Stairway to CEO

Quotes:

“No matter how good you are, you have to prepare.” [0:06:12]

“I learned to see opportunities and how I could impact them and make a difference, and I got rewarded for that.” [0:07:49]

“If you don’t get what you want, keep trying.” [0:13:05]

“I learned [so much] along the way about the importance of how you treat people, how you care for people, how you inspire, motivate, and lead them. And that was my way of getting the business results that I was tasked with.” [0:17:19]

“If you’re going to alienate people along the way you’re going to look behind you and you won’t have any followers.” s [0:25:56]

“To be our best self, we have to be healthy.” [0:33:25]

“When I found myself without my career, my husband, or my home, what got me through that transition was getting on my yoga mat every day.” [0:39:36]

“You can’t shortstep or expedite your way through grief. You have to feel it. You have to go through it. You can’t move around it.” [0:40:10]

“Part of the way that I have always remained highly motivated and energized and passionate about my work is finding the purpose in the work.” [0:41:08]

“For me, listening has been one of the incredible keys to my success.” [0:49:48]

“We were ahead of the curve. It simply came from being there to listen.” [0:51:28]

“Our higher purpose is to power love from the inside out, putting more love in the world and helping people access that love.” [0:52:47]

“When you face adversity, don’t let it get you down and don’t wallow in it. Within that adversity lies opportunity” [0:54:51]

Silicon Valley, AI, and Solving Customer Service with Puneet Mehta, Founder and CEO of Netomi

lee@stairwaytoceo.com (Lee Greene, Puneet Mehta) — Tue, 18 Jun 2024 11:00:00 +0000

Description:

In this episode of Stairway to CEO, you’ll learn all about Puneet Mehta's captivating entrepreneurial journey, from his upbringing in India and fulfilling his childhood dream of living in Silicon Valley to spearheading AI advancements at Netomi. He tells us how his parents inspired him to embrace daunting challenges, what he learned from his years developing trading engines on Wall Street, the transformative encounter he had with Mike Bloomberg, and how these experiences have fueled his entrepreneurial drive. Join us as we uncover Puneet's perspective on the AI landscape, his pivotal role in founding Netomi, and the profound benefits of integrating AI to elevate customer experiences.

Exclusive Deals from Our Sponsors:

In This Episode You’ll Hear About:

[01:51] What it was like for Puneet growing up in Chandigarh, India, and how his mother and father inspired him to pursue difficult goals.
[06:17] Why he feels so lucky to have studied engineering and computer science at one of the top schools in India, and how he realized his childhood dream of moving to Silicon Valley.
[07:15] The value of his experiences on Wall Street developing trading engines and how his fortuitous meeting with Mike Bloomberg empowered him to build his own company.
[11:38] How he built his first company leveraging prediction algorithms, their strategic partnership with BMW, and key takeaways that helped him build Netomi.
[15:47] What inspired him to found Netomi, how he got the company off the ground, and what it was like building a chatbot for Sony Pictures.
[23:37] Recognizing the high demand for improved customer experience, how they are solving key pain points for customers using AI, and the many uses of Netomi’s co-pilot.
[33:43] Partnerships in the AI space and what it means for a company to be powered by another company or tool.
[35:52] How Netomi addresses fears around outsourcing customer service needs, and why AI won’t replace humans working in customer service.
[41:25] Netomi’s partnership with Awesome CX, where Puneet sees it going in the coming years, and how he expects other aspects of his business to be impacted by AI.
[47:49] His advice for aspiring entrepreneurs on how empathy is misunderstood and why you shouldn’t do it for the money; what is next for Netomi, and what Puneet is most excited about!

To Find Out More:

Netomi

Puneet Mehta on Linkedin

Gong

Quotes:

“Being aligned on the core mindset is so incredibly important. It's more important than your business strategy. It's more important than any other part of the business.” [0:13:09]

“As you start bringing new technology to life, and as you introduce it to the world, you have to make the adoption completely frictionless. You have to do it in a way that engages or [accompanies] a habit that somebody's already used to.” [0:13:42]

“[When you] think about business outcomes, to stay excited about what you're doing, you have to focus on the journey. You cannot just focus on the end goal.” [0:14:39]

“That's what the AI co-pilot from Netomi does. It gives them a superpower where AI can now gather information from these different systems, it can prepare a response for you, it can also help an agent get trained quicker.” [0:30:28]

“[The Netomi co-pilot] also gives you insights based on what your customers are telling you. Because it's humanly impossible to go back and listen to every single phone call.” [0:31:43]

“The founders that are growing these companies are looking for insight [from Netomi’s co-pilot] because conversations with their customers are the biggest asset.” [0:37:17]

“The demand is there to feel like we are treated well as customers [and] to have that customer love. We want those questions answered. There just isn't enough resources available with these brands to answer all of these questions promptly.” [0:40:47]

“The top use case for AI for large companies is customer experience.” [0:44:22]

“That's how fast this change is coming. We should see every company in the world in the next 12 to 18 months adopt AI in some shape or form for customer experience.” [0:46:01]

“There are much easier ways of making money [than starting a company]. This is a really hard way to do it – but if you're connected to what you do, [then] the journey itself would be quite enriching.” [0:49:23]

“[Starting a company] will give you experiences and it'll help you come across people that you want to have shared experiences with.” [0:49:35]

Baby Steps to Big Bucks with Ben Lewis, Founder and CEO of Little Spoon

lee@stairwaytoceo.com (Lee Greene, Ben Lewis) — Tue, 11 Jun 2024 11:00:00 +0000

Description:

What does it look like to bring innovation to a static industry? A lifelong love for entrepreneurship and the food and beverage industry led Ben Lewis to take a massive risk to disrupt the baby food industry, and with $90 million raised to date, it certainly paid off! In this episode of Stairway to CEO, Ben shares the story of continuing his dad’s legacy in business, finding out-of-the-box solutions to the complex problem of manufacturing his product, and much more!

Exclusive Deals from Our Sponsors:

In This Episode You’ll Hear About:

• [01:05] Ben Lewis’s first taste of entrepreneurship as a child and how he continued his father’s legacy, starting with a bottled water start-up.

• [12:00] His exposure to the food and beverage industry by developing a Greek yogurt brand.

• [15:50] Learning essential lessons through bootstrapping a food distribution company.

• [20:45] Ben's involvement in angel investment in the food and beverage space.

• [21:48] Founding Little Spoon with the motivation to disrupt a static industry, naming the product, and developing the product and packaging.

• [28:46] Product expansion and the philosophy of growing with the customer that underpins Little Spoon’s growth.

• [34:30] Surprises on the road to building a D2C business, including an unlikely partnership with a tamale company.

• [40:25] How Ben’s role has evolved with the company and Little Spoon’s approach to talent.

• [42:29] Fundraising in the baby food industry, finding a new approach to return on investment, and what’s next for Little Spoon.

To Find Out More:

Little Spoon

Ben Lewis on X

Ben Lewis on LinkedIn

The Equity Studio

Kairos HQ

Hudson Davis-Ross on Linkedin

Quotes:

“You could have the best product in the world, the best brand in the world, and even the right team and the right capital – but ultimately so much of it, especially in the traditional retail space, depends on the distribution and what happens at the point of sale.” [0:15:14]

“For the right brand and the right product, having a direct relationship with your customer is so critically important.” [0:19:17]

“Being detached from your ultimate customer is a real hindrance to building a brand.” [0:20:01]

“There’s a big opportunity for us, not just within that baby stage with the baby blends, but for Little Spoon as a brand to be the go-to as that kid is growing up and as the family is growing.” [0:31:32]

“[We’ve grown our business] largely through growing with our customers.” [0:31:48]

“That was how we started. We turned this manufacturing roadblock into a very unlikely partnership.” [0:39:29]

“One of the things I’m most proud of at Little Spoon is that we’ve had extremely low attrition, so our retention is literally best in class.” [0:40:58]

“Optics matter, but at the end of the day, you need to do what’s right.” [0:44:35]

“For us, it’s about listening to our customers and finding where those pockets of opportunity are.” [0:46:59]

“We’re building a brand for a new generation of parents.” [0:47:42]

“As an entrepreneur, you’re often having to choose between speed, quality, and cost.” [0:47:54]

“Don’t aim for perfection.” [0:48:46]

Brooklyn, Brews, and Botanical Breakthroughs with Hudson Davis-Ross, Co-Founder and CEO of Plant People

lee@stairwaytoceo.com (Lee Greene, Hudson David-Ross) — Tue, 7 May 2024 11:00:00 +0000

Description:

Today, Hudson Davis-Ross joins the show to share about Co-Founding a mission-driven company that truly helps people with their health needs. From being diagnosed with ADHD in middle school to undergoing spinal surgery, Hudson has faced his fair share of health challenges. Tune in to learn all about his captivating entrepreneurial journey, from growing up in Brooklyn, New York, to founding his first company, RISE, to ultimately becoming the co-founder of Plant People – whose plant-based products offer natural alternatives to pharmaceuticals. Along the way, we explore how he navigated major setbacks caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and gain insights into his refreshing perspective on building purpose-driven businesses!

Exclusive Deals from Our Sponsors:

In This Episode You’ll Hear About:

• [01:54] What it was like growing up in New York, at the epicenter of so many industries, within a household dominated by women.

• [06:43] Hudson’s ADHD diagnosis in middle school, the many different interests he pursued, and the benefits and drawbacks of having ADHD when you’re an entrepreneur.

• [10:23] His experience working at Gilt Groupe from its early stages as a small startup to having over two thousand employees.

• [14:13] Why he decided to leave Gilt Groupe and take on a role at Aloha as part of the founding team, and his top takeaways from the experience.

• [18:25] What made Hudson shift to co-founding his first company, RISE Brewing Company, key lessons he learned, and how he met his partners.

• [25:32] Fundraising for RISE, and how it led to him starting his branding and business strategy firm, CROSBY.

• [27:29] The drastic spinal surgery that Hudson had to get, how it led to the founding of Plant People, and what it was like entering into the CBD and cannabis space.

• [30:22] How they stepped up their business, educated consumers, and the innovations they were doing with regards to ingredients and formulations.

• [32:42] Their decision to scale up, why they decided not to take on more funding, the dramatic impact that COVID-19 had on their revenue, and how they recovered.

• [35:27] Hudson’s insights on partnering with retailers and distributors, advice for aspiring and up-and-coming entrepreneurs, and what’s next for Plant People.

To Find Out More:

Allegra Moet Brantley on LinkedIn

Quotes:

“I always hope to, at some point in my life, write a book on having ADHD and being an entrepreneur, because I think there's a lot of pluses and minuses – mostly pluses.” [0:07:19]

“If you have [a] really big vision, and momentum with other investors, people will invest. It really is a hype game. And so I learned a lot around fundraising [at Aloha].” [0:17:12]

“[To be] the Apple of anything – takes decades. You can't just do that [in a] matter of a year or two. But that's what we pitched [to] a lot of the investors. And so I think there was a bit of a disconnect there.” [0:18:43]

“The main reason I started this business, [Plant People] is I had spinal surgery, [I had to] learn how to walk again.” [0:27:31]

“My now co-founder also had a spinal surgery and was exploring plant-based modalities himself. And so we started together.” [0:28:01]

“I had more passion for making an impact in people's lives.” [0:28:12]

“We had so much pushback in the beginning because people didn't understand CBD. They thought it was weed. They thought it was THC, they were like, ‘Will I get high from this?’ That was the biggest education point.” [0:30:59]

“Tap into what customers want [and] are already [buying], [but do] it better.” [0:36:09]

“In general, you just got to hustle. You have to go with momentum, you have to have a lot of boutiques [and] a lot of independents. And when you have that momentum, then you can get the attention of distributors.” [0:36:27]

“The secret sauce is to be an entrepreneur – is to use the resources you don't have, to achieve what you believe in.” [0:37:56]

“You can hire sales managers who have been in sales, and they have rolodexes. And that does help. But I think no one sells better than the founder or the CEO.” [0:39:39]

“One of the things that is key to success is showing your team, or showing your initial hires, that you're all in.” [0:41:06]

“If you're doing it, the team can do it. And if you're passionate about it, the team gets passionate about it, they see the value.” [0:43:09]

Widening the Wealth Circle for Women with Allegra Moet Brantley, Founder and CEO of Factora

lee@stairwaytoceo.com (Lee Greene, Awesome CX, Allegra Moet Brantley) — Tue, 2 Apr 2024 11:00:00 +0000

Description:

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, the challenges that can come with fundraising, building a sustainable business while growing a family, and much more. Allegra also has some valuable, go-getting advice for aspiring entrepreneurs, so if you have a business idea that has been nagging at you, you won’t want to miss this episode!

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@stairwaytoceo.com to learn more about their award-winning services and Awesome Coffee Chats

In This Episode You’ll Hear About:

• [02:53] Why transparency is the key to rid conversations about personal wealth of taboo.

• [05:43] Insight into Allegra’s upbringing across the country, her education, and her first jobs.

• [16:35] The importance of always negotiating for more and reading contracts thoroughly!

• [19:45] Lessons from Allegra’s time in the marketing department at Estee Lauder.

• [21:35] What her first steps into entrepreneurship in 2011 taught her about financial freedom.

• [30:13] Allegra’s valuable experiences at Financial Gym and the origin story of Factora.

• [38:29] How Factora has evolved and how The Wealth Circle community has grown.

• [40:45] Some of the challenges of fundraising, bootstrapping the business from the ground up, combating burnout while raising a family, and how Allegra overcame them.

• [49:37] Price ranges for Factora’s courses, what they entail, and how you can benefit for life!

• [53:50] What the future holds for Factora, how they take women from overwhelm to sustainable wealth-building, why this industry is ripe for disruption, and more.

To Find Out More:

Factora

The Wealth Circle

6 Figure Savings

Coffee & Coin Podcast

Allegra Moet Brantley on Instagram

Mary van Praag on LinkedIn

Quotes:

“It is so nerve-wracking and cathartic to share these numbers we never [talk about]. In the very first call, [Wealth Circle members] are sharing their salary.” [0:04:26]

“When we share resources and investment strategies, it’s such a wealth of knowledge.” [0:05:33]

“[Becoming] a salary negotiation coach – only reemphasized what I was experiencing personally. Now that I’m good at asking for more money [and] getting more money, it doesn’t mean I have more money. Making and keeping [money] are two very different things!” [0:29:02]

“I was more passionate about helping women build wealth than anything else I had touched on in my career. It’s one thing to understand where your income goes. It’s a whole other thing to make a strategy for investing it [and] feel confident enough to do so.” [0:34:25]

“It felt like a sentence would not stop tapping at the base of my neck – ‘Help women build wealth, help women build wealth, help women build wealth,’ all day long.” [0:35:51]

“When you raise funding, and now you have investors involved, and they have a vision too, oftentimes you have to acquiesce and collaborate with that vision. I felt so strongly [about] my own [vision]. I didn’t want to bring in anything to muddy that.” [0:43:57]

“90% of women come to Factora for the stick market portion. They say for the community and the access to additional creative investment ideas.” [0:52:32]

“I don’t want people to hand over their entire financial autonomy because they don’t think they’re smart enough to do it themselves. That is why I think this industry is ripe for disruption.” [0:57:55]

“For aspiring entrepreneurs; if you have an idea that’s banging at the base of your neck, it’s going to create value in this world both for potential customers but also for you and what you are going to learn [through your failures, strifes, and success]. Make like Nike and do it!” [0:58:20]

“Investing is not hard. Investing is not complicated. You are meant to think – that it is. You’re already doing it if you’ve ever utilized a 401k or an IRA. You can do more of it, and I suggest that you do.” [0:59:49]

Turnarounds, Transformations, and Taking Charge with Mary van Praag, Global CEO at Milani Cosmetics

lee@stairwaytoceo.com (Lee Greene, Mary van Praag) — Tue, 16 Jan 2024 12:00:00 +0000

Description:

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 lessons she’s learned about being vulnerable as a leader, and much more!

Exclusive Deals from Our Sponsors:

In This Episode You’ll Hear About:

[02:31] Mary’s upbringing in Ohio; how her parents’ divorce (and being the eldest) informed her early leadership development, her first entrepreneurial pursuits, and her college years.
[10:12] What it was like moving 17 times in her professional life, how this has proven her ability to manage change, and why she loves making things better.
[14:46] How Mary found her internal drive as a leader and her advice to others struggling to find their voice.
[21:18] Her early career in sales and how her experiences as general manager at Coty and OPI Products set her on the path towards CEO.
[27:07] Mary’s first role as CEO at Perricone MD, the destabilizing impact of the COVID pandemic, and how she adapted and ultimately became CEO of Milani Cosmetics.
[30:54] Key lessons on building your team as a CEO.
[34:44] What Mary has learned about turnarounds since she first started out, and her insights on how being CEO resembles running your own business.
[37:53] Why being vulnerable as a leader is one of the most important lessons Mary has had to learn, and her thoughts on what sets the role of CEO apart from other positions.
[46:02] Milani Cosmetics’ approach to remote work and an overview of the exciting things the brand has coming up!
[52:18] Mary’s practical advice for aspiring CEOs.

To Find Out More:

Milani Cosmetics

Coty

Perricone MD

Quotes:

“Moving, I think, indicates my ability to manage change and transformation. But at the same time, create a great network of deep-seated roots and connections that I will forever have in my life.” [0:12:13]

“I'm at my best, as a leader – when you look at the context of a situation – when something requires change and transformation. I love to make things better.” [0:12:40]

“Some people are great at constructive conflict, others are analytical geniuses, others are great teachers. I always say ‘find that thing that makes you unique, [and] whatever your superpower is, really feed into it.’” [0:16:14]

“Leaders don't have all the answers. What I want to hear is the people [who] are closest to the business [and] have a unique point of view. And we need to hear that.” [0:16:56]

“I can be interesting, but I have to be interested first.” [0:19:54]

“You always have to respect the past, but you have to get people aligned to create the new future. And you quickly find out who wants to do that, and who doesn't. And that's a lot of work.” [0:25:02]

“Thinking about how you build teams is an important part of what a CEO does. I have amassed a fabulous team with very high engagement scores and a really strong culture. And we built it brick by brick, but it started with my leadership team.” [0:33:04]

“We're all motivated towards the same future that we want to build. And that's very, very rewarding.” [0:33:51]

“Depending on the circumstances, [a turnaround] this is like running our own business.” [0:35:26]

“The biggest thing I had to learn was to be vulnerable.” [0:37:55]

“If you don't give people an inspiring vision, they have nothing to hope for. Especially when you're in a turnaround.” [0:38:53]

“I don't necessarily think everybody needs to be in the office every day to get productivity or work. I think we have happier employees, because we're hybrid, and that’s part of our culture now. We work hybrid.” [0:47:14]

“Have a bias [towards] action. The strategic agility part is really important in today's day and age with the millions of things that we have flying at us.” [0:53:08]

Connection, Community and Conversation with Julie Rice, Co-Founder and CEO of Peoplehood

lee@stairwaytoceo.com (Lee Greene, Julie Rice) — Tue, 9 Jan 2024 12:00:00 +0000

Description:

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 all this and more!

Exclusive Deals from Our Sponsors:

In This Episode You’ll Hear About:

• [02:16] How growing up as a theatre lover in small town New York started her off on a creative and collaborative path.

• [06:24] Early leadership tendencies, working in the entertainment industry, and translating those skills to working in brand.

• [12:44] The story of SoulCycle’s inception in New York in 200; starting with a business plan on the back of a napkin.

• [17:11] Starting and growing SoulCycle and the premise that motivated Julie and her business partner to start Peoplehood.

• [26:41] What Peoplehood is and how it is unfolding as a business.

• [34:02] Tips for truly getting to know the people in your sphere.

• [43:28] Communication insights from Peoplehood and advice for entrepreneurs.

To Find Out More:

Julie Rice on LinkedIn

Peoplehood

SoulCycle

Awesome CX

Lee Greene Email

Nathan Kondamuri on LinkedIn

Quotes:

“For me, the great fun in any business that I create is really about collaboration and the gifts that different people can bring to a project.” [0:06:34]

“Community and team activity is something that I’ve always loved participating in.” [0:07:04]

“A lot of the things that I learned in the entertainment business absolutely affected the way that I thought about brand building.” [0:09:55]

“Brand is really about who you want to be in the world; what does it feel like, sound like,, what does it smell like, what does it look like?” [0:10:13]

“The funny thing is, I never set out to be an entrepreneur. I never actually thought of myself that way until people started to use the word retroactively.” [0:15:14]

“We created something that we wanted to use.” [0:15:31]

“As an entrepreneur, having a business partner, if you can find the right partner, is great.” [0:18:14]

“We began to think about what it would look like to create something that was relational fitness; a place where we could teach people how to listen to each other, how to talk to each other and build a different kind of muscle.” [0:23:13]

“When you look at all the information out there, what we know for sure is that we cannot lead physically or mentally healthy lives without being in productive relationships.” — Julie Rice [0:24:17]

“We spend so much of our lives and our time in relationships and we really don’t spend the intentional time figuring out how to be in these relationships.” — Julie Rice [0:24:49]

“What people really want from people they are in relationships with is to feel heard by them, to feel seen by them, and to feel like their opinions matter to somebody.” — Julie Rice [0:27:29]

“What we’re doing at Peoplehood is really giving somebody space to peel the layers of their own onion.” — Julie Rice [0:31:46]

“An underpracticed and underappreciated skill is listening.” — Julie Rice [0:33:28]

“There’s something about stepping back and letting someone finish that is very powerful.” — Julie Rice [0:42:00]

Behind the Frames with Nathan Kondamuri, Co-Founder and CEO of Pair Eyewear

lee@stairwaytoceo.com (Lee Greene, Nathan Kondamuri) — Tue, 2 Jan 2024 12:00:00 +0000

Description:

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:

In This Episode You’ll Hear About:

• [02:22] Signs of an inherent love for iteration and business development from Nathan’s childhood in small-town Indiana.

