Ep 349 | Cindy Eckert

Written By Yasmin Nouri

She Built the Female Viagra & Two Billion-Dollar Companies: Cindy Eckert on Bold Moves, Big Dreams & Building for Impact

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Cindy is a serial entrepreneur and champion for women’s health and wealth. Over her 25+ year career in healthcare, she’s built and sold not one but two companies for over $1 billion, including Sprout Pharmaceuticals, where she launched Addyi, the first prescription drug for women’s low libido and what many people call the “female Viagra.”  After selling Sprout, Cindy made headlines again when she bought the company back to launch it on her own terms and make sure the drug reached the women it was made for. She’s now the founder of The Pink Ceiling, where she invests in and mentors women-led businesses breaking barriers in health, wellness, and beyond. Whether she’s battling the FDA, redefining success, or helping other women build empires, Cindy’s mission is clear: to make women really rich - financially, socially, and in their own self-worth.

In this week’s episode, Cindy shares the real, behind-the-scenes lessons of building billion-dollar companies and she doesn’t hold back. If you’ve ever felt intimidated by the idea of starting your own business, Cindy’s story will make you believe that you can do it — even if you don’t have it all figured out yet.  

Cindy talks about why competence matters more than confidence, and how taking the shot, even when you don’t have all the answers, is what moves the needle. She shares how growing up constantly on the move taught her how to adapt quickly, build relationships, and embrace change — skills that became her foundation in business. She opens up about the emotional toll of entrepreneurship, the power of building a strong team, and why women need to talk more openly about pleasure, power, and money. From redefining success to using money as a tool for impact, this episode is packed with practical insights, personal stories, and powerful reminders that you’re more ready than you think. If you’re looking for the nudge to start, build, or believe in what you’re creating — Cindy’s story will leave you inspired and ready to take action.

Show Notes:

  • Competence is the key to overcoming challenges. [03:05]

  • Confidence means taking the shot, not knowing everything. [04:04]

  • Disruption can be a catalyst for growth. [08:29]

  • Cindy’s first hustle: how she made her first dollar. [09:34]

  • The power of curiosity during Cindy’s college years. [11:52]

  • How equity and ownership change financial futures. [17:06]

  • Why diverse experiences sharpen business instincts. [19:16]

  • Lessons from Cindy’s first business. [22:45]

  • Cindy’s mission to empower women. [28:43]

  • Getting rejected by the FDA and fighting for approval. [33:37]

  • Why women shy away from talking about pleasure and health. [43:47]

  • Money as a tool for positive impact. [46:27]

  • Why curiosity is an entrepreneurial superpower. [50:22]

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Ep 348 | Nicole Jardim