Stairway to CEO
200 episodes - English - Latest episode: 22 days ago - ★★★★★ - 36 ratingsStairway to CEO is a podcast, hosted by entrepreneur Lee Greene, featuring untold stories from inspiring Founders & CEOs about what it takes to start and grow a business.
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Episodes
Widening the Wealth Circle for Women with Allegra Moet Brantley, Founder and CEO of Factora
April 02, 2024 11:00 - 1 hour - 60.4 MBDescription: Joining the show today is Allegra Moet Brantley, the Founder and CEO of Factora. This women-led personal finances company is on a mission to lead one million women to $1 million in wealth. Today she shares her journey from building her first company to becoming a salary negotiation coach to leading partnerships and marketing at Financial Gym, where she ultimately came up with the idea to build Factora. Tuning in, you’ll gain insight into the importance of financial transparency...
Turnarounds, Transformations, and Taking Charge with Mary van Praag, Global CEO at Milani Cosmetics
January 16, 2024 12:00 - 54 minutes - 50.3 MBDescription: Mary van Praag joins us today to talk about how she became Global CEO of Milani Cosmetics, a 20-year-old company built on the belief that everyone should have the opportunity to own and enjoy luxury beauty. From her entrepreneurial pursuits in high school to her first CEO role at Perricone MD, Mary tells us about her remarkable career journey and how she became the Global CEO of Milani cosmetics. Tune in today to learn about Mary’s passion for transforming companies, the less...
Connection, Community and Conversation with Julie Rice, Co-Founder and CEO of Peoplehood
January 09, 2024 12:00 - 47 minutes - 43.4 MBDescription: Today’s guest fell into entrepreneurship when she started to create experiences with her own needs in mind. Julie Rice is the Co-Founder and CEO of Peoplehood, where she facilitates deep conversation and connection to develop ‘relationship fitness’. During this episode, she shares her childhood passion for theatre, talks about the start of her career in talent management in New York, and tells the story of how she built and exited her first startup, SoulCycle. Tune in to hear a...
Behind the Frames with Nathan Kondamuri, Co-Founder and CEO of Pair Eyewear
January 02, 2024 12:00 - 54 minutes - 49.5 MBDescription: Nathan Kondamuri didn’t know that he wanted to start a business until the pieces fell together, and he co-founded the highly customizable Pair Eyewear, where he now acts as CEO. He joins us today to share the story of how his little brother inspired him to start Pair, how he scaled his customer experience team to over 100 members, and the challenges he faced in building on-demand production. Tune in to hear all this and more! Exclusive Deals from Our Sponsors: AWESOME CX by T...
Wrinkles and Wins with Courtney Toll, Co-Founder and CEO of Nori
December 26, 2023 12:00 - 46 minutes - 42.5 MBDescription: Joining us today to share her entrepreneurial story is Courtney Toll, co-founder and CEO of Nori, an innovative company in the ironing and steaming market. Tuning in, you’ll hear about her remarkable journey, from coming up with the idea for Nori (which is iron spelled backward!) in her cramped New York apartment to raising money in the depths of COVID to bringing a successful product to market. Courtney also shares details about how learning to do cold outreach at her job bols...
Travel Inspiration for Makeup Innovation with Fiona Chan, Founder & CEO of Youthforia
December 19, 2023 12:00 - 38 minutes - 35.5 MBDescription: Joining the show today is Fiona Chan, the Founder and CEO of Youthforia, a beauty brand creating innovative makeup that acts as a part of your skincare routine. Join us as she shares her story of starting a business during the pandemic, self-funding before finding Shark Tank support, and much more! Exclusive Deals from Our Sponsors: AWESOME CX by Transcom provides high-touch, personalized customer experience services to consumer brands of any size! Email Lee at lee@stairwayt...
Making it Rain, One Square at a Time with Jake Karls, Co-Founder and Chief Rainmaker of Mid-Day Squares
December 12, 2023 12:00 - 44 minutes - 40.9 MBDescription: As an entrepreneur, it can be tempting to try to master every aspect of the business, but today’s guest is proof that playing to your strengths and finding a partner with complementary skills is a winning formula. Jake Karls is the Co-Founder and Chief Rainmaker of Mid-Day Squares, a chocolate company geared to revolutionizing the snack industry. Join us as we discuss Jake’s unique path to entrepreneurship success, the decision to manufacture Mid-Day Squares in an independent f...
