Northeastern Next Podcast

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Jamie Ratner, MS'01: As Seen on Shark Tank Apr 27, 2020

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Simply making it to Shark Tank might be the ultimate dream for an entrepreneur. But, last year, Jamie Ratner, MS’01, founder and CEO of CertifiKID, closed a deal with Mr. Wonderful himself, for her discount website for family-friendly activities. Before starting CertifiKID, Jamie worked in security for almost a decade after receiving her master’s in criminal justice at Northeastern. But, as a parent and self-proclaimed deal-finder, Jamie and her husband saw a gap in the market for kid-friendly events, offering amusement parks and birthday parties instead of spas and restaurants. Their solution—Certifikid. However, like many others, the COVID-19 pandemic impacted Jamie's business, forcing her to pivot and offer awareness and discounts for virtual kid programming. Today, she's working hard to stay resilient, and is ready to share the lessons she's learned from navigating through the unique circumstances.

Visit certifikid.com

Sailaja Joshi, DSMB'06: Mango and Marigold Press Apr 06, 2020

Show notes

There are five times as many books about trucks than there are about any children of color. When Sailaja Joshi, DMSB’06 was searching for authentic and appropriate stories of Indian culture for her own children, she found a huge diversity gap in children’s literature. So, she decided to solve the problem, and launched Mango and Marigold Press, an award winning independent publishing house focusing on the South Asian experience. Serving as the CEO and founder, today the press has over a dozen titles, and recently launched the #1001DiverseBooks initiative, with the goal to bridge the accessibility gap, and raise money to donate diverse children’s literature to underserved communities. Northeastern’s IDEA venture accelerator gave this alumna a leg up, and she later utilized SCOUT, the student-led design studio, for her company’s rebrand.

Visit: mangoandmarigoldpress.com

Follow: @mangoandmarigoldpress on Instagram

Lauren Rampello, DMSB'11: Pure Glow Mar 24, 2020

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We might love the sun, but it is also very harmful to our largest organ—the skin. Lauren Rampello, DMSB’11 is the founder of Pure Glow—a company dedicated to bringing an organic and sunless tanning solution to Boston. Lauren built her business on knowledge and transparency, focusing on natural ingredients, while prioritizing health and the unique client experience. And, Lauren has leveraged Northeastern resources to give her a boost. Northeastern has a robust entrepreneurial ecosystem and offers support to both students and alumni. Lauren was matched with a mentor in the McCarthy(s) Venture Mentoring Network, setting her company up for growth and continued success.

Visit: pureglow.com

Follow on Instagram: @pureglowtanning

Katie Lemons, MS'19: Nutrition for Thought Mar 10, 2020

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Students who like biology often go the pre-med route, but what if being a doctor isn’t the right fit for you? Navigating the medical career landscape can be daunting, but Katie Lemons, MS’19 found a way to combine her passions and carve a unique path. Recently earning her Physician Assistant degree and license from Northeastern, she also has a master’s degree in nutrition and manages a popular blog called, “Twist of Lemons” with over 118,000 followers on Instagram. Katie is a lover of all things wellness and uses her platform to provide easy recipes, and accessible and realistic health tips, backed by science.

Visit: twistoflemons.com

Follow on Instagram: @twistoflemons

Ben Morris, DMSB'05 and Brian Schatz, DMSB'10: Coaster Cycles Feb 25, 2020

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If you've been in Boston, you might recognize the classic pedicab—the three-wheeled bicycle pedaled by local college students who shuttle tourists and fans to Fenway Park. Ben Morris, DMSB’05, knew that a pedal-powered vehicle could go even farther. What started as a Boston-based fleet of five, today has grown into the largest pedicab company in the country, called Coaster Cycles. And Ben—now CEO and founder of Coaster Cycles—has no plans to stop. He's brought in Brian Schatz, DMSB’10, as VP of Sales and Solutions, and former Boston Pedicab driver to take their venture to the next level. Their journeys have intersected a number of times throughout their career, creating the perfect example of the power of the Northeastern network. Today, the two alumni are geared to take their concept to the rest of the globe.

Visit: coastercycles.com

Follow on Instagram: @coastercycles

Jess Fracalossi, AS'10: Raise the Bar Nov 26, 2019

Show notes

Sweat. Inspire. Transform. Raise the Bar. You’ll find these words on the walls of The Handle Bar Indoor Cycling Studio, founded by Jess Fracalossi, AS'10, in 2013, with a mission far beyond the bike. Six years later, she has four award-winning locations in Boston, loyal riders, and a brand centered around passion, community, and wellness. From angel investors and the brick and mortar real estate game, to hiring a strong team to support the business, Jess is an ambitious fitness entrepreneur. Her impact reaches farther than spin class, and her nonprofit branch, “Handle with Care” tackles stigma around mental illness through local community events.

Visit: handlebarcycling.com

Follow on Instagram: @the_handle_bar

Jason Yau, DMSB’17: The Nike of Hong Kong Nov 12, 2019

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In a world of Nike, Adidas, Reebok, and Under Armour, is it possible to break through and create a new and competitive sportswear brand? Jason Yau, DMSB’17, founder of Zyphr apparel, thinks so. Athletes in Hong Kong rely on foreign brands, and Jason saw a gap in the market for his homegrown premium sportswear company. With global fast fashion trends and low barriers to entry, Jason is setting his brand apart by focusing on the quality, and creating a perfect match between performance fabrics and fashion. Jason is also a member of the Young Global Leaders—alumni who help advance the international scope of the university.

Visit: zyphrapparel.com

Instagram: @zyphr_apparel

Attend: Dream, Discover, Disrupt | Nov. 19 | A Celebration of Entrepreneurs at Northeastern

Brian Shea, CJ'97: Scene of the Crime Oct 29, 2019

Show notes

Crime thriller novels and TV shows have always been popular, but author Brian Shea, CJ’97 has literally been at the scene of the crime. After serving in the US Navy, Brian spent over 10 years in law enforcement as a detective, and now writes what he knows. What do a terrorist, human trafficker, and serial killer have in common? They’ve all been hunted by his leading character, FBI agent, Nick Lawrence. Brian has mastered the art of creating the suspenseful “page turner” and at Northeastern, when not in class, he was usually found with his nose in a book. His most recent crime thriller series is set in Boston, and the first book, Murder Board, hit the bestseller list on Amazon and held the #1 spot for New Release in the Mystery category.

Visit: brianchristophershea.com

Get Murder Board at Barnes & Noble or Amazon

Sophia Moon, MBA’13: Everyone Is Creative Oct 15, 2019

Show notes

Sophia Moon, MBA’13, is an artist, entrepreneur, marketing consultant, and community builder who has always followed passion in her career. Instead of a side hustle, she designed a life she loves with many major hustles, giving each her full attention. She now owns Essem Art Studio in Charlestown, MA, leading art and music labs for children. She is also the Boston Chapter host of Creative Mornings, a monthly lecture series and global movement of 206 chapters in 65 countries. With only 24 hours in a day, how did she do this? By networking! We all use the “networking” buzz word in the pursuit of career dreams, but Sophia gives real advice on how to create relationships that can help you succeed.

Check out Creative Mornings and find a chapter near you: creativemornings.com

Follow Sophia on Instagram @iamsophiamoon

Jonathan Ulman, AS’04, MPS’12: Beat of His Own Drum Sep 30, 2019

Show notes

When he was 11, Jonathan Ulman dreamed of playing drums with Pearl Jam. Fast forward to today, he is a three-time winner of the Boston Music Award's Session Musician of the Year, a teacher at the Berklee College of Music, and has over 20 years of experience playing in live concerts and on hundreds of records. Jonathan understands the hustle involved in making a music career a reality, but more importantly how to market yourself—a skill relevant in every industry. How do you become ready for your big break or dream job? How do you hone your craft and build the skills that will propel you past your goals while redefining new ones?

Visit: jonathanulman.com

Follow: @jmudrums on instagram and twitter

Vote: bostonmusicawards.com/vote

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