• [10:58] His growing interest in mechanical engineering and his introduction to the start-up world beyond college.

• [17:00] How Nathan and his best friend had the idea for Pair in a Stanford dorm room.

• [20:58] Researching customers of all ages, early angel capital fundraising, and annual growth since launching to market in 2019.

• [26:59] Pivotal moments in Pair Eyewear’s distribution and growth, including building a design platform for customers to bring their favorite brands to life and blowing up on TikTok.

• [30:27] Scaling challenges like developing the on-demand production process.

• [35:57] The secret to structuring a team with the support of Awesome CX.

• [40:08] Pair Eyewear’s five-year focus to deliver a joyful customizable eyewear experience.

• [46:59] Why, given a do-over, Nathan would hire people in key areas earlier, how his role as co-CEO has changed, and advice for new entrepreneurs.

To Find Out More:

Pair Eyewear

Pair Eyewear on TikTok

Courtney Toll on LinkedIn

Quotes:

“I didn’t know I wanted to start a company – until Pair came about and one thing led to another.” [0:12:53]

“[My experience at Bain] gave me a very different way of looking at a business – I got to learn a lot about how a business runs, and how experienced people view and understand a business model.” [0:16:02]

“I had worn glasses since I was seven or eight years old, and it had always been an unexciting experience compared to any other consumer product in my life.” [0:17:31]

“We got to thinking, why had nobody ever tried to [recreate, redefine, and redesign] the glasses experience for consumers to be more personalized, to be more joyful, and dynamic, just as people are?” [0:18:14]

“We just knew we liked each other, we were really good friends and had been friends for four years, we had this idea, and we were excited to put our everything into that idea.” [0:20:04]

“Surround yourself with people that are absolute experts at their craft, at their area of expertise.” [0:24:26]

“We quickly, not pivoted, but expanded our mission and vision for the business to be able to personalize the eyewear experience not just for children, but for all people.” [0:26:23]

“We were trying to build a solution for kids like my brother to not be afraid of their glasses and not be daunted by the experience, but have it be something they were excited about.” [0:26:40]

“We were a real pioneer on the platform of TikTok where we grew heavily on the platform through an influencer-led strategy.” [0:27:34]

“Our mission and vision over the next five-plus years is to become one of the largest global eyecare companies in the world that’s focused on bringing personalization into the eyecare and broader eyewear end-to-end experience.” [0:40:08]

“We thought a lot about, when is the right time to vertically integrate? You really want to do it at a time when volume and demand is growing.” [0:45:33]

“The job of co-CEO now is not the same as it was when we first started the business.” [0:48:59]

“Just get out and start! That is one of the biggest roadblocks that people have.” [0:50:50]

“The only way to learn what it’s like to be a founder is to just dive right in and do it.” [0:51:20]

“Starting a company is a marathon, not a sprint.” [0:52:31]

Wrinkles and Wins with Courtney Toll, Co-Founder and CEO of Nori

lee@stairwaytoceo.com (Lee Greene, Courtney Toll) — Tue, 26 Dec 2023 12:00:00 +0000

Description:

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 bolstered her entrepreneurial journey, the challenges of innovating with hardware, how they put together their distribution and branding strategy, and much more. You won’t want to miss this fascinating deep dive into the many intricacies of hardware innovation and what goes into making your vision happen!

Exclusive Deals from Our Sponsors:

In This Episode You’ll Hear About:

• [05:11] Courtney’s idyllic childhood in Connecticut, her lifelong perfectionism, the legacy of entrepreneurship in her family, her early jobs, and how her career goals evolved.

• [11:48] Key skills she learned from cold outreach; how this supported her entrepreneurship.

• [15:59] How she got the idea for Nori while living in a cramped New York apartment.

• [18:37] Courtney’s research; what she learned from interviewing over 500 consumers.

• [21:17] How she and her co-founder overcame the challenges of innovating with hardware.

• [26:19] Insight into their unexpectedly long product development process and how they implemented their distribution and branding strategy.

• [30:15] Raising money in the depths of COVID, the far-reaching usefulness of a demo video, and how having difficulty fundraising worked to their advantage.

• [38:27] Reflections on organic marketing and how to partner with the right influencers.

• [43:44] Their company’s approach to marketing and the primary lesson Courtney has learned about building a successful marketing stack.

• [46:22] What’s next for Nori, including launching some exciting new products, and parting words of advice for aspiring entrepreneurs!

To Find Out More:

Nori

Quotes:

“I'm so grateful that I have gone on this path. And when I reflect on the things that are decisions that my family members made, I think it makes a lot of sense why I also went down this road.” [0:11:07]

“There's always more to be done, there's always growth to be seen, and therefore, I push myself quite hard to succeed.” [0:11:33]

“My co-founder and I ended up interviewing over 500 plus consumers to talk about what they liked about their existing ironing and steaming solutions, [and] what they didn't like.” [0:19:17]

“It wasn't easy by any means. But we also weren't pitching this random idea and asking for a very subjective 300,000 [dollars]. At that point in time, we had outlines [of] exactly where all of this money was going to.” [0:23:20]

“By the time that it was fully deployed, we had a working prototype and a lot of consumer feedback to validate the fact that we had stumbled onto something that we should take to market.” [0:24:25]

“We decided on one product development firm, a satellite office in China.” [0:26:30]

“With something like hardware, you do need to take your time really trying to get something right and [make] sure that it's giving you the desired output that you're looking for.” [0:27:24]

“The ironing steaming market is one that lives almost exclusively in big box retailers.” [0:29:06]

“We wanted to be a direct consumer business, we wanted this to be a one-to-one conversation with the customer. And we wanted to make this a really cool branded sexy purchase which feels totally in conflict with a product like an iron.” [0:29:16]

“Everything from our branding to the design of the product to the actual performance of the product was designed to sort of change the way you think about this type of chore.” [0:29:33]

“[With a demo video] you're not just hearing a testimonial about why you like [a] product, but you're actually watching it.” [0:33:22]

“I think the key takeaway here is building a marketing stack to support your direct consumer channel but making sure that all of the aspects of that marketing stack are feeding one another.” [0:44:58]

Travel Inspiration for Makeup Innovation with Fiona Chan, Founder & CEO of Youthforia

lee@stairwaytoceo.com (Lee Greene, Fiona Chan) — Tue, 19 Dec 2023 12:00:00 +0000

Description:

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:

In This Episode You’ll Hear About:

[01:56] Fiona paints the picture of her early life, education and early jobs.
[10:44] Working in tech and a startup accelerator before becoming a founder.
[14:41] How travel inspired the Youthforia brand and the hands-on process behind perfecting the product.
[21:06] Building the brand on social media through storytelling and education.
[24:49] Solving the funding problem through prioritizing inventory.
[25:48] The Shark Tank experience and the story of getting funded.
[29:21] Navigating new ways to get necessary data in a B2B context.
[31:32] Product development and what’s next for Youthforia.

To Find Out More:

Fiona Chan on LinkedIn

Fiona Chan on Instagram

Youthforia

Youthforia on TikTok

Quotes:

“You learn so much through osmosis.” [0:12:13]

“There was something about the pandemic that really made me think about what I actually wanted to do.” [0:14:13]

“The sharks, the way I perceived it, really love and support entrepreneurship and enjoy what they’re doing. They’re really happy to see deals go through” [0:27:24]

“When I had the idea to create makeup that you could sleep in, my first idea was to make a really nice foundation.” [0:28:42]

“When you switch from a purely B2C business to having a few sales channels, you don’t get data the same way as you would directly from Shopify.” [0:29:22]

“Once you have a retail partner, there are more complexities, especially on the operations side.” [0:30:06]

“I did not start this business to be in legal docs and spreadsheets all day, but it is a big part of fundraising.” [0:30:58]

“I am always in a state of product development. I would say that product development is my number one passion in what I get to do.” [0:31:39]

“I always like to tell people exactly what to expect from me.” [0:32:18]

“Finding people whose working style aligns with mine has been really helpful.” [0:34:24]

“I really love sitting down and just defining what I expect in a role and what the best outcomes are. Doing that really makes the hiring process a lot easier” [0:34:52]

“When I onboard people, I tell them, this is what you can expect from my personality and my working style.” [0:35:07]

“My biggest advice would be just to start. It’s never going to be the right time.” [0:36:28]

Making it Rain, One Square at a Time with Jake Karls, Co-Founder and Chief Rainmaker of Mid-Day Squares

lee@stairwaytoceo.com (Lee Greene, Jake Karls) — Tue, 12 Dec 2023 12:00:00 +0000

Description:

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 factory, and the effect of digital transparency on relationship-building. Don’t miss today’s high-energy episode!

Exclusive Deals from Our Sponsors:

In This Episode You’ll Hear About:

[02:21] Lessons of hard work and resilience he learned from his entrepreneurial father.
[10:12] Jake’s first foray into entrepreneurship; running an outdoor boot camp.
[12:10] Co-founding Mid-Day Squares with his sister and brother-in-law in 2018.
[20:51] Defining the roles and navigating the relationships behind the business.
[24:09] A year-by-year look at the growth behind Mid-Day Bars since its inception.
[28:13] How transparency has supported the fundraising process.
[33:10] What happens when envy and insecurity affect our attitudes toward others.
[36:39] Jake’s two experiences with burnout and his recovery process.
[40:06] The story behind Mid-Day Bars.
[42:21] Advice for aspiring entrepreneurs and a glimpse into the future of Mid-Day Bars.

To Find Out More:

Jake Karls on LinkedIn

Jake Karls on Instagram

Mid-Day Squares

Matter of Fact on Instagram

Quotes:

“I know [that] anything is possible as long as you work hard and you have that resilience, that grit and love and passion for what you do.” [0:03:36]

“If you work hard and put your effort and love into something, you have a chance of winning in that field.” [0:05:45]

“Through my [first] five years of entrepreneurship, I learned not to do what I’m really bad at, and to do what I’m really good at [instead].” [0:12:51]

“When you are yourself, truthfully, you are your best version and you are unstoppable because nobody can actually be you.” [0:16:30]

“Our strategy was simply not to talk about the product on social media, but to share the journey of how we built this business.” [0:24:32]

“We build out loud.” [0:28:57]

“I feel like I’m playing the game better than I ever have before because I lost that ability to be – envious or judgemental.” [0:35:35]

“My advice is block out the noise and be yourself.” [0:42:23]

“Being yourself is a superpower.” [0:42:43]

“We’re doing it by being ourselves which means that you can do anything by being yourself as well.” [0:43:20]

K-Pop Beats and Skincare Feats with Paul Baek, Founder and CEO of Matter of Fact

lee@stairwaytoceo.com (Lee Greene, Paul Baek) — Tue, 5 Dec 2023 12:00:00 +0000

Description:

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 he feels for his immigrant parents, the exhilarating experience of K-Pop stardom, and the pivotal moments and mentors that shaped his journey as an entrepreneur and skincare innovator.

Exclusive Deals from Our Sponsors:

In This Episode You’ll Hear About:

• [01:41] Paul’s upbringing in Florida, the touching sacrifices his parents made for their family, why he is so grateful to them, and the realities of being part of an immigrant family.

• [05:51] His early desire to become an artist and why this was a terrifying prospect for his parents.

• [12:30] The gratitude Paul feels for the teachers who believed in him, how they encouraged his aptitude for mathematics, and why his sister felt so protective of him.

• [14:44] Being accepted into Harvard, the culture shock he experienced, and the inspiration he felt being around so many talented students.

• [18:46] Paul’s love of music and K-pop; the incredible story of how he signed a deal with an agency in Korea and what it was like being a K-pop star.

• [33:43] Leaving behind a music career, going back to school to earn an MBA, and how Paul first entered the world of startups at Atom Factory.

• [37:24] Paul’s dermatological journey; from meeting one of his future mentors in South Korea to formulating his own skincare products and founding a company.

• [45:24] How Paul has evolved as an entrepreneur; the biggest challenges he’s faced and the most rewarding successes.

• [56:36] Partnering with Sephora, key lessons around fundraising, and the gratitude Paul feels for the investors who joined before they launched.

• [1:02:16] What’s next for Paul’s company, Matter of Fact, and his advice for other entrepreneurs.

To Find Out More:

Matter of Fact

Matter of Fact on X

Matter of Fact on Facebook
Paul Baek on LinkedIn
Atom Factory
Lee Greene on LinkedIn

Samantha Coxe on LinkedIn

Quotes:

“I'm very proud of the hard work and sacrifices that my parents made in order to provide for their family. And of course, that's not something unique to me. That's true of so many parents, and especially immigrant parents. But it's something that I'm very grateful for.” [0:03:26]

“I wanted to be an artist, actually. But, of course, that scared the living daylights out of my parents who were living this hard immigrant life.” [0:06:48]

“For a very long time, I didn't think that it was possible to have a sustainable career and to spend time making things every day professionally. And so I do feel very, very lucky now that I am able to do that every day.” [0:09:21]

“The joy of making things with my hands is something that has helped me. And, as a child [was] probably also [a] self-soothing mechanism – [a] way to deal with sometimes stressful environments.” [0:12:19]

“I was lucky enough in that environment to have really great teachers who believed in my ability to learn. And so I joined the math club and the trivia club – places where my teachers encouraged me, and I seemed to have at least somewhat of a natural aptitude for it.” [0:13:31]

“At the time, I thought, ‘hmm, the only thing that I've ever thought about starting was something in skincare.’” [0:37:37]

“One thing that I was really inspired by was founders who are willing to roll up their sleeves and do as much work on their own before they asked others to join them.” [0:38:29]

“I said, ‘I don't know if I'm allowed to do that, because it's not been my formal training, it's just been a hobby.’ And she said, ‘You can do whatever the heck you want. And by the way, I'm happy to mentor you.’ And that was incredibly generous and kind and encouraging.” [0:40:05]

“We're the first and only vitamin C technology to do this: demonstrate clinical efficacy both at the beginning of the shelf life of the product and at the end of the shelf life of the product.” — [0:44:19]

“Every lesson has its counter lesson.” [0:48:21]

“When I left K-pop, there was a sense of new opportunities and freedom, there was also a sense of mourning because I didn't know whether I would ever get the opportunity to make a living doing anything creative ever again.” [0:50:35]

“How can we show that as such a small, young, early brand, that we may be small, but we're mighty.” — Paul Baek [0:58:00]

“My number one piece of advice would be to stay focused. Life is full of distractions, so many enticing attractive distractions. So it's important to stay focused on your goal – especially if that goal is starting a business because it's very difficult.” [01:03:26]

Dental Dreams and Endless Flossibilities with Samantha Coxe, Founder and CEO of Flaus

lee@stairwaytoceo.com (Lee Greene, Samantha Coxe) — Tue, 28 Nov 2023 12:00:00 +0000

Description:

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:

In This Episode You’ll Hear About:

• [01:20] Samantha Coxe’s journey, from growing up as an Irish Twin in Southern California to starting her electric floss brand, Flaus.

• [07:02] Her entrepreneurial tendencies, creative side, and golfing experiences as a child.

• [10:47] What prompted Samantha to study law and her experience working in Mergers and Acquisitions.

• [18:00] Coming up with the idea for ‘Flaus’ after a dentist’s appointment and running with it.

• [21:41] How an Indiegogo Campaign forced her to leave the law firm where she worked.

• [25:33] Choosing to run a crowdfunding campaign despite her doubts.

• [32:16] The role of angel investors in fuelling the manufacturing process.

• [37:35] Manufacturing glitches during the first product run.

• [43:23] Pivoting to a hard launch of the product.

• [44:30] Pros and cons of breaking up the manufacturing process.

• [46:30] Words of wisdom for other entrepreneurs.

• [48:36] What’s next for Flaus; including rolling out the second edition.

To Find Out More:

Flaus

Samantha Coxe on Instagram

Quotes:

“I discovered [that] flossing is a massive pain point for most people. It dropped right into my lap. I never thought I was going to work in oral care!” [0:19:25]

“Before I wanted to invest a single dollar into Flaus, I [wanted] to get some external validation into this idea other than my friends and family. So I actually sent out a SurveyMonkey.” [0:20:02]

“Customers on Indiegogo understand that they’re buying the first generation of a product. They understand that they are backing something innovative that’s being created.” [0:26:32]

“Hardware is very much an iterative process so I knew that the first product was not going to be perfect.” [0:26:55]

“Working with a crowdfunding agency is really critical to having a successful campaign.” [0:28:43]

“Crowdfunding is all about the FOMO, you want to start off really strong.” [0:30:48]

“A lot of people get really focused on all [the] features you can add to things, but when you’re coming out with your Beta product, for us, we were so focused on the MVP.” [0:35:57]

“Luckily, because we were so small we could be so nimble. It was such a blessing in disguise.” [0:36:59]

“There’s no better investment than an investment in yourself.” [0:46:30]

“It’s so much more valuable to [build] with customer feedback than to build in secrecy.” [0:47:16]

“Finding mentors is so important.” [0:47:35]

“You can learn from other people’s successes and failures. You don’t need to reinvent the wheel.” [0:47:53]

Perfectionism and Plastic-Free Packaging with Kate Flynn, Co-Founder and CEO of Sun & Swell Foods

lee@stairwaytoceo.com (Lee Greene, Kate Flynn) — Tue, 21 Nov 2023 12:00:00 +0000

Description:

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 when is the right time to go full time on your side hustle, and her advice for leaning into your authentic leadership style versus being the leader you think you should be.

Exclusive Deals from Our Sponsors:

In This Episode You’ll Hear About:

• [02:51] Kate’s “standard” upbringing in Ohio and her early love for consumer-end products.

• [08:07] Why she changed her name and how moving to North Carolina helped her realize the value of surrounding yourself with down-to-earth people.

• [14:08] Kate’s first job as a CPA and how her vision to be a businesswoman became a reality.

• [19:03] From Deloitte to Harvard (for an MBA) to Kurt Salmon (now Accenture Strategy): Kate’s trial-by-fire introduction to the retail and consumer products industry.

• [24:25] Tough lessons on embracing failure, being wrong, and getting over perfectionism that she learned a little later than most entrepreneurs.

• [25:55] The origin story of Sun & Swell and when Kate knew to go all-in on her “side project.”

• [32:31] How COVID strengthened her commitment to building a truly plastic-free brand.

• [41:43] Unpacking what Sun & Swell means when they say their packaging is compostable.

• [49:39] Insight into the battle between ego and authenticity in Kate’s fundraising journey.

• [54:41] Kate’s evolution as a leader, her advice for entrepreneurs in the trenches, and more!

To Find Out More:

Sun & Swell

Kate Flynn on LinkedIn

Kate Flynn on Instagram

Lee Greene Email

Jesslyn Rollins on LinkedIn
BIOLYTE

Quotes:

“There has been a connection to consumer-end products since I was really young. [There was] something that really resonated with me there.” [0:05:42]

“Surrounding yourself with people who bring you joy and make you a better person tends to serve you well in life.” [0:13:38]

“That vision of – being a businesswoman, I don’t even know what it meant. It was way too broad for me to understand, but that’s what I wanted to be. It wasn’t a teacher, it wasn’t a doctor – I wanted to be in the business world.” [0:15:51]

“I’ve learned as an entrepreneur to embrace failure, but it didn’t come until later in my entrepreneurial journey. I was not okay with failure for many, many years of my life.” [0:22:32]

“My whole journey as a consultant – was learning to get over perfectionism. It was learning to be okay with not being right all the time and be okay with failure. That was the first time I had to go through all those lessons, which ended up serving me well.” [0:25:05]

“[Transitioning to compostable packaging] is way harder than it sounds because of all the supply-chain differences between compostable and plastic.” [0:33:54]

“This is about a movement away from plastic, not just building a [snack] brand.” [0:36:10]

“We have two types of customers; one who is committed to zero-waste, they discover us because they’re trying to go plastic-free, and the other – who is just trying to make small steps in the right direction.” [0:47:00]

“The ideal state is no packaging – Ideally, you’re buying everything from your farmer’s market or [you have] a reusable bag and you’re going to your bulk store – The compostable solution is an interim solution to make it easier for people to make a step in the right direction if they can’t do the ideal state.” [0:48:58]

“It’s not about the end. It’s about the journey. Sometimes, the journey is way longer than you think. It’s usually very different than you think it’s going to be – If all you can focus on is the end goal – it’s not going to be a very fun journey.” [0:58:06]

Hydration, Hangovers, and Becoming CEO with Jesslyn Rollins, CEO of BIOLYTE

lee@stairwaytoceo.com (Lee Greene, Jesslyn Rollins) — Tue, 14 Nov 2023 12:00:00 +0000

Description:

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® over four years (in secret!) after her mother’s battle with cancer and how their product was designed to help individuals with serious hydration needs. Jesslyn also breaks down her experience as CEO and what she’s learned during her tenure, from the challenges of being part of a family business — where no one has a background in business — to stepping into her own as a leader.