K-Pop Beats and Skincare Feats with Paul Baek, Founder and CEO of Matter of Fact
December 05, 2023 12:00 - 1 hour - 60.1 MBDescription: From completing an undergrad at Harvard to becoming a K-Pop sensation in Korea to founding and formulating his very own skincare line, Paul Baek’s journey has been nothing short of extraordinary. In this episode, we delve into the unexpected twists of Paul's life, discussing his courageous decision to break away from the norm and forge a path that led him to the creation of his skincare company, Matter of Fact. Join us as Paul shares how his upbringing shaped him, the gratitude...
Dental Dreams and Endless Flossibilities with Samantha Coxe, Founder and CEO of Flaus
November 28, 2023 12:00 - 50 minutes - 46 MBDescription: Samantha Coxe is the Founder and CEO of Flaus, a dental hygiene product revolutionizing floss as we know it. She joins us to share her story, from growing up as an Irish Twin in Orange County to creating such an innovative product, and the challenges she faced along the way, with manufacturing, investment, product development, and more. Join us for a candid look at Samantha’s entrepreneurial journey. Exclusive Deals from Our Sponsors: AWESOME CX by Transcom provides high-touc...
Perfectionism and Plastic-Free Packaging with Kate Flynn, Co-Founder and CEO of Sun & Swell Foods
November 21, 2023 12:00 - 1 hour - 55.5 MBDescription: Today, Lee sits down with Kate Flynn, Co-Founder and CEO of Sun & Swell Foods. In this episode, Kate shares her inspiring story of making her sustainable snack brand plastic-free and creating a company that is a force for good (as well as good food). Tuning in, you’ll also find out what Kate wanted to be when she grew up, the tough lessons on failure that came with changing careers (and being a consultant), why she doesn’t consider herself a “typical entrepreneur,” her take on ...
Hydration, Hangovers, and Becoming CEO with Jesslyn Rollins, CEO of BIOLYTE
November 14, 2023 12:00 - 1 hour - 60.9 MBDescription: Joining us today is Jesslyn Rollins, the dynamic CEO of BIOLYTE®, the world's first IV in a bottle. In groundbreaking fashion, BIOLYTE® boasts 6.5 times the electrolytes of traditional sports drinks while containing only a third of the sugar you’d normally ingest. With humor and candor, Jesslyn discusses her journey from an imaginative childhood in Atlanta to becoming CEO of their family business. She shares the inspiring story of how her father and sister developed BIOLYTE® ov...
Pizza, Periods, and Pooping with Miki Agrawal, Founder of TUSHY
November 07, 2023 12:00 - 55 minutes - 51.3 MBDescription: Today on Stairway to CEO, Miki Agrawal, Founder of TUSHY, speaks passionately about her adventures in life and entrepreneurship, from her multicultural upbringing as an identical twin in Montreal, Canada, to playing soccer for the New York Magic to inventing products in taboo categories and creatively launching, marketing, and scaling them to $50 million and beyond. You’ll also hear about the setbacks, controversy, and revelations she had along the way, plus Miki lets us in on...
Money, Mindset, and Magic Mush with Ashley Thompson, Co-Founder and CEO of MUSH
October 31, 2023 11:00 - 52 minutes - 48.5 MBDescription: Today, Lee is joined by the inspirational Ashley Thompson, Co-Founder and CEO of MUSH; an innovative overnight oats brand that tastes more like dessert than a healthy breakfast! Ashley shares her journey from the world of finance to entrepreneurship, how her father inspires her, her take on fundraising, and the challenges she’s faced. Tuning in, you’ll hear all about how Ashley has found success by staying in control of her mindset, managing her energy and emotions, and so much...
From Sears Intern to Celebrity Brand CEO with Sarah Jahnke, Co-Founder and CEO of Homecourt
October 24, 2023 11:00 - 45 minutes - 42 MBDescription: Sarah Jahnke is the Founder and CEO of Homecourt, a home fragrance brand co-founded by Courteney Cox and made with non-toxic skincare-grade ingredients. During this episode, she joins Lee to share her story. Tune in to hear what it was like to meet Courteney Cox for the first time over Zoom, her journey to fundraising for the first time, how she has grown into her leadership role, and much more. Exclusive Deals from Our Sponsors: AWESOME CX by Transcom provides high touch, pe...
