In this inspiring episode, host Rosemary Czopek sits down with Marlene Dandler, founder of Seashore Academy, to explore how a simple homeschooling idea at her kitchen table grew into a thriving educational enterprise.

Marlene shares how her journey, sparked by a mom’s desire for quality education, evolved into a full-scale in-person learning community that still prioritizes joy, hands-on learning, and excellence over spreadsheets. She built the school with no formal business plan, just a passion for community and doing what’s best for kids.

Marlene also opened up about her leadership journey, the lessons she’s learned through hiring, and how she balances on-site teachers with remote virtual assistants to keep operations smooth, efficient, and human-centered.

🎧 Tune in to hear how passion, purpose, and people-first leadership can turn a simple idea into a lasting legacy.

Check out this episode!

I believe that as female founders, high standards are our strength.

Women founders often second-guess themselves. We ask for excellence, then wonder if we’re being too demanding. We hold people accountable, then feel guilty for making someone uncomfortable.

But high standards aren’t harsh. They’re clarity. They protect our teams, our clients, and the purpose we’re building toward.

Strong boundaries aren’t unfair. They help the right people rise.

And when someone isn’t aligned, letting go isn’t failure. It’s leadership with compassion.

Because we can be kind and still be clear. We can care deeply and still expect excellence. That’s not a contradiction.

That’s respect — for ourselves, for our vision, and for the people we lead.

So don’t shrink your standards to make others comfortable. They exist for a reason. And they keep you, and your business, aligned with what matters most.