Shows
Stairway to CEOSharing the Gift of Yoga and Growing Through Grief with Niki Leondakis, CEO of CorePower YogaDescription:Sometimes not getting what you want paves the way to a better story. Niki Leondakis is the CEO of the largest yoga studio brand in the US, and her journey has been characterized by learning from challenges time and time again. She joins us to share how she has found opportunity in adversity, honed her listening skills as a leader, and leveraged the incredible power of yoga to overcome grief before finding a new purpose in sharing its power with the world. Tune in to hear more. Exclusive Deals from Our Sponsors:A...2024-06-2556 minStairway to CEOSilicon Valley, AI, and Solving Customer Service with Puneet Mehta, Founder and CEO of NetomiDescription:In this episode of Stairway to CEO, you’ll learn all about Puneet Mehta's captivating entrepreneurial journey, from his upbringing in India and fulfilling his childhood dream of living in Silicon Valley to spearheading AI advancements at Netomi. He tells us how his parents inspired him to embrace daunting challenges, what he learned from his years developing trading engines on Wall Street, the transformative encounter he had with Mike Bloomberg, and how these experiences have fueled his entrepreneurial drive. Join us as we uncover Puneet's perspective on the AI landscape, his pivotal role in founding Netomi, an...2024-06-1853 minStairway to CEOBaby Steps to Big Bucks with Ben Lewis, Founder and CEO of Little SpoonDescription:What does it look like to bring innovation to a static industry? A lifelong love for entrepreneurship and the food and beverage industry led Ben Lewis to take a massive risk to disrupt the baby food industry, and with $90 million raised to date, it certainly paid off! In this episode of Stairway to CEO, Ben shares the story of continuing his dad’s legacy in business, finding out-of-the-box solutions to the complex problem of manufacturing his product, and much more!Exclusive Deals from Our Sponsors:AWESOME CX by Transcom provides high-touch, personalized cu...2024-06-1151 minStairway to CEOBrooklyn, Brews, and Botanical Breakthroughs with Hudson Davis-Ross, Co-Founder and CEO of Plant PeopleDescription:Today, Hudson Davis-Ross joins the show to share about Co-Founding a mission-driven company that truly helps people with their health needs. From being diagnosed with ADHD in middle school to undergoing spinal surgery, Hudson has faced his fair share of health challenges. Tune in to learn all about his captivating entrepreneurial journey, from growing up in Brooklyn, New York, to founding his first company, RISE, to ultimately becoming the co-founder of Plant People – whose plant-based products offer natural alternatives to pharmaceuticals. Along the way, we explore how he navigated major setbacks caused by the COVID-19 pandemic an...2024-05-0745 minStairway to CEOWidening the Wealth Circle for Women with Allegra Moet Brantley, Founder and CEO of FactoraDescription:Joining the show today is Allegra Moet Brantley, the Founder and CEO of Factora. This women-led personal finances company is on a mission to lead one million women to $1 million in wealth. Today she shares her journey from building her first company to becoming a salary negotiation coach to leading partnerships and marketing at Financial Gym, where she ultimately came up with the idea to build Factora. Tuning in, you’ll gain insight into the importance of financial transparency, the challenges that can come with fundraising, building a sustainable business while growing a family, and much mo...2024-04-021h 05Stairway to CEOTurnarounds, Transformations, and Taking Charge with Mary van Praag, Global CEO at Milani CosmeticsDescription: Mary van Praag joins us today to talk about how she became Global CEO of Milani Cosmetics, a 20-year-old company built on the belief that everyone should have the opportunity to own and enjoy luxury beauty. From her entrepreneurial pursuits in high school to her first CEO role at Perricone MD, Mary tells us about her remarkable career journey and how she became the Global CEO of Milani cosmetics. Tune in today to learn about Mary’s passion for transforming companies, the lessons she’s learned about being vulnerable as a leader, and much more!Exc...2024-01-1654 minStairway to CEOConnection, Community and Conversation with Julie Rice, Co-Founder and CEO of PeoplehoodDescription:Today’s guest fell into entrepreneurship when she started to create experiences with her own needs in mind. Julie Rice is the Co-Founder and CEO of Peoplehood, where she facilitates deep conversation and connection to develop ‘relationship fitness’. During this episode, she shares her childhood passion for theatre, talks about the start of her career in talent management in New York, and tells the story of how she built and exited her first startup, SoulCycle. Tune in to hear all this and more!Exclusive Deals from Our Sponsors:AWESOME CX by Transcom provid...2024-01-0947 minStairway to CEOBehind the Frames with Nathan Kondamuri, Co-Founder and CEO of Pair EyewearDescription:Nathan Kondamuri