Factories, Feedback, and Furniture with Stephen Kuhl, Co-Founder and CEO of Burrow
October 17, 2023 11:00 - 55 minutes - 50.6 MBDescription: Today Lee is joined by an incredibly innovative entrepreneur, the Co-founder, and CEO of Burrow, Stephen Kuhl. Burrow is a company that makes buying furniture simple with swift delivery, easy assembly, and a multitude of options. In this episode, Stephen shares his love for customer research and outlines how he was inspired to go to business school before delving into how he and his business partner came up with the idea to start Burrow. We discuss their incredible journey from...
Cutting Crusts Instead of Corners with Dillon Ceglio, Co-Founder & CEO of Chubby Snacks
October 10, 2023 11:00 - 44 minutes - 40.5 MBDescription: Sharing his story today is Dillon Ceglio, the Co-Founder and CEO of Chubby Snacks, a brand modernizing the classic peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Catching up with Dillon, we hear all about his upbringing in a small city in New Jersey and how it sparked a competitive mindset in him and cultivated his taste for entrepreneurship that would flourish later on in life. He also shares the story behind why he tattooed his SAT score on his body, highlighting the idea of stepping ston...
Startups, Skincare, and Scarlett Johansson with Kate Foster, Co-Founder and CEO of The Outset
October 03, 2023 11:00 - 55 minutes - 50.8 MBDescription: Today, Lee is joined by Kate Foster, Co-Founder and CEO of The Outset, a skincare line, co-founded and represented by none other than Scarlett Johansson! In catching up with Kate we hear all about her journey; from growing up playing soccer and varsity softball to her internship in the PR department of Sex in the City at HBO to her marketing roles at esteemed brands like Victoria's Secret, Anne Taylor, and Juicy Couture, leading up to her role as the CMO of 'Not Your Daughter's...
Fries, Flights, and Wellness Insights with Kristy Morris, Co-Founder and CEO of Kailo
September 26, 2023 11:00 - 47 minutes - 43.2 MBDescription: Our guest, Kristy Morris, has had a close relationship with entrepreneurship from a young age and saw first-hand what it was like to be a business owner when her parents ran one of the earliest McDonald’s in Australia after the brand was introduced into the country. Today she is the Co-Founder and CEO of Kailo, Australia’s leading luxury wellness brand. Tuning in you’ll hear about her upbringing in Australia, the influence her entrepreneurial parents had on her, her struggles a...
CEO Has a Nice Ring to It with Tom Hale, CEO of ŌURA
September 19, 2023 11:00 - 1 hour - 59 MBDescription: Today, Lee sits down with Tom Hale, CEO of ŌURA, which delivers personalized health data and guidance to make wellness and recovery part of your daily practice. Tuning in, you’ll find out how Tom went from growing up with dreams of becoming a train engineer to discovering the OŪRA Ring and writing a letter to the board about why they should hire him as CEO. You’ll gain some insight into Tom’s journey as a leader, which started with executive positions at Macromedia and Adobe, ...
Acquisitions and Ambitions with Jeanine Lobell, Founder of Neen
September 12, 2023 11:00 - 1 hour - 55.6 MBDescription: Coming to share their story today is Jeanine Lobell, the Founder of Neen. Her story is truly remarkable and underlines the unexpected turns we can all encounter and how far a commitment to one's ideals and ideas can take things. Jeanine talks about the acquisition of her previous company, Stila, and what it took for her to take a dive into something new and exciting. The lessons around healing, community, and authenticity that Jeanine has learned and generously touches on here,...
Roots of Resilience with Greg Starkman, Founder and CEO of Innersense Organic Beauty
September 05, 2023 11:00 - 49 minutes - 45.3 MBDescription: Greg Starkman, the Founder and CEO of Innersense Organic Beauty generously shares some of his defining moments with us, touching on the intentional way they have selected, produced, and released products, surviving the tougher times before things started to tip toward success, and how an approach of steady and continued growth has served the company so well. Our guest also talks about leadership and his continual journey of learning and support for his team, so make sure to tun...
