From the origin story of their businesses to the ways they allowed themselves to grow as entrepreneurs, our Female Founders series gives a view into the lives of successful women from a variety of industries. Join us for today’s feature, Meredith Adams offering a behind the scenes look at some of what she has done to succeed so far, advice for those starting off, and plans for the future.
What’s your business and how did you get started?
I’m the founder of Cactus Girl Media, where I help entrepreneurs turn their story into a clear buying message so they can sell confidently, without manipulation or performative ‘pick-me’ marketing.
For seven years prior, I was inside a multi-level marketing organization that operated much more like a cult than a company. When I finally left, I had to rebuild my career from the ground up and rethink everything I believed about sales and marketing.
Around that time, my cat, Barsik—who had gone viral online for weighing over 40 pounds—started attracting a huge audience on Instagram as we documented his weight-loss journey. Watching people respond to his story showed me that people don’t connect with tactics or results; they connect with stories.
That became the foundation of my work. Today I help founders articulate what makes them different, turn their experiences into compelling buying messages, and build businesses that grow through trust instead of pressure.
What is one thing you’re really proud of that you’ve created or accomplished?
I’m really proud of having built a profitable one-person business centered around storytelling, but it’s not just the business part!
It’s watching founders realize they don’t have to water themselves down or turn into someone else to grow. They get to celebrate the parts of their story that make them different. And if that makes some people uncomfortable, that’s icing on the cake!
There’s so much power in claiming your story. The outside results are nice, but my favorite moment is when someone realizes they can tell the truth about who they are and what they do, AND make a fortune in the process!
What is the boldest thing you’ve ever done in business?
The boldest thing I’ve done in business was rejecting the system I was trained in and proving it wrong publicly.
I spent seven years in a multi-level marketing organization where we were taught that if you left, you’d never succeed. For a while, I believed that. So walking away felt like a real gamble.
But instead of failing, I built a profitable one-person business by doing the one thing that the system discouraged the most: telling the truth. There’s something deeply satisfying about making a living that way.
What’s one thing you’re currently excited about for the future of your business?
I’m really excited about bringing the conversation about ethical sales to bigger stages.
So many people avoid selling because they believe it requires becoming someone they’re not—pushy, performative, or manipulative. I used to believe that too. But what I’ve learned through my own experience and through working with founders is that the opposite is true. The most powerful sell comes from clarity, honesty, and a willingness to tell the truth about who you are and what you do.
If you can sell, there will always be money. And selling doesn’t have to mean abandoning your values! I’m excited about helping more people see that ethical sales isn’t just possible, but it’s a skill that can completely change someone’s life.
What’s your best business advice you would give to other women?
Learn how to sell, and learn how to do it in a way that feels honest to you.
So many women avoid selling because they believe it requires becoming pushy, manipulative, or someone they’re not. But selling is simply the ability to clearly communicate value and invite others to participate.
When you can do that, everything changes. You’re no longer dependent on algorithms, gatekeepers, or someone else deciding whether your work deserves attention.
The most important thing I tell founders is this: you don’t need a louder voice, a bigger audience, or a more complicated strategy. You need the language to tell the truth about who you are, what you do, and why it matters. When you learn how to sell from that place, it becomes one of the most empowering skills you can have.
What’s your favorite thing about being a business owner?
Autonomy. I get to build something that reflects my values, not someone else’s playbook.
