Hot Smart Rich with Maggie Sellers Reum

On this week's episode of Hot Smart Rich, Maggie sits down with Sheena Zadeh, founder of Kosas, for a real conversation about what it actually takes to build an iconic brand — and survive everything life throws at you at the same time.Sheena talks openly about losing her house in the LA fires, going through a divorce while scaling a consumer startup, and rebuilding not just her business, but her life. She shares what no one tells you about success, money, grief, and balance — and why real female empowerment looks different than the internet makes it seem.Whether you’re building your own thing, thinking about early-stage investing, or just figuring out how to make sense of your ambition, relationships, and sanity, Sheena’s story is proof you can lose everything and still come back stronger.--Key Takeaways Resilience isn’t glamorous, it’s survival. Sheena rebuilt her life and brand after losing her house and going through divorce — and talks openly about how grief and success can coexist. Consumer startups aren’t built off a single viral moment. Kosas’ growth came from slow, steady, unsexy consistency — not one “big break.” Money provides safety, not happiness. Wealth-building matters, but fulfillment comes from your relationships, your rituals, and the life you’re actually living — not your bank account. Founders sacrifice more than anyone sees. From missing out on memories to navigating single motherhood while scaling a brand, the personal cost is real (and rarely talked about). Brand loyalty matters more than brand heat. Kosas wasn’t chasing headlines — it was building real consumer love, which lasts longer than any viral moment. Your personal brand should feel like an extension of your real life. You don’t have to fake high energy or become someone else to be visible — you can build it authentically, even as an introvert. There’s no “balance” when you’re building — and that’s okay. The idea of balance looks different at different stages, and sometimes survival is the balance. Your real legacy isn’t your resume — it’s the life you lived. What you create, who you love, and what you experience matter more than your LinkedIn title. --⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐If you like what you hear, rate, review, and subscribe to Hot Smart Rich, the podcast supporting women who own their worth — in business, wealth, and life.--💌Own your worth — and build the life you want. Subscribe to the Hot Smart Rich newsletter, the no-BS guide to startup life, consumer brands, and becoming your hottest, smartest, richest self, written by Maggie Sellers. Join 250,000+ women building wealth, confidence, and community on their own terms.--Follow Maggie here:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maggiesellers/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@maggiesellers_LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sellersmaggie/ShopMy: https://shopmy.us/maggiesellersAmazon Storefront: https://www.amazon.com/shop/maggiesellers--Follow Sheena here:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sheena/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sheenazadeh--More from Hot Smart Rich:The Hot Smart Rich Money Mindset: https://hotsmartrich.shop/collections/shop-all/products/hsr-50-20-20-10-methodMerch: https://hotsmartrich.shop/--This episode is produced by HSR Media, a division of Creative MES LLC, with support from Coldea Productions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of Hot Smart Rich, Maggie Sellers and Katie Sellers break down the five biggest stories shaping beauty, retail, and the startup lifestyle—$50M lawsuits, fake Birkins, rebrand flops, and the future of K-beauty.We get into: The truth about K-beauty medical tourism (and what went wrong for one woman who lost her vision) Why Olive Young might eat Sephora’s lunch—and what beauty from the inside out really looks like How Boy Smells lost the plot with their rebrand (and their core customer) How TikTok creators in China are exposing luxury markups—and what that means for the future of fashion houses and consumer trust What the Revolve lawsuit reveals about influencer marketing, taxes, and the fine print no one talks about📌 Like what you hear? Rate + review the pod to support women who are redefining what it means to build power—through culture, capital, and consumer. Brands, Products & Things Mentioned in This EpisodeOlive YoungSephoraRevolveBoy Smells4AM SkinPhlur by Chriselle LimFreja New YorkPolèneDHGate Amore Vintage Tokyo CONNECT WITH MAGGIE:INSTAGRAM: ⁠⁠⁠@maggiesellers ⁠⁠⁠TIKTOK: ⁠⁠⁠@maggiesellers_ ⁠⁠⁠LINKEDIN: ⁠⁠⁠Maggie Sellers ⁠⁠⁠CONNECT WITH KATIE:INSTAGRAM: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@katiesellers_ ⁠⁠⁠⁠LINKEDIN: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Katie Sellers⁠⁠ ⁠READ THE NEWSLETTER:⁠⁠⁠HSR ICYMI ⁠⁠⁠SHOP HSR:⁠⁠⁠HSR MERCH⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠SHOP MY⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠AMAZON⁠⁠⁠This episode is produced by HSR Media. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this week’s solo episode of Hot Smart Rich, Maggie Sellers takes you behind the scenes of her trip to Tokyo and Kyoto with the Young Presidents’ Organization (YPO), where business, beauty, burnout, and inspiration collide.This isn’t your typical travel vlog. It’s a raw, unfiltered look at what it means to build a business while living out of a suitcase, navigate elite global networks, and stay grounded when your skin’s breaking out and your schedule is maxed.Maggie opens up about the emotional rollercoaster of stepping into high-pressure rooms while not feeling her best physically, how changing your environment can shift your self-image, and what it’s really like to network with billion-dollar business leaders over sushi in Japan.This first-of-its-kind episode blends travel diary, business insights, beauty commentary, and personal reflection. If you’ve ever felt like you’re “not doing enough” while on the road or wondered what really goes on at invite-only global business trips, this one’s for you.Join the HSR Global Angels Community💌 Link to join: ⁠Click here to join⁠This is a community by you, for you. It’s peer-led, community-driven, and built for ambitious, like-minded women. Whether you’re looking to connect with business besties, discover the best Pilates class in your city, or find new friends—this is where it happens.CONNECT WITH MAGGIE SELLERS Instagram:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@maggiesellers⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@maggiesellers_⁠⁠⁠YouTube:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@hotsmartrich⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Maggie Sellers⁠⁠⁠⁠READ THE NEWSLETTER⁠⁠⁠HSR ICYMI⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ – Stay ahead with consumer startup trends, business news, and investing insights.SHOP HOT SMART RICH⁠⁠⁠HSR Merch⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Shop My⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Amazon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ABOUT MAGGIE SELLERSMaggie Sellers is the founder of Hot Smart Rich, an investment and media company designed to empower women in business and entrepreneurship. A multi-hyphenate creator, investor, and entrepreneur, she’s redefined female empowerment with her sharp, candid insights into business, wealth-building, and startup investing. As a leading voice on TikTok and LinkedIn, Maggie’s content reaches over 180,000 ambitious women looking to elevate their careers, finances, and businesses.Maggie is also an angel investor in brands like Allara Health, Mixlab, and De Soi and a venture partner in HSR Ventures, where she backs the next generation of consumer startups. Forget outdated notions of female empowerment—Maggie is reshaping what it means to be a modern power player in business and investing.📢 This episode is produced by HSR Media, a division of Creative MES LLC. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this raw and unfiltered episode of Hot Smart Rich, Maggie opens up about something she’s never talked about publicly before—her recent natural breast augmentation, also known as an NFTBA (Natural Fat Transfer Breast Augmentation). From the real cost of the procedure to the unexpected emotional rollercoaster of recovery, this is the tell-all she wishes had existed when she was making her decision.She breaks down exactly what the experience was like—both physically and professionally. From downtime as a founder and managing brand campaigns while recovering, to the mental load of plastic surgery as a high-achieving woman, Maggie shares the part no one talks about.If you’ve ever typed “fat transfer breast augmentation reviews” into Reddit, wondered whether fat transfer actually lasts, or debated between implants vs natural enhancement—this is your go-to guide. She also reveals why Dr. Steven Teitelbaum was her surgeon of choice, what no one tells you about post-op depression, and how this surgery intersected with her identity, body image, and ambition.What This Episode Covers: Why Maggie chose fat transfer over implants (and what she’d do differently) What to expect with plastic surgery downtime while running a business What Maggie wore during recovery, what helped her heal, and what no one warned her about The actual cost and why it was over $17K The business of beauty and how investors and VCs are capitalizing on medical aesthetics and plastic surgery How to approach elective surgery as a working woman in the corporate world This is for the woman who’s ambitious, informed, and unapologetic about wanting to feel confident in her body—and still wants the full breakdown before making a decision.Whether you’re in your “research era” or just here for the tea, Maggie’s story will leave you feeling informed, empowered, and maybe a little less alone. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of Hot Smart Rich, Maggie Sellers sits down with Dianna Cohen—the founder of Crown Affair, the premium beauty brand redefining clean luxury in haircare. Dianna’s journey started long before building her own brand—she launched her career working alongside Emily Weiss at Into The Gloss, then went on to shape the stories of modern DTC icons like Away. That background gave her a masterclass in brand building.By 2024, she had scaled Crown Affair to $20M in sales and raised $15M in venture funding. Then she did something few founders would dare to do: she fired herself as CEO.This episode isn’t about quitting—it’s about redefining. Dianna opens up about what it means to build a premium, emotionally resonant brand in the age of hustle culture, and how stepping into a more creative, intuitive role has become her most powerful chapter yet.What You'll Hear In This Episode: From working with Emily Weiss to building her own brand—Dianna’s evolution from beauty insider to beauty founder The early days of Crown Affair and how her time at Away shaped her approach to brand strategy and storytelling Why Dianna stepped down as CEO—and how it unlocked a new creative chapter The clean luxury playbook: how she built Crown Affair into a category-defining brand Raising $15M and scaling to $20M in revenue—without compromising brand integrity Maggie’s take on the identity shifts every founder faces—and the freedom of letting go Dianna’s blueprint for building brands that feel personal, purposeful, and powerful CONNECT WITH MAGGIE:INSTAGRAM: ⁠⁠⁠@maggiesellers ⁠⁠⁠TIKTOK: ⁠⁠⁠@maggiesellers_ ⁠⁠⁠YOUTUBE: ⁠⁠⁠@hotsmartrich ⁠⁠⁠LINKEDIN: ⁠⁠⁠Maggie Sellers ⁠⁠⁠NEWSLETTER: HSR ICYMI ⁠⁠⁠⁠CONNECT WITH DIANNA:INSTAGRAM: ⁠⁠Dianna Cohen⁠⁠TIKTOK: ⁠⁠Dianna Cohen⁠⁠SUBSTACK: Take Your TimeSHOP CROWN AFFAIR: WEBSITESEPHORASHOP HSR:⁠⁠⁠HSR MERCH⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠SHOP MY⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠AMAZON⁠⁠⁠This episode is produced by HSR Media, a division of Creative MES LLC, with support from Coldea Productions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this conversation, Katie Sellers, a former CFO of billion-dollar brands and Maggie Sellers' sister, dives into the financial truths impacting women today. They tackle how societal narratives keep women from building wealth, revealing the often-overlooked role of women in consumer spending. The sisters emphasize practical budgeting methods like the 50-20-20-10 system and challenge traditional views on financial management. Listeners are inspired to shift their money mindset, engage in investing, and reclaim their financial power.

On this episode of Hot Smart Rich, Maggie Sellers sits down with Natalie Holloway, co-founder of Bala, the brand that made fitness hot. Natalie built Bala into a $20M business with a Shark Tank deal from Mark Cuban, faced near bankruptcy, and navigated the rollercoaster of entrepreneurship—all while raising three kids under four.The conversation gets real as Natalie shares the hardest moments of scaling Bala, from the chaos of explosive growth during COVID to nearly losing the company. She breaks down what saved the business, why she prioritizes profit overgrowth, and how she made the tough call to lay off nearly her entire team while pregnant.Maggie and Natalie also dive into motherhood, ambition, and the reality of balancing it all—plus, Natalie shares what really happened with Bala’s Drunk Elephant drama, how she deals with copycats, and why she believes affiliate marketing is the future for brands.Key Takeaways You can build a $20M brand without raising big VC money. Bala’s success proves that profitability is more important than endless fundraising. Natalie and her husband bootstrapped their way to the top—then nearly lost it all. Scaling fast can break you. Bala blew up overnight after Shark Tank and COVID, but hypergrowth almost killed the business. Natalie shares the hard truth about layoffs, cash flow, and surviving the free fall. Motherhood and entrepreneurship? There’s no perfect balance. Natalie had to make brutal business decisions while pregnant. The real talk: founders don’t get maternity leave, and work-life balance is a myth. Copycats and competition will come—so stay ahead. Drunk Elephant launched a Bala-inspired product. Knockoffs are everywhere. The only way to win is to innovate faster than they can copy. The smartest founders are shifting from influencers to