Founder2Founder with Aaron Spivak

In this episode of Founder2Founder, Aaron Spivak sits down with Brett Eaton, keynote speaker, high performance coach, and author of Uncomfortable Either Way. After a life-changing back injury and the loss of his father at 16, Brett discovered a powerful truth: life is going to be uncomfortable no matter what, so choose the version that leads to growth.He shares the frameworks behind his success, including the game-changing “Sunday Setup,” how to spot self-sabotage in real time, and why founders must upgrade their relationship with discomfort and money. This conversation is packed with raw honesty and practical takeaways for anyone serious about building a life that lasts.Chapters:02:14 – Brett’s Origin Story: Injury, Loss, and a New Lens03:46 – Sports, Hustle, and Learning to Love the Grind05:10 – When Patience Becomes an Excuse06:34 – Living in 90-Day Sprints08:01 – Gamifying Progress to Stay Consistent09:38 – Who Actually Needs a Coach?11:06 – Bad Coaching Investments & What to Watch For12:56 – Transitioning Out of Fitness-Only Coaching14:27 – Starting with Strengths, Not Weaknesses15:36 – Taking a Life Inventory17:00 – Learning While You’re Winning19:08 – The Full Sunday Setup Breakdown21:50 – Identifying Weekly Landmines24:59 – If It’s Not on the Calendar, It’s Not Real27:06 – Why Founders Must Prioritize Energy29:27 – The “F*ck It” Button: Spotting Self-Sabotage33:43 – The Comfort Trap34:40 – The Cost of Coasting: Blockbuster Syndrome37:48 – Embracing the Good Old Days While You’re In Them39:32 – Being Young vs. Being Present40:45 – “I’m in My Prime”: A New Morning Mantra41:49 – What Comfort Really Signals45:14 – Why Brett Finally Wrote the Book47:27 – Money Mindset & Unlearning Limiting Beliefs50:38 – Facing the Numbers & Taking Control54:25 – Surrounding Yourself with People Who Talk About Money1:01:31 – One Honest Question That Changed the Game1:05:12 – Advice to His 16-Year-Old SelfGuest Links:Website: www.bretteaton.comInstagram: @bretteaton_YouTube: @bretteaton_Kintsugi: The AI-powered tax compliance platform trusted by over 3,000 companies worldwideStay Connected!Aaron Spivak:Instagram @‌SpivakLinkedinThe Founders ClubInstagram @‌TheFoundersClubWebsite www.foundersclubofficial.com Founder2Founder:TikTok @‌Founder2FounderPodcastYoutube @‌Founder2Founder.Podcast

In this episode of Founder2Founder Aaron Spivak sits down with Lucy Nelles, leading community-building expert and co-founder of Coffee & Chill Miami, the wildly popular bi-weekly sober wellness party that now draws over 1,000 guests per event. With over 100 sold-out events and collaborations with top global brands, Lucy has cracked the code on making in-person gatherings profitable, scalable, and deeply impactful.She shares how she went from feeling isolated in a new city to building a movement, and now teaches others to do the same through her program, Community Mastery. Listen in for insights on team structure, brand partnerships, pricing strategy, and how to build meaningful connections without alcohol.Chapters: 02:14 – Introducing Lucy: From Isolation to Community03:46 – The Move to Miami & Early Challenges04:34 – The First Event That Sparked It All05:10 – Ice Baths, Stock Tanks & the Rise of a Trend06:59 – How Coffee & Chill Was Born08:03 – Losing $10K on One Event (and What She Learned)09:30 – The #1 Mistake Event Hosts Make11:00 – The First Coffee & Chill: JBL Speakers & 250 Guests12:38 – Gradually Raising Ticket Prices & Building Trust13:57 – Driving Repeat Attendance Every Two Weeks16:24 – Special Collaborations: Art Basel, F1, NFL17:18 – How Lucy and Her Co-Founder Divide and Conquer19:39 – Keeping a Healthy Co-Founder Relationship21:06 – Investing in Learning for Herself and Her Team24:28 – Launching Community Mastery to Serve Others26:09 – Balancing