her in these photos! Yup, quite the contrast from Jobs and Zuckerberg, huh?

Listen to the full episode to hear:

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• What inspired Ellen to make badass aprons in the first place
  
• How Ellen channeled her energy into building a company that focuses on quality
  
• The ways Ellen supports her community and the restaurant industry through different challenges
  
• How Ellen pivoted during COVID to make face masks
  
• The impact collaborative partnerships and friendships can have on your company
  

Learn more about Ellen Marie Bennett:

Rebelle Member Spotlight – Nadia Anderson:

Learn more about Shannon Siriano Greenwood:

Rebelle Shout Out:

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• Haley Mitchell and Instagram
  

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• Vogue Mexico: Daniela Soto-Innes: La chef mexicana que conquistó al mundo
  
• San Pelligrino’s 50 Best Restaurants