affiliates. Natalie shares why paying influencers big bucks is outdated and why affiliate marketing is the new power move for brands. Negotiate like a man. Women are still underpricing themselves in business. Natalie learned to ask for more, own her worth, and not settle for the first offer. Bala is just getting started. NYC fitness studio? More retail expansion? Natalie spills what’s next and why she’s betting big on IRL experiences and digital fitness. Items Mentioned in This Episode Bala — the original workout bangles. Shop here. Form x Bala — the set. Shop here. Connect with MaggieInstagram:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@maggiesellers⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@maggiesellers_⁠⁠⁠ YouTube:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@hotsmartrich⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ LinkedIn:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Maggie Sellers⁠⁠⁠⁠Connect with NatalieInstagram: @natalieholloway, @bala & Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of Hot Smart Rich, Maggie takes you behind the scenes of her latest trip to London—where business, wellness, and exclusivity collide. From securing high-level meetings with potential LPs and Unilever Ventures to stepping inside the ultra-exclusive Neko Health body scan (with a 100,000-person waitlist), this episode pulls back the curtain on what it looks like to build a global empire while living life in the fast lane.Maggie also takes you inside one of London’s most talked-about events with her boyfriend, Courtney Reum—Bryony Deery’s wedding, a Vogue-worthy affair celebrating the Pilates entrepreneur and Dior’s Global Wellness Expert. Plus, she’s launching something major: the HSR Global Angels WhatsApp community, a new way for ambitious women to connect, network, and build their own power circles.This episode is a first-of-its-kind vlog-style format—so if you want to see the full experience, make sure to watch on Spotify or YouTube.Episode HighlightsThis episode isn’t just about business—it’s about building a life that blends ambition, wellness, and connection. Maggie shares an inside look at her week in London, including: Neko Health Body Scan: Maggie experiences one of the most high-tech, data-driven wellness scans available today, founded by Daniel Ek (CEO of Spotify). Bryony Deery’s Wedding: A behind-the-scenes look at the stunning wedding of fitness entrepreneur Bryony Deery, founder of Pilates by Bryony and Dior Global Wellness Expert, to Kaspar Basse, Founder of Joe & The Juice. HSR Angels Meet-Up: 30 HSR community members gathered at Joe & The Juice for an impromptu event—proving the power of real-life connections. Doing Business on the Go: Maggie shares how she maximizes travel time for work, from taking investor meetings between events to leveraging her global network. Working the Network: Meetings with potential LPs and Unilever Ventures—how Maggie is making strategic connections for future investments. Join the HSR Global Angels Community💌 Link to join: Click here to joinThis is a community by you, for you. It’s peer-led, community-driven, and built for ambitious, like-minded women. Whether you’re looking to connect with business besties, discover the best Pilates class in your city, or find new friends—this is where it happens.Places & Items Mentioned in This Episode Neko Health Body Scan – The future of personalized healthcare. Get on the waitlist. Pants from Revolve (The Everywhere Pant) – Maggie’s go-to travel pants. Shop here. Milk Makeup – Hydro Grip Primer. Shop here. FlyKitt – Jet lag relief kit. Shop here. Arrae – Siff & Nish's brand. HSR15 for 15% off. Shop here. Pilates By Bryony – Bryony's pilates method. Join here. ✨CONNECT WITH MAGGIE SELLERS✨ Instagram: Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Investing $60M to Find the Next Mr. Beast—The Future of Influencers, Creators, and Venture Capital with Megan LightcapIn this episode of Hot Smart Rich, Maggie sits down with Megan Lightcap, Partner at Slow Ventures, one of the leading venture capital firms backing content creators and digital-first businesses. With a $60M seed-stage fund, Megan and Sam Lessin are betting big on the creator economy, where social media platforms, personal brands, and original content are shaping the future of digital entrepreneurship.From investing in early-stage startups to finding the next Mr. Beast, Megan breaks down how venture capital is shifting toward creators and why influencers are the new entrepreneurs to bet on.Episode HighlightsThe creator economy is booming, and Slow Ventures is proving that content creators are the next generation of entrepreneurs. Megan unpacks Goldman Sachs’ $500 billion projection for the creator economy, what it means for venture capital firms, and where social media