Two Businesses Without Burnout27:37 – Time-Blocking, Non-Negotiables, and Systems30:26 – Expanding Coffee & Chill Into New Cities31:45 – How to Stand Out in a “Saturated” Market33:31 – Rethinking Nightlife: No Booze, All Wellness38:54 – Why Lucy Quit Drinking and What Changed43:07 – Overcoming Imposter Syndrome Through Results45:45 – The Bigger Mission: Building In-Person CultureGuest Links: Website: https://coffeeandchill.com/Instagram: @luceilanelles & @coffeeandchillmiamiKintsugi: The AI-powered tax compliance platform trusted by over 3,000 companies worldwideStay Connected!Aaron Spivak:Instagram @‌SpivakLinkedinThe Founders ClubInstagram @‌TheFoundersClubWebsite www.foundersclubofficial.com Founder2Founder:TikTok @‌Founder2FounderPodcastYoutube @‌Founder2Founder.Podcast

In this episode of Founder2Founder, Aaron Spivak sits down with Chris Mead, co-founder of CROSSNET and Founders Club, for his most open and personal conversation to date. From a small Connecticut town, to building one of the fastest-growing backyard sports brands in America, Chris unpacks the highs, lows, and lessons of scaling a startup from scratch.They dive into the origins of CROSSNET, the $1M mistake during an acquisition, the toll of leadership decisions, and how those experiences shaped the vision for Founders Club. If you’re navigating the founder journey, this episode is packed with the kind of honest insights you won’t get anywhere else.Chapters: 02:49 – Growing Up in Small-Town Connecticut 04:40 – From Film School, to HBO, to Burnout 06:30 – Learning Amazon Dropshipping in College 08:26 – Fired, Broke, and Starting Over at Uber 12:49 – Inventing CROSSNET in a Backyard 15:06 – Quitting Jobs and Moving to Miami 17:49 – Going All-In with Marketing 19:21 – $87K to $9.8M: CROSSNET’s Hockey Stick Growth 21:30 – The Year Everything Went Wrong 25:19 – The Mistake of Not Cutting Fast Enough 28:10 – Trusting the Wrong CFO and Losing Sight 30:01 – The Acquisition That Fell Apart 33:50 – Picking the Wrong Buyer for the Wrong Reasons 35:10 – The Second Exit: Why Vivier Was the Right Fit 38:15 – What He’d Tell His Younger Self 42:04 – Why He Wouldn’t Change a Thing 42:46 – Building Founders Club from Scratch 46:41 – What Makes the Community Work 49:29 – There’s No Real Community for Founders… Until Now 51:07 – What a Great Member Looks Like 54:10 – Building a Life Beyond the Business 57:15 – Relationships Compound Like Capital 58:19 – Founders Forum and the Future of Events 1:00:51 – The Long-Term Vision for Founders Club 1:06:49 – Why This Will Never Be a Suit-and-Tie ClubGuest Links: Instagram: @crossnetgame & @chrismeadeWebsite: https://vivereltd.com/pages/crossnetKintsugi: The AI-powered tax compliance platform trusted by over 3,000 companies worldwideStay Connected!Aaron Spivak:Instagram @‌SpivakLinkedinThe Founders ClubInstagram @‌TheFoundersClubWebsite www.foundersclubofficial.com Founder2Founder:TikTok @‌Founder2FounderPodcastYoutube @‌Founder2Founder.Podcast

In this special episode of Founder2Founder, Aaron Spivak sits down with Harley Finkelstein, President of Shopify, for a no-fluff, behind-the-scenes conversation recorded live with over 100 Founders Club members. Harley unpacks the deep connection between personal identity and building lasting companies, while discussing how founders can grow smarter and why success demands unshakable character and long-term thinking.This isn’t a surface-level chat, Harley dives into the psychological drivers behind great founders, how AI is changing hiring and operations, and why you should fire yourself before it’s too late. He shares tactical insights on platform strategy, what Shopify looks for in celebrity-led brands, and how to build a company that’s authentic, resilient, and scalable. From DJing at 13, to leading one of the most iconic tech companies