Welcome to Please Advise

hi betches, what can i help you with?

I’m Aleen Dreksler, founder and CEO of Betches Media.

At 21 years old, I unintentionally founded a company with my two closest childhood friends. Now, 14 years later, I have yet to meet one woman in America who when asked if they know Betches doesn’t say, “omg I fucking love it.” But even if you follow one of our many socials, listen to one of our hit podcasts, or have shared our *extremely funny* videos with every single person in your group chat, there’s a lot to the story that you might not have heard.

The last decade and a half has taught me so much, all of it on the job and without a teacher. I graduated pre-med, never went to business school, or even had a job anywhere else after college for that matter. Unless you count waitressing (poorly) or volunteering in science labs in high school. My parents are immigrants who came to the US with nothing and expected me to be a doctor (you think I majored in biology for fun?), so you can imagine the conversation when I returned from college with the news that I wanted to pursue my blog startup called “Betches” full time. *heavy Russian accent* “Vat is this Bitches?”

Watching my parents start from nothing gave me a window into the consistency, resilience, and determination it takes to achieve your goals – especially when you’re on your own. As a first time founder with no experience or education in business, investors, advisors, and even mentors, I had no blueprint or direction besides my own vision and instinct. Millennial pink shrouded advice columns never broached beyond the surface and while I had a strong support system, no one I knew had ever forged this path. That doesn't mean as the years went on I didn't continue to search for a mentor, as I continue to now. But that sense of isolation as a woman building something has led me here, aiming to provide you with the space and hopefully community I have always wanted. Someone to say, “here’s what I would do…”

With this column and newsletter, I want to share what I’ve learned and help you with whatever shit you’re dealing with. Because now, 14 years later, I’m 35, a mom of two, and an entrepreneur who has now sold my business, but I am also still the CEO of said business and brand - one that I’m incredibly proud of. I want to take my experience – good, bad, and betchy – and use it to help you navigate your career, and your life.

Yes, your life too – because even when we come home from our 9-5 and take off that v cute blazer, there’s still so much more on our minds as women, as friends, as partners, and especially as moms.

So to all my betches, what can I help you with?

Email your questions to me at hi@aleen.co

Column launches Sun Feb 16th.