Coffee N° 5 with Lara Schmoisman

Latest Episodes:

The Power of Elastin: Leah Garcia on Science, Integrity, and Skincare Innovation Nov 03, 2026

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In this episode of Coffee N°5, Lara Schmoisman chats with Leah Garcia, founder of Nectar7. Leah shares her inspiring transition from professional athlete and TV sports journalist to beauty entrepreneur. From unlocking the power of overlooked ingredients like elastin to prioritizing clinical data and transparent marketing, this conversation uncovers what it takes to build an authentic, performance-driven skincare brand that earns consumer trust.

• Key Topics Covered:

Leah Garcia’s journey from elite athletics and sports journalism to skincare entrepreneurship.

The science of skin performance: optimizing resilience and skin elasticity with topical elastin.

Why clinical studies, data, and complete ingredient transparency are key for consumer trust.

Navigating product innovation, development, and identifying white space in the beauty market.

Building a purpose-driven brand with honesty, integrity, and long-term vision.

• About Leah Garcia:

Leah Garcia is an accomplished entrepreneur, former professional mountain bike athlete, and seasoned sports media broadcaster. She is the founder of Nectar7, a science-backed wellness and skincare brand centered around performance and elastin innovation. Drawing on her background in high-performance sports and health journalism, Leah is dedicated to formulating transparent, clinically validated products that empower consumers to optimize their skin health.

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Preserving Heritage in a Digital World with C.O. Bigelow CEO Ian Ginsburg Oct 27, 2026

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In this episode of Coffee N°5, Lara Schmoisman chats with Ian Ginsburg, CEO of C.O. Bigelow. Recorded live at Cosmoprof (with a huge thank you to the Cosmoprof team for hosting us!), Ian dives into the rich history of America's oldest apothecary and how it successfully transitioned into a modern retail and e-commerce powerhouse. From creating deeply emotional customer connections in-store to navigating brand licensing, digital transformation, and future longevity trends, this conversation uncovers what it takes to innovate while staying true to a two-century-old legacy.

• Key Topics Covered:

The rich history of apothecaries and their evolution from community hubs to retail destinations.

How C.O. Bigelow preserved its family heritage while transitioning into modern retail.

Building unforgettable customer experiences and long-term emotional brand connections.

Early digital transformation: launching e-commerce initiatives back in the 1990s.

Strategic brand partnerships, licensing, and expanding product assortments.

The future of skincare, Korean beauty innovations, and the emerging longevity industry.

• About Ian Ginsburg:

Ian Ginsburg is the CEO and owner of C.O. Bigelow, America's oldest operating apothecary, founded in New York City in 1838. A third-generation pharmacist, Ian has successfully preserved the heritage and authentic customer care of C.O. Bigelow while expanding the brand globally through modern retail, e-commerce, and strategic brand partnerships. He is a respected industry leader known for blending traditional wellness philosophies with cutting-edge product formulation and digital innovation.

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🔔 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more expert advice on marketing, branding, and career growth!#MarketingCareer #CoffeeN5Podcast #IanGinsburg #COBigelow #Cosmoprof #RetailHistory #BrandBuilding #ECommerceStrategy #TheDARL #BusinessGrowth

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The Death of Generic Marketing: Fernando Acosta on AI, Sensory Marketing & Global Scale Oct 20, 2026

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In this episode of Coffee N°5, Lara Schmoisman chats with Fernando Acosta. Recorded live at Cosmoprof (with a huge thank you to the Cosmoprof team for hosting us!), Fernando shares his journey from Buenos Aires to leading global brands, unpacking what it really takes to build brand equity on an international scale. From the story of Rexona's global brand harmonization to balancing local market adaptation, this conversation uncovers how sensory marketing, AI, and empathetic leadership are driving the next generation of consumer-centric brand growth.

• Key Topics Covered:

Fernando Acosta's career journey from Buenos Aires to international marketing executive.

Lessons in global brand harmonization and maintaining consistency across markets.

How to balance global brand identity with local consumer cultural adaptation.

The role of AI and sensory marketing in modern product development and discovery.

Essential leadership qualities for global business: humility, kindness, grit, and curiosity.