globally, Harley’s founder journey is packed with clarity and conviction that every entrepreneur can learn from.Chapters: 01:28 – Balancing Personal Brand vs. Business Brand 06:49 – Why Founders Must Go Direct (and Skip Legacy Media) 07:27 – 3 Traits of the Most Successful Brands 12:45 – How AI is Replacing Full-Time Roles at Shopify 14:20 – Growing Firebelly Tea with Fewer People and More Energy 15:47 – Hire Founders, Not Résumés 17:44 – Why Shopify is Run by Founders (and How That Works) 19:06 – Harley’s Grandfather & Building with Character 23:49 – Work-Life Integration & Founders in Relationships 28:11 – Daily Habits, Self-Awareness & Why Harley Meditates 31:29 – The Only Meetings Harley Never Misses 34:38 – When Shopify Builds In-House vs. Letting Apps Thrive 40:35 – What Business Are You Really In? Harley Coaches a Founder Live 46:12 – How to Stop Losing DTC Sales to Amazon 50:01 – Why It Doesn’t Matter Where the Sale Happens 50:44 – Shopify’s Celebrity Strategy (It’s Not About Fame) 55:50 – Harley’s Final Ask: Help a Founder IPOGuest Links:Instagram: @Harley & @ShopifyWebsite: https://www.shopify.comStay Connected!Aaron Spivak:Instagram @‌SpivakLinkedinThe Founders ClubInstagram @‌TheFoundersClubWebsite www.foundersclubofficial.com Founder2Founder:TikTok @‌Founder2FounderPodcastYoutube @‌Founder2Founder.Podcast

In this episode of Founder2Founder, Aaron Spivak sits down with Steve Schwartz, Master Tea Blender, best-selling author, and founder of Art of Tea—an award-winning tea brand based in Los Angeles. After dropping out of college to care for his mother, Steve discovered Ayurvedic medicine and began a journey that would take him across the globe sourcing and blending the world’s finest teas.Starting with $2,500 in credit card debt, Steve built a vertically integrated company that now supplies iconic restaurants and hotels. He shares how he turned tragedy into purpose, created the U.S.’s first tea sommelier role, and built a legacy-focused business with intention and heart.Chapters:02:32 – Losing His Mother and the Awakening of Purpose04:11 – Discovering Ayurveda and the Art of Botanical Blending06:23 – The Truth About Supermarket Tea07:12 – The Power of Ritual: Why Tea Is Not Just a Beverage08:52 – Choosing Steady Growth Over the Hockey Stick11:03 – Building with a Multi-Generational Vision12:35 – American Flips vs. Eastern Longevity Thinking14:40 – Why Art of Tea Avoids Supermarkets16:03 – Creating the First Tea Sommelier Position in the U.S.17:22 – Expanding Art of Tea to the East Coast19:13 – Controlling Quality Through Vertical Integration21:16 – Coaching vs. Babysitting: Leadership Lessons22:12 – The Daily Work of Unlearning Scarcity25:37 – Childhood Scarcity and the Roots of Limiting Beliefs28:08 – From Rabbi Aspirations to Global Tea Advocate30:00 – Smiling as Strategy33:14 – The Power of Giving Before You Receive36:44 – Parenting, Abundance, and Entrepreneurial Mindsets39:58 – Why Entrepreneurship Is the Best Way to Live43:30 – Creating Safe Spaces for Founders to Be Real45:29 – Betting on Himself With a Baby on the Way47:09 – Filling an Org Chart by Removing Himself50:11 – DJ Fails and the Power of Vulnerability53:01 – The Real Reason People Join Founder’s Club54:06 – Building Grit in the Next Generation55:46 – One Day a Week Off: Shabbat as a Business Advantage57:12 – What His Late Mother Would Say Now59:14 – A Message to His 20-Year-Old Self1:00:33 – The Power of Trust Over Fear1:03:19 – What He Wants to Be Remembered For1:05:53 – Getting Out of Your Own Way1:07:20 – What’s Actually Going On With Matcha1:11:39 – Matcha Sourcing Crisis and the Japan Trip That Changed It1:13:55 – The Matcha Trend Explained1:18:06 – Closing Reflections on Legacy and LeadershipGuest Links: Website: https://www.artoftea.com/Instagram: @artofteala  @steveschwarxLinkedIn: Art Of Tea   Steve SchwartzFERMÀT: The AI native commerce platform that optimizes shopping experiences, leading to best-in-class shopper engagement and conversion. FermatCommerce.com Stay Connected!Aaron Spivak:Instagram @‌SpivakLinkedinThe Founders ClubInstagram @‌TheFoundersClubWebsite www.foundersclubofficial.com Founder2Founder:TikTok @‌Founder2FounderPodcastYoutube @‌Founder2Founder.Podcast