didn’t know that he wanted to start a business until the pieces fell together, and he co-founded the highly customizable Pair Eyewear, where he now acts as CEO. He joins us today to share the story of how his little brother inspired him to start Pair, how he scaled his customer experience team to over 100 members, and the challenges he faced in building on-demand production. Tune in to hear all this and more!Exclusive Deals from Our Sponsors:AWESOME CX by Transcom provides high-touch, personalized customer experience services to co...2024-01-0254 minStairway to CEOWrinkles and Wins with Courtney Toll, Co-Founder and CEO of NoriDescription:Joining us today to share her entrepreneurial story is Courtney Toll, co-founder and CEO of Nori, an innovative company in the ironing and steaming market. Tuning in, you’ll hear about her remarkable journey, from coming up with the idea for Nori (which is iron spelled backward!) in her cramped New York apartment to raising money in the depths of COVID to bringing a successful product to market. Courtney also shares details about how learning to do cold outreach at her job bolstered her entrepreneurial journey, the challenges of innovating with hardware, how they put together th...2023-12-2646 minStairway to CEOTravel Inspiration for Makeup Innovation with Fiona Chan, Founder & CEO of YouthforiaDescription:Joining the show today is Fiona Chan, the Founder and CEO of Youthforia, a beauty brand creating innovative makeup that acts as a part of your skincare routine. Join us as she shares her story of starting a business during the pandemic, self-funding before finding Shark Tank support, and much more! Exclusive Deals from Our Sponsors:AWESOME CX by Transcom provides high-touch, personalized customer experience services to consumer brands of any size! Email Lee at lee@stairwaytoceo.com to learn more about their award-winning services and Awesome Coffee Chats. In Th...2023-12-1938 minStairway to CEOMaking it Rain, One Square at a Time with Jake Karls, Co-Founder and Chief Rainmaker of Mid-Day SquaresDescription:As an entrepreneur, it can be tempting to try to master every aspect of the business, but today’s guest is proof that playing to your strengths and finding a partner with complementary skills is a winning formula. Jake Karls is the Co-Founder and Chief Rainmaker of Mid-Day Squares, a chocolate company geared to revolutionizing the snack industry. Join us as we discuss Jake’s unique path to entrepreneurship success, the decision to manufacture Mid-Day Squares in an independent factory, and the effect of digital transparency on relationship-building. Don’t miss today’s high-energy episode! Exclusi...2023-12-1244 minStairway to CEOK-Pop Beats and Skincare Feats with Paul Baek, Founder and CEO of Matter of FactDescription:From completing an undergrad at Harvard to becoming a K-Pop sensation in Korea to founding and formulating his very own skincare line, Paul Baek’s journey has been nothing short of extraordinary. In this episode, we delve into the unexpected twists of Paul's life, discussing his courageous decision to break away from the norm and forge a path that led him to the creation of his skincare company, Matter of Fact. Join us as Paul shares how his upbringing shaped him, the gratitude he feels for his immigrant parents, the exhilarating experience of K-Pop stardom, and th...2023-12-051h 05Stairway to CEODental Dreams and Endless Flossibilities with Samantha Coxe, Founder and CEO of FlausDescription:Samantha Coxe is the Founder and CEO of Flaus, a dental hygiene product revolutionizing floss as we know it. She joins us to share her story, from growing up as an Irish Twin in Orange County to creating such an innovative product, and the challenges she faced along the way, with manufacturing, investment, product development, and more. Join us for a candid look at Samantha’s entrepreneurial journey.Exclusive Deals from Our Sponsors:AWESOME CX by Transcom provides high-touch, personalized customer experience services to consumer brands of any size! Email Lee at le...2023-11-2850 minStairway to CEOPerfectionism and Plastic-Free Packaging with Kate Flynn, Co-Founder and CEO of Sun & Swell FoodsDescription:Today, Lee sits down with Kate Flynn, Co-Founder and CEO of Sun & Swell Foods. In this episode, Kate shares her inspiring story of making her sustainable snack brand plastic-free and creating a company that is a force for good (as well as good food). Tuning in, you’ll also find out what Kate wanted to be when she grew up, the tough lessons on failure that came with changing careers (and being a consultant), why she doesn’t consider herself a “typical entrepreneur,” her take on when is the right time to go full time on your sid...2023-11-211h 00Stairway to CEOHydration, Hangovers, and Becoming CEO with Jesslyn Rollins, CEO of BIOLYTEDescription:Joining us today is Jesslyn Rollins, the dynamic CEO of BIOLYTE®, the world's first IV in a bottle. In groundbreaking fashion, BIOLYTE® boasts 6.5 times the electrolytes of traditional sports drinks while containing only a third of the sugar you’d