• About Fernando Acosta:

Fernando Acosta is a global marketing executive and business leader known for scaling high-profile consumer brands across international markets. With extensive leadership experience across major FMCG powerhouses, Fernando specializes in brand architecture, consumer insights, and cross-cultural expansion. He is a passionate advocate for purpose-driven branding, empathy-led leadership, and leveraging emerging tech to meet evolving consumer needs.

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👍 Facebook: / thedarlagency

💼 LinkedIn: / about

🐦 X (Twitter): https://x.com/thedarlagency 🌐 Website: https://thedarl.com/

🔔 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more expert advice on marketing, branding, and career growth!#MarketingCareer #CoffeeN5Podcast #FernandoAcosta #Cosmoprof #GlobalBranding #MarketingStrategy #BrandBuilding #AIinMarketing #TheDARL #BusinessGrowth

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The Power of Human Touch in Customer Experience Oct 13, 2026

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In this episode of Coffee N°5, Lara Schmoisman chats with Lisa Green. Recorded live at Cosmoprof (with a huge thank you to the Cosmoprof team for hosting us!), Lisa shares her deep expertise in retail strategy, customer experience, and the irreplaceable power of the human touch. From building community-driven retail environments to ensuring diversity and representation in product offerings, this conversation uncovers what it takes to connect authentically with modern consumers through powerful storytelling, clinical validation, and value-aligned partnerships.

• Key Topics Covered:

Building authentic community in physical and digital retail environments.

The vital role of the human touch, personalized service, and staff education.

Driving diversity, equity, and representation in product selection and marketing.

Strategies for product validation, clinical testing, and value-driven branding.

How to engage diverse consumer segments through strategic collaborations.

• About Lisa Green:

Lisa Green is a seasoned retail executive and strategist recognized for her human-centric approach to customer experience, product development, and community building. With deep experience in retail strategy, product curation, and consumer behavior, Lisa specializes in helping brands bridge the gap between high-touch customer service and modern market demands. She is a strong advocate for value-driven branding, inclusive representation, and empowering sales teams through educational training.

🔗 Stay Connected with The DARL: 📸 Instagram: / thedarlagency

👍 Facebook: / thedarlagency

💼 LinkedIn: / about

🐦 X (Twitter): https://x.com/thedarlagency 🌐 Website: https://thedarl.com/

🔔 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more expert advice on marketing, branding, and career growth!#MarketingCareer #CoffeeN5Podcast #LisaGreen #Cosmoprof #RetailStrategy #CustomerExperience #BrandBuilding #CommunityInRetail #TheDARL #BusinessGrowth

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The Future of Beauty: Trends and Insights with Noah Rosenblatt Sep 29, 2026

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In this episode of Coffee N°5, Lara Schmoisman chats with Noah Rosenblatt. Recorded live at Cosmoprof (with a huge thank you to the Cosmoprof team for hosting us!), Noah shares deep insights into the rapid evolution of the beauty industry, digital transformation, and modern brand curation. From building sustainable brand longevity in an oversaturated market to navigating fragrance trends and wellness integration, this conversation uncovers what it takes to expand distribution channels while prioritizing speed, service, and consumer personalization.

• Key Topics Covered:

Strategies for building brand longevity and disrupting traditional market channels.

The development of digital platforms and modern e-commerce experiences.

Evolving consumer behavior, personalization, and shifting retail expectations.

Market expansion tactics for brands aiming to establish a strong presence in the US.

Emerging trends in fragrance innovation and the convergence of beauty and wellness.

• About Noah Rosenblatt:

Noah Rosenblatt is a prominent leader and executive in the beauty and retail space, recognized for his strategic vision in brand curation, digital transformation, and market expansion. With extensive experience in scaling retail platforms and developing strategic brand partnerships, Noah plays a pivotal role in identifying next-generation beauty trends. He is passionate about helping innovative skincare, fragrance, and wellness brands navigate retail channels and connect authentically with the modern consumer.

