As part of the Morning Lazziness series, which highlights empowering women making a remarkable impact with their ideas, I had the pleasure of interviewing Tiffany Tompkins and Melissa Zisso.
Opal & Joy was co-founded by Tiffany Tompkins and Melissa Zissou, who are passionate about helping women navigate those “WTF is happening to me” moments of perimenopause. Their personal journeys inspired them to create targeted, natural and effective supplements that support the unique challenges of perimenopause. With a strong emphasis on wellness and self-care, their pioneering, clinically formulated products are designed to empower women to be Perimenoproud™.
In this interview, she discusses their entrepreneurial evolution, from early struggles to the achievements that shaped their online business success.
What inspired you to start your business, and what problem were you passionate about solving?
We started Opal & Joy from a deeply personal and urgent place. Perimenopause hit Tiff early, at 38, and her symptoms were relentless. She suffered from depression, insomnia, anxiety, hot flashes, joint pain, weight gain, hair loss, and more. For years, doctors dismissed her concerns, telling her it was “normal” or “in her head.” As any good friend would, Melissa went looking for answers for one of Tiff’s biggest complaints – insomnia. With her background in the cannabis industry, Melissa suggested Tiff try full-spectrum CBD and it helped. But we quickly realized there was nothing on the market that was both effective and designed specifically to address perimenopause sleep disturbances. So, we set out to create it ourselves, with a mission to empower women and end the silence around this stage of life.
How has your business evolved since its launch, and what key decisions have helped drive that growth?
After years of research and development, we launched in January 2025 with three core products: Rest, Relax, and our 100% organic Relief Elixir. We use hemp-based cannabinoids, adaptogens, and Ayurvedic botanicals for targeted, effective support. We committed to eco-conscious packaging using recyclable cardboard tubes and soy-based inks, and we prioritize organic ingredients wherever possible. All of our products are vegan and GMO-free. Very quickly, we realized our mission wasn’t just to sell supplements—it was to spark a movement. Embracing the idea of being Perimenoproud™ became as central to our identity as the products themselves.
In your view, what truly sets your brand apart in today’s competitive market?
We’re not here to jump on wellness trends. We’re here because we lived it. Our formulations are rooted in science, created by women for women, and made with the cleanest, most effective ingredients possible. We pair hemp science with adaptogens and Ayurvedic plants, focus on organic sourcing, and package sustainably. Just as important, we’re changing the conversation around perimenopause.
What has been your most effective marketing strategy to date, and why do you think it worked so well?
Our most effective strategy has been storytelling, sharing real experiences, both ours and those of other women. Whether it’s through our blog, podcast, or social media, our audience connects to authenticity. It works because women trust other women who have been there, not faceless brands making vague promises.
How do you stay connected to your ideal audience and understand their needs or behaviors?
We listen, constantly. Our community, email list, and social channels aren’t just places where we post updates, they’re spaces for conversations. We run polls, answer DMs personally, and create opportunities for women to tell us what they’re going through. Our Perimenoproud Posse, made up of women who test our products, gives us valuable firsthand feedback that shapes what we do next.
What’s one branding move or campaign that helped elevate your business to the next level?
Launching our slogan, Be Perimenoproud™, has been important for us. It is our rallying cry and has shifted our brand from being about products to being about identity and empowerment.
What does success look like for you, not just in numbers, but in purpose or impact?
Success is when a woman tells us she finally slept through the night, that she was able to get back to sleep after that dreaded 3 am wake up, or that she feels better. It’s when she feels informed, seen, and supported through a stage of life that’s often ignored. That kind of impact matters more than any sales figure.
How do you personally define success, beyond revenue and growth metrics?
For us, success is about empowerment. It’s knowing that we’ve helped turn misinformation into education, stigma into celebration, and isolation into community. If we’ve made even one woman feel stronger and more confident, we’ve succeeded.
Can you share a challenge or setback that ultimately became a turning point for your brand?
The biggest challenge was the dismissal we faced in the medical system. Being told symptoms were “in your head” is infuriating and disempowering. That experience became our fuel. It pushed us to build a brand that says, “We see you. We’ve been you. We’re here for you.” It made our mission personal and non-negotiable.
What daily habits or rituals keep you focused, creative, and grounded as a leader?
We start each day by setting our top three priorities, so we don’t get lost in the noise. We take time to connect with our community, whether that’s responding to messages or checking in with product testers. We make space for movement, whether it’s a walk or yoga, and we always keep our purpose front and center. Opal & Joy is named after our foremothers, women who inspire us to lead with strength and creativity.
How do you approach innovation and risk in your business strategy?
We take calculated risks rooted in research and guided by our mission. We invest in clean, organic, sustainable packaging, even when it costs more. We formulate with cannabinoids in a market that’s still finding its footing because we believe in the science. We create content and education alongside products because innovation isn’t just about what’s in the tube, but about how women experience our brand.
What advice would you give to someone starting a business in today’s fast-changing digital world?
Start with your “why” and hold onto it tightly. Trends and algorithms will change, but if you’re grounded in purpose and clear on who you serve, you can adapt without losing your identity. Be transparent, lead with value, and build community before you chase scale.
Where can our audience connect with you and learn more about your work or offerings?
You can find us at OpalandJoy, where you can explore our products, read our blog, take our perimenopause quiz, and listen to the Perimenoproud Podcast. You can join our Perimenoproud Posse to be part of our community and test new products. And you can connect with us on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest.
