Entreprenista

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Deepti Sharma of FoodtoEat and Bikky â A Hunger for Growth, Success, and Diversity Apr 01, 2019

Show notes

Some entrepreneurs build businesses for fortune. Some for impact. Deepti Sharma is driven by passion.

As CEO and Founder of FoodtoEat, a community-minded catering concierge service, she connects immigrants, women and minority-owned food vendors to opportunities for growth â ultimately helping them strengthen their own business skills while helping businesses feed employees great food and build stronger & more diverse work cultures. She is also a Co-Founder of Bikky, a platform solving customer engagement for restaurants.

Deepti joins Socialfly Co-founder Courtney Spritzer in the MouthMedia Network studios for a conversation about building her company and her journey to success, along with a surprise and a brainstorm.

In this episode:

Relentless resilience
How waiting for a cookie inspired a business
Motivating food cart operators to see themselves as business owners
Starting as an online ordering platform
Bringing value in helping food cart operators to grow and scale small businesses
The best way to know what needs to happen is to talk with the end user
Discovering why catering is the holy grail of the culinary world
The first big-brand client, and helping them build culture through food
Why biggest part of the business is concierge
Deepti on why sheâs eating 50% off the time
Enabling businesses to start conversations about diversity by putting pictures of restaurant owners with the food they serve
Why it matters to avoid thinking of team members as family
The value of aiming purchasing power toward diversity
And the importance of just getting things done

Lynn Branigan of She Runs It â Sprinkling Good on Women in Tech, Media, and Marketing Mar 25, 2019

Show notes

Imagine jumping into the driverâs seat of a company more than 100 years old. What challenges, and possibilities, would you face?

Ask Lynn Branigan, the CEO of She Runs Itâ an organization of professional women working in marketing, advertising and media, providing them support and a network to excel in their careers. Lynn joined the company just six years ago.

Lynn joins Socialfly Co-founder Courtney Spritzer in the MouthMedia Network studios for a conversation about leading the continued mission of the organization and her journey to success, along with a surprise and a brainstorm.

In this episode:

Lynnâs eternal optimism
Why jumping in and learning along the way may actually be a real recipe for success
The power of embracing change
Why she describes her role as sprinkling good on women in tech, media, and marketing
Maximizing a team of just five people
How to keep a business that started in 1912 relevant
What itâs like taking over a legacy
Why she wants to give employees more flexibility
Plans for expansion in the future
And dealing with others who have a hard time embracing that change

Jenni Luke of Step Up â Empowering Girls to Join the Next Generation of Professional Women Mar 18, 2019

Show notes

Itâs been said that the power of the next generation is rooted in the success of women. We agree and so does Jenni Luke, CEO of Step Up â a not for profit organization that works to propel girls going to school in under-resourced communities to fulfill their potential by empowering them to become confident, college-bound, career-focused, and ready to join the next generation of professional women.

Jenni joins Socialfly Co-founder Courtney Spritzer in the MouthMedia Network studios for a conversation about building her company and her journey to success, along with a surprise and a brainstorm.

In this episode:

Why the future of women is now and making sure that people feel they have a seat at the table as their full selves
How a nonprofit is still a business and getting out there to sustain and grow it
Generating funds needed by finding the intersection of the value proposition of the organization and what its partners need
Raising money for a nonprofit and how nonprofits should be profitable
Jenni on getting involved in the organization nearly ten years ago, originally as a lawyer by trade
How Step Up is a community-based organization
Jenni on being a new CEO, applying for her first CEO job, when she was not sure she was qualified, but going for it anyway and falling in love with the organization during the interview
Getting buy-in from existing employees and partners
Working through conflicts with the cofounder to greater success and understanding
The value of trying not to learn on someone elseâs dime
The breadth of service, number of students, and schools served by the social and emotional-based learning
What mentorship means
How the mission of Step Up changed over the years from strengthening resources to women and girls to focusing energies on girls
A network of women the girls get to engage with who help them practice the skills they learn

Christine Chang of Glow Recipe â Willpower Mar 11, 2019

Show notes

Imagine you were on Shark Tank and made a deal on-air, the deal didnât work out off-air, but the exposure propelled your business to the next level?

For Co-founder/CEO Christine Chang, and her company Glow Recipeâwhich curates the best natural and effective Korean skincare âthatâs her reality. She shares the impact of willpower, the myth of a 15-step beauty regimen, working with your best friend, the concept of hiring slow and firing fast, why she and her co-founder interview every employee, how everything she does is to inspire her daughter and pave the way for the next generation of women. Christine joins Socialfly Co-founder Courtney Spritzer in the MouthMedia Network studios for a conversation about building her company and her journey to success, along with a surprise and a brainstorm.