platforms are heading in a post-Instagram world.She also dives into how creators are turning personal brands into multi-million dollar businesses and why Mr. Beast is the blueprint for the next wave of content entrepreneurs. Megan shares an inside look at raising a creator-led fund and how she and Sam Lessin structured Slow Ventures’ $60M fund to back the next era of digital-first founders.Key Takeaways Creators Are the New Entrepreneurs – Investors are treating influencers like startups, changing the entire business model of social media. How to Secure VC Funding as a Creator – What venture firms like Slow Ventures look for when backing creator-led businesses. The Future of Monetization – Why brand deals aren’t enough and how creators can build scalable revenue streams. Social Media’s Next Evolution – Where new platforms will drive the next wave of digital entrepreneurship. The Mr. Beast Playbook – The business model behind the world’s biggest creator—and how others can apply his strategy. Resources & Items Mentioned in This Episode Apply for the Slow Ventures Creator Fund Associate Role – Interested in venture capital and the creator economy? Apply for the Slow Ventures Associate role and let them know HSR sent you: Apply Here Megan’s Go-To Skincare for Hydrated Skin – She swears by Hada Labo Hyaluronic Acid for its affordability and effectiveness. Shop Here Must-Listen Podcast on the Future of Social & AI – Check out the Telepathy Tapes Podcast, where Sam Lessin and Slow Ventures break down the evolving landscape of AI, social media, and the internet. Listen Here 90% of Young People Want To Be an Influencer - Read Here Listen now for an inside look at how venture capital is evolving, why creators are building billion-dollar businesses, and how Slow Ventures is shaping the future of content, social platforms, and digital entrepreneurship.✨CONNECT WITH MAGGIE SELLERS✨ Instagram:⁠⁠⁠⁠@maggiesellers⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok: Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Gab Waller On Celebrity Luxury Fashion Sourcing, The Coat That Changed Her Life, And Building Fashion's Next Big AI AppIn this episode of Hot Smart Rich, Maggie sits down with Gab Waller—the fashion sourcer-turned-tech founder—who built a global empire from a single Instagram DM. Known for finding the most coveted luxury pieces for celebrities like Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Hailey Bieber, and Khloé Kardashian, Gab has pioneered fashion sourcing and is now reshaping the future of luxury shopping with her tech platform, Sourced By.✨ Episode Highlights:Gab’s journey from a small town in Australia to becoming one of the most sought-after fashion sourcers is nothing short of remarkable. Starting her career in the Australian government, she took a leap into fashion, driven by a passion for luxury items and an eye for hard-to-find pieces. What began as a personal mission quickly turned global as she tapped into the high-demand market for sold-out luxury fashion.Her big break came through an Instagram DM when she sourced an iconic Old Celine coat for Rosie Huntington-Whiteley. That single moment changed her career trajectory, positioning her as the go-to for celebrity clients seeking rare fashion. With names like Hailey Bieber, Sofia Richie Grainge, and Chiara Ferragni on her roster, Gab became the fashion world’s best-kept secret.As demand skyrocketed, Gab saw an opportunity to scale beyond 1:1 sourcing. Enter Sourced By—the ultimate platform shaping the future of luxury shopping. Using AI to connect shoppers to rare items worldwide, the platform is the backbone of the fashion sourcing industry—a proof of concept that’s creating an entirely new space in fashion tech.Key Takeaways: Passion to Personal Brand: Gab shows how focusing on a niche—like fashion sourcing—can build a global personal brand. Scaling a Brand into a Business: She transformed her personal success into Sourced By, proving personal brands can evolve into scalable businesses. Spotting Market Gaps: Identifying the unmet demand for sold-out luxury pieces was key to her entrepreneurial success. Scaling Without Losing Authenticity: Even as she moves into tech, Gab maintains the personalized touch that made her stand out. Building in Public: Her transparency—sharing wins and challenges—offers a blueprint for founders growing personal brands into global empires. ✨CONNECT WITH MAGGIE SELLERS✨ Instagram:⁠⁠⁠@maggiesellers⁠⁠⁠TikTok:⁠⁠⁠@maggiesellers_⁠YouTube:⁠⁠⁠@hotsmartrich⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn:⁠⁠⁠Maggie Sellers⁠⁠✨CONNECT WITH GAB WALLER✨ Instagram: ⁠@gabwaller⁠, ⁠@gabwallerdotcom⁠, ⁠@sourcedby⁠TikTok:⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠@gabwaller⁠LinkedIn:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices