1159: From Kitchen Prototype to Oprah: Building WanderFull w/ Lisa Watkins & Katie Hill
What happens when two moms-turned-entrepreneurs spot a glaring gap in the market and decide to go all in? You get WanderFull—a stylish, purpose-driven brand that's taken the hydration world by storm and landed features from Oprah, The Today Show, and Women’s Health. In this episode, Lisa Watkins and Katie Hill share how they built their thriving eCommerce business by combining fashion, wellness, and sustainability into one must-have product.
From the kitchen-table prototype to major retail deals, they unpack what it takes to find product-market fit, scale fast, and stay aligned as cofounders. Their honesty, energy, and tactical insights make this episode a goldmine for any entrepreneur ready to build something bold from scratch.
💡 What You'll Take Away For YOUR Business
✅ How to find your “white space” and dominate it before anyone else does
✅ Why complementary cofounders can be your greatest business asset
✅ How trade shows helped them scale to 100+ wholesale customers in weeks
✅ The lean market validation tactics they used before going all in
✅ What to do when a SKU flops—and how to spot your next bestseller
✅ How they went from pop-up booths to Oprah’s Favorite Things in one year
✅ Why launching a brand (not just a product) is the real path to long-term growth
📝 About the Guests
Katie Hill has built a diverse career across multiple industries. She began as a product manager in Silicon Valley, later advancing her skills with a business degree. Katie joined Unilever, where she specialized in brand management and consumer insights. Balancing her career with family life proved challenging, prompting her to transition into consumer insights consulting. Eventually, she found her way into real estate, where she thrived but struggled with the weekend demands. This experience inspired her to pursue entrepreneurship, allowing her to balance professional ambitions with family time.
Lisa Watkins is a dynamic entrepreneur who has been inspiring those around her for over a decade. Initially meeting through a PTA fundraiser that showcased her knack for leadership and collaboration, Lisa's entrepreneurial spirit quickly became evident. As neighbors turned friends, she took the bold step to pursue her passion for business, inviting others to join her journey. Her leadership and vision have been a guiding force, and together with her friends, she has embraced the entrepreneurial path with enthusiasm and determination, never looking back.
🎯 Guests’ BEST Pieces of Advice for Wantrepreneurs and Entrepreneurs
Katie Hill:
“Perfection is the enemy of progress—go for B+ work and keep moving forward.”
Katie’s advice is all about momentum. She reminds us that you’ll never know everything, but you can learn anything. Start scrappy, stay consistent, and don’t be afraid to fail forward.
Lisa Watkins:
“Just get off the sidelines and do it—every small step builds your confidence.”
Lisa’s advice is about trusting your gut and taking action. She shares how early wins gave them the courage to keep going, and how entrepreneurship is a series of trying new things and learning as you go.
🔗 Links & Resources
- Visit WanderFull’s Website
- Follow WanderFull on Instagram
- Find WanderFull on Facebook
- Follow WanderFull on TikTok