In this episode:

Being on Shark Tank wearing sheet masks, saying no to an offer, and how this âfreeâ consultation helped the business and blew up their customer base
An âaha momentâ about Korean beauty that resulted in a business
The beginning of Glow Recipe â quitting jobs, cobbling a website, flying to Korea without anything put together, and landing 8 brands
What itâs like to run a business with your best friend, navigating the extreme highs and lows and dividing up responsibilities
Attracting a team of personalities, and how hiring has been one of the most challenging things at a startup
Getting 5,000 people on a waitlist for a watermelon sleeping mask, then selling out on Sephora seven times
Influencers, social media, marketing, and the importance of being an authentic influencer
A âface snuggie,â and how #avocauddle resulted in a partnership with a mattress store and education events
The evolution of the Glow Recipe business model and the concept of âskintertainmentâ
Launching another skincare brand Sweet Chef, and rolling it out to Target
Becoming a discovery destination for skincare
The moment Christine almost gave up
The ultimate goal of inspiring her daughter to do what she wants to do

Soraya Darabi â Taking Action and Living Well Mar 04, 2019

Show notes

At 23 years old, Soraya Darabi managed digital partnerships and social media marketing for The New York Times. Not a bad start. Since then, she has played a substantial role in the success of several amazing companies, her first three angel investments turned out to be hugely successful, and she is now one of the managing partners and founder of Trail Mix Ventures, an early-stage investment firm focused on the âfuture of living well.â Much of this may have something to do with supporting your friends, paying attention to trends, and knowing when to take action.

Soraya Darabi, successful entrepreneur, angel investor, and Managing Partner of Trail Mix Ventures (a venture capital company focused on investing in living well) join Socialfly Co-founder Courtney Spritzer in the MouthMedia Network studios for a conversation about building her company and her journey to success, along with a surprise and a brainstorm.

In this episode:

How Soraya got into venture capital
Her passion to understand convergence and why labels were afraid of digital media and communication
Interning her senior year of college at Washington Post.com, helping Pulitzer prize-winning journalists understand digital media and how it would help enhance their journalism
Her next move to Conde Nett, and how three jobs were iterating how media was changing in real-time
How Soraya fell in love with entrepreneurship and the platforms changing the landscape of digital media,
Feeling dismayed about how few women were in the room
How Soraya went to go work for one of them, becoming an entrepreneur at 26 years old, then the company was acquired by Facebook
How there should be more video content online explaining the ABCs of equity to young women
Her next move as the co-creator of Foodspotting, and why it was the perfect training ground to learn the ropes on running a business
Her non-traditional route to becoming an investor, and how she didnât grow up in a house that discussed business
Her first three investments in 2011-13 were winners: Contently, Brick and Co, and Casper
How it took six years to admit she was an investor and overcoming imposter syndrome
Investing in friends, why a good network is where you should start
Find partnerships and value to add to a company you can invest in, those relationships often blossom into fruitful ones
Believing in wellness and companies who affect us in a positive way
The importance of an inclusive and diverse environment women can work in
A disconnect between venture dollars and industrious women in America
How Trail Mix invests in purpose-driven companies addressing s growing economy as it pertains to wellness
Deciding Trail Mix Ventures should be a seed fund, and wanting to be additive to founders on their journey
Why owning 10% of a company is the most they generally want to start with
Helping the people behind you and turning to the people in front of you, building a social network
Why there need to be more women in venture capital
Embracing the elements of your life openly and not being afraid to be open, including family ambition
Three pieces of advice: invest in friends, everything feels better in the morning, eventually everything connects
False starts and stumbling blocks, and with failure comes knowledge
A brainstorm on self-care

Julie âJawsâ Nelson â The Mind Is the Athlete Feb 25, 2019

Show notes

From ballerina to Broadway to fitness model turned boxer, Julie âJAWSâ Nelson is at the top of her game.

Julie joined Socialfly founders Stephanie Cartin and Courtney Spritzer, along with âThe Game Planâ podcast host Dale Moss, in front of a MouthMedia Network live audience at Spring Place in New York City. Sponsorship by Givz.

