WorkParty

There are over 2 million apps in the app store, so getting your app made, must less, discovered is a monumental task. Which is why I’m so excited to have Lisa Donovan, the founder of the wildly popular Astrology app, The Pattern, on today’s episode to tell us how it’s done. Since launching The Pattern in 2019, Lisa has grown the app exponentially, garnering over 15 million users, including celebrity devotees by the likes of Channing Tatum, SZA, and Issa Rae. Clearly, she knows a thing or two about how to build an app that stands out. Needless to say, I’m so excited to talk to Lisa about how to actually turn an idea for an app into a reality, adapt the product based on user feedback, and so much more. So, without further ado… Welcome to WorkParty, Lisa • Join the party on social @workparty and stay in the know at workparty.com. Visit RentTheRunway.com and use promo code PARTY for 30% off for a limited time. Visit OralEssentials.com and use the code "party" to save 15% off your first order. Produced by Dear Media

Most businesses don't make a profit in their first year of business. In fact, most new businesses need 18 to 24 months to reach profitability. And then there's the reality that 25% of new businesses fail in their first year, according to the Small Business Administration. Luckily for all our WorkParty listeners, I have Diana Lee—the co-founder and CEO of Constellation Agency, one of the fastest-growing SaaS companies in the U.S.—on today’s episode to talk all about how to build a business that turns a profit (and then some!). Her business, Constellation, is on track to double (yes, DOUBLE) its revenue from $20M to $45M this year and plans to continue expanding its work with retail companies, like Henry Rose (Michelle Pfeiffer’s clean fragrance line), Macy’s, and Bearaby. Not only that, but Constellation was named the #65th fastest-growing private company in the U.S. by Inc. Magazine, the #7 fastest-growing advertising/marketing company on the Inc. 5000 list, and the #10th Fastest-Growing Women-Led Company. Needless to say, I can’t wait to chat with this incredible entrepreneur all about how she’s scaled her business, put diversity and inclusion first, and doubled her revenue in 12 months (no big deal!)—all without taking on any outside funding. So, without further ado… Welcome to WorkParty, Diana! • Join the party on social @workparty and stay in-the-know at workparty.com. Visit JustWorks.com to see how JustWorks can help your business Visit RentTheRunway.com and use promo code PARTY for 30% off for a limited time. Visit Arrae.com and use code 'workparty' at checkout for 10% off of one time purchases and 25% off firs month on subscription. Produced by Dear Media

Believe it or not, bacteria has so much to do with the way our body functions. Both inside and out, our bodies harbor a huge array of micro-organisms, where a shocking 98% of this bacteria is actually good for us. Our microbiome–the body’s own ecosystem of microorganisms–is the first line of defense against disease and illness. It’s the protective shield that keeps our immune systems intact – so we must do everything we can to protect it. Keeping our microbiome healthy starts with the foods we eat and the types of oral care products we use, resulting in maintained whole-body health. So how do we manage this balance? Which of our daily products do we need to reassess? And how does a balanced microbiome lead to long-term health and success? I’m excited to break down these questions with Dr. Kourosh Maddahi, founder of Lumineux. Dr. Maddahi is a world-renowned and award-winning cosmetic dentist and best-selling author of his latest book, The Toxic Overload, which highlights just how connected your mouth and body are to overall health and well-being. Welcome to the party Dr. Maddahi! • Join the party on social @workparty and stay in-the-know at workparty.com. Find out more about Lumineux and the microbiome mission at oralessentials.com. Use discount code PARTY to save 15% off your first order. Produced by Dear Media

The coronavirus pandemic accelerated the rise of e-commerce. Which is something that Paige Mycoskie, the founder and CEO of the lifestyle apparel brand Aviator Nation, experienced firsthand. In the wake of coronavirus-induced shutdowns, Paige launched an online flash sale on Aviator Nation’s site to supplement her 200+ employees’ salaries. And the online sale resulted in the brand’s biggest day of all time — by far — selling $1.5 M in just 24 hours. (!) Needless to say, I can’t wait to chat with Paige about how she’s leaning into e-commerce to grow her business, drive sales beyond the brand’s brick-and-mortar locations, and so much more. So without further ado, let’s get into it. Welcome to WorkParty, Paige! • Join the party on social @workparty and stay in-the-know at workparty.com. Visit www.Betabrand.com/PARTY for 30% off Visit paypal.com/party to see terms and learn more about how to earn $10 cashback Visit www.joybird.com/WORK and get 30% off your purchase Visit RentTheRunway.com and use promo code PARTY for 30% off for a limited time. Produced by Dear Media