From CPA to CEO with Curt Vander Meer, CEO of Endangered Species Chocolate
August 29, 2023 11:00 - 52 minutes - 48.4 MBDescription: Endangered Species Chocolate was a mission-driven company long before it was cool. CEO Curt Vander Meer joins us today to share the story of his career and impact, the five key duties of a CEO, and how he came to own the Endangered Species Chocolate brand. Join us for an insider’s look at Curt’s unexpected journey to protecting wildlife and continuing the legacy of his founder, mentor, and friend. Exclusive Deals from Our Sponsors: AWESOME CX by Transcom provides high touch, ...
Sacrifices, Successes, and Sauces with Vanessa Pham, Co-Founder and CEO of Omsom
August 22, 2023 11:00 - 50 minutes - 46.3 MBDescription: Today, Lee sits down with Vanessa Pham, a first-generation Vietnamese-American and the Co-Founder and CEO of Omsom, a loud and proud Asian pantry staple brand. In this episode, Vanessa shares her journey from growing up with her sister (and business partner) Kim, and their Vietnamese refugee parents outside of Boston, to attending Harvard, working in consulting, and starting Omsom after being inspired by the 2016 elections to build something that would shift culture. Tuning in,...
Media, Memberships, and Marketing with Michael Broukhim, Co-CEO and Co-Founder of FabFitFun
August 15, 2023 11:00 - 51 minutes - 47.6 MBDescription: In this episode, Lee sits down with Michael Broukhim, Co-CEO and Co-Founder of FabFitFun, a women’s lifestyle membership and shopping experience bringing joy and well-being to its members. Michael shares his experience growing up with his older brother in Los Angeles, his incredible story of starting an online media consulting company, some ups and downs of developing websites for politicians, pivoting to launching a wellness blog, and how this all unfolded into his trailblazin...
Rowing, Resilience, and Reimagining Fitness with Bruce Smith, Founder and CEO of Hydrow
August 08, 2023 11:00 - 51 minutes - 47.6 MBDescription: Sharing his extraordinary story today is Olympic-level rowing coach turned entrepreneur, Bruce Smith. Bruce has been self-sufficient since his teens and in this episode, we discover his journey to becoming the Founder and CEO of Hydrow; the rowing machine company connecting the indoor rowing experience to the magic of rowing on water. From breaking into hotels and churches in order to practice piano, he transferred his passion wholly into rowing. Tune in to discover what he fin...
Crackers, Cheese, and Challenges with Francisco Pergola, Co-Founder of Cheddies Crackers
August 01, 2023 11:00 - 1 hour - 56.5 MBDescription: In today’s episode, we hear Francisco Pergola the Co-Founder of Cheddies Crackers, a high protein, low sugar snack brand made with real cheese sourced from regenerative farms. During this episode, Francisco shares his story of making something out of nothing, time and time again, from growing up in San Antonio, Texas (with dreams of working on Wall Street) to starting the first Ping Pong club in high school, and beyond. Francisco created Cheddies after realizing that hospital p...
From Cooking Class to Condiments with Alison Cayne, Founder and CEO of Haven's Kitchen
July 25, 2023 11:00 - 1 hour - 58.7 MBDescription: Today, Lee is joined by Alison Cayne, New York native, mother of five, and Founder and CEO of the revolutionary cooking school turned fresh, squeezable sauce brand, Haven’s Kitchen. In this episode, we discover how Alison combined her love for cooking, teaching, and entrepreneurship to create Haven’s Kitchen and what inspired her versatile range of sauces for home cooks. She sheds light on the product incubation process and the lack of fundraising opportunities for underreprese...
A Clear Win for Clear Skin with Danielle Gronich, Co-Founder and CEO of CLEARSTEM
July 18, 2023 11:00 - 51 minutes - 47.5 MBDescription: In this episode, Danielle Gronich joins Lee to share her journey to becoming the Co-Founder and CEO of CLEARSTEM. She shares her story from growing up as a tomboy in Southern California with dreams of traveling the world, to working at ADP where she met with all types of business owners and built the confidence to start her first company, the San Diego Acne Clinic. She talks about her experience at beauty school, the root causes and foods that can cause breakouts, how she met h...