Exclusive Deals from Our Sponsors:

In This Episode You’ll Hear About:

• [01:59] Jesslyn’s upbringing in Atlanta, Georgia, the love and support she received, her rich imagination as a child, and how her sisters influenced her leadership qualities.

• [17:28] Attending a prestigious private school, the pressure she faced to attend an Ivy League university, and how she struggled with balancing work and fun at college.

• [25:45] The founding of their family business, the inspiration behind it, and how her father and her sister worked on developing BIOLYTE® in secret for four years.

• [32:05] The key differentiators between BIOLYTE® and other hydration drinks: why it’s the only true medical grade hydration supplement.

• [34:10] Why her father is uniquely suited to have created the first IV in a bottle and the many considerations that went into developing it.

• [36:55] The challenge of navigating family dynamics and hierarchies in business, how she became CEO, and how each year as CEO has demanded something different from her.

• [46:13] Jesslyn’s approach to managing hierarchies and how seeking out training has helped her as a leader.

• [48:48] Untangling leadership, aligning your vision for the company, and getting to the heart of BIOLYTE®'s core message.

• [57:46] Personality tools, recruiting, and the importance of hiring people who have a robust character and are a good fit for the company.

• [01:02:11] Some of the biggest challenges Jesslyn has faced as a CEO, the key lesson she learned from their first lawsuit, and what’s next for BIOLYTE®.

To Find Out More:

Vistage
Culture Index
Lee Greene on LinkedIn

Disrupt-Her: A Manifesto for the Modern Woman

Quotes:

“I definitely think that having two older sisters that were very strong women helped me become a leader.” [0:10:12]

“My mom and my dad — instilled a lot of confidence in me and my sisters.” [0:11:37]

“There's a way to lead that is true leadership. And there is a way to lead that is pure dictatorship.” [0:16:41]

“The pressure was to go to an Ivy League, and be very smart, and be a leader of whatever you were doing.” [0:18:26]

“My mom was my idol for social. My dad was my idol for work.” [0:20:01]

“[My dad and my sister] had been working on it for four years in secret and told nobody about it.” [0:27:50]

“The thought of working with my family, the thought of working in this company, and having this product that never existed, was so freaking cool to me.” [0:28:26]
“BIOLYTE® is the only true medical grade hydration supplement.” [0:32:06]

“The ingredients in BIOLYTE® help your liver detoxify itself.” [0:33:56]

“My dad is uniquely suited to have created the very first IV in a bottle, because that's all he did for 43 years.” [0:34:11]

“I'm a huge believer of ‘to whom much is given, much is expected’.” [0:44:09]

“BIOLYTE® was started for a medical reason, and we're here to help hydrate people with serious hydration issues.” [0:49:18]

“There was no alignment. And now I have two VPs. I've got a new Vice President of Sales, and a new Vice President of Finance and Operations that are so aligned with my vision.” [0:52:03]

“Lean into your strengths and then hire for your weaknesses.” [01:04:38]

Pizza, Periods, and Pooping with Miki Agrawal, Founder of TUSHY

lee@stairwaytoceo.com (Lee Greene, Miki Agrawal) — Tue, 7 Nov 2023 12:00:00 +0000

Description:

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 her top three ingredients for creating a successful brand.

Exclusive Deals from Our Sponsors:

In This Episode You’ll Hear About:

• [02:40] Miki’s multicultural childhood in Canada, which she credits for her drive and ambition.

• [06:26] Memories of creative problem-solving and what Miki wanted to be growing up.

• [10:51] Her time as the “worst investment banker” in New York, why sleeping through her alarm saved her life, and how 9/11 prompted her to follow her dreams.

• [23:44] How multiple ACL injuries indirectly led to Miki starting her first business: Wild.

• [27:08] Taking NYC’s first alternative pizza concept from idea to marketable product.

• [28:53] What running Wild by herself taught Miki about the value of partnerships.

• [32:10] How the idea for Thinx was born during a three-legged race at a family BBQ and the important lessons she learned from marketing a taboo product.

• [39:08] Addressing the controversy that Miki attracted while she was CEO at Thinx.

• [42:36] Tiny and mighty: the benefits of hiring fewer, more senior people in the startup stage.

• [43:37] Miki’s three-part formula for changing culture, what’s next for TUSHY, and her community-focused advice for aspiring entrepreneurs.

To Find Out More:

Miki Agrawal on LinkedIn

Miki Agrawal on Instagram

Miki Agrawal on X

Ashley Thompson on LinkedIn

Quotes:

“[My parents] said, ‘If you see something that you don’t like, you’re somebody. You can go do it.’” [0:05:36]

“There’s no limit to your creative potential. You don’t have to have money, you don’t have to have resources, but you have creativity. That’s available to you at all times.” [0:07:15]

“The mystery of life is that you never know when it’s going to end. The time is right now to make every moment count.” [0:19:58]

“Pizza is a $32 billion industry. Americans eat 100 acres of pizza every single day. There was a huge opportunity – to take this beloved comfort food and turn it on its head and use gluten-free flours, hormone-free cheese, local seasonal toppings, etc.” [0:26:44]

“I learned about AB testing – by standing outside my restaurant and handing out pizzas for hours and hours, for years and years, and doing that day in and day out..” [0:30:15]

“Bringing in someone who’s really good at the thing they’re good at and giving me space to focus on the thing that I’m really good at was such an epiphany for me.” [0:31:19]

“Meet people where they are, make it artful, and make sure the product is excellent: that has been a thesis that has [been] a throughline [in] all of my businesses.” [0:35:24]

“I prefer [a tiny and mighty team] over many people that can do one job each. Let’s bring in a senior person, pay them more, incentivize them, and get them to do this task at the startup stage. Then, as we grow, let’s bring in more people.” [0:42:57]

“How do you change culture? Best-in-class product; considered, artful design; and accessible, relatable language. That works.” [0:47:51]

“I’ve always known the importance of community and how cultivating your friendships means a lot.” [0:50:38]

Money, Mindset, and Magic Mush with Ashley Thompson, Co-Founder and CEO of MUSH

lee@stairwaytoceo.com (Lee Greene, Ashley Thompson) — Tue, 31 Oct 2023 11:00:00 +0000

Description:

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 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@stairwaytoceo.com to learn more about their award-winning services and Awesome Coffee Chats.

In This Episode You’ll Hear About:

• [01:03] Introducing today’s guest, CEO of MUSH, Ashley Thompson.

• [02:34] Ashley tells us about how her entrepreneurial father inspired her, the early leadership skills she had, and the challenges she faced in childhood.

• [15:52] Studying at Columbia University, her drive to work hard, realizing that she didn’t enjoy the world of finance, and finding her true passion.

• [20:51] How Ashley came up with the idea for MUSH and how people responded to her change in career.

• [28:32] How Ashley found her co-founder, the steps they took to develop their product, and their first ‘big break’.

• [34:31] Working with Shark Tank, Ashley’s take on fundraising, and the dangers of raising too much capital.

• [41:20] Ashley shares her toughest entrepreneurship moments; including her co-founder leaving, how she overcame them, and the important lessons she learned.

• [45:23] How Ashley manages her energy and emotions through reading, writing, talking, and staying healthy.

• [47:34] Why Ashley’s favorite MUSH flavors are chocolate and peanut butter chocolate and what’s next for the brand.

• [50:15] Ashley shares some advice about the power of mindset for aspiring entrepreneurs.

To Find Out More:

MUSH

Ashley Thompson on Instagram

Sarah Jahnke on Instagram

Quotes:

“I always wanted to be the best, and I always wanted to leave a mark in some way shape, or form.” [0:09:40]

“I especially [gravitate] towards things that could help people or could make the world a better place.” [0:09:46]

“I really wanted to race out of college and start a job because I wanted to make money [and be] independent.” [0:16:44]

“Oatmeal is so ubiquitous, and no one knows what overnight oats are!” [0:22:16]

“Businesses need all of your time and attention!” [0:26:21]

“You want to get the basics right before you scale.” [0:30:22]

“There’s so many different [business] strategies, and execution plays a huge part in a winning strategy.” [0:32:53]

“It takes money to make money – and at the same time, raising too much capital [can cause you to] build the wrong company for the product by having too much capital at your disposal.” [0:37:49]

“You have to manage your energy and emotions appropriately to get through the really hard things.” [0:44:25]

“The power of mindset is everything!” [0:50:35]

From Sears Intern to Celebrity Brand CEO with Sarah Jahnke, Co-Founder and CEO of Homecourt

lee@stairwaytoceo.com (Lee Greene, Sarah Jahnke) — Tue, 24 Oct 2023 11:00:00 +0000

Description:

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:

In This Episode You’ll Hear About:

• [02:20] Sarah Jahnke’s story of growing up in Michigan and New York, starting her first business at 12 years old, and performing all her life.

• [10:14] Her career journey, including an internship at Sears e-commerce, a role at PwC, returning to Business School, and working for legacy fragrance brands.

• [15:49] Meeting Courteney Cox via Zoom in brightly colored linen.

• [18:46] How Sarah developed the concept for the brand from a candle brand to a luxury home fragrance brand; which includes skincare-grade ingredients.

• [20:17] Product and brand development through the lens of luxury beauty.

• [23:01] What ‘scentscaping’ means at Homecourt, and which fragrances Courteney prefers.

• [24:50] Starting at Homecourt on January 1st 2021, and fundraising for the first time.

• [28:55] How the brand has been received by customers and the press.

• [31:21] In-person points of discovery for the brand at gyms and hotels in LA.

• [32:37] The product and price range including everyday cleaning products and sustainable packaging.

• [33:50] How Sarah has experienced her first role as CEO.

• [40:41] Naming the business and what they had to keep in mind.

To Find Out More:

Jobi Capital

Sarah Jahnke on LinkedIn

Homecourt

Stephen Kuhl on Instagram

Quotes:

“Having been in the fragrance market, I knew that there was a lot of opportunity to bring more prestige fragrances into new formats.” [0:19:43]

“I said, why don’t we disrupt the household products category with fine fragrance and this luxury beauty philosophy?” [0:20:00]

“If you get to experience our products, you’ll see a very high-end niche-style perfumery with very high-quality ingredients that would typically be reserved for Eau de Parfum.” [0:20:42]

“We use 100% post-consumer recycled material in all of our packaging; from the bottles to even the unit cartons.” [0:21:14]

“We’re really bringing fine fragrance into these new formats.” [0:22:44]

“I had so many great people in my corner through networking and meeting other entrepreneurs in LA who were able to help me and guide me.” [0:27:08]

“The press loves us and thinks that we are innovators in the space. We’re not pigeonholed as just another celebrity brand. It’s truly seen as authentic to Courteney.” [0:29:15]

“I feel very proud that the quality of our product is what’s being recognized and is what’s bringing people to the brand and also keeping them there.” [0:29:46]

“Even with Courteney being the co-founder, and having millions and millions of followers, and really being the number one way people discover the brand, as a fragrance brand, it’s really important to also be able to try the products in person.” [0:31:37]

“Being an entrepreneur is my ultimate life lesson of letting go.” [0:36:06]

“The why doesn’t matter. It’s happening. So how are you going to react to it?” [0:38:50]

“Trust the timing and how all the dots can connect.” [0:44:09]

Factories, Feedback, and Furniture with Stephen Kuhl, Co-Founder and CEO of Burrow

lee@stairwaytoceo.com (Lee Greene, Stepehn Kuhl) — Tue, 17 Oct 2023 11:00:00 +0000

Description:

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 rejection to massive success, their experience throughout COVID, what’s in store for them in the future, Stephen’s interesting leadership style, and so much more!

Exclusive Deals from Our Sponsors:

In This Episode You’ll Hear About:

• [00:03:26] How Stephen’s passion for skiing made him accident-prone and pushed him into a traditional career path.

• [00:10:11] How the overwhelming desire to fall asleep at his bank job made Stephen realize it wasn’t for him.

• [00:13:17] Stephen’s first business venture, the ‘true start’ of his career, and his journey into investing.

• [00:18:21] How being part of investment inspired Stephen to apply to business school and his experience of it.

• [00:20:49] Meeting his Burrow co-founder, the start of their innovative furniture company, and Burrow’s unprecedented fundraising success.

• [00:27:35] Their gross margin challenges and ‘faking it’ to get factories to work with them.

• [00:37:55] Burrow’s milestones, how COVID-19 affected them both positively and negatively, and their ‘secret sauce’ to success.

• [00:37:55] What’s next for Burrow and why Stephen loves doing customer research the most.

• [00:47:46] The importance of having a coach as an entrepreneur and Stephen’s straightforward leadership style.

To Find Out More:

Burrow

Stephen Kuhl on LinkedIn

Stephen Kuhl on X

Dillion Ceglio on LinkedIn

Quotes:

“If I didn’t care about the product that the company sold, it didn’t really matter what work I was doing.” [0:15:55]

“I – wanted to make more money so I went into investing.” [0:17:19]

“You know what’s better than investing in consumer companies? Working at [those] companies!” [0:18:57]

“By second year [of college] I think half of my class [thought] I dropped out because I was living in New York [working on Burrow].” [0:26:52]

“You sort of just have to pretend that something is really good even though you’re not there yet.” [0:31:56]

“The fake it till you make it thing is real!” [0:32:19]

“Luck is huge, right? I think most people don’t give enough credit into how much luck plays into [success].” [0:33:11]

“If you bought furniture in 2020/2021, most companies were quoting you like six months to a year to deliver it – and for most [things] we pretty quickly got [delivery] back down to one to two weeks.” [0:43:04]

“We’re just scratching the surface with new products!” [0:44:34]

“Give clear feedback, set clear direction, check in with people frequently, and then – you definitely need to empower people and accept that they won’t do things like you would do [them] but as long as the outcome is similar, you should not care.” [0:50:07]

Cutting Crusts Instead of Corners with Dillon Ceglio, Co-Founder & CEO of Chubby Snacks

lee@stairwaytoceo.com (Lee Greene, Dillon Ceglio) — Tue, 10 Oct 2023 11:00:00 +0000

Description:

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 stones on life’s trajectory, and shares the story behind how Chubby Snacks came to be! To hear more about navigating retail challenges, exploring manufacturing options, and dealing with a cease-and-desist letter from Smuckers, be sure not to miss out on this episode!

Exclusive Deals from Our Sponsors:

In This Episode, You’ll Hear About:

• [00:02:48] Where Dillon calls home now, about his hometown, some childhood memories, siblings, and what he was into as a kid.

• [00:04:15] What sparked his competitive mindset, his first exposure to entrepreneurship, early jobs, and what he aspired to be when he grew up.

• [00:06:00] Dillon’s childhood challenges, being cut from his first sport, his struggle through tough formative high school years, and why he tattooed his SAT score on his body.

• [00:08:40] His college story, dropping out of state school, switching his mindset, viewing community college as a business opportunity, and a life-changing moment he experienced.

• [00:10:35] Gaining confidence in who he was, the track he was on for his career, and looking at college and his degree as a stepping stone in his life’s trajectory.

• [00:12:40] The journey behind what inspired him to get into entrepreneurship, how he created his first app and started his first company.

• [00:17:30] His evolving journey from a digital marketer and landing on performance marketing for e-commerce brands.

• [00:18:45] How he came up with the idea for Chubby Snacks and shifted gears from e-commerce to food and beverage.

• [00:21:28] What it was like being hit with a cease-and-desist from Smuckers, how they navigated the entire situation, and why they decided on a cloud-shaped sandwich.

• [00:25:21] How they came up with the name Chubby Snacks and how their operations have been the differentiator for their product.

• [00:32:30] He talks about fundraising and finding investors by showcasing their story, work ethic, and vision.

• [00:34:10] The challenges they’ve overcome, dealing with B.S., and maintaining perseverance.

• [00:36:08] What it was like getting into retail, focusing on moving products already on the shelf, and why they’re all moving to San Diego.

• [00:40:52] Dillon’s advice to aspiring entrepreneurs and what’s next for Chubby Snacks!

To Find Out More:

Dillon Ceglio on Instagram

Dillon Ceglio on X

Dillon Ceglio on TikTok

‘Threatened By Smucker And Facility Closure, Chubby Snacks Amasses $3.25 Million To Launch Superfood Peanut Butter And Jelly Sandwich Nationwide’

Chubby Snacks

Chubby Snacks on Instagram

Chubby Snacks on TikTok

Chubby Snacks on Facebook

Awesome CX
Lee Greene on LinkedIn

Quotes:

“My mom was a personal trainer and spin instructor as a kid, so I got to see firsthand what it meant to be in the best shape of your life at a very early age, and I thank my mom a lot for instilling very healthy habits for me.” [0:03:20]

“[Being an athlete growing up] ultimately created this competitive mindset for me, which I think I carry very closely to me at this point in my life.” [0:04:17]

“I actually have my SAT score tattooed on me because I did terribly on my SATs — as a constant reminder that it didn’t mean anything.”[0:07:13]

“What sticks with me the most is that it doesn’t matter where you start; it matters where you finish.” [0:08:16]

“I looked at junior college [or] community college, as a business opportunity.” [0:08:50]

“I saw [college] as more of a stepping stone, I didn’t necessarily go to college with the expectation that whatever my degree was, I was going to end up in that field after — it was another one of the building blocks that ultimately led to gaining more confidence.” [0:11:55]

“I have the ability to think differently and think logically, so why can’t I come up with an idea that can ultimately be turned from an idea into a reality?” [0:13:41]

“With a name like Chubby Snacks, the cloud-shaped sandwich, we think we’ve done a really good job at ultimately putting our sandwich at the forefront of grocery stores.” [0:24:47]

“You hear a name like Chubby Snacks and you’re going to remember that. It doesn’t matter in what capacity, but when you think of a peanut butter and jelly sandwich you’re either going to think about the Uncrustable or you’re going to think about Chubby Snacks!” [0:25:27]

“I can’t possibly take myself too seriously, I sell peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for a living, right? Why not have fun with this!” [0:26:18]

“We laugh and joke and say that we are the Albert Einsteins of peanut butter and jelly manufacturing. There’s not joke, we are. We’ve tried 100 different ways to make these things and we cracked the code time and time again!” [0:29:46]

“We constantly showcased our abilities to be good problem solvers, and I think that carries a lot of weight in order to be able to get people to really buy into what it is that we are doing.” [0:33:26]

Startups, Skincare, and Scarlett Johansson with Kate Foster, Co-Founder and CEO of The Outset

lee@stairwaytoceo.com (Kate Foster, Lee Greene) — Tue, 3 Oct 2023 11:00:00 +0000

Description:

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 Jeans.' She shares the pivotal moment when she realized she wanted to become CEO one day, how she launched her first company at the age of 40, the acquisition of her company by Meredith Corporation, and what it’s been like collaborating with Scarlett Johansson. To learn all about her fascinating journey, plus the exciting things coming up for her and The Outset, be sure to tune in!

Exclusive Deals from Our Sponsors:

In This Episode You’ll Hear About:

• [02:07] Kate’s upbringing in California, her competitive nature as a kid, how she learned to get comfortable with failure, and how she gravitated towards leadership positions.

• [10:34] How she first got a job in the beauty industry, fell in love with the work, and got a master’s in beauty, marketing, and management.

• [15:54] The moment Kate first realized that she wanted to become CEO and what it was like going to Columbia Business School.

• [18:54] Balancing starting a family with her career, and how building marketing for 'Not Your Daughter's Jeans' gave her the idea for her first startup ‘Swear By’.

• [25:39] The story of how Kate met Scarlett Johansson and co-founded The Outset.

• [32:04] Scarlett’s struggles with her skin and the authentic drive this gave her to create products that would help others.

• [37:15] Kate’s favorite products from The Outset, an overview of their best sellers, and why they wanted to make the price point accessible.

• [40:40] How Kate came up with the name ‘The Outset’, Scarlett’s decision not to have social media, and why they don’t consider themselves to be a celebrity brand.

• [45:08] The benefits of not relying on Scarlett’s social media presence, the art of collaboration, and what Kate has learned from working with her.

• [51:32] What’s next for The Outset and Kate’s advice for aspiring entrepreneurs.