In this episode of Founder2Founder, Aaron Spivak sits down with Megan Klein, founder of Little Saints, the sugar-free, mushroom-powered non-alcoholic cocktails and spirits brand redefining the way we drink. A former environmental attorney turned two-time brand founder, Megan’s journey is one of radical pivots, personal reinvention, and unshakable self-belief. She shares how she went from shutting down her first startup to investing her last million, selling her own apartment to fund it, and scaling Little Saints to $9.6M in revenue without traditional VC backing.Megan opens up about her lowest moments, from navigating loneliness during the pandemic, to hitting $10 in her personal bank account, and the turning point that came from trusting her own intuition over outside “expert” advice. She dives into how plant medicine shaped her leadership style, the hard lessons of Shark Tank, and why aligning brand growth with personal growth has been the foundation of her success. This is an unfiltered conversation on grit, discernment, and building a category-defining CPG brand on your own terms.Chapters:02:21 – From Lawyer to Rooftop Farming04:51 – The Fog of Misalignment in Corporate Life07:41 – Equity-Only Hustle at Farmed Here08:22 – Building The Fresh Factory from a Failed Startup11:42 – Fundraising Lessons from the First Business12:35 – Investing Her Own $1M to Start Little Saints14:37 – The Solo Founder Reality During the Pandemic16:42 – Hemp Silk Cocktail Masks: The First Little Saints Product18:05 – The Dry January Experiment That Sparked the Brand21:00 – Discovering Ayahuasca and Plant Medicine’s Impact28:55 – Quitting Alcohol for Good32:39 – Going All-In with DTC36:09 – Selling Assets to Save the Business39:50 – Crisis Summer: Cancellation, Family Emergency, and Cash Shortage41:06 – Unlearning the Need for Outside Approval46:57 – Filming Shark Tank and Walking Away from the Deal51:01 – Scaling from $100K to $9.6M in Three Years53:17 – Laying the Foundation for $20M+ Growth56:53 – Using Plant Medicine to Become a Better Leader59:08 – Radical Feedback from the Team1:03:26 – Little Saints Dirty Martini Demo1:07:20 – Building in Miami and Creating the Little Saints House1:11:32 – In-Person vs. Remote Team Dynamics1:13:08 – What December 2020 Megan Would Be Most Proud Of1:16:03 – Message to a 16-Year-Old Megan1:18:39 – Blending Personal Development with Business Growth1:21:31 – Choosing Alignment Over Short-Term Gains1:22:23 – Where to Buy Little SaintsGuest Links:Website: littlesaints.comInstagram: @littlesaintscoLinkedIn: Little SaintsFully Accountable: Mention this ad and have your onboarding fees waived at https://fullyaccountable.comFERMÀT: The AI native commerce platform that optimizes shopping experiences, leading to best-in-class shopper engagement and conversion. FermatCommerce.com Stay Connected!Aaron Spivak:Instagram @‌SpivakLinkedinThe Founders ClubInstagram @‌TheFoundersClubWebsite www.foundersclubofficial.com Founder2Founder:TikTok @‌Founder2FounderPodcastYoutube @‌Founder2Founder.Podcast