In this episode, youâll learn:

The origin of her nickname âJAWSâ
Her many role models and teachers over the course of her career
Why she chose to be the odd one out and how she found strength and overcame bullying
Julieâs training as a ballerina growing up and how dancing from a young age set her up for a career in fitness
How Jaws became an Adidas Global Ambassador and social media influencer
Her philosophy on mixing hard work with fun and the power of story-telling, authenticity, and integrity on social media
How she handled success at a young age and got into fitness modeling
Joining her first Broadway theatrical tour and why it was a dream come true
The mission of the Adidas Women Ambassador program and how they are creating a movement
How Jaws chooses the brands she wants to partner with and the importance of having similar values
Joining the Rumble Boxing team and their powerful social media presence
Boxing as a female and challenges sheâs had to overcome
A brainstorm on her next move and surprise and delight from the Entreprenistas
Nine rounds with Jaws: Rapid Fire Questions
Why she is her own opponent

Ruth Zukerman â Reinvention and Redemption Feb 18, 2019

Show notes

Itâs never too late to reinvent yourself. Just ask Ruth Zukerman, one of the original cofounders of SoulCycle (arguably one of the most successful spin class companies anywhere) and who, after a devastating exit from the company, picked herself up and built Flywheel Sports, offering spinning classes with a âwhere everybody knows your nameâ ethos, and a big focus on technology and metrics. And, it turns out, this isnât the last chapterâat all!

Ruth Zukerman, Co-founder of indoor cycling businesses SoulCycle and Flywheel Sports and author of the book âRiding High: How I Kissed SoulCycle Goodbye, Co-Founded Flywheel, and Built the Life I Always Wantedâ, joins Socialfly Co-founder Courtney Spritzer in the MouthMedia Network studios for a conversation about building her company and her journey to success, along with a surprise and a brainstorm.

In this episode:

How Ruth made the decision to leave her lifelong passion, dance, behind and how she found a new passion and career through spinning
Ruthâs first experience of being intimidated by spin classes at the old Reebok gym, and the epiphany of pushing herself to go to her first class
Why the combination of exercise, music, and a pack mentality resonated with Ruthâs dance background
How an inspiring spin instructorâs move to Florida prompted Ruth to become an instructor herself and led to a whole new career path
The out-of-the-blue offer to be the face of a new boutique spinning studio gym: SoulCycle
How Ruth brought students from her old gym to the new studio despite its rough-around-the-edges feel in the beginning.
How the brandâs strong identity got started from the get-go
The hard times early on, from leading classes for six people to teaching 22 classes a week
How Ruthâ brought a therapeutic and spiritual experience to SoulCycle
Flywheel, Ruthâs departure from SoulCycle, and starting a new brand from scratch
The ways Ruth has changed her focus with Flywheel to bring spinning to a wider audience The liberating aspect of starting a new brand built around inclusiveness, and the challenges of differentiating from other studios
How metrics played a role in building Flywheelâs branding and also opened the door to more male clients
The branding challenges early on, and how they developed the âNever Coastâ mentality.
The organic way a buyer was found after his daughter brought him to a Flywheel class
How much can change from the initial decision to sell a company and handing over the keys
Ruthâs difficult decision to leave Flywheel
The lessons Ruth has learned along the way, and actions she would take in hindsight to protect herself
The importance of trusting your gut and your business partners, but not at the expense of risking your own position
How sometimes being genuinely prepared to walk away from a deal can be the best negotiation tactic
Ruthâs book âRiding High,â and why she wants to tell her story now.
Her hopes that the book will inspire people and start their own business and learn from her mistakes
The importance of bearing your soul and being intimate with the ups and downs of oneâs life in order to reach and inspire others
The aftermath of leaving Flywheel and getting off of the bike for the first time in 21 years, and how Ruth is rediscovering herself
How Ruth has tried to be present and an inspiration for her daughters, and how that has set them on their own paths
Plus, a 60-second brainstorm on how Ruth can promote herself and her book

Kara Ross of Unleashed â Entertain, Educate, Inspire Feb 11, 2019

Show notes

When youâve built a very successful business as a jewelry designer for more than 20 years, the natural move is to leave it all behind and start making documentary films celebrating and supporting female artisans and entrepreneurs through authentic storytelling, right?

Kara Ross, renowned entrepreneur and award-winning fine jewelry designer and founder of Unleashed (a non profit media organization founded which celebrates and supports female artisans and entrepreneurs) joins Socialfly founders Stephanie Cartin and Courtney Spritzer in the MouthMedia Network studios for a conversation about building her company and Unleashed and her journey to success, along with a surprise and a brainstorm.