To Find Out More:

Kate Foster on LinkedIn

Kate Foster on Instagram

The Outset

The Outset on Instagram

Kristy Morris on LinkedIn

Quotes:

“I think that's the challenge that a lot of people face. Sometimes when you're doing a good job – they want to keep you there. And so it's difficult, often, to make parallel moves – if you've gotten too far ahead.” [0:16:38]

“I had to get serious about the other parts of my executive toolkit.” [0:17:31]

“It was a concept that I rejected. If I'm close to the customer, and I understand who the customer is, it doesn't matter if I'm the customer. It's about whether or not I can articulate ways to make their life better through our product offerings and understand their problems.” [0:21:09]

“There's something really impactful about word of mouth, friend-to-friend, recommendations. And there just isn't a way to amplify these at scale. That's when I came up with this idea for my own startup.” [0:22:37]

“It was a totally crazy thing to leave a very stable job to [try] my hand at entrepreneurship on my own at 40 years old when most people are really doubling down on the growth of their career.” [0:22:58]

“When I met [Scarlett] it was just very natural and very easy. And I think it's because there's a foundation of shared values.” [0:30:56]

“Being curious about the world is something that me and Scarlett share and creates a very good foundation for partnership.” [0:31:13]
“[Scarlett’s] vision for what she articulated to me in that very first meeting is actually what we wound up building. I'm just so shocked because it never really works out that way [where] you can have this clarity of vision and be able to connect it to the execution.” [0:31:43]

“It's not about ‘how to look like her’, it's about how to reveal your skin's true potential. And really, the customer is at the center of everything that we do.” [0:43:38]

“Trusting your gut is something that I'm constantly a work-in-progress on.” [0:47:11]

“Collaboration also comes from a place of trust and security. And people do their best collaborating when they feel that they're in a safe space.” [0:47:42]

Fries, Flights, and Wellness Insights with Kristy Morris, Co-Founder and CEO of Kailo

lee@stairwaytoceo.com (Lee Greene, Kristy Morris) — Tue, 26 Sep 2023 11:00:00 +0000

Description:

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 at school, and how she came to own a coffee shop when she was just 24 years old! We then go on to learn how her eldest son inspired her to start Kailo, the pivots she and her business partner had to make during the COVID-19 pandemic, along with her reflections on how the business has grown and changed in ways she could never have predicted. Tune in to learn the full scope of Kristy’s story and the many lessons she continues to learn as a leader.

Exclusive Deals from Our Sponsors:

In This Episode You’ll Hear About:

• [02:13] Kristy’s upbringing, the influence of her entrepreneurial parents, the early days of McDonald’s in Australia, and how her parents were approved for a franchise.

• [04:33] The struggles she experienced in school, her cultural exchange trip to America, the positive impact it had on her, and why she eventually decided to drop out of high school.

• [10:48] Her experience working at McDonald’s, how she worked her way up the ranks, and what this taught her about business operations.

• [14:34] Why Virgin Airlines was considered such an innovative company at the time and the extraordinary lengths Kristy went to to make an impression on them.

• [16:59] Her decision to open up a coffee shop as a 24-year-old and how this led to her joining HR at Virgin Airlines.

• [22:48] Kristy’s marriage, starting a family, and her entrepreneurial partnership with her husband before they got divorced.

• [25:39] How Kristy’s eldest son inspired her to start Kailo and how she met and teamed up with her wonderful business partner Kath Merlo.

• [29:33] The strategic steps they took to survive as a business during the COVID pandemic, how they expanded into nutrition products, and the huge impact it’s had on their company.

• [36:01] An overview of their recent business growth, their expansion plans, and how Kristy is developing herself as a leader.

• [41:21] Details about what’s next for Kailo and Kristy’s advice to aspiring entrepreneurs.

To Find Out More:

Quotes:

“My dad was trying to instill a really strong work ethic that ‘you are no different to anybody else’. I genuinely can say I think that is a gift.” [0:13:14]

“I was lucky enough to get a job with Virgin [Airlines] and they there were such a new company at the time. You felt like you were part of something really exciting.” [0:16:59]

“The more vulnerable [you are], the more successful you will be because you're just opening up for people to come in and help you.” [0:22:24]

“[Kath and I] often talked about all the gaps that we were seeing. From what we were seeing in LA [versus] Australia, around wellness. — And all the clinics and things that you have on offer in the US. And we [wondered] ‘what if we can bring a concept back to Australia.’” [0:27:13]

“We've grown the services based on the guests’ needs, learning from our guests what they want.” [0:29:02]

“It was a much bigger beast that we took on than we realized. You go into something that you've never done before and go ‘yeah, this is going to be – easy.’” [0:29:16]

“Fourteen months into opening, we hit COVID. [It is] by far the hardest moment that we've ever been through. Closing the doors to our business and realizing we only had $20,000 in the bank. We were still in such a startup mode.” [0:29:35]

“The hardest part has been not having such a close relationship to every single person in the team.” [0:38:39]

“I feel lucky to be in a business partnership, I think that always gives you that comfort.” — [0:40:05]

“Always surround yourself with really positive, successful, humble people. Because you don't want to lose sight.” [0:42:39]

CEO Has a Nice Ring to It with Tom Hale, CEO of ŌURA

lee@stairwaytoceo.com (Lee Greene, Tom Hale) — Tue, 19 Sep 2023 11:00:00 +0000

Description:

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, to becoming President of Momentive, where he set enterprise strategy and led product growth. Join us as we discuss Tom’s leadership style, why he says it’s lonely at the top, how he got a crash course in fundraising from raising $40 million in less than a month, and so much more!

Exclusive Deals from Our Sponsors:

In This Episode You’ll Hear About:

• [02:29] Tom’s upbringing in a “dusty town” and his love for trains (and Dungeons & Dragons).

• [08:21] What sparked his interest in the impact that business and tech can have on society.

• [10:42] Some of Tom’s early jobs, including computer consulting and summarizing scripts.

• [18:54] The importance of learning on the job and how he went from Adobe to Second Life.

• [24:23] What Tom learned about the gig economy from his time at HomeAway.

• [26:27] How losing sleep led him to discover the Oura Ring and how it improved his health.

• [36:49] The story of how Tom went from a customer of Oura to the company’s CEO!

• [44:05] Challenges facing newbie CEOs and the value of having a leadership mandate.

• [46:07] Little-known realities of being CEO, including the loneliness that comes with it.

• [51:44] Oura’s company values, which encompass a spirit of collaboration and aiming higher.

• [53:35] Viewing the fundraising journey as a lesson in what investors find compelling.

• [55:42] Insight into Oura’s vision for the future: from sick care to human care.

To Find Out More:

ŌURA

Tom Hale on LinkedIn

Tom Hale on X

Quotes:

“Pulling on the threads of technology, its impact on society, how people change because of technology, and [my experience] with personal computers – it came together and led me on the path that I’m on today.” [0:10:24]

“They put me in [a product management job at Macromedia], and it was probably my [biggest] learning-on-the-job moment, figuring stuff out. I remember some moments of high anxiety because I was like, ‘I have no idea what I’m doing!’” [0:17:45]2

“Early in your career, if you’re at a company where there’s more work than there are people to do it – you can move up really quickly in your career.” [0:19:17]

“[When] I went to HomeAway, I was captured by the idea that you could rent a property to someone over the internet and they would come and stay in it. It was an interesting confluence of what we today call the gig economy.” [0:25:22]

“For me, during that period of losing sleep, [the Oura Ring] really changed my life.” [0:27:57]

“That kind of power, giving your body a voice, is central to what Oura does.” [0:36:40]

“It was all very rational and logical, but there was a strong intent behind [my letter to Oura]. Sometimes, you get that intent coming through and people say, ‘Here’s somebody who’s motivated.’ And motivation counts.” [0:38:53]

“I get most excited about working on products that I can understand, touch, and feel and [that are] relevant and relatable – on a really human level.” [0:39:43]

“The role of a CEO sometimes is to go against the grain.” [0:47:14]

“Our big vision is: how do we become part of the behavioral change that improves health outcomes, that transforms the healthcare industry from one where it’s about sick care to something we call human care?” [0:56:14]

Acquisitions and Ambitions with Jeanine Lobell, Founder of Neen

lee@stairwaytoceo.com (Lee Greene, Jeanine Lobell) — Tue, 12 Sep 2023 11:00:00 +0000

Description:

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, are truly inspiring. Tune in to hear it all!

Exclusive Deals from Our Sponsors:

In This Episode You’ll Hear About:

• [03:12] Jeanine's childhood years in Sweden, the activities she enjoyed, and how she taught herself to read.

• [08:01] Living in San Francisco, London, and Paris, and the difficulties of her teen years.

• [13:20] A humble entry into the make-up industry before getting work as an artist.

• [19:55] Jeanine reflects on her independent spirit and distrust of authority.

• [23:46] Building Stila and discovering her new personality and capabilities.

• [29:54] Jeanine's thoughts on the challenges of having a company acquired, following Estée Lauder's acquisition of Stila.

• [36:13] The decision to start Neen; the ideas and motivations that drove Jeanine to begin a new adventure.

• [43:55] Sustainability at Neen and the way that Jeanine has approached packaging.

• [51:43] The funding process at Neen so far and the meaning behind the brand's name.

• [56:19] Jeanine's suggestions for the questions entrepreneurs should ask themselves.

To Find Out More:

Jeanine Lobell on Instagram

Neen

Stila

Quotes:

“[As kids], we just made stuff all the time!” [0:07:18]

“I kind of woke up to find a whole other person living inside me that I didn't know.” [0:24:13]

“I just need to be smarter than the problem in front of me.” [0:25:22]

“That's a big driver for me, like how do I make things different?” [0:25:32]

“Acquisition is tough. I don't think I know anyone who is super happy after an acquisition, unfortunately.” [0:34:17]

“When you make a business – [and] it comes from your personal values, people feel that.” [0:40:28]

“I wanted to make a sustainable, refillable package.” [0:45:54]

“I'm not on the soapbox about it, I just don't want to make more trash, period.” [0:47:01]

“I always say, makeup is a mood-altering chemical. 100%. It can totally change the way that you feel and that's what I like about it.” [0:53:47]

“You don't have to change yourself to feel that way about yourself. You have to learn to feel that way about yourself, period. And then makeup is just the icing.” [0:55:25]

“Don't ever let anyone tell you that you shouldn't be an entrepreneur.” [0:57:31]

Roots of Resilience with Greg Starkman, Founder and CEO of Innersense Organic Beauty

lee@stairwaytoceo.com (Lee Greene, Greg Starkman) — Tue, 5 Sep 2023 11:00:00 +0000

Description:

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 tune in to catch it all in this inspiring conversation with Greg.

Exclusive Deals from Our Sponsors:

In This Episode You’ll Hear About:

• [02:12] Greg talks about the recent changes in San Francisco, growing up in Los Angeles, and the family values present in his home.

• [09:52] Entering the beauty industry and finding purpose in professional life.

• [18:07] Challenges that Greg and the company faced around sourcing ingredients after launching.

• [21:40] The key products that Innersense brought to market initially and more recently.

• [26:47] Greg reflects on the biggest challenges and surprises on his journey with Innersense; demand, marketing, and the 2008 recession.

• [32:20] Moments of learning and self-doubt, and the fundamental place these have in the life of an entrepreneur.

• [35:40] People, planet, and purpose; Greg shares why standards for the cosmetic industry are so important to him.

• [39:35] Thoughts on growing as a leader and allowing increased autonomy for the team.

• [45:15] Advice from Greg about pivoting, learning, and a steadfast attitude.

To Find Out More:

Innersense Organic Beauty

Greg Starkman on LinkedIn

Lee Greene Email

Curt Vander Meer on LinkedIn

Quotes:

“As a kid, I did a lot of different things. I would work and earn extra money in salons sweeping hair, and I would actually fill product vats for my mom.” [0:07:32]

“In my early teens I definitely became that wayward kid that was always out and about, and always in some level of trouble.” [0:08:00]

“Even though we were very affluent growing up, there were never any handouts.” [0:08:42]

“I was kind of a late bloomer, I never really figured out what I wanted to do until I was probably in my early 20s. And I think at that point I felt like I found some level of purpose when I got into the beauty industry.” [0:09:38]

“We took that cosmetic ingredient standard and brought that into hair care.” [0:15:25]

“It literally took a good ten years for us to even spark at the level of scalability.” [0:16:24]

“We made a commitment from day one to work with ingredients that were very pure, and highly efficacious.” [0:19:18]

“It doesn't matter how clean or how organic a product is, if it doesn't perform, the consumer is not going to come back and buy it.” [0:19:34]

“It's just about continuing to educate and inform the safe cosmetic consumer who is looking to make healthier and cleaner choices, and do it in a very authentic way.” [0:21:28]

“We have been very intentional over the last 18 years with the types of products we introduce. Believe it or not, we only have 22 products.” [0:23:37]

“It was just perseverance, and an unwillingness to fail.” [0:30:11]

From CPA to CEO with Curt Vander Meer, CEO of Endangered Species Chocolate

lee@stairwaytoceo.com (Lee Greene, Curt Vander Meer) — Tue, 29 Aug 2023 11:00:00 +0000

Description:

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:

In This Episode You’ll Hear About:

• [01:03] Curt Vander Meer’s journey through the world of finance to becoming the CEO of Endangered Species Chocolate.

• [16:40] His unexpected initial experiences of the business and how his vision differed in comparison to his focus today.

• [22:07] Goals to donate a million dollars a year and create moments of joy through abundant giving at Endangered Species Chocolate.

• [23:59] The behind-the-scenes process of pairing animal facts with chocolate flavors.

• [28:59] What it was like to transition from financial lead to CEO at Endangered Species Chocolate.

• [31:43] Expectations versus the reality of occupying the CEO seat.

• [33:29] The five duties of a CEO: setting direction, speed, risk, resources, and culture.

• [34:30] Becoming the sole owner and CEO of Endangered Species Chocolate.

• [36:00] How Curt’s leadership style has changed and how his role has promoted personal growth through hard lessons.

• [44:30] What surprised Curt most along the way despite his classical training in business.

• [49:55] How he intends to continue the legacy of Endangered Species Chocolate, Randy Deer.

To Find Out More:

Endangered Species Chocolate

Vanessa Pham on Instagram

Quotes:

“There are a lot of things I haven’t scripted that have turned out way beyond and far exceeded the expectations of the plan I created.” [0:18:25]

“When you put an accountant in charge, what’s the first three things they do? They cut people, they cut places, and they cut things, and that’s a little bit of what I did.” [0:20:19]

“I had a different idea than our previous CEO of what we wanted to do. I wanted to really explore the roots of the business.” r [0:20:32]

“Being in the chocolate industry is very fun and there are so many different avenues that you can go.” [0:20:57]

“I wanted to, and still want to, magnify the impact of our brand promise.” [0:21:52]

“I’ve heard it said that being CEO can be a lonely position. There’s some truth to that so I would encourage people to find those that they can lean on. ” [0:31:44]

“I really have five duties as a CEO that I need to do. I need to set direction, speed, risk, resources, and culture.” [0:33:30]

“Being CEO is one thing. Being owner is another whole mindset that you need to have.” [0:34:39]

“I really want people’s input before a final decision needs to be made.” [0:35:19]

“Really [make] sure you get the right talent in the right positions, and that is easier said than done.” [0:36:07]

“You weigh in so that you can buy in.” [0:37:21]

“We’re all called to use our talents to the best of our ability, so don’t assume that I can think about everything that’s necessary. That’s why you have trusted advisers on your leadership team.” [0:40:26]

“It’s so important to stay quiet and let people talk. That’s the best strategy that’s worked for me.” [0:40:40]

“Grandma Vansingel always said that mistakes only happen to those people who do things, and I try to use that mantra here as well.” — Curt Vander Meer [0:43:04]

Sacrifices, Successes, and Sauces with Vanessa Pham, Co-Founder and CEO of Omsom

lee@stairwaytoceo.com (Stairway Group LLC) — Tue, 22 Aug 2023 11:00:00 +0000

Description:

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, you’ll find out how her father tried to escape Vietnam seven times before he was successful, the pressure Vanessa felt to honor her parents’ sacrifices and make them proud, and how she bootstrapped the business for the first year by offering SAT tutoring services just to make rent, plus so much more!

Exclusive Deals from Our Sponsors:

In This Episode You’ll Hear About:

• [03:16] Ways that Omsom’s proud and loud ethos is a response to growing up “othered.”

• [07:52] What Vanessa wanted to do and how she was motivated by her parent’s sacrifices.

• [10:20] Insight into her career trajectory and the pivotal conversation with her dad that helped her let go of external pressure and expectations.

• [14:09] A look at her journey toward taking more risks and her desire to influence culture.

• [16:48] How food (and particularly ready-to-use sauces) aligned with Vanessa and Kim’s mission to celebrate Asian stories.

• [27:20] How they navigated launching Omsom during the early days of the pandemic.

• [30:27] Vanessa’s advice for community building, marketing, and fundraising.

• [34:18] Her relentless commitment to personal growth and how it benefits her as a CEO.

• [41:26] Reflecting on some of the biggest surprises that came with building a business!

• [46:42] Why Vanessa encourages fledgling founders to be authentically themselves.

To Find Out More:

Omsom

Vanessa Pham

Vanessa Pham on LinkedIn

Michael Broukhim on LinkedIn

Quotes:

“Omsom in Vietnamese means rowdy, rambunctious, riotous. Our ethos is all about being proud and loud. In some ways – reclaiming our narratives and telling our stories loudly and proudly is our way of pushing back on that initial experience we had in that small town outside of Boston.” [0:04:22]

“Building a proud and loud brand was when I learned to be more true to myself, be [comfortable] in my skin, and be more authentic about who I actually am.” [0:06:07]

“My dream for most of my life has been to honor my parents and their sacrifices. Nothing has been more motivating to me than that.” [0:07:56]

“There’s not enough Vietnamese-American women that are seen as thought leaders. I felt really called by that.” [0:15:29]

“After the 2016 election, Kim and I wanted to build something that could influence culture, narratives, and dialogue at a national level.” [0:15:40]

“Food – has been such an incredibly meaningful part of our lives and a way for us to connect to our culture and our identities.” [0:17:59]

“What we’re building is in service of giving people a sense of home and a sense of joy. In [hard times], they’re actually going to want to engage with a brand like ours. What we stand for is relevant and timely.” [0:28:40]

“There was this flywheel that we created by building and fostering a community that understood our values, saw what we [stood for], and that really resonated with them.” [0:29:53]

“[Ask yourself]: Is my story and my brand story authentic? Because consumers’ bullshit meters are higher than ever. Same with the press. Beyond that, does it parlay into broader dialogues that are happening at a national level?” [0:31:12]

“I dedicate so much of my time and mindshare, and emotional energy to evolving my worldviews and my relationship with myself – so that I can navigate this journey with grace, trust, belief, and conviction. Those are so important for getting the job done.” [0:35:21]

“My advice would be to continue to show more of who you really are in the [CEO] journey.” [0:46:53]

Media, Memberships, and Marketing with Michael Broukhim, Co-CEO and Co-Founder of FabFitFun

lee@stairwaytoceo.com (Lee Greene, Michael Broukhim) — Tue, 15 Aug 2023 11:00:00 +0000

Description:

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 trailblazing CEO journey. Tune in to hear how he has evolved as a leader, the challenges of growing the company, the secret sauce to launching a brand, the top tips he recommends to stay grounded.

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@stairwaytoceo.com to learn more about their award-winning services and Awesome Coffee Chats.

In This Episode You’ll Hear About:

• [03:13] Growing up in Los Angeles, his roots in media entrepreneurship and the profound influence his parents had on his passion for the written word.

• [07:25] Navigating his brother's cancer diagnosis, early job experiences, and a transformative college journey that paved the way for FabFitFun.

• [13:42] Starting his first business, working with politicians, and mixing wellness with the red carpet treatment.

• [19:54] Value lessons from earlier ventures, from monetizing emails to business expansion, and how this led to FabFitFun.

• [26:31] Pivoting the business model of FabFitFun and what makes the company and its products unique.

• [31:47] What qualities they look for in other brands and the success stories of the companies they have worked with.

• [34:06] The joint venture approach to business and how Michael has evolved as a leader.

• [37:20] The difficult challenge of raising capital and how this inspired Michael and his brother to form Green Meadow Ventures.

• [41:24] The biggest obstacles to founding FabFitFun; a wedding, COVID, and his brother’s cancer diagnosis.

• [44:22] Invaluable advice for budding entrepreneurs and what’s next for FabFitFun!