In this special episode of Founder2Founder, Aaron Spivak brings you an unfiltered masterclass with legendary entrepreneur and investor, Mark Cuban. Recorded live for members of The Founders Club, this exclusive session covers Cuban's raw insights on building billion-dollar companies, the unglamorous truths of scaling, and how AI is rewriting the rules for modern founders. From sleeping on floors to exiting for $5.7 billion, Cuban reflects on his journey and the mindsets that separate the winners from everyone else.Mark doesn’t hold back; he dives into why founders should stop glamorizing fundraising, how sales always win over hype, and the one habit that will leave your competition behind. He shares honest perspectives on balancing relationships and business, the brutal reality of hiring the wrong CEO, and how to futureproof your company in the age of AI. Whether you’re bootstrapping or scaling fast, this episode is packed with tactical clarity and real founder-to-founder advice.Chapters: 01:40 – Why Personal Brands Are Overrated 03:15 – The One Trait All Successful Founders Share 05:45 – Sales First, Always 07:40 – Raising Capital Is Not an Accomplishment 09:34 – Work-Life Balance? Wait Until You're Winning 12:20 – How AI Is Changing the Game (and Why You Can’t Delegate It) 15:00 – How Founders Should Be Learning AI Right Now 17:15 – When to Sell (Even If You're Loving the Business) 20:00 – Why College Accreditation Is Fundamentally Broken 22:00 – What’s Next for Higher Education in an AI World 24:00 – Why You Should Think Twice Before Publishing Anything 25:55 – Should You Hold Back Expansion When Prepping for Exit? 27:40 – Launching Into Sports Partnerships the Smart Way 29:45 – Niche Product? Why You Should Be More Expensive 32:10 – When It’s Time to Hire an External CEO 34:30 – How Mark Leverages ChatGPT in Real Business Decisions 36:20 – Fundraising in a Tough Market: Take the Money or Bridge? 39:00 – Handling Tariffs and Scaling Beyond Local Markets 41:00 – One Simple Daily Habit That Pays Big Mental Returns 44:55 – Should You Expand Your Product Line or Focus Deeper? 47:15 – Promoting Internally vs Hiring for Scale 49:45 – Equity Strategy: What’s Too Much, What’s Too Little 52:30 – The Belief Cuban Had to Unlearn About Leadership 54:50 – "Don’t Be a-”: A Founding Principle That Pays 55:45 – What Every Founder Needs to Learn About Healthcare Costs 57:15 – Mark’s Final Word: Keep Showing UpGuest Links:Instagram: @mcubanTikTok: @mcubanFully Accountable: Mention this ad and have your onboarding fees waived at https://fullyaccountable.comFERMÀT: The AI native commerce platform that optimizes shopping experiences, leading to best-in-class shopper engagement and conversion. FermatCommerce.com Stay Connected!Aaron Spivak:Instagram @‌SpivakLinkedinThe Founders ClubInstagram @‌TheFoundersClubWebsite www.foundersclubofficial.com Founder2Founder:TikTok @‌Founder2FounderPodcastYoutube @‌Founder2Founder.Podcast

In this episode of Founder2Founder, Aaron Spivak sits down with Larysa Nakonecznyj, CEO of Nako Creative, an award-winning digital marketing agency known for driving measurable results through innovation and tailored strategy. With a background in communications and advertising, Larysa has helped global brands grow fast and grow smart. She’s been recognized with the 2024 Global Recognition Award and was nominated for the Women Empowerment Foundation’s “Rising Star” award.Larysa unpacks the exact moment her path shifted after a single shift waiting tables, and how she walked away from law school to build something of her own. She shares the story behind her first pitch, scaling too fast, bouncing back from burnout, and the mindset work that’s kept her going. This conversation is a powerful look at what it takes to build a solo agency to seven figures while staying grounded in vision and values.Chapters:01:40 – Realizing She Wasn’t Meant to Work for Anyone03:23 – First Corporate Job & Red Flags04:59 – The Shift at The Keg That Changed Everything06:12 – Pitching an Agency She Hadn’t Built Yet07:33 – The Woman Who Believed in Her First08:33 – Faking a Florida Trip to Buy Time09:38 – Where Her Standard for Excellence Comes From11:29 – Walking