normally ingest. With humor and candor, Jesslyn discusses her journey from an imaginative childhood in Atlanta to becoming CEO of their family business. She shares the inspiring story of how her father and sister developed BIOLYTE® over four years (in secret!) after her mother’s battle with cancer and how their product was designed to help individ...2023-11-141h 06Stairway to CEOPizza, Periods, and Pooping with Miki Agrawal, Founder of TUSHYDescription: Today on Stairway to CEO, Miki Agrawal, Founder of TUSHY, speaks passionately about her adventures in life and entrepreneurship, from her multicultural upbringing as an identical twin in Montreal, Canada, to playing soccer for the New York Magic to inventing products in taboo categories and creatively launching, marketing, and scaling them to $50 million and beyond. You’ll also hear about the setbacks, controversy, and revelations she had along the way, plus Miki lets us in on her top three ingredients for creating a successful brand. Exclusive Deals from Our Sponsors:AWESOME CX by Tr...2023-11-0755 minStairway to CEOMoney, Mindset, and Magic Mush with Ashley Thompson, Co-Founder and CEO of MUSHDescription:Today, Lee is joined by the inspirational Ashley Thompson, Co-Founder and CEO of MUSH; an innovative overnight oats brand that tastes more like dessert than a healthy breakfast! Ashley shares her journey from the world of finance to entrepreneurship, how her father inspires her, her take on fundraising, and the challenges she’s faced. Tuning in, you’ll hear all about how Ashley has found success by staying in control of her mindset, managing her energy and emotions, and so much more! Exclusive Deals from Our Sponsors:AWESOME CX by Transcom provides high...2023-10-3152 minStairway to CEOFrom Sears Intern to Celebrity Brand CEO with Sarah Jahnke, Co-Founder and CEO of HomecourtDescription:Sarah Jahnke is the Founder and CEO of Homecourt, a home fragrance brand co-founded by Courteney Cox and made with non-toxic skincare-grade ingredients. During this episode, she joins Lee to share her story. Tune in to hear what it was like to meet Courteney Cox for the first time over Zoom, her journey to fundraising for the first time, how she has grown into her leadership role, and much more.Exclusive Deals from Our Sponsors:AWESOME CX by Transcom provides high touch, personalized customer experience services to consumer brands of any size...2023-10-2445 minStairway to CEOFactories, Feedback, and Furniture with Stephen Kuhl, Co-Founder and CEO of BurrowDescription:Today Lee is joined by an incredibly innovative entrepreneur, the Co-founder, and CEO of Burrow, Stephen Kuhl. Burrow is a company that makes buying furniture simple with swift delivery, easy assembly, and a multitude of options. In this episode, Stephen shares his love for customer research and outlines how he was inspired to go to business school before delving into how he and his business partner came up with the idea to start Burrow. We discuss their incredible journey from rejection to massive success, their experience throughout COVID, what’s in store for them in the fu...2023-10-1755 minStairway to CEOCutting Crusts Instead of Corners with Dillon Ceglio, Co-Founder & CEO of Chubby SnacksDescription:Sharing his story today is Dillon Ceglio, the Co-Founder and CEO of Chubby Snacks, a brand modernizing the classic peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Catching up with Dillon, we hear all about his upbringing in a small city in New Jersey and how it sparked a competitive mindset in him and cultivated his taste for entrepreneurship that would flourish later on in life. He also shares the story behind why he tattooed his SAT score on his body, highlighting the idea of stepping stones on life’s trajectory, and shares the story behind how Chubby Snacks ca...2023-10-1044 minStairway to CEOStartups, Skincare, and Scarlett Johansson with Kate Foster, Co-Founder and CEO of The OutsetDescription:Today, Lee is joined by Kate Foster, Co-Founder and CEO of The Outset, a skincare line, co-founded and represented by none other than Scarlett Johansson! In catching up with Kate we hear all about her journey; from growing up playing soccer and varsity softball to her internship in the PR department of Sex in the City at HBO to her marketing roles at esteemed brands like Victoria's Secret, Anne Taylor, and Juicy Couture, leading up to her role as the CMO of 'Not Your Daughter's Jeans.' She shares the pivotal moment when she realized she w...2023-10-0355 minStairway to CEOFries, Flights, and Wellness Insights with Kristy Morris, Co-Founder and CEO of KailoDescription:Our guest, Kristy Morris, has had a close relationship with entrepreneurship from a young age and saw first-hand what it was like to be a business owner when her parents ran one of the earliest McDonald’s in Australia after the brand was introduced into the country. Today she is the Co-Founder and CEO of Kailo, Australia’s leading luxury wellness brand. Tuning in you’ll hear about her upbringing in Australia, the influence her entrepreneurial parents had on her, her struggles