To Find Out More:

Michael Broukhim on Twitter

FabFitFun

Charlie on LinkedIn

Green Meadow Ventures

Quotes:

“Maybe it was the combination of having access to the internet and having a printer, but I started just putting things into a word processor and laying them out.” [0:05:33]

“I was a pretty resilient kid, and in a lot of ways, I didn’t have anything too tough, and only later in my life did I come to understand that.” [0:07:29]

“We didn’t seek out to build a political new media consulting firm, it was just the first opportunity that fell into our laps.” [0:15:26]

“We learned really well how to get people onto our newsletter, how to monetize an email list, and how to produce incredible content.” [0:20:16]

“I think email is interesting. It is kind of like the cockroach of the internet. It will never go away. It is a truly open platform.” [0:20:31]

“In some ways what we came up with, through FabFitFun, was an alternative way to tell your story as a brand, and that was to get the product into consumers’ hands.” [0:28:33]

“Consumers have a much higher tolerance for trying new things if they know they are getting a deal.” [0:28:52]

“What is going to make any brand or product successful in the long run is you have to own the consumer for something unique and something differentiated that you have tapped into.” [0:31:54]

“Getting into that mode of constantly working on yourself, being a self-learner, and in some ways your own harshest critic, I think are really essential to leading a company.” [0:35:26]

“I think surrounding [ourselves] peer groups that [we] can talk to and learn from has been really critical.” [0:37:06]

“I think right now, trying to really stretch your dollar is important because the capital is more expensive.” [0:38:47]

“Keep powering through. I think if you are really committed to [starting a business], it is an incredible privilege to be able to run a business.” [0:44:24]

“I think finding a way to stay level is really critical as an entrepreneur.” [0:44:51]

Rowing, Resilience, and Reimagining Fitness with Bruce Smith, Founder and CEO of Hydrow

lee@stairwaytoceo.com (Lee Greene, Bruce Smith) — Tue, 8 Aug 2023 11:00:00 +0000

Description:

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 finds so engaging about the sport and hear all about his inspiring personal journey and entrepreneurial story.

Exclusive Deals from Our Sponsors:

In This Episode You’ll Hear About:

• [01:02] Introducing Bruce Smith, the Founder and CEO of Hydrow.

• [03:37] Bruce’s early days: Growing up in Canada with a schizophrenic mother, leaving home early, and supporting himself financially while pursuing music.

• [11:16] How he supported himself in college; how he became a hustler by necessity!

• [14:24] His journey from academia to entrepreneurship, real estate, and coaching.

• [20:08] Bruce’s passion for rowing and his transition from rower to rowing coach.

• [22:49] The mind-body connection associated with rowing and the addictiveness of synchronization.

• [25:18] Bruce shares success stories from his career as a rowing coach.

• [27:42] The genesis story of Hydrow; the rowing machine company connecting the indoor rowing experience to the magic of rowing on water.

• [33:49] Hydrow’s impressive fundraising journey in the face of countless rejections.

• [47:09] The company’s team structure, Bruce’s leadership approach, and Hydrow’s future goals!

To Find Out More:

Bruce Smith on LinkedIn

Hydrow

Community Rowing, Inc.

Francesco Pergola on LinkedIn

Quotes:

“[Entrepreneurship] is really hard but it's really satisfying. Honestly, I think it's the most fun thing you can do. It's like creating art that's worth the trouble.” [0:03:21]

“I got my driver's license the day that I turned 16 and I got in the car and I drove away and I basically never went back.” [0:07:40]

“I really do believe poverty is an amazing motivator.” [0:13:12]

“The power of the man is real and you’ve got to adapt and bend a little bit if you're going to be successful.” [0:17:28]

“In the United States, especially in Chicago, it is a meritocracy. If you have good ideas, people embrace you with open arms.” [0:19:46]

“That moment of synchronicity – is wildly addictive.” [0:23:59]

“We wanted to take that smoothness and that analog feeling [of rowing on water] and translate it to a machine. So we had to reimagine how people think of our machines from the ground up.” [0:32:28]

“You want to be sure that the people who invest in your company will be able to continue to invest in your company.” [0:38:54]

“I like bankers. They're the most socially capable people I've ever met.” [0:40:35]

“Overall, I've become an even stronger believer in investing in culture and – who you are.” [0:47:52]

Crackers, Cheese, and Challenges with Francisco Pergola, Co-Founder of Cheddies Crackers

lee@stairwaytoceo.com (Lee Greene, Francisco Pergola) — Tue, 1 Aug 2023 11:00:00 +0000

Description:

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 patients had limited healthy snack options. Working with nutritionists and testing his concept within clinics, Francesco and his family have taken the snack world by storm. Tune in to hear more today!

Exclusive Deals from Our Sponsors:

In This Episode You’ll Hear About:

• [01:05] Francisco Pergola’s childhood, studies, and career before co-founding Cheddies Crackers.

• [09:23] The inception and development of the Cheddies Crackers concept.

• [13:48] Researching what patients needed with nutritionists and testing the concept in hospitals.

• [20:14] Taking the product to market, finding a big break, and getting stocked at H-E-B.

• [31:09] Navigating fearlessness as an entrepreneur and asking for forgiveness rather than permission.

• [40:10] The ratio of challenge to celebration on the journey and weighing up the benefits along the way.

• [48:55] Francisco reflects on the early days of the business and what he would recommend others do differently.

• [53:07] Background on the cracker industry in the USA and Nabisco.

To Find Out More:

Cheddies Crackers

Outlaw Ventures

H-E-B
Awesome CX

Haven’s Kitchen on Instagram

Quotes:

“I’d go in and talk to their patients and just listen to what they needed which is something that, in the medical industry, not many people do.” [0:14:07]

“When we go into the clinics, the easiest selling point for us was familiarity and approachability.” [0:18:14]

“[It] was near and dear to our hearts when we started Cheddies — it’s a snack; it’s meant to be fun; it just so happens to be better for you.” [0:19:38]

“I tell people all the time, just ask for forgiveness later.” [0:21:12]

“I don’t like having limits on what I can and cannot do, because you only live once, so why not try to do as many things as you can?” [0:38:38]

“95% of what we have done and dealt with have been challenges and like 5% have been celebratory moments.” [0:40:10]

“The good is always at the end, somewhere, somehow.” [0:40:36]

“There are going to be moments where you seek answers, you seek help from others, and the truth is, it’s your journey, and they are your answers to figure out.” [0:47:37]

“I think taking on debt at an early stage is an effective tool.” [0:48:57]

From Cooking Class to Condiments with Alison Cayne, Founder and CEO of Haven's Kitchen

lee@stairwaytoceo.com (Lee Greene, Alison Cayne) — Tue, 25 Jul 2023 11:00:00 +0000

Description:

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 underrepresented founders. Tune in as Alison shares her inspiring story of becoming a leader, and the philosophies she stands by as she guides her team (and her brand) to new heights.

Exclusive Deals from Our Sponsors:

In This Episode You’ll Hear About:

• [03:02] Alison’s background: growing up in NYC, working in urban development, having five kids, and getting a master’s in food sciences.

• [14:33] How Alison combined her love for cooking, teaching, and entrepreneurship to create Haven’s Kitchen!

• [17:49] What inspired Haven’s fresh, squeezable sauces for home cooks (and what inspired Alison to pursue the business).

• [21:27] The versatility, accessibility, and sustainability of the sauces.

• [28:13] The product incubation and launch process (with help from Chobani and Whole Foods).

• [36:24] Alison’s greatest challenges (COVID aside!) and the importance of redefining growth expectations for a new category.

• [39:46] Fundraising challenges, particularly for underrepresented founders, and the importance of building a support network.

• [49:56] Alison candidly shares her strengths and weaknesses as a leader and her vision for the company.

• [58:31] What’s next for Haven’s Kitchen! Spoiler alert: a new product line.

• [59:14] Advice for aspiring entrepreneurs to solve a clear problem and ensure sustainable margins.

To Find Out More:

Alison Cayne on LinkedIn

Haven’s Kitchen

Chobani Incubator

Whole Foods

Blue Apron

Danielle Gronich on LinkedIn

Quotes:

“When my youngest son started nursery school, I went back to get a master's in food systems and food studies.” [0:13:48]

“There's just so much correlation with cooking and personal, community, and environmental health.” [0:16:57]

“We had an all-day cafe and an event space and we were profitable within a year, which was cool.” [0:17:32]

“Why are we teaching our students how to make things like, romesco sauce, Thai peanut sauce, chimichurri, and salsa verde, but these things don’t exist where they're shopping in the grocery store?” [0:19:46]

“I got into the business because I wanted to help people feel great about cooking.” [0:20:14]

“You learn as you go, but can save you thousands of dollars and hours and really prevent failure if you get those lessons early.” [0:33:32]

“The companies that you're seeing that are raising gazillions of dollars and they look like they're doing it relatively easily — are not doing it relatively easily. Secondly, they are likely already in a group of people where they have access to capital and it is really unfair.” [0:39:55]

“Minority-owned brands [and] female-founded brands — are chronically underfunded.” [0:40:10]

“It is very important to have a network of people early on who can write checks. Banks don't do it. You will not find a VC to do it. You need to have angels.” [0:40:33]

“We have an ecosystem where money begets money.” [0:46:17]

“Your strengths and your weaknesses are basically two different sides of the same exact tree.” [0:56:07]

A Clear Win for Clear Skin with Danielle Gronich, Co-Founder and CEO of CLEARSTEM

lee@stairwaytoceo.com (Lee Greene, Danielle Gronich) — Tue, 18 Jul 2023 11:00:00 +0000

Description:

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 her Co-Founder, Kayleigh Christina, and how they bootstrapped the business and grew it to over $8 million in revenue in 2022.

Exclusive Deals from Our Sponsors:

In This Episode You’ll Hear About:

• [02:55] Danielle’s tomboy childhood, entrepreneurial traits, and dreams to travel the world.

• [09:35] What led her to study at UC Santa Barbara, plus some key lessons from her first jobs.

• [14:30] Insight into the not-so-cute side of being a CEO and how working at ADP gave Danielle a real-world business education.

• [17:30] How she created the clinical career she always wanted but didn’t know existed!

• [21:54] Supplements, hormonal imbalances, and other things that can trigger acne.

• [23:12] Where the idea for CLEARSTEM originated after Danielle met her cofounder.

• [26:25] How they built the business from the ground up and how it was impacted by COVID.

• [30:15] The focus on product and messaging that have propelled CLEARSTEM’s growth.

• [31:43] Challenges that came with scaling the business and the role of nurturing the cofounder relationship and facilitating communication.

• [35:42] The CLEARSTEM vision and how community and education set the company apart.

• [40:34] Danielle's decision to keep the company self-funded and what's next for the business.

• [48:26] Why Danielle believes that trusting your instincts is key to business success.

To Find Out More:

CLEARSTEM Skincare

Danielle Gronich on Instagram

Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS)

Viv on Instagram
Viv on Twitter
Katie Diasti on LinkedIn
Lee Greene on LinkedIn

Quotes:

“I was definitely entrepreneurial; always creative, thinking outside the box, thought that what I was being told to do was [boring]. I wanted to focus on something I thought was more important and I hated being told what to do by authority figures. I think that’s a key trait!” [0:06:13]

“I remember getting exposed to other cultures in depth at a really young age and I always found it fascinating, so I wanted to see the world and satisfy that adventurous spirit.” [0:09:25]

“Being a CEO seems one way to so many people. Once you’re in it, it is that way, but it’s also a lot of stuff you don’t want to do.” [0:14:42]

“How can I learn [business] on the street in a real-world way? [ADP] was the perfect job to do it. I met so many business owners at all different types of businesses – That became my MBA.” [0:16:06]

“While I was [at beauty school], I realized that treating acne was the medical profession I had always wanted but didn’t know existed.” [0:18:26]

“We love making [educational videos and] hosting free masterclasses. We do IG lives. We collaborate with other healthcare professionals, so we’re constantly spreading the [CLEARSTEM] message and ethos.” [0:30:28]

“One of our core values is that we have to be one with the customer at all times. Almost everyone on our team has dealt with acne or some other skin concern.” [0:30:44]

“I knew how to crush it in a [clinical and one-on-one setting], but that doesn’t automatically translate to mass market [success].” [0:38:24]

“Our founder story is so unique and we’re always sharing that with people and constantly educating – The way we give to our community and educate freely is what really sets us apart.” [0:38:39]

“Being able to stick to the control of the ingredients and the ethos – was always something that was important to us. We swore we never wanted to have an investor because we never wanted someone to tell us, ‘Make this cheaper.’” [0:41:02]

“So many brands claim to be everything to everyone, but if there ever was a brand that was, it’s us!” [0:47:06]

“The one thing I wish I could have told myself back then is to trust your instincts.” [0:48:44]

Pro Planet and People, Period. with Katie Diasti, Founder and CEO of Viv

lee@stairwaytoceo.com (Lee Greene, Katie Diasti) — Tue, 11 Jul 2023 11:00:00 +0000

Description:

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 period care brand, before Katie shares what surprised her on her business journey, challenges her three-person team has faced with 2000 retail doors, and what’s next for Viv! In closing, she shares a word of advice with listeners.

Exclusive Deals from Our Sponsors:

In This Episode You’ll Hear About:

• [01:04] Introducing Katie Diasti, Founder and CEO of Viv, a non-toxic, sustainable period brand.

• [03:37] What it was like to grow up as a first-generation Egyptian-American in Tampa, Florida.

• [10:08] The college project that ignited Katie’s idea for the brand.

• [15:56] Usage data that fuelled Katie’s passion for sustainability in the industry.

• [19:10] Products and materials included in the Viv range, including the user-friendly Viv Cup.

• [26:11] Early growth drivers, affiliate marketing, and fundraising as a young woman building a period care brand.

• [29:28] Why focusing on retail has come as a surprise to Katie.

• [34:28] Where the name Viv originally came from and why Katie loves including ‘for your v’.

• [36:17] Challenges her three-person team has experienced with 2000 retail doors.

• [37:50] What’s next for Viv and some valuable advice from Katie’s journey for new entrepreneurs.

To Find Out More:

Viv

Viv on TikTok

Julie Nguyen on Instagram

Quotes:

“I’ve loved how Viv has shifted as a persona. I very much wanted to personify a brand when building Viv, thinking of it as an older sister or this badass person you look up to.” [0:14:08]

“In my own life I was looking to make more sustainable swaps, and I knew that there was a whole generation with me that was looking to be more of an eco-conscious buyer as well as more socially conscious, but there was no brand on the shelf that was really targeting those issues and resonating with the Gen Z and millennial audience.” [0:16:37]

“Bamboo is not only better for the earth, [but] it also uses way less land and way less water to grow.” [0:18:43]

“Knowing that we could have [period products that are] both better for you and better performance was great.” [0:18:31]

“Viv pads actually break down in 150 days compared to 800 years.” [0:18:44]

“So many people are new to a menstrual cup, so making it as approachable as possible has been key.” [0:20:03]

“Building a startup also takes a village. It’s like raising a family in that sense.” [0:23:38]

“You just have to know that [affiliate marketing] might not work sometimes. Being okay with that in the early days is crucial.” [0:24:56]

“It’s about finding investors that believe in you. You never want to be begging someone to believe in you because that’s just not a great fit, either. It needs to be a two-way street in terms of interviewing the right fit for you.” [0:27:01]

“Wild how some of the things that you think are just for fun or might not have that big of an impact can really change the course of your distribution and growth. Because we’re giving so much of ourselves, being very authentic, and really embracing and embodying the Viv brand always. We’re always in Viv colors at every networking event.” [0:33:26]

“Nothing is ever going to be 100% perfect when you launch and you’re never going to feel 100% ready.” [0:28:35]

“If you’re not looking back and you’re not a little bit embarrassed by the first thing you ever ship out or launch, then you’re taking too long to launch. Launch and grow.” [0:38:58]

“Just start. That’s the hardest part. That mental hurdle.” [0:39:14]

Michelin Dreams and Gourmet Themes with Julie Nguyen, Co-Founder and CEO of Methodology

lee@stairwaytoceo.com (Lee Greene, Julie Nguyen) — Tue, 4 Jul 2023 11:00:00 +0000

Description:

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 emphasizes the benefits of planning, and making your business your mule (not the other way around)!

Exclusive Deals from Our Sponsors:

In This Episode You’ll Hear About:

• [01:02] Introducing Julie and Methodology: the sustainable gourmet meal prep service.

• [02:55] Julie’s background and career journey, from dropping out of law school to working at JP Morgan to becoming passionate about health while working at Lumosity.

• [18:03] The genesis and product development of Methodology, inspired by her own journey.

• [26:16] Methodology’s focus on product quality over scale; why they decided against the venture capital route.

• [28:34] Julie's dream for Methodology to be the first cloud kitchen to earn a Michelin star.

• [32:22] The challenges of running the business profitably and navigating the pandemic.

• [37:24] Why planning and being prepared for potential downturns is crucial and some of the lessons Julie learned along the way.

• [41:55] Her goals for the business and why she’s currently based in Paris.

• [46:37] Julie’s final words of advice: make your business your mule, not the other way around!

To Find Out More:

Julie Nguyen on LinkedIn

Methodology (Promo Code: Stairway to CEO)

Methodology on Instagram

Lumosity

Find Your Dream Job

Quotes:

“It happened very organically. I think that if I had done market research and seen actual food delivery PNLs, I would've probably never started this business because I would've realized there's very little room for error.” [0:20:14]

“For us, it's always flavor first [because] we hate diet food. None of us want to eat it.” [0:21:44]

“I don't want people to feel like they're making compromises when they eat our food.” [0:24:09]

“In the early years, we thought we were going to go the venture path, but then we realized that the venture business model is out of alignment with how we want to build the business, meaning quality first, even if that means it has to grow more slowly.” [0:26:29]

“When I look at our customer base, they're literally NBA players, owners of NBA teams, founders [who you’ve] heard of. They can afford to use anything in the world and they use Methodology.” [0:28:18]

“I want Methodology to be the first cloud kitchen to get a Michelin star.” [0:28:45]

“Our business is laser-focused on quality at the highest level in the world. Our goal is to create an at-home eating experience that is the most luxurious but also the most healthy of anything else in the world.” [0:29:35]

“I stared death in the face many times during the pandemic. But also, of course, in the early days of the business, it was the same. But it was just scarier during the pandemic because on top of the business being hard, overall life was hard.” [0:36:23]

“My dream is to settle down in Europe and marry a European. That’s the priority and that's what's going to happen!” [0:44:35]

“The business is a mule to us and not the other way around. Once we started running the business like that, everything transformed. The business was more successful. I was healthier and happier.” [0:47:40]

Willpower, Work Ethic, and Wearable Wellness with Cedar Carter, CEO of The Good Patch

lee@stairwaytoceo.com (Lee Greene, Cedar Carter) — Tue, 27 Jun 2023 11:00:00 +0000

Description:

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, her first fundraising experience, the importance of hard work, and why “big picture thinking” has been key to her success as well as why highly creative people don’t always make the best CEOs and more!

Exclusive Deals from Our Sponsors:

In This Episode You’ll Hear About:

• [02:26] Cedar’s rustic upbringing and the leadership qualities she displayed early on.

• [05:23] An overview of Cedar’s career journey, from gymnastics coach to CEO.

• [16:03] The importance of thinking about the big picture and taking a long-term approach.

• [19:13] What prompted Cedar to make the move from apparel to CPG at The Good Patch.

• [22:09] The story of how she became CEO of The Good Patch in under a year.

• [27:58] How her expectations of what it means to be CEO have been challenged.

• [29:47] Things that have influenced Cedar’s empowering leadership style along the way.

• [33:47] What growth looks like at The Good Patch (and some insight into the product).

• [38:23] Inspiring lessons from Cedar’s first fundraising experience.

• [44:44] What’s next for The Good Patch and Cedar’s advice for aspiring leaders.

To Find Out More:

The Good Patch

Cedar Carter on LinkedIn

The Artemis Fund

Bridget Johns on LinkedIn

Quotes:

“We were very close to nature [as children] and it grounded me from the start.” [0:03:00]

“Coaching gymnastics was a very simple job, but it led to many other career opportunities along the way for me. The value of networking!” [0:06:03]

“It’s important to work hard in any job that you have, regardless of how important or unimportant it seems at the time because you learn something from every experience, but also, you never know who you’ll meet along the way.” [0:07:01]

“When you’re young, it’s hard to know what you want to do until you try it.” [0:12:07]

“As a marketer, I’d always had an eye on the big picture, as you should.” [0:16:04]

“Because I knew how the wholesale, retail, apparel worlds worked so intimately and also knew how to build and scale a D2C business, The Good Patch approached me thinking that my background made sense for them.” [0:19:58]

“A lot of founders are very creative. They have this amazing out-of-the-box idea, then it comes to actually operating a business, and that’s not always that fun!” [0:25:23]

“The CEO role is a lot of pressure. That’s the biggest thing [that I didn’t expect or realize]. I’d always been working for somebody else. While I still work for somebody else, it is ultimately my responsibility to make sure that this business is successful.” [0:28:34]

“I’ve seen incredibly intelligent people become so disheartened because they feel like they cannot make a single decision on their own without running it by somebody.” [0:31:15]

“Once I met one person in [the female venture capital world in LA], they introduced me to two more, and then they introduced me to two more. It was such a supportive, wonderful group of women that I’m still very much in touch with.” [0:39:46]

“If you believe in your idea and you believe you’re going to be successful (which you should; that’s why you’re an entrepreneur, that’s why you started this brand), you’re giving investors the opportunity to be a part of it.” [0:42:48]

“It’s really about working hard to differentiate yourself as far as work ethic. It’s hard work. You can’t just sit back and work your 9-to-5 and have it fall in your lap. You’ve got to put some effort into your network.” [0:45:46]

“How does my piece of the puzzle fit into the entire puzzle? – How can I think bigger picture? How can I affect change for the whole organization?” [0:46:35]

Unwrapping Gifting and Grit with Bridget Johns, Founder and CEO of To&From

lee@stairwaytoceo.com (Lee Greene, Bridget Johns) — Tue, 20 Jun 2023 11:00:00 +0000

Description:

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 first company, and so much more!