Away From Law School12:57 – Breaking the News to a Traditional Family14:10 – Seeing Opportunity Everywhere15:59 – Manifesting Confidence Before the Pod17:44 – Prepping for the Next Hour, Always19:15 – Discovering “The Secret” and Shifting Mindset22:54 – When Scaling Too Fast Breaks the System24:46 – Burnout and Questioning It All26:14 – Almost Going Back to School28:14 – Saying No Becomes the New Strategy30:01 – Doing It Alone Without a Co-Founder32:08 – From Doubting to Betting on Herself33:47 – Building Confidence Through Results35:29 – Curating a Circle That Believes In You37:54 – Two Types of Friends (Choose Wisely)39:17 – Life After Exit and the Power of Community41:54 – The Mental Weight of Being a Young CEO44:54 – “Move With Confidence”, The One Conversation That Shifted Everything46:54 – Building Systems Through Mistakes48:08 – Why Most Agencies Don’t Work Hard Enough50:18 – The Ferrari x Art Basel Win52:59 – The Internal Team Mentality Clients Love55:20 – Advice to Her 20-Year-Old Self56:13 – Designing a Business Around the Life She Wants59:35 – Naivety Can Be a Superpower1:01:09 – The Truth About Building a Business1:04:31 – Retention as the Ultimate KPI1:05:32 – Final Word: Show Up, Work Hard, Win!Guest Links: Website: https://nakocreative.com/Instagram: @nako.creativeLinkedInFully Accountable: Mention this ad and have your onboarding fees waived at https://fullyaccountable.comFERMÀT: The AI native commerce platform that optimizes shopping experiences, leading to best-in-class shopper engagement and conversion. FermatCommerce.com Stay Connected!Aaron Spivak:Instagram @‌SpivakLinkedinThe Founders ClubInstagram @‌TheFoundersClubWebsite www.foundersclubofficial.com Founder2Founder:TikTok @‌Founder2FounderPodcastYoutube @‌Founder2Founder.Podcast

In this episode of Founder2Founder, Aaron Spivak is joined by Austin Copeland—a 21-year-old founder who’s already built and sold two companies, including COMPREADY, acquired by CosmicWire. From founding a nonprofit at 13 that delivered over 13,000 shoes to kids in Africa, to managing a 25-person team at global esports giant TSM, Austin’s journey is driven by one mission: improving people’s lives.He unpacks how he went from gaming enthusiast to building an analytics model that led to six-figure player buyouts, what it takes to stay true to yourself in high-pressure environments, and why being surrounded by the right people can accelerate everything. Now overseeing COMPREADY under CosmicWire, Austin is focused on optimizing computer performance at scale—all while continuing to grow into the entrepreneur he was built to be.Chapters:02:24 – A Childhood Immersed in Business03:40 – First Taste of Entrepreneurship: Beachside Hustles04:51 – Flipping Burgers at 13: Real-World Lessons06:03 – Rejecting the “Right Path” and Going His Own Way07:51 – Selling His First Business at 1908:03 – Gaming as Passion and Profit09:29 – Building a Data-Driven Talent Engine11:30 – COVID’s Influence and Seizing Opportunity13:28 – The First Exit: Acquired at 1614:17 – Earning $80K and Managing 25 People15:43 – The Spark Behind COMPREADY17:19 – Leaving a Safe Role to Build Again18:46 – Sacrifice and Identity in the Startup Grind20:22 – Going All In at 1822:35 – Choosing College Amid Success24:37 – The Moment He Knew It Was Real25:50 – Exit #2: COMPREADY Acquired by CosmicWire27:03 – Leadership Mistakes and Learning the Hard Way28:40 – Not Everyone Has Your Fire30:13 – Making Decisions Through Noise31:27 – Becoming Unapologetically Himself33:46 – Vision for 30 and Long-Term Fulfillment35:45 – The Mentors Who Changed the Game38:41 – “It’s OK”: How Reassurance Moves Founders Forward42:44 – Experience Over Theory, Every Time45:50 – Giving First and Building Reputation47:11 – Manifesting the Jet and What It Represents50:59 – Freedom, Frustration, and