In the Sauce

Hawa Hassan is the Founder and CEO of Basbaas Sauce, a line of condiments inspired by her country of origin, Somalia. Born in the capital city of Mogadishu, Hawa came to the U.S. as a refugee at the age of 7. After a successful career as a model, Hawa started Basbaas. On this episode of In the Sauce, Hawa tells Alison her incredible story and they discuss the ups and downs of, you guessed it, being in the sauce. It's HRN's annual summer fund drive, this is when we turn to our listeners and ask that you make a donation to help ensure a bright future for food radio. Help us keep broadcasting the most thought provoking, entertaining, and educational conversations happening in the world of food and beverage. Become a member today! To celebrate our 10th anniversary, we have brand new member gifts available. So snag your favorite new pizza - themed tee shirt or enamel pin today and show the world how much you love HRN, just go to heritageradionetwork.org/donate In The Sauce is powered by Simplecast.

Allison Marchesani Ackerman is a brand strategy and digital marketing consultant based in New York. After 4 years at Sir Kensington's, she decided to set out on her own to work with small, growing brands in the natural foods industry. On this episode of In the Sauce, Allison and Ali talk about how an emerging brand can build a communications strategy that guides them, speaks to consumers, and doesn't cost 6 months of sales. It's HRN's annual summer fund drive, this is when we turn to our listeners and ask that you make a donation to help ensure a bright future for food radio. Help us keep broadcasting the most thought provoking, entertaining, and educational conversations happening in the world of food and beverage. Become a member today! To celebrate our 10th anniversary, we have brand new member gifts available. So snag your favorite new pizza - themed tee shirt or enamel pin today and show the world how much you love HRN, just go to heritageradionetwork.org/donate In The Sauce is powered by Simplecast.

Jordan Salcito is the Founder and CEO of DRINK RAMONA, an organic canned wine spritz with a cult-like following. On this episode of In the Sauce, Jordan and Ali talk about recreating a category, making a product that is both quality and accessible and creating a brand that people love. It's HRN's annual summer fund drive, this is when we turn to our listeners and ask that you make a donation to help ensure a bright future for food radio. Help us keep broadcasting the most thought provoking, entertaining, and educational conversations happening in the world of food and beverage. Become a member today! To celebrate our 10th anniversary, we have brand new member gifts available. So snag your favorite new pizza - themed tee shirt or enamel pin today and show the world how much you love HRN, just go to heritageradionetwork.org/donate In The Sauce is powered by Simplecast.

Sarah Foley is Managing Director at SWAT Equity Partners, an early-stage venture capital firm focused on investing in emerging consumer brands. She sources deals, does diligence, structures investments, and monitors them along the way. On this episode of In the Sauce, Sarah and Ali talk about venture capital: the difference between "rounds," what valuation is all about, and how the landscape of venture may be shifting as we speak. In the Sauce is powered by Simplecast

Agatha Kluk is the co-Founder of Kluk Farber, a boutique law firm that represents entrepreneurs, companies, investors and creatives across a variety of industries including consumer products, tech, and hospitality. On this episode of In the Sauce, Agatha talks Ali through the legal stuff: contracts, fundraising, compliance, trademarks and more. Don't miss a live podcast taping featuring Ali (and her special guest Jeni Britton Bauer of Jeni's Ice Cream) and other HRN hosts at Haven's Kitchen on Monday, June 3rd. Get your tickets here. In The Sauce is powered by Simplecast.

Anita Sheperd is the Founder & CEO of Anita’s Coconut Yogurt. Known for a clean label and proprietary probiotic blend with over 300 billion live cultures per serving, Anita’s is the OG coconut yogurt and has faced its share of challenges as it's scaled to meet growing demand. On this episode of In the Sauce, Anita and Ali talk candidly about the challenges of growing BIG, trying not to compromise and staying real with consumers. In The Sauce is powered by Simplecast.

Jess Conroy is the Founder and CEO of Carats and Cake, a wedding planning platform that delivers personal wedding advice to couples. On this episode of In the Sauce, Jess talks Ali through the leadership lessons she's learned since founding C&C in 2013. They discuss Jess' monthly leadership emails which cover everything from the Tyranny of the Urgent to the Casualty of Being too Casual. Leadership isn't quite as intuitive as it may seem. It's a muscle and needs the right exercise. In The Sauce is powered by Simplecast.

Rachel Simons is the Co-Founder and CEO of Seed + Mill, America’s first sesame concept store and producer of a range of products made from sesame seeds, including halva, tahini soft-serve, a range of spices and everyone's favorite tahini. On this episode of In the Sauce, Rachel and Ali flip things around, and Rachel interviews Ali on all things sauce: what's been happening with the team, what some of the challenges have been a long the way, and what's next. In The Sauce is powered by Simplecast.

Becca Parrish is the founder of Becca, the creative marketing agency behind mega brands like Health-ade, Casa Dragones, Le Bernadin, the Polo Bar and many, many more. On this episode of In the Sauce, Becca and Ali explore how a brand makes itself known and stays relevant in a sea of choices. They talk brand DNA, the rules around an elevator pitch, and Becca's biggest pet peeve. In The Sauce is powered by Simplecast.

Trinity Mouzon Wofford is the Co-Founder and CEO of Golde, a wellness brand that got its start with beautiful pouches of tonic powders and is launching a line of face masks this week. On this episode of In the Sauce, Trinity and Ali discuss sales channels, the power of independent stores, Golde's move into Sephora and why Trinity believes in building with wholesale partners instead of focusing on direct to consumer. In The Sauce is powered by Simplecast.