In this episode:

How Kara needed to start a business to take care of kids after divorce as a single mom
Karaâs first employeeâher sister
The entrepreneurial reality of never feeling like you made itâail itâs always about the next thing
Why Kara doesnât miss her jewelry business even after 25 years
How Kara is focusing now on other female entrepreneurs and artisans
Why Kara felt guilty about closing her store
When youâre not on the treadmill and running, it is difficult to stop and choose to spend your life and resources another way
Why Kara wishes she had talked with someone about leaving her businessâit was emotionally and mentally tough
Creating Unleashed, a short film series telling the stories of female entrepreneurs around the world.
Shooting the pilot with the Bella Twins
Why Kara wonât be featured in the show
Creating a content library that highlights multiple industries and career fields
How Karaâs daughter is helping after graduating from film school
What Kara learned from her jewelry business that could be applied to Unleashed
How Kara is more relaxed now enjoying herself more, and more in control of her time
The power of leading by example
Trying to challenge yourself and constantly make yourself better

Tina Hedges of LOLI Beauty â Determination Feb 04, 2019

Show notes

Determination is an essential ingredient to succeeding in business and overcoming the inevitable challenges any entrepreneurial journey can pose. Itâs also something that defines Tina Hedges, who at every turn has pushed forward to realize her vision of a company that can make a difference to countless beauty consumers and the environment as well.

Tina Hedges, Founder and CEO of LOLI Beauty (a beauty brand using only organic, raw, fair-trade, non-GMO ingredients), joins Socialfly founders Stephanie Cartin and Courtney Spritzer in the MouthMedia Network studios for a conversation about building her company and her journey to success, along with a surprise and a brainstorm.

In this episode:

How Tinaâs career trajectory changed from being on track to run factories in China to starting her own beauty company
Standing up for your morals even if it may cost you your job
The changes in the fashion industry from the 80s to today
Learning to appreciate the little details of running a beauty company by working in retail
Why Tina still makes sure to spend time in stores when on business trips to stay in touch with the consumerâs experience with the product
How a chance phone call changed Tinaâs trajectory from going to business school to working on a creative marketing team and learning on the job
Why giving employees autonomy and encouraging decision making is important for building a strong team
How Tinaâs childhood shaped her view of health and beauty products
The environmental damage the beauty industry does, and how that sparked Tinaâs decision to start LOLI
The filling station concept, and the spark to deconstruct the beauty industry to fresh and raw ingredients which can be customized and sustainable
Getting accustomed to working for yourself, and how to judge work for yourself objectively
How Tina started LOLI as a surprise subscription box service, and the benefits of using your early clients as a focus group to hone your brand
The creative ways that LOLI operates as a zero waste organic beauty brand, but upscaling from food produce sources and finding ways to operate without adding or wasting water
The strength of collaborating with brands, like Adidas and Alexander Wang, to gain traction and boost visibility
How Tina funded the start of LOLI, and some tips for those presenting business plans to potential investors
Ageism, and how Tina overcame the obstacles she encountered when trying to find investors
A dramatic story where a sick Tina flies to Geneva to meet with investors who had the funds to start LOLI
Learning to hire employees and the stresses and learning experiences Tina experienced while building a strong team around her
The importance of communicating with your consumers and solving issues quickly
A one minute brainstorm on how LOLI can build more traction as the look to take their next step forward as a company

Heather Andersen of New York Pilates â Forever Forward Jan 28, 2019

Show notes

A case study on building a business empire-in-the-making, proving that creativity, hard work, determination, and research can transform a passion into a real business, why believing in your excellent product is crucial for growth, leveraging people around you to jump start your business, how the use of influencer marketing before it was a thing and early adoption of social media made a major difference, challenges from having from no money for payroll to running out of cash during construction, and why you wonât hear Britney Spears in any of Heatherâs pilates studiosâ¦

Heather Andersen, Studio owner and Program Director of New York Pilates (a New York city-based fitness company offering music driven, small group reformer classes and private sessions), joins Socialfly founders Stephanie Cartin and Courtney Spritzer in the MouthMedia Network studios for a conversation about building her company and her journey to success, along with a surprise and a brainstorm.

In this episode:

How Heather discovered pilates, and what led her to open her own studio, New York Pilates
Why the social aspect of taking classes with groups and friends is important to Heather and how that shaped her studio space and business model
How Heather started her own studio without any outside investors
What Heather did to market her studioâs brand, and why being passionate about your product is vital
How Heatherâs business grew from a one-woman operation to opening multiple locations
ClassPass, and the difficulties in converting people looking to save money into reliable returning clients
The challenges of learning how to run a business on the job
What kept Heather going even when the responsibilities of running a studio on a shoestring budget were daunting
How Heather is keeping New York Pilates feel like a tight knit community even as it grows into bigger spaces and new markets
The challenges Heather had with learning to grow as a manager, and the lessons she learned through trial and error and a book that helped her
How New York Pilates uses social media to showcase their brand ethos to potential clients
What being an entreprenista means to Heather
Plus, a one minute brainstorm about organization and managing ideas and goals

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