Leave it to E: How Emily Chandler Built a Business on Love & To-Do Lists

Welcome to Renegade Ventures, where we explore diverse paths to business ownership. We dive into the world of acquiring, growing, and selling businesses by sharing the real-life journeys of women renegades who transformed the lives of their families, employees, and communities. Hosted by Ellie Puckett and Maggie Harlow—both business owners, acquisition experts, and advocates for women—this show is your guide to business ownership with heart.

Today’s guest is Emily Chandler, a dynamic entrepreneur with an unconventional journey rooted in service, adaptability, and the pursuit of meaningful work. From dreams of veterinary medicine to banking, startups, and personal assisting, Emily’s path reflects the power of following your intuition and embracing change.

Emily shares how her career shifted from corporate roles to launching her own venture, Leave it to E—a luxury concierge and personal assisting service. The inspiration came after a pivotal dinner with a respected couple who offered encouragement and even investment support. Though she initially wrestled with imposter syndrome, Emily took time for self-reflection and realized that her greatest strengths—serving others and building deep relationships—could form the foundation of a purpose-driven business.

Now three years in, Emily discusses the lessons she’s learned, including the danger of stretching her business too thin by trying to be everything for everyone. One of her key takeaways? Say no when something doesn’t align with your mission. Her focus is on building a service that helps people concentrate on what matters most in their lives, whether it’s managing household logistics or easing emotional burdens.

Emily emphasizes the difference between completing tasks and building relationships. From scheduling oil changes to anticipating summer camp signups, her work is proactive, intuitive, and grounded in trust. She also touches on the cultural barriers she’s faced—particularly among women in Louisville who feel pressured to “do it all” without help—versus the openness to outsourcing she sees from transplants.

Hiring has been another challenge, as Emily looks for team members who possess initiative, critical thinking, and emotional intelligence—traits that don’t always show up on resumes. Delegation doesn’t come naturally to her, but learning to let go has helped her grow as a leader. She also shares how her investors gave her the space to lead independently, which has been vital to her confidence and development as a founder.

During onboarding, Emily helps clients identify their biggest stressors—whether it’s laundry, meal planning, or navigating care for elderly loved ones—and shows them how much can be lifted off their plates. What often begins as five hours a week of support grows into a deeper partnership as clients recognize the freedom and peace it brings.

In closing, Emily encourages women to gift support to others—whether it’s time, help, or concierge hours—and help normalize receiving help. She’s passionate about making life easier for others and welcomes conversations with anyone exploring the idea of getting or giving support. Emily’s story is a testament to the power of service, relationships, and doing business with heart.

Key Topics:

1:08 - Introducing today’s guest Emily Chandler.

7:41 - Full-time shift, hiring, mental load support

15:21 - Anticipating needs and forming deep client relationships

21:45 - Leave it to E’s personalized services

23:30 - Cultural resistance, mom guilt, regional differences

26:09 – Outsourcing stigma and positive mindset shifts

30:06 - The intangible skills of support and the power of delegation

40:44 - The importance of support in different life stages

42:12 - The value of outsourcing and overcoming emotional barriers

48:33 - Encouraging others to accept help