at school, and how she came to own a coffee shop when she was just 2...2023-09-2647 minStairway to CEOCEO Has a Nice Ring to It with Tom Hale, CEO of ŌURADescription:Today, Lee sits down with Tom Hale, CEO of ŌURA, which delivers personalized health data and guidance to make wellness and recovery part of your daily practice. Tuning in, you’ll find out how Tom went from growing up with dreams of becoming a train engineer to discovering the OŪRA Ring and writing a letter to the board about why they should hire him as CEO. You’ll gain some insight into Tom’s journey as a leader, which started with executive positions at Macromedia and Adobe, to becoming President of Momentive, where he set enterpris...2023-09-191h 04Stairway to CEOAcquisitions and Ambitions with Jeanine Lobell, Founder of NeenDescription:Coming to share their story today is Jeanine Lobell, the Founder of Neen. Her story is truly remarkable and underlines the unexpected turns we can all encounter and how far a commitment to one's ideals and ideas can take things. Jeanine talks about the acquisition of her previous company, Stila, and what it took for her to take a dive into something new and exciting. The lessons around healing, community, and authenticity that Jeanine has learned and generously touches on here, are truly inspiring. Tune in to hear it all!Exclusive Deals from Our...2023-09-121h 00Stairway to CEORoots of Resilience with Greg Starkman, Founder and CEO of Innersense Organic BeautyDescription:Greg Starkman, the Founder and CEO of Innersense Organic Beauty generously shares some of his defining moments with us, touching on the intentional way they have selected, produced, and released products, surviving the tougher times before things started to tip toward success, and how an approach of steady and continued growth has served the company so well. Our guest also talks about leadership and his continual journey of learning and support for his team, so make sure to tune in to catch it all in this inspiring conversation with Greg.Exclusive Deals from Our...2023-09-0549 minStairway to CEOFrom CPA to CEO with Curt Vander Meer, CEO of Endangered Species ChocolateDescription:Endangered Species Chocolate was a mission-driven company long before it was cool. CEO Curt Vander Meer joins us today to share the story of his career and impact, the five key duties of a CEO, and how he came to own the Endangered Species Chocolate brand. Join us for an insider’s look at Curt’s unexpected journey to protecting wildlife and continuing the legacy of his founder, mentor, and friend.Exclusive Deals from Our Sponsors:AWESOME CX by Transcom provides high touch, personalized customer experience services to consumer brands of any size...2023-08-2952 minStairway to CEOSacrifices, Successes, and Sauces with Vanessa Pham, Co-Founder and CEO of OmsomDescription:Today, Lee sits down with Vanessa Pham, a first-generation Vietnamese-American and the Co-Founder and CEO of Omsom, a loud and proud Asian pantry staple brand. In this episode, Vanessa shares her journey from growing up with her sister (and business partner) Kim, and their Vietnamese refugee parents outside of Boston, to attending Harvard, working in consulting, and starting Omsom after being inspired by the 2016 elections to build something that would shift culture. Tuning in, you’ll find out how her father tried to escape Vietnam seven times before he was successful, the pressure Vanessa felt to ho...2023-08-2250 minStairway to CEOMedia, Memberships, and Marketing with Michael Broukhim, Co-CEO and Co-Founder of FabFitFunDescription:In this episode, Lee sits down with Michael Broukhim, Co-CEO and Co-Founder of FabFitFun, a women’s lifestyle membership and shopping experience bringing joy and well-being to its members. Michael shares his experience growing up with his older brother in Los Angeles, his incredible story of starting an online media consulting company, some ups and downs of developing websites for politicians, pivoting to launching a wellness blog, and how this all unfolded into his trailblazing CEO journey. Tune in to hear how he has evolved as a leader, the challenges of growing the company, the secret sa...2023-08-1551 minStairway to CEORowing, Resilience, and Reimagining Fitness with Bruce Smith, Founder and CEO of HydrowDescription:Sharing his extraordinary story today is Olympic-level rowing coach turned entrepreneur, Bruce Smith. Bruce has been self-sufficient since his teens and in this episode, we discover his journey to becoming the Founder and CEO of Hydrow; the rowing machine company connecting the indoor rowing experience to the magic of rowing on water. From breaking into hotels and churches in order to practice piano, he transferred his passion wholly into rowing. Tune in to discover what he finds so engaging about the sport and hear all about his inspiring personal journey and entrepreneurial story.Exclusive...2023-08-0851 minStairway to CEOCrackers, Cheese, and Challenges with Francisco Pergola, Co-Founder of Cheddies CrackersDescription:In today’s episode, we hear Francisco Pergola the Co-Founder of