WorkParty

Jaclyn Johnson and Marina Middleton recorded this episode of WorkParty during one of the biggest weeks of the year, Create & Cultivate’s Festival. They’re giving a candid, behind-the-scenes look at what it really takes to bring a multi-day experience to life, from programming four stages and managing a small team, to hosting hundreds of attendees, speakers, and brand partners.They reflect on what’s changed since their early event days, the lessons they’ve learned in real-time, and why supporting small businesses goes far beyond likes and reposts. If you’re building something big, navigating leadership in high-pressure moments, or simply curious about what goes on behind the scenes, you’ll find plenty of honest takeaways from two founders in the thick of entrepreneurship, while also making huge strides.Join us for next year’s Festival using the links below! Join Us for 2026 World’s Largest Festival for Women in Business here: https://www.createcultivate.com/festivalTo follow along with Create & Cultivate: https://www.instagram.com/createcultivatewww.createcultivate.comTo connect with Jaclyn Johnson: https://www.instagram.com/jaclynrjohnsonTo connect with Marina Middleton: https://www.instagram.com/marinaamiddleton

This week on WorkParty, Jaclyn Johnson and Marina Middleton are joined by April Gargiulo, the founder and CEO of Vintner’s Daughter, a cult-favorite skincare brand rooted in craftsmanship, performance, and radical quality. April’s journey is a rare one: from growing up in a Napa Valley winemaking family to formulating one of the most iconic serums in the beauty world. But what sets her apart is how she’s built her business, not by chasing trends, but by staying committed to intentional growth and uncompromising standards.In this episode, April shares how she went from formulating a single product, to creating a luxury skincare line known for its slow, thoughtful process and cult-like customer devotion. She opens up about launching with one hero product, building trust through transparency, and why the “clean” beauty movement is still so misunderstood. From creating a three-to-five-week infusion process, to giving 2% of top-line revenue to charity, April is redefining what it means to build with integrity and why “less but better” is a powerful business strategy in a world that moves too fast.Follow April:Website: https://vintnersdaughter.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/vintnersdaughterJoin Us for 2026 World’s Largest Festival for Women in Business here: https://www.createcultivate.com/festivalTo follow along with Create & Cultivate: https://www.instagram.com/createcultivatewww.createcultivate.comTo connect with Jaclyn Johnson: https://www.instagram.com/jaclynrjohnsonTo connect with Marina Middleton: https://www.instagram.com/marinaamiddleton

This week on WorkParty, Jaclyn Johnson and Marina Middleton sit down with Sammi Cohen, creator, entrepreneur, podcast host, and former Amazon product manager who’s built a loyal following across Instagram, TikTok, and her own podcast, Social Currency. Known for her smart commentary at the intersection of business, tech, and culture, Sammi is part of the new wave redefining what it means to grow online with purpose, strategy, and a strong POV.In this episode, Sammi shares how she juggled corporate life at Amazon while building a content brand from scratch, why she waited years to monetize, and what finally made her take the leap into full-time entrepreneurship. From navigating burnout, staying consistent, and leveraging AI, to building thought leadership and pushing back on celebrity brand fatigue, this conversation goes deep on what it really takes to thrive in the creator economy today.Follow Sammi:Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/sammicohentalksTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sammicohentalksSocial Currency Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/social-currency-with-sammi-cohen/id1812712126Join Us for 2026 World’s Largest Festival for Women in Business here: https://www.createcultivate.com/festivalTo follow along with Create & Cultivate: https://www.instagram.com/createcultivatewww.createcultivate.comTo connect with Jaclyn Johnson: https://www.instagram.com/jaclynrjohnsonTo connect with Marina Middleton: https://www.instagram.com/marinaamiddleton

This week on WorkParty, Jaclyn Johnson and Marina Middleton sit down with Anu Sethee, VP of Legal Practice and Attorney Services at LegalZoom. As the head of their law firm LZ Legal Services, Anu oversees the platform’s independent network of attorneys who support entrepreneurs and founders at every stage. With a deep understanding of how to go from idea to legit business, she’s on a mission to help founders protect what they’re building and make smart legal moves from day one.In this episode, Anu breaks down the essentials every founder should know, when to form an LLC, what counts as intellectual property, how trademarks actually work, and the biggest legal missteps to avoid. Whether you’re just getting started or scaling fast, companies like LegalZoom help demystify the legal side of entrepreneurship so you can protect your brand, build with confidence, and grow on solid ground. Check Out LegalZoom: https://www.legalzoom.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/legalzoomAnu Sethee’s LinkedIn- https://www.linkedin.com/in/anudeepsetheeJoin Us for 2026 World’s Largest Festival for Women in Business here: https://www.createcultivate.com/festivalFollow Create & Cultivate:To follow along with Create & Cultivate: https://www.instagram.com/createcultivateTo connect with Jaclyn Johnson: https://www.instagram.com/jaclynrjohnsonTo connect with Marina Middleton: https://www.instagram.com/marinaamiddletonwww.createcultivate.comPR: createcultivate@laruepr.comJoin Us for 2026 World’s Largest Festival for Women in Business here: https://www.createcultivate.com/festivalTo follow along with Create & Cultivate: https://www.instagram.com/createcultivatewww.createcultivate.comTo connect with Jaclyn Johnson: https://www.instagram.com/jaclynrjohnsonTo connect with Marina Middleton: https://www.instagram.com/marinaamiddleton

