Kentaro is a multimedia artist, creative director, martial artist, and entrepreneur from Los Angeles, CA. After studying Neuroscience at UCSD then entering into the film program at UCLA, Kentaro started his career creating content for global brands such as McDonald’s, Lego, Benjamin Moore, and many others before eventually transitioning to be a children’s book illustrator and brand director. He created the visual direction for the Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf’s children’s line with The Magic Tea H...
May 06, 2024•24 min•Ep. 279
Gustavo is an advertising & marketing executive turned entrepreneur. In the past, he’s held management positions in fortune 500 companies in the US & abroad. He currently runs jijamas®, a high-end sleepwear brand that he founded several years ago to help women unwind & relax from their busy lifestyles. He loves all things related to e-commerce and working with international markets. In This Conversation We Discuss: [00:42] Intro [01:20] Finding the right business idea [03:23] Identif...
Apr 29, 2024•24 min•Ep. 275
Noah Tucker is the founder of Social Snowball, the word-of-mouth marketing platform for ecommerce. His experience in building Shopify sites, running ads, and working with influencers led him to build Social Snowball, which now supports affiliate and influencer marketing for brands like Fanjoy, Goorin Bros, and Outway Socks. Social Snowball’s modern and automated affiliate & referral programs drive millions in revenue for over 1,000 leading brands such as True Classic, Outway Socks, and Fanjo...
Apr 25, 2024•11 min
Karina Kogan is an award winning marketing and technology executive with a track record of feuling transformational growth and digital innovation for disruptor brands. Karina currently serves as Chief Commercial and Marketing Officer at Pvolve, an omnichannel fitness company that in 2023 announced a strategic partnership with Jennifer Aniston. Karina has spent two decades working at the intersections of innovation and marketing with prior roles as CMO of Oura, SVP & Global Head of Product Ma...
Apr 22, 2024•24 min•Ep. 274
A few years ago, Shaina, CEO of Bask and Lather Co’s younger sister lost ALL of her hair to a ringworm that spread across her scalp and was misdiagnosed as dandruff. Dermatologist told her mother that her hair may never grow back after months of having a smooth, shiny scalp. Out of desperation, her mother took things into her own hands and created a scalp oil to stimulate growth, which is now the company's #1 best selling product and a viral sensation. Shaina, who is also a licensed Nurse Practi...
Apr 15, 2024•22 min•Ep. 273
Ashu Dubey is the CEO and Co-Founder of Gleen, a leading generative AI-based customer service solution. As a serial AI entrepreneur, Ashu previously was CTO and Co-Founder of 12 Labs, an early pioneer in AI-powered personalized health recommendations. Ashu led top of the funnel user growth at LinkedIn, where he significantly accelerated user growth and was instrumental in launching innovative products such as LinkedIn Events. Ashu has an MBA from UCLA, attended IIT Dhanbad, and consistently merg...
Apr 11, 2024•17 min
Mussayab Ehtesham, affectionately known as "Moose" within his circles, is originally from the vibrant streets of Pakistan. Moose grew up in a middle-class family, instilling in him the values of hard work, resilience, and self-reliance—pillars that would become the foundation of his entrepreneurial spirit. The visionary mind behind DMOOSE, an e-commerce brand that emerged in 2017 with a global mission to empower everyday athletes, Moose has transcended mere numbers. His story serves as a testame...
Apr 08, 2024•29 min•Ep. 272
Brian Pedone took up boxing at the age of 13, and by 19, he had started his own boxing gym working with teenagers. Brian holds a BS in Computer Science and was featured by BusinessWeek in 2008 as one of the top 25 entrepreneurs 25 years and under in America. In 2013 he started the concept for Quiet Punch and has been at it now for over 10 years. His mission has been to make boxing accessible for all. He loves working with entrepreneurs and helping others get started. In This Conversation We Disc...
Apr 01, 2024•28 min•Ep. 271
Jake Madoff is a full-stack growth marketing leader, specializing in growth marketing strategy, paid social, paid search, SEO, and CRO. He’s led growth at three multi-million dollar startups—Bespoke Post, Sealed, and Everytable and founded three startups of his own. Through his 8-year freelance career, he has worked with over 100 brands like HUM Nutrition, Home Chef, Renaissance Capital, Kindo AI, Strategic Coach, Threadbeast, Jean Dousset, Partake Foods, TradeMark Engine, and many more, ranging...
Mar 28, 2024•28 min
As Chief Marketing Officer, Kiran oversees marketing, brand, channel and product strategy along with creative services with a goal of expanding ButcherBox's reach and communicating its authenticity to consumers. Prior to ButcherBox, Kiran served as the CMO at iRobot and as the CEO of Arnold Worldwide. Kiran earned her B.A. in Computer Science from Bucknell University and an MBA from The Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth. In This Conversation We Discuss: [00:44] Intro [01:29] Navigating the wo...
