Meghan Markle Gets Candid About The 'Lonely' Part Of Being Your Own Boss

Becoming a CEO is a challenging journey for those who strive to make it on their own; ask Meghan Markle!

The Duchess of Sussex dived into the loneliness that business owners face in the most recent episode of her podcast. She got vulnerable with listeners, recounting the highs and lows of her career.

Meghan Markle has launched several businesses since stepping down as a working royal with her husband, Prince Harry. Although she tried her hand at different ventures, the former actress did not achieve as much success solo as she has since partnering with Netflix.

During Tuesday's episode of her "Confessions of a Female Founder" podcast, Meghan addressed the differences she had noticed in working with Netflix to launch her As Ever brand and striving to make it on her own.

She implied that partnering with the streaming giant had taken a load off her shoulders, claiming it was a different experience when she was her own boss. "When you only have yourself to answer to, I think it's two-fold. It can be incredibly liberating, and it can be incredibly lonely," Meghan confessed.

The Duchess of Sussex explained that she initially planned to launch her lifestyle brand alone. However, she changed her solo stance because her goals aligned with those of Netflix and its consumer-packaged goods (CPG) department.

Another problem Meghan faced while trying to launch her brand was the issue of trademarks. She initially chose American Riviera Orchard as the name for her lifestyle business but became embroiled in drama after failing to comply with the US Patent and Trademark Office's regulations.

The setback no longer affected Meghan as she joked about the incident on her podcast, comparing it to a parent choosing a name for their child.

She claimed one should not disclose their brand's name publicly until it was set in stone, saying: "Don't ask anyone's opinion! It becomes like Survey Monkey at the beginning of a business."

Meghan also addressed her experiences mentoring and investing in other businesswomen, assuring fans that she always had the best interests of these female entrepreneurs at heart.

She claimed she was in the business to "uplift" other women and hoped to be the person they called when they ran into issues or had doubts.

Weeks before her podcast confessions, The Blast reported that Meghan had enlisted the services of a former Bill Gates employee to grow her business. She hired Sarah Fosmo as her first-ever chief of staff to support and manage her brand.

Meghan's new hire appeared to have the necessary skills to support the Duchess of Sussex, with Fosmo's résumé highlighting her ability to handle high-pressure operations.

She was also skilled at maintaining strict confidentiality and once served as deputy director of executive administration in Gates' office. The media personality's decision to hire a chief of staff followed her comments about self-doubt.

Meghan revealed on her podcast that she had struggled with uncertainty, particularly regarding the success of her brand. She often wondered if she was making the right call, but she would never allow her team to witness her vulnerability.

Meghan explained that she always appeared confident in front of her team, even when she struggled with self-doubt. The mother of two noted that it was essential for the boss to lead with certainty, explaining that the staff must firmly believe in the leader's vision without a doubt.

Despite pushing forward to assure her team all was well in her low moments, Meghan emphasized that she had a support group to keep her grounded.

She noted that it was important for business owners to have people they could depend on, stating that these helpers must understand that they are human before their bosses.

During these moments, Meghan sought support and advice from other female entrepreneurs. She explained that these women frequently understood where she came from as they lived similar lives as business owners.

When Meghan isn't focused on her business career, she enjoys life as a wife and mother of two children. PEOPLE covered her Memorial Day celebrations, reporting that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex spent the holiday apart due to their conflicting schedules.

While Markle remained at home with their children, Prince Harry flew halfway around the world to Shanghai, China. He attended the Envision 2025 Global Partner Conference to speak as the founder of Travalyst, a sustainable travel initiative he launched in 2019.

On the other hand, Markle hinted that she would spend a quiet day at home with her kids. She shared a heartwarming video with her youngest child, Princess Lilibet, implying she followed through on her promise to relax over the weekend.

On Friday, she shared an Instagram post of herself in the kitchen, captioning it, "Stir, sip, repeat — savoring moments slow and sweet this holiday weekend."

Meghan Markle continues to show that you can truly have it all!