🔗 Stay Connected with The DARL: 📸 Instagram: / thedarlagency

👍 Facebook: / thedarlagency

💼 LinkedIn: / about

🐦 X (Twitter): https://x.com/thedarlagency 🌐 Website: https://thedarl.com/

🔔 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more expert advice on marketing, branding, and career growth!#MarketingCareer #CoffeeN5Podcast #NoahRosenblatt #BeautyIndustry #Cosmoprof #DigitalTransformation #BrandStrategy #WellnessTrends #TheDARL #BusinessGrowth

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Asian Beauty is so much more that K-Beauty: What Brands get dead wrong Sep 22, 2026

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In this episode of Coffee N°5, Lara Schmoisman chats with Linda Dang, founder of Sakoshi. Linda shares her expert insights on the evolution of Asian beauty in North America, moving far beyond traditional K-beauty trends. From navigating cultural localization and brand readiness to building seamless omnichannel retail experiences, this conversation uncovers what it takes for emerging skincare and beauty brands to successfully scale, differentiate themselves, and conquer competitive new markets.

• Key Topics Covered:

The evolution of Asian beauty in North America and expanding beyond K-beauty.

Strategies for market entry readiness, brand onboarding, and retail expansion.

Balancing authentic brand heritage with localized marketing and packaging.

The power of customer education, storytelling, and skin analysis in-store.

Building omnichannel retail strategies that drive engagement and retention.

Key criteria for product assortment, curation, and clean beauty innovation.

• About Linda Dang:

Linda Dang is the visionary founder behind Sakoshi, a premier platform and retail destination dedicated to bringing the best of Asian beauty to North America. With a strong background in retail operations, brand curation, and market expansion, Linda specializes in bridging the gap between Asian beauty innovators and Western consumers. She is passionate about authentic storytelling, omnichannel growth, and helping ethical brands scale successfully.

🔗 Stay Connected with The DARL: 📸 Instagram: / thedarlagency

👍 Facebook: / thedarlagency

💼 LinkedIn: / about

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🔔 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more expert advice on marketing, branding, and career growth!#MarketingCareer #CoffeeN5Podcast #LindaDang #AsianBeauty #KBeauty #RetailStrategy #BrandBuilding #MarketExpansion #TheDARL #BusinessGrowth

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Aspen's Little Dirty Secret: How Cos Bar Secretly Built a Luxury Empire Sep 15, 2026

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In this episode of Coffee N°5, Lara Schmoisman chats with Oliver Garfield, former COO and Co-President of Cos Bar. Oliver dives into the remarkable history of Cos Bar, founded in Aspen by his mother, Lily Garfield and how it evolved into a premier luxury beauty retailer. From building scalable infrastructure and navigating early-stage growth to mastering retail education, brand positioning, and digital trends, this conversation uncovers what it takes to scale a luxury beauty brand while maintaining customer trust and capital efficiency.

• Key Topics Covered:

The founding story of Cos Bar in Aspen and its evolution into luxury beauty retail.

Lessons in scaling early-stage businesses, managing cash flow, and building operational infrastructure.

The role of retail partnerships, sales education, and staff training in driving brand success.

How beauty retail is shifting across D2C, social media, wholesale, and prestige vs. mass-market lines.

Key considerations for early-stage investing, brand positioning, and working with beauty incubators.

• About Oliver Garfield:

Oliver Garfield is an experienced retail executive and investor who served as Chief Operating Officer and Co-President of Cos Bar, the original luxury multi-brand beauty retailer founded by his mother, Lily Garfield. Growing up alongside the family business, Oliver played an instrumental role in modernizing Cos Bar’s operations, expanding its retail footprint, and building scalable processes across physical and digital channels. Today, he brings deep expertise in luxury retail strategy, capital management, and early-stage brand development.

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🌐 Website: https://thedarl.com/

🔔 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more expert advice on marketing, branding, and career growth!#MarketingCareer #CoffeeN5Podcast #OliverGarfield #CosBar #BeautyRetail #BrandStrategy #LuxuryBeauty #TheDARL #BusinessGrowth

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What Law School Didn't Teach Her About Sales Sep 08, 2026

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In this episode of Coffee N°5, Lara Schmoisman chats with Mara, a powerhouse sales leader and healthcare entrepreneur. Mara shares her inspiring journey from a challenging start in law to building a multi-million dollar career in healthcare sales and leadership. From mastering the art of the pitch to understanding why resilience and rejection are essential stepping stones to success, this conversation uncovers what it truly takes to build, lead, and scale high-performing sales teams.

