On this episode I sit down with Pam Weekes and Connie McDonald, the legendary founders of Levain Bakery. Over the course of 30 years, they have grown from one tiny shop on New York’s Upper West Side to a globally recognized brand famous for its six-ounce cookies (and coincidentally, my son’s favorite treats). Unlike many modern startups focused on rapid growth, Pam and Connie prioritized a "lifestyle" approach for the first two decades that was all about locale and community. They said that “We grew the business the way that we wanted to live our lives”.

Liv Schreiber is an entrepreneur, influencer, and the founder of Camp Social, a unique sleep away camp for adult women designed to help forge new friendships and combat loneliness. Liv shares her entrepreneurial journey that started in college and also includes starting a marketing agency as well as community-focused businesses like Hot & Social events in NYC, all before she turned 30!

Dee Poku is an entrepreneur and women’s advocate born in the UK and raised between London and Accra. She is the founder and CEO of The WIE Suite, a private membership community and peer learning platform for extraordinary women leaders and culture creators. Its mission is to redefine the way women achieve success for themselves and for their companies by providing the community and tools for them to excel at the highest levels.

Shannon Race, co-founder and CEO of Bio.me talks about her personal story dealing with IBS as the spark to start this new company with breakthrough supplements designed to optimize and restore the microbiome.

Shannon is also a Principle at Starshot Ventures, where she leads investment strategy and advises portfolio brands. Additionally she sits on the board of Koia, a leading plant-based protein drink. She’s a seasoned marketer having helped transform Vital Proteins from a product-based business into a global lifestyle powerhouse.

This conversation includes:

- The importance of fiber and gut health - Learnings and growth from her time at Vital Proteins

- Moving from marketing to VC

- Advice for new founders - Insights from Bio.me brand and product development

- What makes a good brand

- Advice and insights for entrepreneurs Shannon is professionally jealous of Francois Demachy, renowned French perfumer and ‘nose’ of The House of Dior.

Clara is entrepreneur and founder of Unite Food, the world’s first globally inspired protein bar brand and great business growth story. With a mission to bring unique flavors from around the world to your pantry, Unite Food celebrates global tastes and wholesome nutrition.

Before starting Unite Food, she spent 17 years as the Managing Director of EZ-FLO International, developing expertise in marketing, operations, and leadership. She is also the founder of (Included), a non-profit supporting founders in CPG; a mentor at SKU, a leading CPG accelerator; and an active member of NextUp and YPO

Adam Ross, co-founder of Heyday has revolutionized the spa services category and experience, making expert skincare more accessible and and part of your everyday wellness routine. with 40+ locations across the U.S.

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Denise left her corporate role and bootstrapped the brand until becoming the first black woman to raise over a million publicly for a CPG food startup.

Introducing what my new podcast ‘Professional Jealousy’ is all about, and why on earth I decided to create it.