Raising the Bar with Alli and Adrian

Latest Episodes:

S2 Ep. 24 Inner Glow Circle: Money-Making Life Coaching Sep 13, 2019

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Death, disease, and...spray tanning? All of these things led Katie DePaola to leave her 9-to-5 job and grow her company Inner Glow Circle into a globally recognized training program for coaches and entrepreneurs. Katie's journey to entrepreneurial independence took many twists and turns since IGC's founding in 2015, but she's turned her greatest challenges into her greatest opportunities and says her business is what saved her life. Michael and Alli hear Katie's story and find out how Inner Glow Circle teaches and empowers women to work for themselves. Keep up with Katie at @innerglowcircle and @itskatiedepaola, and don't forget to follow @alliwebb for #BTS of Raising The Bar and subscribe and rate us!

Produced by Dear Media.

S2 Ep. 23 Jen Gotch: Ban.do, Mental Health, Authenticity Sep 06, 2019

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Don't ask Jen Gotch how to describe her 11-year-old business Ban.do. What began as a hair accessories company has evolved into a lifestyle brand that can be found at more than 3,000 department stores and boutiques around the world and count Starbucks and Taylor Swift as collaborators. Jen has evolved, too. As a co-founder, chief creative officer, mental health advocate, and now, author, Jen joined her old pals Michael and Alli in front of a Ban.do-clad live audience at the Grove to get real about mental health (duh), creative entrepreneurship, and how her brand can stand for more than just fun. Keep up with Jen at @jengotch and @shopbando. And don't forget to follow @alliwebb for #BTS of Raising The Bar and subscribe and rate us!

S2 Ep. 22 Zookies Cookies: A Shark Tank Success Story Aug 30, 2019

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When Justin Miller and Tom Simon pitched their bake-at-home cookie mix on Shark Tank, they may have tricked Alli into eating their dog treats (made from human-grade ingredients) but that didn't stop a bidding war. Alli beat out fellow Shark Kevin O'Leary—offering them $50,000 for 30% of the company—and committed to helping the duo with branding, marketing, and scaling. Justin and Tom caught up with their investors to relay what's happened since Shark Tank, how Alli and Michael come into play, and what's on the horizon for Zookies Cookies. Keep up with the brand at zookiescookies.com and @zookiescrittercookies. And don't forget to follow @alliwebb for #BTS of Raising The Bar and subscribe and rate us!

Produced by Dear Media.

S2 Ep. 21 Year & Day: Direct-To-Consumer Tableware Aug 23, 2019

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Year & Day is changing the way people shop for tableware. With its modern, minimalist dishes, flatware, and glassware at attainable prices, the year-old, direct-to-consumer startup has already made fans out of Eva Chen and Mandy Moore. Founder and CEO Kathryn Duryea, a Stanford MBA who previously worked in brand management at Tiffany & Co., wants to do for tableware what Warby Parker has done for eyewear or Parachute Home has done for bedding: offer a defined aesthetic at reasonable prices. Kathryn met up with Alli and Michael (and newly-minted Year & Day devotees) to discuss the intersection of curation and marketing, rethinking the upscale homewares category for Millennials, and the renaissance—not death—of brick-and-mortar retail. Keep up with the brand at yearandday.com and @yearandday. And don't forget to follow @alliwebb for #BTS of Raising The Bar and subscribe and rate us!

Produced by Dear Media.

S2 Ep. 20 Toni Ko: Banking On Beauty With NYX Cosmetics Aug 16, 2019

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Toni Ko was just 25 when she founded the affordable beauty brand NYX Cosmetics. With $250,000 in seed money from her parents, the Korean-born entrepreneur started out small, with makeup pencils, but made $2 million in sales her first year. After selling the company in 2014 to L'Oreal for reportedly $500 million, Toni knew retirement wasn't what came next. She sat down with Alli and Michael to swap entrepreneurial war stories and share how she revived her sense of self post-acquisition with a sunglass company, real estate investments, and venture firm for women-led companies. Keep up with Toni at @tonikokoko. And don't forget to follow @alliwebb for #BTS of Raising The Bar and subscribe and rate us!

Produced by Dear Media.

