Posts tagged: The Mentor Files

Eunice Byun had just given birth to her daughter—and started a full-time job in digital marketing at Revlon—when she cooked up her idea for Material, a direct-to-consumer kitchenware company that’s bringing sleek, affordable tools to the modern home cook. Less than seven-months-old, Material’s quickly become a favorite among foodie influencers and has gotten the nod from publications like The New York Times, Fast Company, and MyDomaine, to name a few.Byun’s untraditional path to launching her business is full of unique insights and creative solutions—listen in as she explains why moonlighting...

When it comes to retail, we tend to hear the same message over and over again: customers are buying off of Amazon more than ever before, and brick and mortar stores will soon be a thing of the past—right? What you learn in this episode may challenge that thought. Guest Brendan Wallace is co-founder and managing partner of Fifth Wall, a venture capital firm focused on tech solutions for the built world. Brendan also co-founded Cabify, the largest ridesharing service in Latin America, has been an active angel investor, and...

In 2013, Lee Mayer moved from a small New York City rental apartment to a five bedroom home in Denver. Overwhelmed by all the furniture and decor choices to be made, and the challenge of creating a cohesive look, the new home sat empty for months. She was willing to hire an interior designer for help, but she couldn't find someone who was a fit with her budget and she was left feeling overwhelmed and frustrated. She knew others had to be experiencing a similar problem. Lee used her pain...

Ariane Goldman had already left her job in corporate America and found success as the founder of twobirds Bridesmaids when she discovered a “white space” in the marketplace: She was pregnant and seeking out brands that seemed to understand her and the life stage she was in— and when she couldn’t find one, she decided to create it.That’s how HATCH, a wildly popular direct-to-consumer maternity brand, well...hatched. Today HATCH is a powerhouse in the motherhood space, with celebrities and influencers among its fans. The brand is known for producing fashion-forward...

As the son of two teachers, Jason Stoffer has always had a passion for education. He just may not have expected this to manifest in his current role as the founder of venture capital firm, Maveron. But Jason discovered another passion along the way. And now, it’s his love for brands that evoke emotion in their consumers that drives his day-to-day. For Jason, identifying worthwhile brands really comes to what the founder represents — and how well the audience will connect to the brand’s message. What does he look for...

What do Meghan Markle, Blake Lively, Kim Kardashian, Scarlett Johansson and Fergie have in common? They’ve all been spotted in the iconic “Jackie O” dress from Black Halo, the brand founded by this episode’s guest.Laurel Berman launched Black Halo in 2002 with a specific purpose in mind: She wanted to a create a high-fashion, fit-focused brand packed with wardrobe essentials that empower women (and make them look amazing, to boot).Laurel weighed in on how and why she created the “Jackie O” dress, which has become a power suit of sorts...

Back in 2014, Jordana Kier realized something: Though she had spent the better part of her life using feminine products, she’d never stopped to ask herself what was really in her tampons.After thinking the idea over, researching the industry, and posing the idea to her friend-turned-co-founder, Alex Friedman, Jordana decided to act on it.Jordana and Alex launched Lola, which they describe as a lifelong reproductive health for women’s bodies. By focusing on transparency, Lola gives women control over the products they’re choosing and using. Lola has gone head-to-head with industry...

It all started with a screening of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. Rosie O’Neill and her now husband saw the classic on a date, and she found herself wondering: why had candy — a thing that used to feel magical — lost its luster?This led Rosie, who had been working as the director of marketing at Mattel, to dream a sweet dream: She broke away from her role to start Sugarfina, the luxury candy brand best known for its beautifully packaged champagne-flavored gummy bears. Today, Sugarfina products are sold...

Jessica Rolph spent years thinking about nutrition for babies, toddlers and children as the founding partner of Happy Family Brands — but one day she asked herself: Are we doing enough to nourish our children’s brains?After Happy Family was acquired by Danone, Jessica decided to explore this idea. She launched her next entrepreneurial venture, Lovevery, a company that delivers ‘playtime with purpose’ through its range of educational toys and products. She has faced the hardships associated with being a working mom who brings baby products to market, and her insights...

You know about FabFitFun, the wildly popular wellness-themed subscription box that's loved by celebrities and everyday women alike. But here's what you don't know: The story of how this product — and the brand it represents — came to be what it is.In this episode, co-founder Michael Broukhim sheds some insight on the FabFitFun journey and the importance of viewing your consumers holistically.What started as a media company quickly evolved based on customer response and demand. And when FabFitFun's team realized that, despite the growing popularity of subscription boxes, no...