BFD MOMENT: The Generosity of Female Founders (and What It Really Looks Like)
- Built on YES
- Mar 23
- 4 min read
AKA: What lunch with Janice Mondavi taught me about time, legacy, and being a Big Fcking Deal.*
If you ever get the chance to put your name on a building, babe, you better f*cking do it. Because Carolina Bale couldn’t. And we’re going to get to that.
But first—let’s talk about what a real BFD looks like.
Recently, I had lunch with a woman who redefined the word “generosity” for me—not in a surface-y, performative, look-at-me-giving-back kind of way, but in a way that felt like sitting across from the very embodiment of grounded, feminine power.
Her name? Janice Mondavi.
Yes. That Mondavi.
Janice is the matriarch behind one of Napa Valley’s most iconic wine dynasties, and more importantly, she is the kind of woman I want to be when I grow up—even though we’re not that far apart in years, ha.
What struck me the most? She didn’t walk in trying to prove anything. No flashy ego. No “let me tell you how important I am.” Just stories. Laughter. Wine. Wisdom. And the kind of presence that makes you want to throw your phone in a river and soak up every single word.
She talked to us about business, family, navigating power structures, the beauty of fly fishing (IYKYK), and the wild behind-the-scenes of Napa Valley’s wine legacy. She was so generous with her time, her attention, and her energy.
And that’s when it hit me: This—this—is what makes a woman a true BFD.
Legacy Isn’t Just Land—It’s Leadership
Let’s rewind a bit. If you’ve ever cracked open a bottle of Charles Krug or Robert Mondavi wine, then you’ve sipped on one of the most tangled family legacies in business history. The drama? Juicy. The history? Wild. The women? Largely erased… until now.
Janice married Marc Mondavi, whose family bought the original Charles Krug estate for $75,000 in 1943. That land? Once belonged to Carolina Bale, who, thanks to her marriage and a 540-acre dowry, helped establish Napa’s very first winery in 1861.
Carolina’s story? Mostly forgotten. Charles Krug’s name? Still on the bottle.
And yet—Janice shows up, decades later, carrying that legacy with the kind of strength and intentionality that makes you sit up straighter in your seat.
She’s not out here fighting for recognition. She is the recognition.
What Janice Taught Me About Being a BFD
There are plenty of women in business who hustle. Who grind. Who check every box. But the women I look up to most—the ones who are truly a Big F*cking Deal—carry a different kind of energy.
It’s not about the press. It’s not about the pitch deck. It’s not about the “I’m so busy” badge of honor.
It’s about generosity.
BFD female founders are generous.
Not reckless. Not performative. Not self-sacrificing. Intentional. Present. Bold enough to be seen and to see others.
That’s what Janice Mondavi did for me that day. She made me feel seen. Heard. Like I was exactly where I was supposed to be. And for a woman running multiple businesses, raising kids, investing in other founders, and occasionally having a third existential crisis before lunch—that’s no small thing.
Reality Inventory: The Generosity Check
In the Built on YES world, we talk a lot about boundaries, prioritization, and the entrepreneur mindset. But here’s a slightly deeper prompt:
How generous are you willing to be when no one’s watching?
Here’s a quick Generosity Inventory to bring into your week:
Am I giving from a place of alignment—or from obligation and people-pleasing?
Am I showing up fully when I give—or am I distracted, resentful, or depleted?
Do I extend the same grace and generosity to myself that I offer others?
Am I hoarding my time and energy out of fear, or trusting that mindful generosity creates connection and abundance?
Spoiler: generosity isn’t about overextending. It’s about choosing to give with clarity, presence, and purpose.
Final Thoughts: Generosity is a BFD Strategy for Female Founders
Janice Mondavi reminded me that generosity is a power move.
It’s a strategy. It’s a statement. It’s a YES to who you are and how you lead.
Whether you’re a solopreneur with a side hustle or a female founder scaling something massive, this is your reminder: being generous with your wisdom, time, energy, or even a quiet moment of listening can change someone else’s world.
You don’t have to own 540 acres. You don’t have to have your name on a label. But you do have to be the kind of woman who shows up like it matters—because it does.
Say YES to generosity. Say YES to connection. Say YES to the version of you who is already a BFD.
Be generous. Be courageous. Be capable. Be strong.
*If you want to dive more into this story, check out Erin’s Substack.
Other resources:
Keep Reading Built on YES
Want to stop over-giving out of perfectionism? Start here.
Need help building a mindfulness practice around time management? Read here.
Get stories like this in your inbox every Tuesday - join THE BIG F newsletter.
Comments