Mar 25, 2024•23 min•Ep. 270
Shizu Okusa is the Founder & CEO of Apothékary, a plant-based farmacy that couples traditional medicine with modern day ailments, offering natural alternatives to over-the-counter drugs and beauty products. The company was established in 2019 and has since expanded their business beyond the US and now in 22+ countries worldwide. In This Conversation We Discuss: [00:52] Intro [01:39] Transforming No’s into a business idea [02:53] From Aha moment to a wellness journey [03:37] Modernizing Easte...
Mar 18, 2024•25 min•Ep. 269
Mischa is a dynamic force in the world of digital marketing; empowering heart-centered entrepreneurs to amplify their message into the market and elevate their authority, their impact, and their income. No need for throwing money away on Facebook ads, Mischa has got a better strategy up his sleeve! With a track record of 20 years in old-school sales, Mischa marries tried-and-true strategies with the cutting-edge tools of the digital era. He has made over a million phone calls, run massive flier ...
Mar 14, 2024•49 min
Preston Rutherford is the Cofounder of Chubbies Shorts, which was acquired for 9-figures and is now part Solo Brands, a public company. He is also the Cofounder of Loop Returns, the top Shopify Returns & Exchanges Platform. Preston is an expert in Marketing, Growth, Brand, E-commerce, CRO, Data, Acquisition, and Retention. He’s also a dabbler in private equity, enterprise fintech software, and real estate development. In This Conversation We Discuss: [00:46] Intro [01:32] Bringing retro &...
Mar 11, 2024•30 min•Ep. 268
Daniel Winer HexClad Co-Founder & CEO CEO, Co-Founder and kitchen maverick, Daniel Winer is the mastermind behind HexClad Cookware. After spending more than a decade building relationships in the industry, Daniel recognized the opportunity for cookware in the DTC market. He worked to develop the first true innovation in cookware since the invention of non-stick - the patented HexClad design – which provides the searing capability of stainless steel and cast iron with the easy cleanup of nons...
Mar 04, 2024•34 min•Ep. 267
Lindsay More Nisbett is an entrepreneur, creative director, and Co-Founder & Brand Director of The Line Studios, a leading creative production studio with expertise in creating compelling e-commerce and marketing content. Since its inception in January 2016, Lindsay has built The Line Studios into the go-to imagery experts for top e-commerce brands, including Hill House Home, MM LaFleur, Negative Underwear, Fresh Beauty, Faherty Brand, and many more. By striking the perfect balance between a...
Feb 29, 2024•26 min
Samantha Coxe is the CEO and Founder of Flaus, the world's first electric flosser. Prior to founding Flaus, Sam was a M&A attorney at Skadden, Arps, assisting dozens of high growth startups through their entire life cycle - from formation to exit. As a Female Founder, Sam’s passions supporting Women’s Rights, inclusivity, sustainability, and self-acceptance are the foundation of Flaus’ brand mission and personality. In This Conversation We Discuss: [00:44] Intro [01:16] Flossing frustration ...
Feb 26, 2024•31 min•Ep. 266
Darron Burke is the founder and CEO of Burke Brands, a 20-year-old specialty coffee growing and roasting company that started in a garage and now has over $100M in lifetime sales. The company produces the Don Pablo, Pablo's Pride, and Subtle Earth Organic coffee brands, in addition to private label brands for third party CPG companies. Its own brands are sold in Costco, Walmart/Sam's Club, Kroger, and other brick and mortar locations, as well as online. Darron has always been entrepreneurial, st...
Feb 19, 2024•29 min•Ep. 265
Josh is the Founder and CEO of Meriwether - the SEO agency that generates new revenue for ecommerce brands. Learn more at meriwether.digital. In This Conversation We Discuss: [00:45] Intro [01:06] Evaluating the Ecommerce SEO landscape [02:28] Maximizing SEO investment in modern Ecommerce [05:03] The power of backlinks in the digital space [06:44] Navigating backlink competition and the costs [07:33] Boosting SEO with targeted content [09:24] Customizing SEO efforts for Ecommerce niches [11:04] ...
Feb 15, 2024•27 min
Meet the trailblazer behind the freshest face in the sparkling water game, Mike Pilkington. He is the co-founder of KEY Sparkling Water. He’s a graduate of Wayne State University (BA - Psychology) and University of Detroit Mercy (MBA). Going beyond the bubbles, Mike has a history steeped in grit and growth. From supercharging Death Wish Coffee into one of the top coffee brands in the United States to navigating the waters of Sysco's strategic acquisitions and leading Sysco Albany's operations, h...
Feb 12, 2024•31 min•Ep. 264
Griffin Spolansky is the CEO and Co-Founder of Mezcla, a plant-based snack brand that is mixing it up with exciting flavors and textures. Griffin was also named to the Forbes 30 Under 30 list for 2023 Food and Beverage. He’s also a part of Division 1 Men's Lacrosse National Champion - 2019 - University of Virginia Israel Men's National Lacrosse Team. In This Conversation We Discuss: [00:47] Intro [01:38] The start of an entrepreneurial idea [02:11] Balancing personal and professional life [03:23...