Pro Planet and People, Period. with Katie Diasti, Founder and CEO of Viv
July 11, 2023 11:00 - 40 minutes - 37.4 MBDescription: Katie Diasti is changing the world of period care as the Founder and CEO of the non-toxic and sustainable period brand Viv! She joins Lee to share her story of growing up as a first-generation Egyptian-American in Tampa, Florida, before a college project sparked her idea for the brand, with staggering data to fuel her passion. We touch on the early stages of growth at Viv, leveraging affiliate marketing to reach a wider audience, and fundraising as a young woman building a peri...
Michelin Dreams and Gourmet Themes with Julie Nguyen, Co-Founder and CEO of Methodology
July 04, 2023 11:00 - 51 minutes - 46.7 MBDescription: Today, Lee is joined by the CEO and Co-Founder of Methodology, Julie Nguyen, who shares her journey of building a sustainable gourmet meal prep service. Tune in as Julie breaks down her career journey and explains how her personal health struggles inspired the genesis of Methodology. You’ll also find out why she decided against the venture capital route, focusing instead on product quality over scale, and gain some insight into her greatest challenges thus far. Finally, Julie e...
Willpower, Work Ethic, and Wearable Wellness with Cedar Carter, CEO of The Good Patch
June 27, 2023 11:00 - 49 minutes - 44.9 MBDescription: In this episode, Lee sits down with Cedar Carter, CEO of The Good Patch, a pioneering “wearable wellness” company offering plant-infused patches that deliver sustained relief for a variety of everyday ailments. Cedar shares her 20 years of collective experience across the apparel and wellness industries, from her first internship with Donna Karen in The Big Apple to her time at BCBG Max Azria, Roxy, and O’Neil. She also talks about her passion for wellness, her leadership style...
Unwrapping Gifting and Grit with Bridget Johns, Founder and CEO of To&From
June 20, 2023 11:00 - 49 minutes - 45.6 MBDescription: In today’s episode, gifting expert Bridget Johns shares her story, from selling piglets for pocket money in Western Pennsylvania to following her passion for retail and working for upscale brands like Lancôme, Links of London, and Tiffany & Co. Join us as Bridget shares why she decided to build a “holistic gifting” platform and offers some insight into gifting occasions and trends, as well as the assumptions she made about fundraising, the lessons she learned from launching her...
From Fashion to Frozen Flavors with Alicia Liu, Founder and CEO of Lavender and Truffles
June 13, 2023 11:00 - 51 minutes - 47.2 MBDescription: In this episode, Lee is joined by Alicia Liu, Founder and CEO of Lavender and Truffles. Raised in the midst of art, food, and fashion, despite being encouraged to pursue business, it’s no surprise that she managed to incorporate all three in her career journey. Alicia joins us to discuss her varied career journey from her first job as a graphic designer to interning at fashion magazines, working at Prada, then Amazon, and ultimately founding Lavender and Truffles. Tune in hear ...
Garbage, Grit, and Greens with Johnathan Bonnell, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Wholly Veggie
June 06, 2023 11:00 - 56 minutes - 52.1 MBDescription: Joining the show today is Johnathan Bonnell, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Wholly Veggies, a company making it fun and easy to love your veggies with delicious veggie-forward meals and snacks inspired by restaurants around the world! Nothing can truly prepare you for the stress, hard work, and curveballs that come with being an entrepreneur, but as today’s guest has learned, sometimes the challenges that life throws at you can give you the training you need to trust you can make it t...
Little Saints, Big Spirits with Megan Klein, Founder and CEO of Little Saints
May 30, 2023 11:00 - 51 minutes - 47.3 MBDescription: In this episode, Lee is joined by Megan Klein, Founder and CEO of Little Saints, a sugar-free, functional, nonalcoholic beverage company that has ditched the spirits in favor of the spiritual. Megan’s career journey began in the field of environmental law but her curious, independent, rebellious nature (and her aversion to fighting) led her down the entrepreneurial path. Today, she shares what she learned from the successes and failures she experienced while working in the vert...