S2 Ep. 19 Jamie Kern Lima: How To Negotiate a $1.2 Billion Aquisition Aug 09, 2019

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It Cosmetics has been a true disruptor in the cosmetics industry since its launch in 2008. After years of hustling on QVC and landing shelf space in Sephora and Ulta, founder Jamie Kern Lima sold her problem-solving makeup line of 300 products to L'Oreal for a reported $1.2 billion in 2016 and stayed on as CEO, making her the first female CEO in L'Oreal's 108-year-history. Jamie sat down with Michael and Alli to reveal how she started testing makeup to help cover up her rosacea, investing in women-led businesses, and the origins of Drybar and It Cosmetic's collaboration, the Lash Blowout Mascara. Keep up with Jamie at itcosmetics.com and @jamiekernlima. And don't forget to follow @alliwebb for #BTS of Raising The Bar and subscribe and rate us! Produced by Dear Media. Producedᐧ

S2 Ep. 18 Rachel Pally: A Biz For All Body Types Aug 02, 2019

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Rachel Pally's Cali-cool maxi dresses have been photographed on everyone from SJP and Beyoncé to Jennifer Aniston and Katy Perry, but it was a stint at a university costume department and a chance encounter in DTLA's Chinatown that truly changed everything for her. Since founding the eponymous clothing line in 2002, Rachel's made it her mission to make flattering clothing for women of all sizes, including plus-size and maternity-wear. The native Angeleno continues to support her local economy by designing and manufacturing in her hometown. Michael and Alli caught up with Rachel to find out all about the brand's origin story, growing up with entrepreneur-parents (who founded Gymboree), and how the designer is scaling her growing retail business. Keep up with Rachel at rachelpally.com and @rachelpally. And don't forget to follow @alliwebb for #BTS of Raising The Bar and subscribe and rate us!

S2 Ep. 17 Sophia Rossi: How To Go From Assistant to CEO Jul 26, 2019

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Sophia Rossi has been a babysitter, an assistant, a TV producer, a founder, a CEO, and now...city councilwoman? But that's for the future. As a former producer onMTV's The Hills and The City, Sophia went on to co-found HelloGiggles (alongside BFFs Zooey Deschanel and Molly McAleer) and sell the media company to Time Inc. in 2016. Today, the 36-year-old entrepreneur keeps good company among L.A.'s glitterati and is focusing on her spice company called Hi Note. She met up with Alli and Michael to dish on her Hills days as a young producer, choosing an internship over college, and what the next steps are after selling a company for millions of dollars. Keep up with Sophia at @rivfifi and don't forget to follow @alliwebb for #BTS of Raising The Bar and subscribe and rate us! Produced by Dear Media. ᐧ

S2 Ep. 16 Clare V.: The LA Based Brand With Global Appeal Jul 19, 2019

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The made-in-LA success of Clare Vivier's handbags and accessories company is going international. Since starting Clare V. in 2008, Clare has translated buzz into business growth and cornered the accessories market through online, wholesale, and brick-and-mortar retail (she just opened her 9th store). With a signature brand of Cali-Parisian chic and affordable luxury, Clare has ventured beyond handbags into clothing, footwear, jewelry, and beauty. Today, she employs 70 people and continues to design and manufacture exclusively in L.A. Clare sat down with her friends Alli and Michael to talk about her pivot from journalism to fashion, strategizing collaborations and partnerships, and how social media and social justice play a key part in her business. Keep up with Clare at clarev.com and @clarevivier. And don't forget to follow @alliwebb for #BTS of Raising The Bar and subscribe and rate us!

Produced by Dear Media.

S2 Ep. 15 Shower Toga: Alli Webb and Mark Cuban's Big Bet Jul 12, 2019

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When "Shark Tank" investors Alli Webb and Mark Cuban made an $80,000 gamble on national television, they were not only buying into Shower Toga but also its feisty and fearless founder, Kressa Peterson. Shower Toga—a wearable, water-resistant garment that allows users to strip and wash off while keeping their modesty in check—is touted as a saving grace after beach days, obstacle races, music festivals, and even emergency events and elderly assistance. Kressa visited Alli and Michael to dish behind-the-scenes Shark Tank moments, why Shower Toga is so much more than a "glorified garbage bag," and how her breast cancer diagnosis kickstarted her second act as an entrepreneur. Learn more at showertoga.com and @shower_toga. And don't forget to follow @alliwebb for #BTS of Raising The Bar and subscribe and rate us!

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