Exclusive Deals from Our Sponsors:

In This Episode You’ll Hear About:

• [02:50] Bridget’s humble upbringing and her early foundational experience in retail.

• [05:52] How her career aspirations evolved and her love for retail grew.

• [09:28] Major takeaways from her time at Ralph Lauren, L’Oréal, and Tiffany & Co.

• [11:40] Why Bridget refers to herself as a “weaver” on the path to success.

• [15:24] What gifting means to her and how To&From approaches it holistically.

• [25:08] Entrepreneurship from Bridget’s perspective and why nurturing relationships is key.

• [28:52] Investor bias against gifting and other lessons from Bridget’s fundraising journey.

• [30:51] Metrics to measure success by, the data points of gifting, and trends to watch.

• [37:32] Why Bridget encourages founders to take more time to reflect and think.

• [41:10] Advice for entrepreneurs: keep talking to people!

To Find Out More:

To&From

Bridget Johns on Twitter

Lavender and Truffles on Instagram

Quotes:

“When I think about entrepreneurship, the thing that does not scare me at all is how much hard work it is, because that’s what I’ve done my entire life.” [0:07:50]

“Retail is an amazing career. There are so many things you can do with it and so many ways you can grow and stretch yourself and earn a fantastic living.” [0:08:22]

“There are people who have a straight line to success and there are people who weave. I’m definitely a weaver.” [0:12:30]

“I may not have artistic talent (I would never say that I do), but I am in fact a really creative person. It took me most of my life to figure that out.” [0:14:17]

“In order to solve gifting and make gifting a better experience for people, you have to think about it holistically.” [0:15:33]

“I have incredible connections. I have nurtured my connections over time. Part of being a good gifter is keeping your relationships up to date.” [0:26:36]

“With gifting, you can be too cutesy or too clever, and we really wanted a name that would support us as we grew and solve a lot of different problems over time.” [0:30:35]

“I didn’t take any time [between] RetailNext and To&From and I felt this pressure to start building and to know what I was going to build right away – I wish I had taken more time to reflect and think and talk to people.” [0:38:23]

“The number one thing for any entrepreneur is to just keep talking to people.” [0:41:23]

“[Be open to having conversations] with people who are competitive in the space, because you always learn things. You learn the macro picture that helps to shape the industry more than it’s actually going to help shape your company.” [0:44:37]

From Fashion to Frozen Flavors with Alicia Liu, Founder and CEO of Lavender and Truffles

lee@stairwaytoceo.com (Lee Greene, Alicia Liu) — Tue, 13 Jun 2023 11:00:00 +0000

Description:

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 Alicia’s advice and learn how her story weaves together her upbringing, experience, and passion to culminate in an inspiring, authentic business endeavor.

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@stairwaytoceo.com to learn more about their award-winning services and Awesome Coffee Chats.
Listeners get 20% off with Lavender and Truffles by using the code: LTFRIENDS20

In This Episode You’ll Hear About:

• [02:38] Alicia Liu’s family background and how her exposure to art, food, and fashion growing up informed her career decisions.

• [07:37] Why entrepreneurship never occurred to her as a child and what her parents encouraged her to do.

• [09:59] Alicia’s 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.

• [17:50] The two most pivotal figures in her career journey and how they inspired her to start her own business.

• [23:37] Alicia’s experience at Amazon, what she learned about e-commerce and digital marketing, and how it prepared her for her current role as Founder and CEO.

• [27:07] What inspired her to start her plant-based ice cream company, Lavender and Truffles, and how she incorporated her prior experience into the business.

• [31:27] How she developed her unique flavors and launched the product in record time.

• [36:35] Why she decided on the four-ounce portion size and how she landed on the name, Lavender and Truffles.

• [40:10] The greatest challenges Alicia has faced on her CP journey thus far and her advice for others looking to pivot to a more fulfilling career path.

• [47:55] Her greatest learning as an entrepreneur and advice for aspiring entrepreneurs.

To Find Out More:

Alicia Liu

Lavender and Truffles

Johnathan Bonnell on LinkedIn
Wholly Veggie
Critical Mass

Awesome CX by Transcom

Quotes:

“[My parents] told me I had to go to business school, so I told them I was majoring in business and minoring in art, but I actually majored in art and minored in business.” [0:06:50]

“Instead of going to class for a semester, I actually went to work and I went to work in an ad agency in the art department.” [0:12:45]

“[Patrizio di Marco] took me under his wing, and I'll never forget it. There are two people in my whole career that have made a big pivotal impact and he was one of them.” [0:18:40]

“It came to a certain point where I was getting tired of the industry that I was in, and I wanted to switch to something else. I had to really think about what I wanted to do, and I always go back to cooking.” [0:27:46]

“Dairy's not really in an Asian diet. My daughter was eating a lot of ice cream and I realized it's not healthy for her to eat it all the time, 'cause we get a tub every week. And I decided, ‘I'm going to make you a healthier version.’” [0:30:42]

“When you have to set up the business and come up with names and apply for permits and everything, and the tax ID number; I had that already set up for Lavender Truffles and I didn't want to go through the whole process.” [0:37:54]

“My flavors are unique to the point where, ‘Oh, that's interesting’ is sometimes not enough to grab off the shelf. So I started these tasting packs — so that people can have an opportunity to taste all eight.” [0:39:10]

“In this CP journey, the big shocker is that it's a pennies business. It really is. Every penny counts.” [0:40:18]

“You get to a certain point in time — where you've got to take some calculated risks and you have to put the faith in the universe.” [0:42:30]

“Follow your path, guys. Change is good. You can always make changes.” [0:47:47]

“If you start your own business, you are open 24/7 for work, and it is very challenging to put the ‘closed’ sign on the door.” [0:48:10]

“To be an entrepreneur or leader of any kind, I think you have to embrace change. And it doesn't mean that you have to be a complete 180 flip, but just be nimble and be flexible.” [0:49:56]

Garbage, Grit, and Greens with Johnathan Bonnell, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Wholly Veggie

lee@stairwaytoceo.com (Lee Greene, Johnathan Bonnell) — Tue, 6 Jun 2023 11:00:00 +0000

Description:
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 through anything. Lee talk’s with Johnathan about his upbringing in Canada, some of the financial challenges his family faced growing up, and how his mother losing her job while he was in college shaped his outlook and influenced his path to entrepreneurship. Johnathan also shares how his varied work experience — from working as a garbage man during college to taking on various roles in advertising — influenced his entrepreneurial journey, so be sure to tune in to hear it all!

Exclusive Deals from Our Sponsors:

In This Episode You’ll Hear About:

• [02:56] Johnathan’s upbringing in Canada, the financial difficulties his family experienced, and his early immersion in nature and the concept of sustainability.

• [04:30] The devastating news of his mother losing her job while he was in college, its impact on him, and the turning point it represented in Johnathan’s life.

• [12:31] Johnathan’s experience working as a garbage man through college and what he learned about the industry.

• [17:17] What motivated Johnathan to work in the UK after college and how the recession forced him to move back to Canada.

• [23:50] The companies that Johnathan worked for while pursuing his advertising career and the events that gave him a much broader understanding of running a business.

• [29:09] How Johnathan and his partner first got the idea for Wholly Veggies and his desire to build a business that would positively impact the world.

• [35:24] The research behind Wholly Veggies’ recipes, how their products have evolved over the years, and the impact that the COVID-19 pandemic had on their business.

• [40:42] Johnathan’s advice on when to start talking to an investment bank about helping you fundraise for your business and why it’s so important to find balance as an entrepreneur.

• [51:53] The story behind the name ‘Wholly Veggies’, an overview of the rebranding they did in 2021, and what their plans are for 2024.

To Find Out More:

Sid Lee

Truth, Lies, and Advertising: The Art of Account Planning

Party Land
Lee Greene on LinkedIn

Quotes:

“I never wanted to be in a position where someone else can pull out the rug from underneath me. If anyone's going to do it, it's going to be me. I'd rather go out that way. So that was my first feeling of needing control with my destiny.” [0:05:32]
“There's always someone smarter than you in the room, but I knew I could outwork people.” [0:10:22]

“I knew what work ethic came down to a mental challenge, and how far you're willing to take the pain.” [0:10:27]

“My job was, I'd have to walk up and down a section of downtown with a bag and a broom and just sweep trash.” [0:13:29]

“It was terrible as a college kid, on a Friday night finishing your shift at 10pm smelling like garbage.” [0:13:52]

“We work for a company that is personally responsible for destroying our planet. What if we could find a way to do something more positive? What if we could take all this hard work, all this learning, and apply it to something that can make the world a better place?” [0:30:32]

“Being a vegetarian product, we were always getting this hate from people about not being fully vegan.” [0:34:40]

“I really wish it was possible for founders to almost go through a mock investment banking process earlier in your journey, because it really pokes holes [in] all aspects of your business.” [0:41:47]

“You can burn a lot of time, a lot of energy on the wrong product, [and] discover that too late in your journey.” [0:46:19]

“Once you start scaling, it's really hard to come back from that, because you're already hitting critical mass with your retailers or distributors.” [0:46:37]

“Find a way to reassess the business from an outsider's perspective, I would say, every six months.” [0:46:55]

Little Saints, Big Spirits with Megan Klein, Founder and CEO of Little Saints

lee@stairwaytoceo.com (Lee Greene, Megan Klein) — Tue, 30 May 2023 11:00:00 +0000

Description:

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 vertical farming space, how the inspiration for Little Saints came to her during the pandemic, and why she has made spirituality and her belief in the power of feminine energy (i.e. trusting your intuition) foundational elements of her business.

Exclusive Deals from Our Sponsor:

In This Episode, You’ll Hear About:

• [02:58] The entrepreneurial qualities that were evident in Megan from a young age.

• [06:47] Some of the many jobs she had throughout her life: from frying mozzarella sticks to corporate law to environmental research.

• [12:54] Why she took her passion for the environment into the realm of business.

• [14:34] Where Megan’s obsession with vertical farming originated, how she found her way into this sector, and how she worked her way up to being president of FarmedHere.

• [19:06] How Megan and her team turned the failure of FarmedHere into a success story.

• [21:55] The gap in the non-alcoholic drinks market that inspired Megan to found Little Saints.

• [28:34] What plant spirit medicine is and how she has incorporated it into Little Saints.

• [34:26] The three functional ingredients found in each of the Little Saints Plant Magic Mocktails and how these drinks differ from others in the functional non-alcohol category.

• [41:20] How Megan has used money astrology to guide her decision-making.

• [45:25] The role that intuition plays in her approach to funding and running Little Saints.

To Find Out More:

Little Saints

Megan Klein on LinkedIn

Megan Klein on Twitter

Megan Klein on Instagram

AwesomeCX

Quotes:

“I’m just really curious. I think it’s the quality that makes you a good entrepreneur.” [0:03:24]

“I wouldn’t say that I found my passion until well after 30.” [0:08:04]

“I started to see that business was a great way to be an environmentalist because you could create products or be part of a team helping people think differently about the environment, helping people love plants in a certain way. That is the direction I wanted to go in.” [0:14:11]

“The failure of a business ended up being the birthplace of a business that is really sustainable and continues to grow.” [0:19:06]

“I was a wellness entrepreneur during the day and then an alcohol drinker at night. I started to see how that was [counterintuitive].” [0:22:10]

“Sugar-free, functional, and scent; that’s what I went to my formulation team with.” [0:27:51]

“The premise of plant spirit medicine is that plants are all living beings and if we interact with them with intention, then they can have a reciprocal relationship with us and give us what we need.” [0:28:48]

“We’re the first functional non-alcoholic drink to call out a single adaptogen ingredient with how many milligrams of something it has in it.” [0:35:13]

“My goal is to share Little Saints with as many people as possible and spread joy through that.” [0:41:24]

“We talk a lot about feminine energy on team Little Saints and that just means being able to trust your intuition.” [0:46:08]

Scoops of Approval with Alec Jaffe, Founder and CEO of Alec's Ice Cream

lee@stairwaytoceo.com (Lee Greene, Alec Jaffe) — Tue, 23 May 2023 11:00:00 +0000

Description:

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 some insight into his experience of working at a tech startup, what motivated his decision to start a delicious and sustainable ice cream brand, and the challenges he faced in finding an organic dairy supplier. We also dive into retail strategy, fundraising, and the importance of staying focused, plus so much more! To learn more about driving change in your industry, the value of patience, and what it takes to get your product on shelves, be sure to tune in today.

Exclusive Deals from Our Sponsors:

In This Episode You’ll Hear About:

• [02:39] Alec’s childhood in California and his first taste of entrepreneurship.

• [10:57] How his almost-pro athletic journey demonstrates Alec’s perseverance and drive.

• [14:04] The shoulder injury that led him to the corporate world (and what he learned there).

• [21:15] What working in a tech startup taught him about failure, focus, and being a founder.

• [24:34] Why Alec decided to build a sustainable ice cream brand that tastes good too.

• [30:23]Regenerative agriculture, A2 dairy, sourcing an organic dairy supplier, and more.

• [42:37] The complexities of running a retail business while driving change in the industry.

• [49:07] Advice for getting your product on shelves: think about the retail buyer!

To Find Out More:

Alec’s Ice Cream

Alec Jaffe on LinkedIn

Alec Jaffe on Twitter

AWESOME CX by Transcom

Quotes:

“I maybe had one or two lemonade stands, but I wasn’t the kid with the lemonade stand on the corner every single weekend!” — @alecjaffe [0:07:35]

“Seeing how my athletic journey transitions to what I’m doing now demonstrates so much perseverance and hustle and willingness to overcome all the obstacles put in my way.” — @alecjaffe [0:10:29]

“At AEG, I got to deal with [how to] grow businesses and also work with clients and people who were way older than me and expected me to be on top of my game.” — @alecjaffe [0:19:56]

“Focus is in everything that we’re doing as far as who is our customer target? — What retailers do we want to sell our product in? We don’t want to be everywhere all at once to start with. What is the product? Does this match the vision for what we want the product to be? Being really clear about that is the biggest thing that I’ve learned and then, on top of that, create a really amazing product.” — @alecjaffe [0:22:36]

“There is a cool opportunity to create an amazing-tasting ice cream that also talks about sustainability and uses really great ingredients because nobody is doing that.” — @alecjaffe [0:29:25]

“I wanted to create an ice cream that didn’t have to sacrifice flavor for sustainability. It would be an additive experience where, because of the sustainable ingredients, you’re actually creating a better product.” — @alecjaffe [0:30:09]

“Finding an organic dairy supplier]allowed us to further our mission in a way that I didn’t even know was possible through regenerative agriculture and also added a cool component with the digestion benefit through A2 dairy.” — @alecjaffe [0:34:11]

“One of the bigger challenges in the regenerative space is creating a market for regenerative products.” — @alecjaffe [0:45:23]

“How is this product going to be better for the shopper, for the consumer? Of course, your product needs to answer that question, but a lot of people don’t think about how their product helps the retail buyer.” — @alecjaffe [0:49:47]

“Take the time to get the details right, understand what you’re doing, and don’t just immediately rush into everything.” — @alecjaffe [0:56:01]

Harvard, Health, and Hormones with Allie Egan, Founder and CEO of Veracity

lee@stairwaytoceo.com (Lee Greene, Allie Egan) — Tue, 16 May 2023 11:00:00 +0000

Description:

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 Harvard Business School and becoming a two-time CEO. In her first stint as CEO at Cynthia Rowley, Allie began experiencing issues with her skin, which led her to learn more about hormonal health imbalances and sparked the idea for Veracity. Join us as we discuss micro-journaling, her partnership with Meridian Street Capital, and why she believes you should talk about your ideas early and often!

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@stairwaytoceo.com to learn more about their award-winning services and Awesome Coffee Chats.

In This Episode, You’ll Hear About:

[03:21] Allie’s upbringing in suburban Philadelphia and her early pursuits of independence.
[08:58] What a childhood health scare taught her about the fear that clouds optimal health.
[12:33] Insight into her formative roles in investment banking.
[17:37] How Allie came to realize that she wanted to “build something” as a founder.
[29:41] Personal struggles with her health that gave her the idea for Veracity.
[32:13] Some of the holistic wellness products and services that Veracity offers.
[39:10] The highs and lows of launching a business and raising capital!
[45:09] Exciting innovations that you can expect from Veracity in the future.

To Find Out More:

Veracity

Allie Egan on LinkedIn

Allie Egan on Instagram

AWESOME CX by Transcom

Quotes:

“I wanted to work. I wanted to make my own money. I wanted to have that independence [from very early on].” — Allie Egan [0:07:03]

“That [childhood health scare] experience has taught me how so many people think about their health. Instead of being proactive and [thinking] ‘What could be going on in my body? How can I make it better?’, how they think about optimal health is clouded in fear.” — Allie Egan [0:11:20]

“I feel fortunate that I ended up getting interviews at [L Catterton], which is 100% exclusively focused on consumer retail. I didn’t know if I’d love [investment banking], but what I ended up loving was the consumer retail world.” — Allie Egan [0:15:09]

“Like a lot of folks, I had been on this path of ‘This is the paved path. Keep going that way.’ [I liked what I was doing], but I really started to soul search and think about: what could I be uniquely good at? What could I bring to the table?” — Allie Egan [0:17:53]

“Part of what you’re doing in building a company is being the conductor of all these things, whether it’s ideas, expertise, products, or people.” — Allie Egan [0:18:30]

“If you knew everything you were going to learn [as an entrepreneur], you’d probably make different decisions!” — Allie Egan [0:21:59]

“Here I was, someone that worked in skincare, was seeking a doctor, and not only did I not have the tools to solve my aesthetic issue, but I also didn’t have this important information about my underlying health.” — Allie Egan [0:31:07]

“One piece of advice I always like to give to [entrepreneurs] is to try to talk about your ideas early and often, even when they’re not perfectly formed.” — Allie Egan [0:39:36]

“Raising capital is always hard. It is such a slog. I listened to the founder of Coinbase, [who said]: a successful fundraise is 9 out of 10 people telling you no. And that’s in really good times!” — Allie Egan [0:42:03]

“Being an entrepreneur is like, every day, either getting an acceptance or a rejection letter from your favorite college, but getting both accepted and rejected multiple times a day, every single day. Dealing with that elation down to the dumps is something that has become the norm.” — Allie Egan [0:43:03]

Something in the Water with Sandro Roco, Founder and CEO of Sanzo

lee@stairwaytoceo.com (Lee Greene, Sandro Roco) — Tue, 9 May 2023 11:00:00 +0000

Description:

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 that he has learned through the process of building the company from the ground up, and the myths about entrepreneurship that he is trying to bust!

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@stairwaytoceo.com to learn more about their award-winning services and Awesome Coffee Chats.

In This Episode You’ll Hear About:

[03:54] How Sandro’s upbringing in diverse central New Jersey as a child of immigrant parents helped foster his entrepreneurial spirit (and what his first entrepreneurial venture was).
[12:48] What he loved about his first job as a delivery boy for his then girlfriend’s family’s deli.
[15:51] The valuable lessons that he learned during his years at Villanova University, particularly as editor-in-chief of the college newspaper.
[19:49] Sandro explains the motivation behind his decision to get a corporate engineering job when he graduated from college and when he realized that wasn’t the path for him.
[23:26] The app that he developed while working on the trading floor at JPMorgan and how it altered the trajectory of his career.
[30:00] Myths that have left many people feeling intimidated about founding businesses.
[34:15] The culmination of factors that inspired Sandro to found Sanzo (and what the business was like in the early days).
[40:35] The worst and best Sanzo flavors that have been created to date.
[42:36] Why Sandro believes a beverage company requires a different funding strategy to many other types of businesses, and his advice for fundraising successfully.
[51:33] Some important things that you should know if you are thinking about taking the leap into the entrepreneurial world.

To Find Out More:

Sandro Roco on LinkedIn

Sandro Roco on Instagram

Courtney Boyd Myers on LinkedIn

Quotes:

“Before I even really appreciated what a job was, I just enjoyed the idea of ”Hey, I sell something and I then get additional money and it gives me a sense of freedom.” — [0:12:06]

“I really appreciated the humanity in a small mom-and-pop business.” —[0:14:08]

“What really set the foundation for me was I had the opportunity to be the editor-in-chief of our college newspaper…[and] we had the ability to run it like a business.” —[0:16:33]

“I knew pretty early on that being a traditional engineer was really not it for me. I wanted something a little bit more exciting.” —[0:21:01]

“We’ve done a disservice over the last however long in empowering people to take control of their careers and their lives.” —[0:30:47]

“It’s important when you're doing R&D to measure your taste and aroma because a lot of times those can differ.” — [0:41:47]

“The world of beverage in particular tends to be quite capital intensive.” —[0:42:21]

“If you can operate a business profitability and never have to take a dime in investor capital, I would be the first one to say, ‘Go and do that.’ There’s a lot less stress to it in many ways and you are really much more in control of your own destiny.” —[0:43:25]

“I don’t think you can self-finance a beverage company unless you have generational wealth. Maybe you can get off the ground in five, six figures, but to really get it moving, in my experience, it takes seven figures worth of capital.” —[0:43:46]

“The biggest thing that I’ve learned about fundraising [is that] it all comes down to storytelling.” — [0:44:12]

“Entrepreneurship isn’t for everyone. It is a taxing journey. It is a taxing life. There are a lot of sacrifices that you end up having to make, especially in the earliest days. And I think it is important to demystify that part.” —[0:51:45]

“You really have to have a bias towards action. Do something each day, something to push the ball forward. It’s not just reading something on the internet or reading a blog about how to start a business. It’s going out there and actually starting a business. It’s going out there and talking to prospective customers. It’s going out there and trying to build something and if and when it fails, finding an entrepreneur who is willing to give you some feedback.” — [0:52:48]

From Forbes to Foods with Courtney Boyd Myers, Founder and CEO of AKUA

lee@stairwaytoceo.com (Lee Greene, Courtney Boyd Myers) — Tue, 2 May 2023 11:00:00 +0000

Description:

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 recounts the pivotal moment when her passion and varied experience met. Tune in to learn about AKUA’s genesis and development, from the research process and abandoned products to fundraising and exciting collaborations!

Exclusive Deals from Our Sponsor:

AWESOME CX by Transcom provides high touch, personalized customer experience services to consumer brands of any size! Email Lee at lee@stairwaytoceo.com to learn more about their award-winning services and Awesome Coffee Chats.

In This Episode You’ll Hear About:

[01:27] An introduction to Courtney Boyd Myers, Founder and CEO of AKUA.
[02:47] Courtney’s idyllic childhood growing up at the ocean in Connecticut, her unfulfilling education experience, and her varied career history.
[12:25] The three phases of her career prior to launching AKUA, and what she learned from each venture.
[16:34] Courtney’s journey to becoming a founder: the pivotal moment her passion and experience collided to create AKUA.
[19:19] What makes kelp such an interesting future food in the context of climate change, and why Courtney landed on burgers as a format.
[26:25] The genesis and development of AKUA, from the research process and abandoned products to fundraising and collaborations.
[35:48] Courtney shares crowdfunding and community-building resources and tips.
[39:19] The most unexpected challenges of her entrepreneurship journey and what she would have done differently with the experience she has today.
[43:47] How she’s grown personally and professionally, as a leader.
[46:12] Courtney shares a final piece of advice for entrepreneurs and fills us in on what’s next for AKUA!

To Find Out More:

AKUA

Courtney Boyd Myers

Courtney Boyd Myers on Twitter

Forbes

General Assembly

‘How to Rock a Republic Campaign’

Republic

Wefunder

Ronit Menashe on LinkedIn

Quotes:

“I’ve gone from journalism to tech startups to food, which I don’t necessarily think was as easy to do in our parents’ generation and I think, for many reasons, it’s a lot easier to do now.” —[0:09:30]

“I had three separate career tracks prior to starting AKUA.” — [0:12:42]

“I was a journalist for a long time and I had so much fun interviewing entrepreneurs and hearing their stories. That is where I got the exposure to entrepreneurship.” — [0:12:51]

“Eventually I got the itch. I needed to know what it was like working for a startup, even if it meant leaving my career in journalism.” — [0:13:57]

“A lot of times, as founders, we end up telling all the best parts about being a founder, and it’s only recently that being vulnerable as a founder has been seen as okay. So I heard a lot of the highlights reels, especially as a journalist.” — [0:16:55]

“Because the kelp goes through photosynthesis, it’s sucking Co2 out of the water as it grows its body mass. So it’s really helpful in the context of climate change in combatting acidification.” — [0:19:19]

“If you think about growing food, most of the things you and I have on a daily basis require a lot of fresh water and dry land, and kelp requires neither. So it’s a really interesting future food in the context of climate change.” — [0:19:33]

“I wanted to figure out a way to get more people eating more kelp for so many reasons: health, environment, and supporting our farmers.” — [0:20:22]

“I don’t think in-person tastings are helpful … If the founder’s in the room, throw out the results.” — [0:31:48]

“We’re turning to equity crowdfunding because I think it’s going to be not only helpful for bringing in money, but also really helpful from a marketing perspective.” — [0:35:34]

“I think that age-old ‘The dinner table’s the greatest piece of connective technology’ type of idea is something that really can’t be overdone, especially post-COVID.” — [0:37:58]

From Nike to Fertility with Ronit Menashe, Co-Founder and CEO of WeNatal

lee@stairwaytoceo.com (Lee Greene, Ronit Menashe) — Tue, 25 Apr 2023 11:00:00 +0000

Description:

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 found WeNatal, where she is now helping couples bring new life into the world!

Exclusive Deals from Our Sponsors:

Give the gift of the world’s most beautiful spice rack and get 15% off by using the promo code STAIRWAY15 at www.evermill.com
Get 20% off luxury fitness equipment that you won’t want to hide in your closet by using the promo code STAIRWAY20 at www.equiptmovement.com

In This Episode You’ll Hear About:

[03:25] How her upbringing and the dynamics in her family formed the foundation for her desire to become a businesswoman.
[12:01] Her educational journey and the origin story of her 15-year corporate career.
[16:54] Why building relationships is the key to entrepreneurial success.
[18:24] Invaluable lessons that she learned during her time working at Nike and Hurley, and the factors that enabled her to progress up the ranks very quickly.
[21:40] Two pivotal moments in her career that were foundational to the founding of WeNatal.
[24:48] The tragic personal experience that was the impetus for the founding of WeNatal.
[28:38] Statistics that highlight the extent of the fertility crisis that is being experienced across the world.
[32:50] The educational mission of WeNatal that complements their vitamin supplement products.
[38:55] The convenience and sustainability elements that make WeNatal stand out.
[44:01] The highs and lows that WeNatal has experienced in the past 11 months and what the future holds.

To Find Out More:

WeNatal

Quotes:

“They say, ‘Don’t put all your eggs in one basket,’ but I actually say, ‘Put all your eggs in one basket.’ Or maybe two or three if you want that extra insurance.” — Ronit Menashe [0:16:09]

“When we think now of WeNatal…and why it’s been so successful organically, it’s really because of the power of the relationships I have built throughout my life.” — Ronit Menashe [0:17:30]

“Just build relationships because you never know how these people around you will be able to add value to your life at some point.” — Ronit Menashe [0:17:52]

“You have to ask for what you want in your career.” — Ronit Menashe [0:20:49]

“The role that was probably the most pivotal in giving me the foundation to launch WeNatal was when I worked with Dr. Mark Hyman.” — Ronit Menashe [0:23:04]

“My biggest learning from the Dr. Hyman experience was the importance of education and content when it comes to connecting with consumers.” — Ronit Menashe [0:24:03]

“50% of miscarriages happen because of sperm quality.” — Ronit Menashe [0:26:12]

“With antioxidants you can really reverse the effects of the everyday stress that damages sperm.” — Ronit Menashe [0:26:34]

“There is a huge fertility crisis going on…one out of five couples are having trouble conceiving in the first year. 1 out of4 women are having miscarriages. And then on the men's side of things specifically, sperm counts are on the decline.” — Ronit Menashe [0:28:39]

“A man today has 50% less sperm than their grandfather.” — Ronit Menashe [0:29:02]

“Our company goes beyond just the supplement. We are really there to empower people with education.” — Ronit Menashe [0:32:50]

“Relationships are everything.” — Ronit Menashe [0:51:02]

“Do what you love and it will never feel like work.” — Ronit Menashe [0:52:32]

From Manwich to Murad with Paul Schiraldi, CEO of Murad

lee@stairwaytoceo.com (Lee Greene, Paul Schiraldi) — Tue, 18 Apr 2023 11:00:00 +0000

Description:
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 CEO, why collaboration comes so naturally to him, and the value of being a generalist when you’re in a leadership role! Tune in to hear about Paul’s eventful journey to becoming CEO and his thoughtful parting advice to aspiring leaders.

Exclusive Deals from Our Sponsors:

Give the gift of the world’s most beautiful spice rack and get 15% off by using the promo code STAIRWAY15 at www.evermill.com
Get 20% off luxury fitness equipment that you won’t want to hide in your closet by using the promo code STAIRWAY20 at www.equiptmovement.com

In This Episode You’ll Hear About:

[03:48] Paul’s upbringing in New York City, Staten Island, and his two obsessions as a kid: designing homes and television programming.
[09:24] About Paul’s college experiences and the hilarious story of using an old golf shoe to get his foot in the door at Ogilvy.
[17:34] Why branding’s mix of analytical and creative skills resonated with Paul, and what prompted him to enter the beauty industry.
[19:44] How Paul’s 17-year-long tenure at L’Oreal prepared him for a CEO role.
[23:48] The role Paul decided to take on at Dermalogica, why he was excited to move back to LA, and how the Covid pandemic affected his transition.
[29:17] How Paul was given the opportunity to become CEO of Murad and why he made an effort to express his interest in the role.
[34:14] His experience as CEO thus far, how he would characterize his leadership style, and advice to CEOs on how to prepare for challenging scenarios.
[38:55] Paul’s personal tips on managing the stress that comes with being CEO.
[41:44] The history of Murad, how it’s grown, its holistic approach to skincare, and a sneak peek of what to expect from them in Q4 of 2023.
[48:41] Paul’s parting words on balancing determination and flexibility as a CEO.

To Find Out More:

Murad
Murad on Instagram

Murad on Facebook

Lee Greene on Twitter

PROVEN Skincare on Instagram

Quotes:

“I liked the mix of the creative and analytical skills [at Manwich]. [But] I thought food was too slow moving for me.” — Paul Schiraldi [0:17:51]

“I finally realized that working in brand was the right mix of creative and analytical skills. I was always somewhere in between the two. And I felt [it] clicked for me that [this] was the right career path. And I've been in packaged goods and consumer products ever since.” — Paul Schiraldi [0:18:15]

“I give [L’Oreal] credit because whenever I felt like I was getting a little antsy and ready to move, even without [me] saying anything, they were very good at presenting me with another opportunity.” — Paul Schiraldi [0:20:07]

“I really didn't expect to be considered for the role. But I figured I should throw my hat in the ring, just so that people knew I was interested.” — Paul Schiraldi [0:30:59]

“I just always thought, ‘I think I can do it, so why shouldn't I try to do it?’” — Paul Schiraldi [0:32:27]

“Even though you may not have done 100% of the role before, you've been exposed to enough of it to trust your instincts to know [what to do].” — Paul Schiraldi [0:33:51]

“I'm very much a generalist. So I'm really good at being proficient in a lot of things without being the expert in any one. And I think that lends itself to this role. I [also] think it's important to obviously have good experts below you within the respective functional areas.” — Paul Schiraldi [0:34:35]

“When things are tough, [being CEO is] the toughest job, because ultimately, everyone is looking for you to turn things around. And I think when things are going well, it can actually be a lot easier than a lot of roles because you get the credit for everything that's working.” — Paul Schiraldi [0:35:43]

“All you can do is plan for the scenarios that you think are likely and to try and get ahead of it by planning for different possibilities.” — Paul Schiraldi [0:36:18]

“I typically try and work out probably two, sometimes three (if I'm lucky) times a week, although it should be more. I do hot yoga, which I love — it's just really really great at clearing my mind.” — Paul Schiraldi [0:39:47]

“I find, for me, the most satisfying thing is when I can do an activity where it takes my mind off of that constant dialogue, and the constant analysis that is going on in my head.” — Paul Schiraldi [0:40:20]

“I think it's always the balance between tenacity and flexibility. It's having the determination to continue with something, [and having] a vision that you believe in, but also knowing when to be flexible [and] pivot.” — Paul Schiraldi [0:49:01]

From Private Equity to Personalized Skincare with Ming Zhao, Co-Founder and CEO of PROVEN Skincare

lee@stairwaytoceo.com (Lee Greene, Ming Zhao) — Tue, 11 Apr 2023 11:00:00 +0000

Description:

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 chose to delay her pitch at the Y Combinator demo day, and the pivotal moment she knew private equity was not for her. From exploration to skincare creation, join us on this inspiring journey!

Exclusive Deals from Our Sponsors:

Give the gift of the world’s most beautiful spice rack and get 15% off by using the promo code STAIRWAY15 at www.evermill.com
Get 20% off luxury fitness equipment that you won’t want to hide in your closet by using the promo code STAIRWAY20 at www.equiptmovement.com

In This Episode, You’ll Hear About:

[03:10] The heartwarming story of Ming - from her childhood in another land to moving to the land of opportunity.
[14:39] Ming's transformative time at Harvard and how she's built a career she's truly proud of.
[24:25] Hear about the moment Ming decided to ditch the corporate world and embark on her own entrepreneurial adventure.
[32:10] She unpacks the approach that makes PROVEN so special, and the hurdles she had to overcome along the way.
[40:15] Ming shares insightful tidbits about her fundraising experiences and a behind-the-scenes take on Shark Tank.
[50:23] The impact that being on television had on her business, and PROVEN's exciting investment opportunities.
[56:55] A sneak peek into what the future holds for her, and some invaluable advice to all budding entrepreneurs.

To Find Out More:

PROVEN Skincare

Invest in PROVEN

Lee Greene on Twitter

Quotes:

“We do stand on the shoulders of giants because the system was set up to allow immigrant kids to have a chance.”

“I do not know if would I have had these accomplishments happen if I was in China than in the [United States].”

“I am a third-generation entrepreneur, and I get to do it in America, which is wonderful.”

“[Past work] experiences really ignited in me a wanderlust for the world and seeing the world while working.”

“It was in my job as a private equity investor that inspired me to start PROVEN.”

“Before [a] company is successful is not the time to make a statement. When we want to make a statement is when we have an established, successful company.”

“[Shark Tank] was so much work for so long, and we were very lucky to eventually air on Shark Tank, but between [starting the process] and filming was almost two years.”

“We created a crowdfunding campaign so that many of [our customers] are able to take part in what they have helped to build.”

“We have gotten millions of dollars in investments from just our customers and community alone, and we are so grateful to them.”

“Even with all the [success], I am still at a stage where I [feel like] I have no idea what I am doing at any given time.”

“There is a time and place to do certain things”

“Make a statement for maximum impact”

Big on Brand and Obstacles with Joe Spector, Founder and CEO of Dutch

lee@stairwaytoceo.com (Lee Greene, Joe Spector) — Tue, 4 Apr 2023 11:00:00 +0000

Description:

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 experiences that taught him the biggest lessons and shaped his current philosophy. Our guest also explains why it's important to over-invest in branding early on, and why we should never avoid confronting the biggest obstacles in our path. Join us to hear it all!

Exclusive Deals from Our Sponsors:

Give the gift of the world’s most beautiful spice rack and get 15% off by using the promo code STAIRWAY15 at www.evermill.com
Get 20% off luxury fitness equipment that you won’t want to hide in your closet by using the promo code STAIRWAY20 at www.equiptmovement.com

In This Episode You’ll Hear About:

[03:14] Joe's early years in the Soviet Union, and the story of running away from camp!
[08:30] Moving to the US, Joe's rebellious nature, and thoughts on what contributes to reaching beyond the status quo.
[16:21] Joe talks about his college years at Berkeley and moving into investment banking.
[21:04] 'Bungee jumping' into business and building the muscle to take the leap.
[27:15] The origin stories of Hims and Hers, and a few of Joe's other startups.
[38:09] Finding the perfect match for talents and values.
[41:51] The biggest lessons from building Hims and Hers.
[46:06] Challenges when fundraising and dealing with investors.
[50:00] Recounting the beginnings of Dutch, choosing the company name, and the journey so far.
[58:13] Joe talks about his commitments as an investor and his advice for entrepreneurs.

To Find Out More:

Joe Spector on LinkedIn

Dutch

Allison Conrad on LinkedIn

Quotes:

“I almost think it's an entrepreneurial rite of passage to have a dating app startup.” — [0:23:05]

“One of the lessons I have learned is that you only learn by doing.” —[0:24:22]

“I always figure, it never hurts to ask.” — [0:38:05]

“There are times when people are going to see my talents and what makes me tick, and if they see that, that's that perfect match.” — [0:38:47]

“Go do the hard things!” — [0:42:01]

“We actually have clients who come to us for UTI issues, ear infections, digestion issues, nutrition and weight management. We cover over a dozen categories for our consumers, so I wanted a name that could grow into a lot of different areas.” — [0:53:15]

“The fact is that culture is happening whether you like it or not, so you can either control it and be thoughtful about it or just let it happen.” —[0:55:45]

“It's working great, and I'm like 'We need to find a bigger problem!'” —[0:57:35]

“I want to make sure that I'm able to provide money and provide them with a competitive advantage from my involvement.” — [0:59:22]

“I think earlier in your career, I would say, invest the time in building relationships, because it will pay off.” — [1:00:54]

“I am excited to make Dutch and pet telemedicine something that is a common consumer behavior.” — @joespector [1:02:31]

From Grey to Arey with Allison Conrad, Co-Founder and CEO of Arey

lee@stairwaytoceo.com (Lee Greene, Allison Conrad) — Tue, 28 Mar 2023 11:00:00 +0000

Description:

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 work and the difference they are making in people’s lives, as well as her hopes for the future of the hair care industry.

Exclusive Deals from Our Sponsors:

Give the gift of the world’s most beautiful spice rack and get 15% off by using the promo code STAIRWAY15 at www.evermill.com
Get 20% off luxury fitness equipment that you won’t want to hide in your closet by using the promo code STAIRWAY20 at www.equiptmovement.com

In This Episode You’ll Hear About:

[03:01] What her upbringing was like in a family of doctors.
[08:56] Factors that made her realize she didn’t want to pursue a career in the corporate world.
[14:42] The hobby that turned into her first entrepreneurial venture and her experience of doing her MBA at Stanford Business School.
[18:49] How she found her way into the beauty industry.
[25:50] The discoveries that Allison made when she put her researcher hat on after finding her first grey hair, and how these led to the founding of Arey.
[28:34] How Arey products enhance scalp health, the “inside-out, outside-in” approach they have adopted, and the people who will benefit from their products.
[34:44] The mindset shift around grey hair that she hopes will become commonplace in the future.
[40:04] Challenges and successes that she has experienced on her journey with Arey.
[46:20] Her advice for how to approach capital raising (hint: relationship building is key!).
[50:29] What the future holds for Arey.

To Find Out More:

Arey

Christina Kao on LinkedIn

Evermill

Equipt

Quotes:

“I dabbled in the types of things that all kids do but didn’t really fully understand entrepreneurship, or that it was a path I could take, until years post-college. It wasn’t something embedded in me as a child.” — Allison Conrad [0:07:13]

“There’s one gene that causes gray hair that scientists have identified. It counts for about 30%.” — Allison Conrad [26:35]

“If genes are only accounting for about 30%, what are the other factors causing gray hair? A lot of it is attributed to oxidative stress and things that are lacking in people's diets.” — Allison Conrad [0:28:34]

“The scalp ages six times faster than the face, and we’re not doing enough for our scalp health and helping to slow that aging process. I really think the future of haircare is how skincare was ten years ago.” — Allison Conrad [0:29:46]

“We’re seeing more research and interest in gray hair as more a sign from the body of things that are lacking, not necessarily this inevitable thing we just have to deal with.” — Allison Conrad [0:31:00]

“We are helping people to feel better, have more confidence, potentially get less cancer from the toxic chemicals they could be using.” — Allison Conrad [0:31:40]

“It’s an ‘inside-out, outside-in’ approach.” — Allison Conrad [0:32:24]

“We’re trying to meet people in their lives and in their habits which makes this something that they can easily add to their routine.” — Allison Conrad [0:33:49]

“Some people can see up to 80% repigmentation and it takes a minute. It takes three to four months to start seeing results and we see the best results coming in at six months to a year.” — Allison Conrad [0:35:44]

“We want people to embrace gray a little bit more.” — Allison Conrad [0:39:09]

“Make sure you get a warm intro. Find somebody who knows somebody. Do your research; know if they invest in your category, in your space, [and] in the stage that you’re in. You can set yourself up for more success that way.” — Allison Conrad [0:46:22]

Gel Nails and Target Sales with Christina Kao, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Le Mini Macaron

lee@stairwaytoceo.com (Lee Greene, Christina Kao) — Tue, 21 Mar 2023 11:00:00 +0000

Description:

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 bootstrap your way to the top!

Exclusive Deals from Our Sponsors:

Give the gift of the world’s most beautiful spice rack and get 15% off by using the promo code STAIRWAY15 at www.evermill.com
Get 20% off luxury fitness equipment that you won’t want to hide in your closet by using the promo code STAIRWAY20 at www.equiptmovement.com

In This Episode You’ll Hear About:

[03:15] Le Mini Macaron Co-founder, Christina Kao, shares her unique background.
[06:48] Her experience of living and working in Shanghai for 10 years, and her entry into entrepreneurship.
[16:59] Christina’s advice for making a smooth career transition.
[19:29] The genesis story of Le Mini Macaron and how the brand evolved.
[26:30] How Covid positively impacted the business.
[30:57] Christina describes Le Mini Macaron’s unique product.
[36:30] How the brand went viral on TikTok; advice for other brands looking to go viral.
[47:24] Christina’s greatest challenges along the road of building her brand.
[53:54] Le Mini Macaron’s bootstrap approach and future fundraising goals.
[56:30] Christina’s vision for the brand and advice for aspiring entrepreneurs.