Fuel52:04 – You’re Only Out When You’re Dead54:25 – Don’t Judge What You Haven’t Tried56:39 – Volunteering to Learn and Grow58:22 – Advice to His 15-Year-Old Self1:03:29 – Life in Reverse: Start From the End1:04:49 – Your Environment Won’t Always Grow With You1:06:28 – The Power of Being Good EnergyGuest Links:Website: https://compready.gg/LinkedIn: Austin CopelandSARAL: Get your free trial here: https://www.getsaral.com/demoFully Accountable: Mention this ad and have your onboarding fees waived at https://fullyaccountable.comFERMÀT: The AI native commerce platform that optimizes shopping experiences, leading to best-in-class shopper engagement and conversion. FermatCommerce.com Stay Connected!Aaron Spivak:Instagram @‌SpivakLinkedinThe Founders ClubInstagram @‌TheFoundersClubWebsite www.foundersclubofficial.com Founder2Founder:TikTok @‌Founder2FounderPodcastYoutube @‌Founder2Founder.Podcast

In this episode of Founder2Founder, Aaron Spivak sits down with Swan Sit, a trailblazing operator and creator at the intersection of corporate leadership, digital transformation, and consumer connection. With an impressive background as the Global Head of Digital Marketing at Nike, Revlon, and Estée Lauder, Swan now advises startups, sits on public company boards, and brings value to millions as a creator and speaker.Swan shares her journey from a disciplined immigrant upbringing to transforming some of the world’s most iconic brands. She opens up about navigating the dot-com crash, pivoting into the creator economy through Clubhouse, and ultimately discovering her purpose: democratizing access, information, and opportunity. This is a rich conversation on resilience, relevance, and redefining success on your own terms.Chapters:03:06 – Immigrant Upbringing and Early Discipline05:35 – Childhood Dreams and Retail Tech Fascination07:37 – Going Against the Grain: Startup Over Goldman10:57 – Dot-Com Crash, Layoffs, and Lessons Learned12:58 – Study Abroad and Breaking From Family Influence15:24 – Finding Self Through Distance and Travel17:27 – Product Marketing, Emotional Branding, and Grad School21:18 – Joining Estee Lauder and Building Early E-Com22:05 – Leading Digital at Revlon and Nike23:57 – Navigating Change: Why Adaptability Wins25:49 – Making AI Useful Without Getting Lost in It28:43 – Personalized Content and the Future of Storytelling31:58 – Using Social Graphs to Build Digital Communities34:52 – NFTs, Ownership, and Reframing Value37:29 – Clubhouse Origins: Mentorship and Scale41:44 – Creator vs. Influencer: Making Real Impact47:19 – Defining Purpose: Access, Information, and Equity50:39 – Family, Scarcity, and Quiet Generosity54:14 – Rest as a Strategy: Recharging for Performance57:36 – Public Speaking: From Corporate to Global Stages1:00:13 – Live Speaking Tips: Energy, Feedback, and Q&A1:02:37 – From Corporate Leader to Founder Mindset1:05:31 – Reading the Room: Intuition and Audience Engagement1:10:21 – Where Empathy Comes From1:13:45 – Identity, Belonging, and Owning Your Story1:17:49 – Advice to Her Younger Self: “Go Be Your Freak Self”1:21:22 – Detaching Worth From Titles and Roles1:23:13 – Legacy, Impact, and Reversing Into PurposeGuest Links:Website: www.swansit.comInstagram: @swansitTwitter/X: @swansitLinkedIn: @swansitTikTok: @swansit23SARAL: Get your free trial here: https://www.getsaral.com/demoFully Accountable: Mention this ad and have your onboarding fees waived at https://fullyaccountable.comFERMÀT: The AI native commerce platform that optimizes shopping experiences, leading to best-in-class shopper engagement and conversion. FermatCommerce.com Stay Connected!Aaron Spivak:Instagram @‌SpivakLinkedinThe Founders ClubInstagram @‌TheFoundersClubWebsite www.foundersclubofficial.com Founder2Founder:TikTok @‌Founder2FounderPodcastYoutube @‌Founder2Founder.Podcast