Feb 05, 2024•19 min•Ep. 263
Kelly Oriard is the co-founder and Chief Therapeutic Officer at Slumberkins, a children’s education and emotional health brand. She holds a dual master's degree in Marriage and Family Therapy and School Counseling. As a therapist, school counselor, and mother, Oriard is passionate about changing how we support mental and emotional wellbeing for children and families. As the author behind the character storylines at Slumberkins, Kelly is changing the way children and families can access the conte...
Jan 29, 2024•35 min•Ep. 262
Elizabeth is a seasoned expert in the field of conferences, with nearly a decade of experience in market research and event organization in the retail and finance sectors. Since 2021, she has played an integral role in the powerhouse eTail Palm Springs team, co-producing the event alongside Kristin Schoenstein. When not immersed in the world of eCommerce conferences, she calls Queens home, sharing her space with her cat Wednesday. Kristin Schoenstein has been a Program Director at Worldwide Busi...
Jan 25, 2024•12 min
Michael Nguyen is an entrepreneur and the Founder of Fire & Brilliance who has dedicated most of his professional life to the beautiful world of jewelry. He kicked off his career in sales within the financial services sector before ever marketing a single ring, bracelet, necklace or pair of earrings. This was when he discovered that he had a natural talent in curating relationships, conveying relevance and building long-term business connections. In his mid-20’s, Michael started his jewelry ...
Jan 22, 2024•27 min•Ep. 261
Emily launched clean beauty brand Concrete Minerals in 2009 with $100, and bootstrapped it into a multi-million dollar business over a decade. She took an exit in 2019, and after two years of building, launched her second brand EXOH, this time in the health and personal care spaces. In This Conversation We Discuss: [00:44] Intro [01:52] How Concrete Materials started [02:26] Growing up in a family of entrepreneurs [03:20] Boldly starting a company out of annoyance [04:44] Learning what the marke...
Jan 15, 2024•29 min•Ep. 260
Claus Lauter is an entrepreneur with over 20 years of experience in eCommerce, SaaS, and marketing. He’s an official Shopify and certified Klaviyo Partner, award-winning eCommerce store owner, and certified Google expert. He was named one of the Top 20 Shopify Experts to follow in 2022. Claus is the producer and host of the Ecommerce Coffee Break Podcast, voted as a Top 20 Shopify Podcast on Feedspot. He has started and grown businesses in the USA, Germany, South Africa, and Singapore, and is a ...
Jan 11, 2024•17 min
Mike Feldstein is the founder of Jaspr, an exceptional air purifier designed for high performance but with aesthetics that the D2C market demands. Working in the wildfire and flood restoration sector, Mike witnessed how polluted air can damage people’s health, and he discovered that standard air purifiers on the market cannot make substantial improvements in air quality. He decided to create something to fix the problem. Jaspr air purifiers have all of the power and efficacy of an air scrubber w...
Jan 08, 2024•29 min•Ep. 259
Jaye Genung comes from an eclectic career history that includes project management, product development, procurement and account management. Her employment history includes medical devices, b2b electro-mechanical and cpg companies. This mosaic of experience set the stage for her to be able to start out with her own founder's story. In This Conversation We Discuss: [00:48] Intro [02:26] Seizing the opportunity to start a business [04:10] Considering the working class in product designs [04:52] Re...
Jan 01, 2024•21 min•Ep. 258
One of the most highly regarded independent consultants in his industry, Kurt Elster is a Senior Ecommerce Consultant who helps Shopify merchants like Jay Leno’s Garage uncover hidden profits in their websites through his ecommerce agency Ethercycle. With two million downloads, Kurt is best known for hosting The Unofficial Shopify Podcast. In This Conversation We Discuss: [00:55] Intro [01:55] Compare platform to Shopify before migrating [02:51] Figure out why you want to migrate [03:45] New thi...
Dec 28, 2023•42 min
Lucas Cao is the President and CEO of Squid Industries, an American manufacturing company with a focus on the butterfly knife and trainer industry. In This Conversation We Discuss: [00:49] Intro [01:48] Getting interested with the idea of balisong [03:00] Becoming a collector & joining the community [03:57] Seeing the barriers for interested newcomers [04:44] Trying to make a balisong trainer [05:37] Discovering the popularity of balisong [06:30] Testing the waters and the success rate [07:3...
Dec 25, 2023•37 min•Ep. 257
Ryan and Ashley Reynolds are owners of a high 7 figure subscription and e immerse brand that is embracing tactile analog planning in the digital age. Ashley founded the business in 2015 and the two have operated the business together ever since. In This Conversation We Discuss: [00:49] Intro [01:30] Channeling inner entrepreneurial qualities [02:13] Entrepreneurship starts from a place of need [03:31] Stumbling upon the right community [04:00] How Cloth and Paper’s first design came to life [04:...
Dec 18, 2023•25 min•Ep. 256