To Find Out More:

Christina Kao on Instagram

Le Mini Macaron

Le Mini Macaron on TikTok

Le Mini Macaron on Instagram

Sweet Loren’s on Instagram

Evermill

Equipt

Quotes:

“After working in an operational food and beverage business, I realized, “I don’t think I can do this.” It’s a very hard business to scale.” — Christina Kao [0:15:20]

“For people who are at a transition point in their lives — don’t just quit your job totally, but maybe go half time.” — Christina Kao [0:17:08]

“The initial wave of people who bought into the brand and the products were the first base of people that we started an e-commerce website with.” — Christina Kao [0:21:58]

“Our brand was present in international markets with more of a presence than it was in the US when we first launched it because we were overseas.” — Christina Kao [0:24:41]

“Being a nail product and specifically doing gel manicures at home — Covid changed everything because people who were stuck at home and had no access to the salon [were] looking for this product.” — Christina Kao [0:26:34]

“Our US business has doubled year over year since 2020.” — Christina Kao [0:28:05]

“Having your nails polished and feeling polished doesn’t have to be a splurge or for a special occasion. I really wanted to make it accessible for anyone.” — Christina Kao [0:33:08]

“We have had over 20 viral videos on TikTok in the last 18 months.” — Christina Kao [0:36:53]

“Our product is pretty eye-catching so [it has] thumb-stopping power. That’s what you want on TikTok.” — Christina Kao [0:42:03]

“As people are tapping, you want something that’s going to catch their eye and make them want to watch the video.” — Christina Kao [0:42:16]

“You want to show the problem, solution, and result.” — Christina Kao [0:43:35]

“It really matters who you’re partnering with because that’s the person you’re riding those ups and downs with.” — Christina Kao [0:48:38]

“We’ve never raised any money. We have been bootstrapping since day one. We have also been profitable during all these years because we weren’t answering to investors and we weren’t necessarily looking for an exit.” — Christina Kao [0:53:55]

Baking a Sweet Business with Loren Castle, Founder and CEO of Sweet Loren's

lee@stairwaytoceo.com (Lee Greene, Loren Castle) — Tue, 14 Mar 2023 11:00:00 +0000

Description:

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 advice for turning entrepreneurial dreams into reality!

Exclusive Deals from Our Sponsors:

Give the gift of the world’s most beautiful spice rack and get 15% off by using the promo code STAIRWAY15 at www.evermill.com
Get 20% off luxury fitness equipment that you won’t want to hide in your closet by using the promo code STAIRWAY20 at www.equiptmovement.com

In This Episode You’ll Hear About:

[02:49] Loren shares what her upbringing was like as a middle child in an unconventional household in New York City.
[08:20] A story from Loren’s childhood that highlights her innate leadership and organizational skills.
[15:49] The life-changing diagnosis that Loren received at the age of 22, and how it became her motivation for the founding of Sweet Loren’s.
[24:29] When Loren realized that her casual baking endeavors had the potential to become a successful business and positively impact people’s lives.
[33:31] The catalytic meeting and the journey that followed of turning Sweet Loren’s into what it is today.
[42:28] Loren explains the reasoning behind her decision to not raise a second round of capital.
[45:22] Why Loren recommends doubling down on what you are good at until you have perfected your niche, rather than broadening into multiple categories.
[49:52] Some of the biggest challenges that Loren has experienced on her journey of founding and running Sweet Loren’s, and the exciting future that lies ahead.
[54:22] Advice from Loren for successfully turning your entrepreneurial dreams into reality!

To Find Out More:

Sweet Loren’s

Loren Castle on LinkedIn

Quotes:

“I just wanted to have as many adventures and experiences as possible.” —[0:12:24]

“Even though working in a bakery sounds sweet, it was one of the hardest jobs I ever had.” — [0:14:55]

“I remember [my therapist] saying to me, ‘Don’t you think this could actually become the biggest positive in your life? Don’t you think you could become so much stronger because of it?’ A light switched on in my brain when I heard that.” — [0:20:23]

“I became my own nutritionist and fell in love with real food.” —[0:22:30]

“The only reason that most people don’t eat healthy is because it’s too hard, or doesn’t taste as good.” —[0:22:56]

“Baking helped cure me in a way. It’s very therapeutic, it makes you feel really happy, it creates a stillness. There’s something magical about it.” — [0:25:21]

“Food should be delicious and accessible and clean. It should be that for everyone and it’s not when you rely on packaged food.” — [0:27:01]

“I’m really proud that we’re building a business that’s sustainable.” — [0:44:20]

“I’m a really big believer in becoming the number one at what you do before you move into other items.” —[0:45:22]

“Sweet Loren’s is the number one natural cookie dough brand in the US now, but when I started, I knew peanuts and no one cared or appreciated this category.” —[0:50:11]

“I truly think there is nothing better than making your dream a reality and if you’re an entrepreneur, just owning that and loving that and building your own future.”

“Make sure you have a business plan, sometimes entrepreneurs want to create a product and want it to grow, but find people that help you put numbers behind it…what is the overall goal? If you could dream huge what would it be, figure out what makes you happy in that because then you can drive the company and the ship forward.” —[0:54:39]

Cookies Changing the World with Hans Schrei, Founder and CEO of Wunderkeks

lee@stairwaytoceo.com (Lee Greene, Hans Schrei) — Tue, 7 Mar 2023 12:00:00 +0000

Description:

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 Catholic society before recounting his journey as an entrepreneur and the story of how Wunderkeks went from being sold at farmer’s markets to gaining massive online orders, practically overnight. Hans also shares some of the key lessons he’s learned from fundraising and leaves listeners with the one piece of advice he believes is imperative for founders to persevere and thrive.

Exclusive Deals from Our Sponsors:

Give the gift of the world’s most beautiful spice rack and get 15% off by using the promo code STAIRWAY15 at www.evermill.com
Get 20% off luxury fitness equipment that you won’t want to hide in your closet by using the promo code STAIRWAY20 at www.equiptmovement.com

In This Episode You’ll Hear About:

[02:46] Hans’s experiences of growing up in Guatemala, the challenges of being queer in a conservative Catholic society, and why he moved to Austin, Texas.
[12:57] Why Hans was drawn to entrepreneurship from a young age and the satisfaction and difficulties of owning your own business.
[17:14] Misconceptions that people have about entrepreneurship and the immense dedication, grit, and care it takes to persevere and succeed.
[26:18] The founding story of Wunderkeks and the tweet that earned them 700 orders overnight (and 25,000 by the end of the month!)
[29:55] How an Apple iOS privacy update helped Hans and his partner uncover their ‘why’.
[32:17] Hans and his partner’s decision to be a proudly queer company, the homophobic backlash that followed, and the messages of encouragement they received.
[36:02] How Wunderkeks embraced the idea of becoming a safe space for consumers and the privilege of always being in a space where you can be yourself.
[41:35] Hans’s experience with fundraising, the importance of viewing your company from the investors’ perspective, and how they found a clear and successful strategy.
[48:15] Separating yourself from the business and the importance of becoming more comfortable with other people getting involved in your company.
[51:47] What’s next for Wunderkeks and Hans’s advice for young entrepreneurs today.

To Find Out More:

Wunderkeks

Hans Schrei on LinkedIn

Christopher Gallant on LinkedIn

Quotes:

“[In a strict Catholic country] you spend a lot of time code switching which is so exhausting — you're asking yourself, ‘Am I passing?’ all the time.” — [0:04:12]

“I have a complicated relationship with my home country.” — [0:05:23]

“One thing that I really appreciate about my parents is that they never tried to make me into something that I was not.” — [0:06:44]

“[With being an entrepreneur] I'm still asking myself every so often, ‘Why the hell do I do this to myself?’ But for the most part, it is good. It's exciting.” — [0:15:53]

“Some people really fall in love with the idea of being an entrepreneur, and they ‘think I'm gonna be my own boss’, [but that is] the furthest [thing] from the truth.” — [0:17:23]

“Particularly in the food space, you can tell when someone is winging it. It's not gonna work. They're not gonna make it. You have to really be willing to walk through fire for what you're doing.” — [0:17:32]

“In my space, in our space, in the retail space, it's very easy to forget that what you're selling is a luxury product.” — [0:37:22]

“How the hell did this company crash? They raised $100 million. And it's because they didn't have a plan.” — [0:44:16]

“You need to learn to put yourself in the investors' shoes and say, ‘That is what they're looking at.’” — [0:46:45]

“Get a therapist if you're a founder, because it's super rough and the level of self-doubt is so big.” — [0:53:00]

Beer, Beans, and Brains with Christopher Gallant, CEO of Chamberlain Coffee

lee@stairwaytoceo.com (Lee Greene, Christopher Gallant) — Tue, 28 Feb 2023 12:00:00 +0000

Description:

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 delve into his particular leadership style before he tells us what it’s like to work with a celebrity and run a talent-led brand. Wrapping up, he shares some pearls of wisdom for aspiring entrepreneurs and CEOs!

Exclusive Deals from Our Sponsors:

Give the gift of the world’s most beautiful spice rack and get 15% off by using the promo code STAIRWAY15 at www.evermill.com
Get 20% off luxury fitness equipment that you won’t want to hide in your closet by using the promo code STAIRWAY20 at www.equiptmovement.com

In This Episode You’ll Hear About:

[03:43] Chris tells us about his childhood, his family, the sports he played, and what it was like growing up in Boston.
[12:08] When Chris knew he wanted to be an entrepreneur and the journey and challenges through drink companies to make it to his goal.
[16:33] What it was like to work at Red Bull, how they continuously grow, what Chris learned, and the challenges he faced there.
[18:24] How he dove into non-alcoholic beverages through health, wellness, and kombucha.
[19:17] How Chris entered the coffee category, what the team was like when he joined Chamberlain Coffee, and why he’s moving them into retail.
[21:40] Where Chamberlain Coffee raises its funds from and the key to finding investors.
[26:58] Why imposter syndrome is very real and how Chris has grown personally and professionally as a leader based on his leadership style.
[31:35] Chris tells us what it’s like to work with a celebrity, Emma Chamberlain, and why she created Chamberlain Coffee.
[36:30] The challenges Chris has had to overcome as the CEO of Chamberlain Coffee and why they decided to split equity and debt.
[41:52] What people don’t know about being a CEO and what advice Chris would give to aspiring CEOs and entrepreneurs.

To Find Out More:

Chamberlain Coffee

Genius Juice Crowdfunding Campaign

Quotes:

“[You should] find what you like and not be afraid to try new things.” — Christopher Gallant [0:06:32]

“I think it’s healthy to do lots of different things and to get different perspectives.” — Christopher Gallant [0:07:31]

“I realized I don’t really enjoy [software engineering,] I’m not very good at it, so maybe I should find something else to do. I met some really great people that I’m still friends with now but that path wasn’t for me.” — Christopher Gallant [0:09:11]

“I didn’t have enough of a worldview yet. I think that’s one of the challenges: I went to a regional university that had more of a regional view than a worldview. I really wanted to be with people that have been everywhere and have done everything.” — Christopher Gallant [0:09:41]

“A really big threat that I found at MIT and I hadn’t seen anywhere is this willingness to take risks and to do anything.” — Christopher Gallant [0:10:27]

“If we’re going to become a big company we need to be where people buy their coffee every week.” — Christopher Gallant [0:20:54]

“What are investors looking for? [You have to] make sure you’re finding an investor that’s looking for the same thing as you are. That alignment is key.” — Christopher Gallant [0:22:44]

“Getting [investors] that understand your industry is very important.” — Christopher Gallant [0:26:01]

“One of those things that you do as a leader is you challenge yourself. You put yourself in situations where you are forced to figure out how to do things.” — Christopher Gallant [0:28:45]

“One of the ways I’ve personally grown is I put myself in situations where I’m uncomfortable. – I’d like to think that over time, I’ve learned to think about people more.” — Christopher Gallant [0:29:05]

“If you think about people first, other things will fall into place.” — Christopher Gallant [0:29:38]

“Pay attention to your mental health. The enormity of starting a business is huge and it can be all-consuming. So pay attention to your mental health, find an outlet, and know when you’ve reached your limit.” — Christopher Gallant [0:43:18]

Introspection and Empathy with Alex Bayer, Co-Founder and CEO of Genius Juice

lee@stairwaytoceo.com (Lee Greene, Alex Bayer) — Tue, 21 Feb 2023 12:00:00 +0000

Description:

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 how a life coach inspired a major shift in Alex’s trajectory and hear his astute advice for aspiring entrepreneurs!

Exclusive Deals from Our Sponsors:

Give the gift of the world’s most beautiful spice rack and get 15% off by using the promo code STAIRWAY15 at www.evermill.com
Get 20% off luxury fitness equipment that you won’t want to hide in your closet by using the promo code STAIRWAY20 at www.equiptmovement.com

In This Episode You’ll Hear About:

[03:06] Alex Bayer’s experience of “parentpreneurship” as a new parent.
[06:49] How Alex’s upbringing informed the way he works through personal challenges.
[09:44] His early interests, aspirations, and forays into entrepreneurship.
[15:51] His unusual college job selling cellphone plans and where he went from there.
[17:42] How he managed his social anxiety in sales roles; how his introspection aided him.
[23:03] His shift to non-profit work, and ultimately the food and beverage industry.
[29:22] The genesis of Genius Juice and what Alex learned about building a brand.
[38:43] The Shark Tank reality.
[42:55] Genius Juice’s current status and future endeavors.
[44:44] Alex’s advice for aspiring entrepreneurs and those in the thick of building a business.

To Find Out More:

Genius Juice

Alex Bayer on LinkedIn

Quotes:

“The first three [or] four years of your life are so crucial. It actually locks in who you are for the rest of your life—your brain chemistry [and] your personality.” — Alex Bayer [0:08:18]

“Exercise, meditation, and yoga really help you to work through a lot of anxiety or challenges.” — Alex Bayer [0:09:07]

“If you eat the right things, the chemistry in your body [improves]. You feel better, you feel happier, [and] you feel more clarity.” — Alex Bayer [0:09:18]

“Growing up, I was always an entrepreneur. I used to buy and sell Star Wars figures on eBay.” — Alex Bayer [0:15:09]

“I’ve always thought against the grain and wanted to do things differently from others.” — Alex Bayer [0:16:34]

“The anxiety is always going to be there, no matter what. You can work on it with your lifestyle to limit it.” — Alex Bayer [0:18:20]

“Whenever you struggle or go through challenges, you learn about yourself but then you learn about others and how to connect better.” — Alex Bayer [0:20:17]

“Looking back, we learned so much but we did a lot of things wrong. It was just inefficient but you learn as you go.” — Alex Bayer [0:32:09]

“I’ve adjusted my energy levels in this business to not be frantically trying to do everything and really focusing on one thing at a time.” — Alex Bayer [0:33:32]

“Taking your time is the right way to do it in this business, to do it right.” — Alex Bayer [0:34:27]

“Less is more, in this business. You don’t have to take over the world. You don’t have to be everywhere. You don’t have to be in all the different stores. Just focus on the niche.” — Alex Bayer [0:35:54]

“You can do really well on Shark Tank but is that going to make your company successful? No. It’s going to help you get there. It’s really about the hustle, [the entrepreneur, and the product]. Those pieces of the puzzle help you to become a long-term successful brand.” — Alex Bayer [0:42:26]

“Have a really solid plan going into it. Take your time with it, don’t try to rush through things. You don’t have to get it done by tomorrow. Make sure to have a financial plan, as well. Make sure you have enough money to accomplish what you want to accomplish and also have an avenue for capital lined up.” — Alex Bayer [0:45:00]

Startups and Sparkling Drinks with Scout Brisson, CEO of De Soi

lee@stairwaytoceo.com (Lee Greene, Scout Brisson) — Tue, 14 Feb 2023 12:00:00 +0000

Description:

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 leader in non-alcoholic and sparkling drinks, and after hearing from Scout about their philosophy and brand identity, it's not hard to see why.

Exclusive Deals from Our Sponsors:

Give the gift of the world’s most beautiful spice rack and get 15% off by using the promo code STAIRWAY15 at www.evermill.com
Get 20% off luxury fitness equipment that you won’t want to hide in your closet by using the promo code STAIRWAY20 at www.equiptmovement.com

In This Episode You’ll Hear About:

[02:58] Scout's current home in LA and her early years on the East Coast.
[08:08] Taking to leadership from a young age and Scout's path to discovering her entrepreneurial spirit.
[15:37] Unpacking the pressure that Scout felt during her college years and the decision that she made to stop pursuing medicine.
[20:34] Scout's excitement about working at M13 after McKinsey.
[23:17] Advice from Scout about building a founding team at a startup!
[25:55] Her biggest strengths and weaknesses; problem-solving, organization, and more.
[29:05] Scout's next career steps after M13.
[31:58] Tracing the birth of De Soi and how Scout connected with the founders.
[35:17] Stepping into the role of CEO at De Soi and the conversations around this time.
[41:10] Working with Katy Perry; Scout talks about the star's amazing energy and the values she brings to the table.
[43:17] The future of De Soi and plans for the next year.
[45:05] Scout explains exactly what apéritif means, and talks about some of their flavors and ingredients.
[49:02] Fundraising and investor conversations; Scout's experiences recently.
[51:58] Scout's final advice for aspiring CEOs about self-belief.

To Find Out More:

De Soi

Scout Brisson

Lee Greene

Quotes:

“I wanted to be a dog breeder; that should be my fun fact.” — Scout Brisson [0:11:58]

“I really liked science, I loved my classes that I took in high school; biology, and chemistry. I wasn't exactly sure how that would come together for me.” — Scout Brisson [0:12:26]

“You've got to drop the perfectionism, and the over-precision.” — Scout Brisson [0:18:15]

“I am an extroverted problem-solver.” — Scout Brisson [0:26:00]

“It was all just a whirlwind of learning something new for the first time, every day.” — Scout Brisson [0:30:59]

“We were able to get scrappy solutions in place and launch the business, and we were off to the races after that.” — Scout Brisson [0:34:30]

“That's the beauty and challenge of startups, you look back two weeks and you think how much has changed in that period of time.” — Scout Brisson [0:35:35]

“It's me and the board, and we are figuring out the strategy alongside the management team, and working with the team every day to execute on that.” — Scout Brisson [0:38:39]

“We are all working really hard, so how do we make sure people aren't getting burnt out?” — Scout Brisson [0:39:14]

“I had managed people before, but not a team at this size.” — Scout Brisson [0:39:35]

From Dreamer to Drink Magnate with Bill Moses, Founder and CEO of Flying Embers

lee@stairwaytoceo.com (Lee Greene, Bill Moses) — Tue, 7 Feb 2023 12:00:00 +0000

Description:

Today, Lee is joined by Bill Moses, an influential leader, proven innovator, and inspiring mentor in the beverage industry. Bill is the Founder and CEO of Flying Embers, an alcoholic beverage brand that offers delicious, sugar-free, vegan, and certified organic canned cocktails, including flavored mojitos, hard kombucha, and hard seltzers. In this episode, Bill shares his lifelong love for napping and outlines how he started his career on Wall Street before navigating his first startup exit at just 32 years old, which ultimately led him to Ojai, California, where his popular beverage brand, KeVita, was born. Tuning in, you’ll learn how Bill sold KeVita to PepsiCo for $220 million in 2016, the story behind the name Flying Embers, and how a near-death experience with COVID in 2020 changed Bill’s perspective and enabled him to reestablish his business for success, plus so much more!

Exclusive Deals from Our Sponsors:

Give the gift of the world’s most beautiful spice rack and get 15% off by using the promo code STAIRWAY15 at www.evermill.com
Get 20% off luxury fitness equipment that you won’t want to hide in your closet by using the promo code STAIRWAY20 at www.equiptmovement.com

In This Episode You’ll Hear About:

[03:37] Where Bill was “born and manufactured” and developed his appreciation for nature.
[05:36] How his propensity for dreaming helped him nurture the patterns and thought processes that enabled him to become an entrepreneur.
[08:15] The near-death experience that changed Bill’s perspective on life and business.
[13:20] Bill’s journey from Wall Street to CPG founder (which includes two startup exits).
[23:56] Why unyielding faith and commitment are crucial when faced with challenges
[26:26] How the old cliché, “when the going gets tough, the tough get going” rings true.
[34:24] Tips for first-time founders on how to remain open-minded and pivot as necessary.
[36:30] Why Bill believes that there is no room for arrogance or stubbornness.
[41:13] Facts about fundraising: the role that experience plays and how to foster confidence.
[44:03] The story of how Bill came up with the name, Flying Embers.

To Find Out More:

Flying Embers

Bill Moses on LinkedIn