Live from Create & Cultivate’s 2025 Festival, Jaclyn Johnson and Marina Middleton sit down with two powerhouse guests at the intersection of purpose, wellness, and digital entrepreneurship, Alyson Stoner and Allie Fernando. Alyson Stoner, actor, artist, and founder of Movement Genius, is redefining success by prioritizing emotional wellness and accessibility within the creator economy. Allie Fernando, VP of Marketing at Kajabi, the all-in-one platform empowering creators to own their content, audience, and revenue at any stage,on their own terms. Together in this episode, they unpack what it means to build a business that’s both sustainable and rooted in impact, while also utilizing helpful tools like Kajabi’s platform to execute this through courses and offerings. Alyson shares how their lived experience and training in mental health have shaped their company’s mission to make wellness tools more inclusive. Allie offers key insights on what truly defines success for creators, how to monetize without burnout, and the future of digital entrepreneurship. From the biggest mistake creators are making when launching a course, to building purpose-driven products that truly serve, this episode offers a powerful look at what it takes to create meaningful impact in the digital economy.Check out Kajabi: https://kajabi.comFollow Alyson:https://www.instagram.com/alysonstonerhttps://www.movementgenius.comFollow Allie:https://www.linkedin.com/in/allie-fernando/https://kajabi.comJoin Us for 2026 World’s Largest Festival for Women in Business here: https://www.createcultivate.com/festivalFollow Create & Cultivate:To follow along with Create & Cultivate: https://www.instagram.com/createcultivateTo connect with Jaclyn Johnson: https://www.instagram.com/jaclynrjohnsonTo connect with Marina Middleton: https://www.instagram.com/marinaamiddletonwww.createcultivate.comPR: createcultivate@laruepr.comJoin Us for 2026 World’s Largest Festival for Women in Business here: https://www.createcultivate.com/festivalTo follow along with Create & Cultivate: https://www.instagram.com/createcultivatewww.createcultivate.comTo connect with Jaclyn Johnson: https://www.instagram.com/jaclynrjohnsonTo connect with Marina Middleton: https://www.instagram.com/marinaamiddleton

Jaclyn Johnson and Marina Middleton are back with a brand new catch-up episode of WorkParty, this time live from New York City as Jaclyn celebrates turning 40 and steps into a major new chapter, personally and professionally. From closing the door on her LA era to testing the waters in NYC, Jaclyn opens up about choosing change over comfort and embracing uncertainty with curiosity and intention. Marina shares on how interior design became her unexpected creative outlet, why she’s building connection into every layer of the business, and how she’s finding her footing as a leader through every high-stakes moment.They dive into life milestones, creative rediscovery, and what it really looks like to evolve as women, founders, and friends. From buying dream homes and planning once-in-a-lifetime trips, to launching the biggest Create & Cultivate festival yet, this episode is a reflection on growth in all its forms. Whether you’re in a season of change, searching for balance, or just need a reminder that it’s okay to start over, this episode is full of insight, laughs, and permission to live life your way.Join Us for 2026 World’s Largest Festival for Women in Business here: https://www.createcultivate.com/festivalTo follow along with Create & Cultivate: https://www.instagram.com/createcultivatewww.createcultivate.comTo connect with Jaclyn Johnson: https://www.instagram.com/jaclynrjohnsonTo connect with Marina Middleton: https://www.instagram.com/marinaamiddleton

In this episode of WorkParty, Jaclyn Johnson and Marina Middleton are joined by chef, entrepreneur, and storyteller, Hawa Hassan! The powerhouse behind Basbaas Sauce and the James Beard Award-winning author of In Bibi’s Kitchen, now she’s back with a stunning new cookbook, Setting a Place for Us: Recipes and Stories of Displacement, Resilience, and Community. This new book brings together 75 recipes and powerful personal narratives from countries shaped by war and migration.From launching the first Somali condiment line to building a brand rooted in culture and connection, Hawa shares her incredible journey from refugee to food entrepreneur. She opens up about turning a small idea into a big impact, the importance of storytelling in business, the emotional work behind sharing personal narratives, and why not everyone is meant to be an entrepreneur. Plus, she talks about her expansion into TV, building a holding company, and the power of preserving heritage through food. Whether you're a creative founder, a passionate storyteller, or simply someone looking to make a meaningful impact through your work, this episode will leave you inspired to lead with purpose and authenticity.Follow Hawa:Instagram: @hawahassanBasbaas: @babaasfoods  | basbaassauce.comResources & Mentions:Setting a Place for Us — Buy the bookJoin Us for 2026 World’s Largest Festival for Women in Business here: https://www.createcultivate.com/festivalTo follow along with Create & Cultivate: https://www.instagram.com/createcultivatewww.createcultivate.comTo connect with Jaclyn Johnson: https://www.instagram.com/jaclynrjohnsonTo connect with Marina Middleton: https://www.instagram.com/marinaamiddleton