Cheddies Crackers, a high protein, low sugar snack brand made with real cheese sourced from regenerative farms. During this episode, Francisco shares his story of making something out of nothing, time and time again, from growing up in San Antonio, Texas (with dreams of working on Wall Street) to starting the first Ping Pong club in high school, and beyond. Francisco created Cheddies after realizing that hospital patients had limited healthy snack options. Working with nutritionists and testing his concept within clinics, Francesco and his fa...2023-08-011h 01Stairway to CEOFrom Cooking Class to Condiments with Alison Cayne, Founder and CEO of Haven's KitchenDescription:Today, Lee is joined by Alison Cayne, New York native, mother of five, and Founder and CEO of the revolutionary cooking school turned fresh, squeezable sauce brand, Haven’s Kitchen. In this episode, we discover how Alison combined her love for cooking, teaching, and entrepreneurship to create Haven’s Kitchen and what inspired her versatile range of sauces for home cooks. She sheds light on the product incubation process and the lack of fundraising opportunities for underrepresented founders. Tune in as Alison shares her inspiring story of becoming a leader, and the philosophies she stands by as s...2023-07-251h 04Stairway to CEOA Clear Win for Clear Skin with Danielle Gronich, Co-Founder and CEO of CLEARSTEMDescription:In this episode, Danielle Gronich joins Lee to share her journey to becoming the Co-Founder and CEO of CLEARSTEM. She shares her story from growing up as a tomboy in Southern California with dreams of traveling the world, to working at ADP where she met with all types of business owners and built the confidence to start her first company, the San Diego Acne Clinic. She talks about her experience at beauty school, the root causes and foods that can cause breakouts, how she met her Co-Founder, Kayleigh Christina, and how they bootstrapped the business and...2023-07-1851 minStairway to CEOPro Planet and People, Period. with Katie Diasti, Founder and CEO of VivDescription:Katie Diasti is changing the world of period care as the Founder and CEO of the non-toxic and sustainable period brand Viv! She joins Lee to share her story of growing up as a first-generation Egyptian-American in Tampa, Florida, before a college project sparked her idea for the brand, with staggering data to fuel her passion. We touch on the early stages of growth at Viv, leveraging affiliate marketing to reach a wider audience, and fundraising as a young woman building a period care brand, before Katie shares what surprised her on her business journey, challenges...2023-07-1140 minStairway to CEOMichelin Dreams and Gourmet Themes with Julie Nguyen, Co-Founder and CEO of MethodologyDescription:Today, Lee is joined by the CEO and Co-Founder of Methodology, Julie Nguyen, who shares her journey of building a sustainable gourmet meal prep service. Tune in as Julie breaks down her career journey and explains how her personal health struggles inspired the genesis of Methodology. You’ll also find out why she decided against the venture capital route, focusing instead on product quality over scale, and gain some insight into her greatest challenges thus far. Finally, Julie emphasizes the benefits of planning, and making your business your mule (not the other way around)!Ex...2023-07-0451 minStairway to CEOWillpower, Work Ethic, and Wearable Wellness with Cedar Carter, CEO of The Good PatchDescription:In this episode, Lee sits down with Cedar Carter, CEO of The Good Patch, a pioneering “wearable wellness” company offering plant-infused patches that deliver sustained relief for a variety of everyday ailments. Cedar shares her 20 years of collective experience across the apparel and wellness industries, from her first internship with Donna Karen in The Big Apple to her time at BCBG Max Azria, Roxy, and O’Neil. She also talks about her passion for wellness, her leadership style, her first fundraising experience, the importance of hard work, and why “big picture thinking” has been key to her succes...2023-06-2749 minStairway to CEOUnwrapping Gifting and Grit with Bridget Johns, Founder and CEO of To&FromDescription:In today’s episode, gifting expert Bridget Johns shares her story, from selling piglets for pocket money in Western Pennsylvania to following her passion for retail and working for upscale brands like Lancôme, Links of London, and Tiffany & Co. Join us as Bridget shares why she decided to build a “holistic gifting” platform and offers some insight into gifting occasions and trends, as well as the assumptions she made about fundraising, the lessons she learned from launching her first company, and so much more! Exclusive Deals from Our Sponsors:• AWESOME CX...2023-06-2049 minStairway to CEOFrom Fashion to Frozen Flavors with Alicia Liu, Founder and CEO of Lavender and TrufflesDescription:In this episode, Lee is joined by Alicia Liu, Founder and CEO of Lavender and Truffles. Raised in the midst of art, food, and fashion, despite being encouraged to pursue business, it’s no surprise that she