• Key Topics Covered:

Mara’s unconventional career transition from law to healthcare sales leadership.

The critical role of failure, resilience, and rejection in building long-term success.

Practical qualifying questions and sales strategies designed specifically for healthcare.

Core leadership qualities: why charisma, grit, and authenticity outperform traditional tactics.

How to identify, recruit, and mentor top-tier sales talent for high-growth environments.

The mindset shift required when transitioning from individual employee to visionary leader.

• About Mara:

Mara is an accomplished sales leader, executive, and healthcare entrepreneur known for driving exceptional revenue growth and building high-impact teams. With a career defined by grit, adaptability, and strategic execution, she has scaled businesses across the health and wellness sectors. Passionate about talent development and authentic leadership, Mara empowers teams to embrace hard work, overcome rejection, and turn sales strategies into sustainable business growth.

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🔔 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more expert advice on marketing, branding, and career growth!#MarketingCareer #CoffeeN5Podcast #SalesLeadership #HealthcareEntrepreneur #BusinessGrowth #LeadershipSkills #SalesStrategy #TheDARL #CareerAdvice

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The Death of Guesswork: How Sorcea Decodes Real Consumer Reviews Sep 01, 2026

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In this episode of Coffee N°5, Lara Schmoisman chats with Jadon Wyant, CEO of Sorcea. Jadon dives into how data-driven insights are transforming the beauty and wellness industries, sharing how his platform cuts through the noise of an oversaturated market. From collecting authentic consumer experiences to helping brands refine their marketing strategies, this conversation uncovers the methodology behind turning raw data into powerful social proof for skincare, cosmetics, and beyond.
• Key Topics Covered:
How data-driven insights are revolutionizing market intelligence in beauty and wellness.
The origins of Sorcea and solving the consumer problem of product overwhelm.
Methodologies for collecting, verifying, and ensuring authentic user data across regions.
How emerging brands leverage consumer data to improve SEO, copy, and targeted marketing.
Targeting Gen Z, expanding into color cosmetics, and scaling a tech-driven platform.
• About Jadon Wyant:
Jadon Wyant is the CEO and founder of Sorcea, a data platform transforming how beauty and wellness brands understand consumer behavior. Combining a background in accounting and data analytics with a passion for innovation, Jadon builds tools that deliver verified consumer insights and social proof. Under his leadership, Sorcea helps brands optimize their product strategies, build trust, and drive sustainable growth across dynamic demographics.
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Therapy Is Expensive, so We Built an AI Alien Guardian Angel Aug 25, 2026

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In this episode of Coffee N°5, Lara Schmoisman chats with Quinten Farmer, founder of Portola and creator of Tolan. Quinten dives into his journey of developing an innovative personal AI that acts as a supportive companion to help users navigate overwhelm and life's everyday challenges. From exploring ethical considerations and data privacy to designing a non-human, lovable alien character, this conversation uncovers what it takes to build AI platforms that prioritize emotional safety, user connection, and responsible future growth.

• Key Topics Covered:

The vision behind Tolan and the development of a supportive personal AI.

Why Portola chose an alien guide persona to make digital interactions feel lovable and safe.

Navigating ethics, user privacy, and misinformation in AI-driven conversations.

AI’s emerging role in supporting mental health and helping users manage daily stress.

Understanding business models and monetization strategies for consumer AI platforms.

Future technology trends and the evolving relationship between consumers and AI.

• About Quinten Farmer:

Quinten Farmer is a seasoned tech entrepreneur and the co-founder and CEO of Portola, the company behind Tolan. With a strong background spanning finance, SaaS, and emerging tech, Quinten is now focused on blending cutting-edge artificial intelligence with creative storytelling. Through Tolan, he is exploring how character-driven AI can serve as a grounded, privacy-conscious reflection tool that enhances everyday human experiences.

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