In this episode of WorkParty, Jaclyn Johnson and Marina Middleton welcome guest Suneera Madhani, the trailblazing entrepreneur and founder behind Stax Payments, and now the visionary CEO of Worth AI. Suneera built Stax at 25 year old, scaling it to over $140 M in recurring revenue, and then into a business valued at over a billion dollars, making her the first female CEO to lead a Florida-based startup to a billion-dollar valuation. She's also the founder behind the CEO School company, and podcast with over a million downloads, which empowers women to scale their businesses and change the landscape of the traditional business world.  In this episode, they dive into Suneera’s POV on leadership, with powerful insights on scaling, structure, and culture. They’ll explore how she approaches team-building and the art of “fire fast”, striking the right work-life balance as a mom and CEO, the differences between founding a first-time startup and launching a high-growth AI fintech venture. They’ll touch on her mission behind Worth AI surrounding bringing transparency and ownership of financial data to small businesses everywhere. If you're building a brand or startup with scale, evolution, and intentional impact in mind, this conversation will provide you the guidance you need!Follow Suneera:Instagram: @suneeramadhaniMore at: suneeramadhani.com Podcast: CEO School-Ep 288. Your 5 Love Languages and How You Can Apply Them As CEOJoin Us for 2026 World’s Largest Festival for Women in Business here: https://www.createcultivate.com/festivalTo follow along with Create & Cultivate: https://www.instagram.com/createcultivatewww.createcultivate.comTo connect with Jaclyn Johnson: https://www.instagram.com/jaclynrjohnsonTo connect with Marina Middleton: https://www.instagram.com/marinaamiddleton

In this episode of WorkParty, Jaclyn Johnson and Marina Middleton chat with Henley Vazquez, the co-founder and CEO of Fora, a modern travel platform reinventing the role of the travel advisor. With a background in luxury travel and a mission to create more accessible, flexible, and inclusive career paths, Henley has built a fast-growing community of over 97% newcomers to the industry, 86% of whom are women. Under her leadership, Fora is reshaping an outdated industry by equipping travel lovers with the tools, tech, and support to turn their passion into a thriving business.Jaclyn and Marina talk with Henley about the massive shifts happening in the travel industry, including the rise of last-minute bookings, the demand for local and authentic experiences, and the surprising surge in cruise travel. Henley also breaks down what it takes to become a travel advisor today, how Fora uses tech and AI to empower small business owners (not replace them), and why flexibility and community are key to building a work model that truly works. Whether you're dreaming of a career in travel or just looking for smarter ways to plan your next trip as an entrepreneur on a mission to your next networking event, this episode is packed like a carry-on with actionable insights. Links:Become a Fora Advisor: https://www.foratravel.com/join-usWebsite: https://www.foratravel.comInstagram:https://www.instagram.com/foratravel/Join Us for 2026 World’s Largest Festival for Women in Business here: https://www.createcultivate.com/festivalTo follow along with Create & Cultivate: https://www.instagram.com/createcultivatewww.createcultivate.comTo connect with Jaclyn Johnson: https://www.instagram.com/jaclynrjohnsonTo connect with Marina Middleton: https://www.instagram.com/marinaamiddleton

This week on WorkParty, recorded live from Austin at this year’s SXSW, Jaclyn Johnson and Marina Middleton sit down with a true game-changer in the world of food, Jeni Britton. Not only is she the founder of Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams (aka, your favorite pint in the freezer aisle), but she’s sharing all about building her next iconic brand, Floura & Co. Bold, brilliant, and mission-driven, Floura isn’t just another food startup. It’s an ambitious new venture, out to tackle two massive problems: America’s food waste and the fiber crisis, all at the same time! Jeni’s goal is to upcycle 100 million pounds of fruits and veggies headed for the landfill and turn them into delicious, fiber-packed foods people actually want to eat. Jeni gets into how her personal health journey led to this surprising revelation and what sparked the discovery to create this brand. In this episode, Jeni shares how she’s applying everything she learned from her first brand to build and scale something completely new. She’ll touch on why she believes fiber is the next protein, and what it takes to launch a truly disruptive product in an industry that’s overdue for innovation. From embracing slower growth, to tackling chronic illness through food, Jeni is proof that entrepreneurship can evolve with purpose. A great conversation for those dreaming of launching something that just might change how people live, and eat! Follow Jeni:Instagram: @jeni @liveflouraExplore Floura: https://www.floura.comTry Jeni’s: jenis.comJoin Us for 2026 World’s Largest Festival for Women in Business here: https://www.createcultivate.com/festivalTo follow along with Create & Cultivate: https://www.instagram.com/createcultivatewww.createcultivate.comTo connect with Jaclyn Johnson: https://www.instagram.com/jaclynrjohnsonTo connect with Marina Middleton: https://www.instagram.com/marinaamiddleton