Scoops of Approval with Alec Jaffe, Founder and CEO of Alec's Ice Cream
May 23, 2023 11:00 - 57 minutes - 53.1 MBDescription: Today, Lee sits down with Alec Jaffe, Founder and CEO of Alec’s Ice Cream, the world’s first and only regenerative agriculture-verified and USDA-certified organic ice cream made using 100% gut-friendly A2 dairy. Alec gives us a glimpse into his background, from surfing in Laguna Beach as a child to playing football at USC with a dream of going pro before a shoulder injury shifted his career ambitions and led him to a job in corporate sponsorship for AEG Worldwide. You’ll gain s...
Harvard, Health, and Hormones with Allie Egan, Founder and CEO of Veracity
May 16, 2023 11:00 - 50 minutes - 46.1 MBDescription: Sharing their Stairway to CEO story today is Allie Egan, a passionate brand-builder and the Founder and CEO of Veracity. Offering personalized solutions based on its at-home hormone testing kit, Veracity’s uniquely data-driven approach and clean skincare products help you take your health into your own hands. In this insightful episode, Allie sheds some light on her journey from her first job as a waitress in a retirement home outside of Philadelphia to earning her MBA from Har...
Something in the Water with Sandro Roco, Founder and CEO of Sanzo
May 09, 2023 11:00 - 55 minutes - 51.1 MBDescription: On today’s show, Lee is joined by Sandro Roco, the Founder and CEO of the first Asian-inspired sparkling water brand, Sanzo. Sandro’s career journey has been as flavorful as his products. Before founding Sanzo, he worked as a nuclear power plant engineer, on the trading floor at JPMorgan, and created his own fashion app! Tune in today to hear how Sandro’s pride in his Asian American heritage combined with his desire for financial freedom, led him to found Sanzo, the lessons tha...
From Forbes to Foods with Courtney Boyd Myers, Founder and CEO of AKUA
May 02, 2023 11:00 - 47 minutes - 43.2 MBDescription: Today, Lee is joined by the Founder and CEO of AKUA, Courtney Boyd Myers. Courtney’s career path has seen three separate tracks which collided in the form of the sustainable food brand, AKUA. Having grown up at the seaside in Connecticut, she has a deep love and appreciation for the ocean which, years later, manifested in her delicious, nutritious kelp burgers with numerous health and environmental benefits. In this episode, Courtney shares her entrepreneurship journey and reco...
From Nike to Fertility with Ronit Menashe, Co-Founder and CEO of WeNatal
April 25, 2023 11:00 - 54 minutes - 49.9 MBDescription: Sharing her story today is the Co-Founder and CEO of WeNatal, Ronit Menashe, who is channeling all of her Israeli ‘chutzpah’ to tackle the fertility crisis experienced worldwide. Ronit, the second oldest of four siblings born to entrepreneurial parents, began her career with a Nike internship and quickly worked her way up the ranks. However, her desire for a more purposeful line of work combined with a tragic personal experience led her to leave the corporate world behind to fo...
From Manwich to Murad with Paul Schiraldi, CEO of Murad
April 18, 2023 11:00 - 50 minutes - 46.1 MBDescription: Joining the show today is Paul Schiraldi, CEO of Murad, a leading global skincare brand characterized by a holistic approach that prioritizes the health of your skin above anything else. In Lee’s conversation with Joe, he talks us through his tenacious career trajectory, his passion for both analysis and creativity, and the various industries he experimented with before coming to work with the premier brands in beauty. We also dive into his learnable experiences as a first-time ...
From Private Equity to Personalized Skincare with Ming Zhao, Co-Founder and CEO of PROVEN Skincare
April 11, 2023 11:00 - 1 hour - 55.6 MBDescription: Sharing her story today is Ming Zhao, Co-Founder and CEO of PROVEN Skincare, a company that’s revolutionizing the skincare space. Ming sits down with Lee to talk about her incredible transition from China to the United States, what inspired her passion for traveling the world, and how this wanderlust spurred her to create PROVEN. You’ll also hear about the appointment with a celebrity dermatologist that changed her life, the grueling experience of being on Shark Tank, why she c...
Big on Brand and Obstacles with Joe Spector, Founder and CEO of Dutch
April 04, 2023 11:00 - 1 hour - 59.5 MBDescription: Joining the show today is the Founder and CEO of Dutch, the first all-encompassing pet telehealth company! Joe Spector sits down to talk about the path leading to his current work helping to make pet care easy and accessible for all types of pet owners, and we get to hear from him about his early years in the former Soviet Union, and the roots of his rebellious and entrepreneurial spirit. Joe unpacks his educational background, his first forays into business, and the startup ex...