managed to incorporate all three in her career journey. Alicia joins us to discuss her varied career journey from her first job as a graphic designer to interning at fashion magazines, working at Prada, then Amazon, and ultimately founding Lavender and Truffles. Tune in hear Alicia’s advice and learn how her story weaves together her upbringing, experience, and pass...2023-06-1351 minStairway to CEOGarbage, Grit, and Greens with Johnathan Bonnell, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Wholly VeggieDescription:Joining the show today is Johnathan Bonnell, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Wholly Veggies, a company making it fun and easy to love your veggies with delicious veggie-forward meals and snacks inspired by restaurants around the world! Nothing can truly prepare you for the stress, hard work, and curveballs that come with being an entrepreneur, but as today’s guest has learned, sometimes the challenges that life throws at you can give you the training you need to trust you can make it through anything. Lee talk’s with Johnathan about his upbringing in Canada, some of the fina...2023-06-0656 minStairway to CEOLittle Saints, Big Spirits with Megan Klein, Founder and CEO of Little SaintsDescription:In this episode, Lee is joined by Megan Klein, Founder and CEO of Little Saints, a sugar-free, functional, nonalcoholic beverage company that has ditched the spirits in favor of the spiritual. Megan’s career journey began in the field of environmental law but her curious, independent, rebellious nature (and her aversion to fighting) led her down the entrepreneurial path. Today, she shares what she learned from the successes and failures she experienced while working in the vertical farming space, how the inspiration for Little Saints came to her during the pandemic, and why she has made sp...2023-05-3051 minStairway to CEOScoops of Approval with Alec Jaffe, Founder and CEO of Alec's Ice CreamDescription:Today, Lee sits down with Alec Jaffe, Founder and CEO of Alec’s Ice Cream, the world’s first and only regenerative agriculture-verified and USDA-certified organic ice cream made using 100% gut-friendly A2 dairy. Alec gives us a glimpse into his background, from surfing in Laguna Beach as a child to playing football at USC with a dream of going pro before a shoulder injury shifted his career ambitions and led him to a job in corporate sponsorship for AEG Worldwide. You’ll gain some insight into his experience of working at a tech startup, what motivated his de...2023-05-2357 minStairway to CEOHarvard, Health, and Hormones with Allie Egan, Founder and CEO of VeracityDescription:Sharing their Stairway to CEO story today is Allie Egan, a passionate brand-builder and the Founder and CEO of Veracity. Offering personalized solutions based on its at-home hormone testing kit, Veracity’s uniquely data-driven approach and clean skincare products help you take your health into your own hands. In this insightful episode, Allie sheds some light on her journey from her first job as a waitress in a retirement home outside of Philadelphia to earning her MBA from Harvard Business School and becoming a two-time CEO. In her first stint as CEO at Cynthia Rowley, Allie be...2023-05-1650 minStairway to CEOSomething in the Water with Sandro Roco, Founder and CEO of SanzoDescription:On today’s show, Lee is joined by Sandro Roco, the Founder and CEO of the first Asian-inspired sparkling water brand, Sanzo. Sandro’s career journey has been as flavorful as his products. Before founding Sanzo, he worked as a nuclear power plant engineer, on the trading floor at JPMorgan, and created his own fashion app! Tune in today to hear how Sandro’s pride in his Asian American heritage combined with his desire for financial freedom, led him to found Sanzo, the lessons that he has learned through the process of building the company from the gr...2023-05-0955 minStairway to CEOFrom Forbes to Foods with Courtney Boyd Myers, Founder and CEO of AKUADescription:Today, Lee is joined by the Founder and CEO of AKUA, Courtney Boyd Myers. Courtney’s career path has seen three separate tracks which collided in the form of the sustainable food brand, AKUA. Having grown up at the seaside in Connecticut, she has a deep love and appreciation for the ocean which, years later, manifested in her delicious, nutritious kelp burgers with numerous health and environmental benefits. In this episode, Courtney shares her entrepreneurship journey and recounts the pivotal moment when her passion and varied experience met. Tune in to learn about AKUA’s genesis and...2023-05-0247 minStairway to CEOSurvive Before You Thrive with Greg Davidson, Co-Founder and CEO of LaloIn This Episode You’ll Hear About:His early life growing up in Livingston, New Jersey, being an outgoing kid with an entrepreneurial drive, and how being a hustler at summer camp got him kicked outHow his entrepreneurial drive came from his serial entrepreneur fatherHis experience going to college in a co-op program where he got hands on experience in marketing and banking but realized it wasn’t the career path