Pinky Cole, founder of the bold vegan fast-food chain Slutty Vegan, shares her inspirational journey from Baltimore to culinary success. She discusses the challenges of her early ventures, including the devastating loss of her restaurant to a fire, which fueled her resilience. Pinky emphasizes the importance of discipline and creativity in revolutionizing vegan cuisine, utilizing innovative branding and social media to attract diverse customers. Her story showcases how Slutty Vegan is transforming perceptions of plant-based dining with flair and authenticity.
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question_answer ANECDOTE
Vegetarian Upbringing
Pinky Cole's mother was a strict vegetarian, influencing her upbringing.
Her mother's holistic lifestyle and long hair are fondly remembered.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Father's Influence
Pinky's father was incarcerated from her birth, but remained influential.
He encouraged entrepreneurship and taught her life lessons from prison.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Teen Entrepreneur
As a teenager, Pinky organized parties, charging admission and selling water.
Her entrepreneurial spirit emerged early, leading to significant earnings.
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91 Vegan Recipes That Will Blow Your Meat-Loving Mind
Aisha 'Pinky' Cole
In 'Eat Plants, B*tch', Pinky Cole shares a collection of 91 vegan recipes that aim to challenge the perception that vegan food is bland. The book includes creative dishes that blend flavors and textures, making vegan cuisine accessible and enjoyable for everyone. Cole's approach emphasizes community and the joy of sharing food, rather than promoting strict dietary adherence.
Rich Dad Poor Dad
What the Rich Teach Their Kids about Money - That the Poor and the Middle Class Do Not
C.P.A. Sharon L. Lechter
Robert Kiyosaki
The book tells the story of Robert Kiyosaki's two fathers: his 'poor dad,' a highly educated but fiscally poor man, and his 'rich dad,' the father of his best friend who was a successful entrepreneur. It emphasizes the importance of financial education, distinguishing between assets and liabilities, and building wealth through investing in assets such as real estate and businesses. Kiyosaki argues that a good education and a secure job are not guarantees for financial success and provides practical lessons on how to make money work for you rather than working for money[1][3][5].
This Is Marketing
You Can't Be Seen Until You Learn To See
Seth Godin
In 'This Is Marketing', Seth Godin presents a transformative view of marketing as a generous act of helping others solve problems. The book focuses on key principles such as targeting the smallest viable market, delivering anticipated, personal, and relevant messages, and building trust through permission marketing. Godin argues that effective marketing is about creating positive change and helping people become who they want to be. He provides actionable insights, case studies, and a strategic focus on storytelling, tension, and customer-centric approaches. The book is designed for entrepreneurs, small business owners, freelancers, and marketers looking to reframe their marketing strategies and connect meaningfully with their audiences.
It’s hard to miss a Slutty Vegan when you’re driving past one.
No, we’re not talking about a person… We’re talking about a fast-casual burger chain — and a vegan one at that!
Since launching Slutty Vegan in 2017, Pinky has seen her plant-based brand through several iterations: a ghost kitchen, then a food truck, then eventually several brick and mortar locations that continue to pop up across the east coast. And with a valuation of $100 million and expansion into other sectors, Pinky is only getting started...
This week on How I Built This Lab, Pinky talks with Guy about her journey as a TV producer-turned-restaurateur, and how Slutty Vegan is a prime example of Seth Godin’s Purple Cow theory: companies must build things worth noticing into their products and services. Plus, Pinky reflects on her roots, sharing the valuable lessons about discipline and work ethic that she learned from her parents.
This episode was produced by Carla Esteves and edited by John Isabella, with music by Ramtin Arablouei. Our audio engineer was Neal Rauch.