From Grey to Arey with Allison Conrad, Co-Founder and CEO of Arey
March 28, 2023 11:00 - 51 minutes - 47.4 MBDescription: Today, Lee is joined by the Co-Founder and CEO of Arey, a company that is providing the solution to grey hair! When Allison Conrad started going grey, she took a deep dive into the reasons why, and what she found surprised her as much as it will likely surprise you. Arey is the 12th company that Allison has been involved in and the 3rd she has founded, so in this episode, she shares some of the key takeaways from her career journey to date. She also explains how Arey products w...
Gel Nails and Target Sales with Christina Kao, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Le Mini Macaron
March 21, 2023 11:00 - 1 hour - 55.3 MBDescription: Today, we are joined by Christina Kao, the Co-Founder and Co-CEO of the DIY gel manicure and nail care brand, Le Mini Macaron. Christina opens up about her personal journey from Alabama to New York, to Shanghai, and beyond, and shares the genesis story of her brand. We learn how her brand went viral on TikTok, the challenges she faced as her business evolved, and the role Covid played in the brand’s success. Tune in to discover how to make a smooth career transition and bootstr...
Baking a Sweet Business with Loren Castle, Founder and CEO of Sweet Loren's
March 14, 2023 11:00 - 57 minutes - 52.5 MBDescription: Joining the show today is Loren Castle, Founder and CEO of Sweet Loren’s, the accessible, good for you, and delicious cookie brand. Loren talks about her passion for putting healthy, real food made from natural ingredients into her body turned into a serious baking hobby which subsequently led to founding Sweet Loren’s. She shares about the unconventional household she grew up in, her approach to ensuring that the growth of her business is sustainable, and her key pieces of adv...
Cookies Changing the World with Hans Schrei, Founder and CEO of Wunderkeks
March 07, 2023 12:00 - 56 minutes - 51.4 MBDescription: Joining the show today is Hans Schrei, a passionate entrepreneur who is using his business to create safe spaces for the LGBTQIA+ community, one cookie at a time. Hans is the Founder and CEO of Wunderkeks, a company that not only sells unbelievably delicious cookies but sees every sweet treat as a pathway to the rituals that allow us to connect with one another. In our conversation, Hans reflects on his upbringing in Guatemala and the challenges of being queer in a conservative...
Beer, Beans, and Brains with Christopher Gallant, CEO of Chamberlain Coffee
February 28, 2023 12:00 - 44 minutes - 40.8 MBDescription: Christopher Gallant joins the show today to share his story and childhood dreams of becoming a lawyer, studying at MIT, starting The Bronx Brewery, and becoming a CEO. Chris is the CEO of the incredible talent-led brand, Chamberlain Coffee and has many years of experience in the beverage industry. In this episode, Chris tells us all about his illustrious career in multiple massive beverage companies, his very own business, how imposter syndrome affects him, and much more! We de...
Introspection and Empathy with Alex Bayer, Co-Founder and CEO of Genius Juice
February 21, 2023 12:00 - 48 minutes - 44.2 MBDescription: In this episode, Lee is joined by the Co-Founder and CEO of Genius Juice, Alex Bayer, to share his entrepreneurship journey. Alex opens up about his struggles with social anxiety growing up, how his lifestyle supports him through personal challenges, and the sales ability his introspection has afforded him. We learn about the genesis of Genius Juice and the lessons Alex learned along the way, as well as his experience of pitching his business on Shark Tank. Tune in to discover ...
Startups and Sparkling Drinks with Scout Brisson, CEO of De Soi
February 14, 2023 12:00 - 53 minutes - 49.2 MBDescription: Scout Brisson, the CEO of De Soi, sits down with Lee today to talk about her current leadership role and the unique journey she has had up to this point in her career. With some impactful lessons learned in corporate America, and a desire to head up something important, Scout made the leap into the world of startups, and soon after found herself working with De Soi's amazing co-founders, none other than Morgan McLachlan and Katy Perry! De Soi is now poised to become a market le...