he wanted to takeHow in working with the company Way Up led him to meeting not only his wife, but his Co-Founder, MichaelHow registering for his wedding and...2022-02-221h 00Stairway to CEOGetting Carried Away with Jordan Nathan, Founder and CEO of CarawayIn This Episode You’ll Hear About:What it was like growing up in Northern New Jersey with entrepreneurial parentsHow he knew he wanted to be an entrepreneur at an early age by selling candy to kids at his summer campHow he created his own major in college, studying Consumer Psychology and how he uses it today in running CarawayWhy he moved back in with his parents after graduating college to start his first company, Wannu, an all encompassing shopping platformHis time working at Mohawk group and how being in a “mini CEO” role inspired him to build a bran...2022-02-1552 minStairway to CEOFacing the Skincare Aisle with Shai Eisenman, Founder and CEO of BubbleIn This Episode You’ll Hear About:Her early days growing up in Israel, excelling in school and graduating from college at just 18 years oldThe challenges she faced in selling bullet proof plates as a young teenage girl, helping run her father’s businessThe key takeaways she learned during her time running her dad's business and working in performance marketingHow meeting a former CEO of a major beauty brand inspired her to create BubbleThe importance of doing research in a company, and how listening to your customer is keyHow she created a community of thousands of teenagers that help...2022-02-0858 minStairway to CEOSpeed Wins with Yaw Aning, Co-Founder and CEO of MalomoIn This Episode You’ll Hear About:What is was like growing up in Minnesota with a snail farm in his house How the passion his parents had for side hustles gave him the passion for entrepreneurship and pursuing his own companyHis time working in investment banking and how it was a blessing in disguiseHow he launched a reading game app for kids, and how this experience taught him a tough lesson about distribution The thought process of going through the shut down of his first tech company after three years of hard workHow he landed his first cont...2022-02-011h 12Stairway to CEOCollagen Cures with Carolyn Yachanin, Founder and CEO of Copina CoIn This Episode You’ll Hear About:Her life growing up with entrepreneurial parents in San Francisco with dreams of becoming a rower in collegeHow her time at Wharton business school wasn’t fulfilling so she changed her major to study liberal arts and history How her time working for a natural foods company taught her a lot about creating products and gave her skills she now uses to build Copina CoHer experience starting her own blog to learn marketing in a different way and to talk about her struggles and passions and how it eventually led to the c...2022-01-251h 02Stairway to CEOShaving the Way with Leslie Tessler, Founder and CEO of HanniIn This Episode You’ll Hear About:What it was like growing up in New Jersey throughout most of her younger life, to moving to the UK in highschool and having a shift of realizationHow growing up she knew she always wanted to be in a boardroom and rise to the top in a company, but learned in her later life that entrepreneurship was something she could achieveHow she showed up to her friend’s interview for Ralph Lauren and ended up landing her dream jobHow burnout and following her gut led her to move to Argentina, where she...2022-01-181h 12Stairway to CEOStaying True to Clean Beauty with Hillary Peterson, Founder of True BotanicalsIn This Episode You’ll Hear About:What it was like growing up with three sisters and entrepreneurial parents in Pasadena, California and how living in an entrepreneurial household gave her the drive to start her own businessWhy she believes her nurturing personality has helped the growth of True Botanicals What her time working in marketing at Levi’s taught her about marketing and communicationHow following the death of her beloved mother led her to take the leap into entrepreneurshipWhat the grueling process of fundraising was like and how she continued to push through it and why she deems...2022-01-111h 04Stairway to CEONaked Truth About Building Brands with Harrison Fugman, Co-founder and CEO of The Naked MarketIn This Episode You’ll Hear About:His journey from growing up in Vancouver struggling in school to ending up in finance for college What he learned from his internship at Credit Suisse that helps him in what he does todayHow his time traveling the country while working in finance pushed him to create something he was passionate about, The Naked MarketWhy The Naked Market chose to create a collection of brands rather than create a single brandHow they think about launching different brands and all the elements that go into itThe advantage of having multiple brands under a c...2021-12-2843 minStairway to CEOHealth and Habits with Shiv Bassi, Founder and CEO of InnermostIn This Episode You’ll Hear About:How he grew up as a first-generation Britt in West London with his immigrant parentsHow being unsure of what he wanted to do throughout college led him to investment banking and his internship at Goldman SachsWhat his time at Goldman Sachs taught him throughout his internship, and into the 10 years of his career spent thereSome of the takeaways he learned at Goldman Sachs and how he’s used them in creating InnermostWhat led him to taking the entrepreneurship jump from his career to starting InnermostWhere the idea for the name Innermost came...2021-12-211h 00Stairway to CEOThe Art of Truth and Tea with Steve Schwartz, Founder and CEO of Art of TeaIn This Episode You’ll Hear About:What it was like growing up with his parents, brother, and sister in California, to going through his parents long divorce at age of 10, to moving in with his brother at the early age of 14How living with his brother at 14 taught him a lot about life and helped him grow up faster with having to pay for his own food, clothes, and other expensesHow losing his mom to brain cancer ignited his passion for health and wellnessWhy he loved the idea of helping others and helping them create an experience and...2021-12-1447 minStairway to CEONo Sugar Coating, Only SkinnyDipping with Breezy Griffith, Co-Founder and CEO of SkinnyDippedIn This Episode You’ll Hear About:What it was like growing up in Seattle, being the daughter of the producers for the hit show, Bill Nye the Science GuyHow over the course of a decade she accumulated her entrepreneurial skills by creating an organic sorbet, to baking and delivering custom cupcakesHow never fully understanding what she wanted to do throughout college helped plant the seed of becoming an entrepreneurHow the loss of her sisters best friend made her and her family think differently about life and helped foster the idea for SkinnyDippedHow in the early days of Sk...2021-12-0747 minStairway to CEOFrom Slices to Spices with Mark Gudaitis, Co-Founder and CEO of EvermillIn This Episode You’ll Hear About:How most of his childhood was spent outdoors in his hometown near SeattleHow even as a kid he had an entrepreneurial spirit by upselling pizza slices to his schoolmatesHow his different jobs of working the door at nightclubs in San Francisco, to working in event planning and working music festivals gave him the experience needed to start EvermillHow cooking and grocery shopping all the time sparked the idea for Evermill, along with wanting a more environmentally friendly spice system with a modern lookThe process of designing the Evermill jars, getting a pa...2021-11-3049 minStairway to CEOBasking in Purpose with Mike Huffstetler, Founder and CEO of BaskIn This Episode You’ll Hear About:What is was like growing up in Maryland as one of five siblingsWhat his experience was like interning at the White HouseHow moving to Boston with a new tech startup shifted his career path How being passionate about people and working in the startup world gave him the passion for being a “wantrepreneur”How losing his uncle to skin cancer raised his awareness of the disease and increased his mindfulness of wearing sunscreenHow starting his sunscreen nonprofit, Skin Protection Foundation gave him the idea for starting BaskWhere Bask is now just 7 months...2021-11-2353 minStairway to CEOFeeling the Brrrn with Jimmy Martin, Co-Founder of BrrrnIn This Episode You’ll Hear About:What it was like growing up in Scranton, Ohio where the hit show The Office, was basedHow growing up being active in sports and performing in front of others carried over throughout his life How his passion for wanting to express himself and entertain others led him to move to New York CityHow losing his first wife to cancer shifted his perspective on life and redirected his dreams towards creating BrrrnHow the idea for Brrrn came about, starting as a brick and mortar location and shifting to a DTC brand and fit...2021-11-1656 minStairway to CEODoing it All with June with Matt Van Horn, Co-Founder and CEO of JuneIn This Episode You’ll Hear About:His entrepreneurial journey from growing up in the Pacific Palisades and what it was like growing up with parents working within the entertainment industry How his mentorship with Keith Ferazzi began and how he continues to learn from him today What June’s hiring process is like and why it’s important for Matt and his co-founder to stay involved in the processWhat the process of June being acquired was like as a business and as the Co-FounderThe challenges he experienced in the early stages of building June, the fight to get inve...2021-11-091h 04Stairway to CEOAs Good as Gold with Trinity Mouzon Wofford, Co-Founder and CEO of GoldeIn This Episode You’ll Hear About:What it was like growing up in upstate New York with dreams of becoming a doctorHow growing up with a single parent that had an autoimmune disease led her to a passion of holistic wellnessHow always having a sense of fire within her led her to building GoldeHow always having a passion for holistic wellness sparked the idea for creating a superfood brandHer advice for young entrepreneurs and how staying focused on the business and their why is the most important thing to lean intoThe lessons she's learned in being a yo...2021-11-021h 06