“Start a natural foods company.” These were the words 2007 graduate Elizabeth Stein wrote down in class one day when her Integrative Nutrition teacher asked students to describe their “unpredictable future.” While she saw no clear path of how to get there, she knew one thing for certain: She wanted to help others eat better, feel better, and live better. Without any prior knowledge of starting a company – where to source ingredients or how to get a product on the shelf– Purely Elizabeth began.  Elizabeth’s “unpredictable future” has since become a very impressive reality. The brand took the natural food world by storm and helped bring wellness into the mainstream. Today, Purely Elizabeth is one of the most significant natural food brands in the country, and a multi-million dollar company. Needless to say, I can’t wait to talk to Elizabeth to hear how she launched a successful CPG and strategized around opportunities and challenges within a rapidly growing market which, at the time, was still considered niche. Welcome to WorkParty, Elizabeth! Produced by Dear Media

With over 2 million followers, Rocky Barnes knows a thing or two about Instagram. But, believe it or not, the model slash style icon entered the influencer space well before the visually-driven social media platform was even "a thing." She got her big break back in 2012 when she starred in Justin Beiber’s “Boyfriend” music video and then quickly started gracing the pages of Vogue and Cosmopolitan and becoming the face of brands such as Sam Edelman, Furla, and Bare Minerals. But don’t call her an overnight success. She has been hustling for years to get where she is today. She launched her eponymous blog, Rocky Barnes, over eight years ago (a.k.a. during the digital stone ages) and has been slowly but surely amassing a loyal band of followers. Her wide reach on social media has opened up many doors, and she’s stepped into the role of designer, co-designing capsule collections with brands by the likes of Express and Aldo. And she’s even launched her own fashion brand, The Bright Side. I’m so excited to learn more about this incredible businesswoman so without further ado, please welcome Rocky Barnes! • Join the party on social @workparty and stay in-the-know at workparty.com. Visit www.MZWallace.com/workparty for 15% off your first purchase Visit JustWorks.com to see how JustWorks can help your business Produced by Dear Media

No industry was hit harder by the COVID crisis than the restaurant industry. More than 110,000 restaurants closed last year, either temporarily or for good, and more than 2.5 million restaurant industry jobs disappeared. But, despite the devastating stats, restaurants have shown creativity and resilience throughout the pandemic, adapting to ever-changing mandates in order to keep both their patrons and staff safe. And Marissa Hermer’s establishments are no exception. The Los Angeles-based restaurateur and co-owner of the Boujis Group has successfully pivoted every step of the way, ensuring her restaurants, the Olivetta and The Draycott, not only survive but thrive. Needless to say, I’m so excited to chat with her today about how she’s seeing her restaurants through this challenging time and what she believes the future holds for the restaurant industry in 2021 and beyond. So, without further ado… Welcome to WorkParty, Marissa! • Join the party on social @workparty and stay in-the-know at workparty.com.   Visit www.Conair.com to purchase the Conair Double Ceramic Waver Visit www.Betabrand.com/PARTY for 30% off Visit paypal.com/party to see terms and learn more about how to earn $10 cashback

Starting a business is no easy feat. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 20% of businesses fail by the first year, and 50% close by the fifth. So the odds of starting one successful business—let alone two—are stacked against you. But defying the odds is something that today’s WorkParty guest, Annie Lawless, knows a thing or two about. In 2012, Annie launched her first company, the cold-pressed juice brand Suja Juice, which she scaled into such a success that Coca-Cola and Goldman Sachs each bought multi-million-dollar stakes (!). And now her second business, the clean beauty brand Lawless Beauty, is on a similar trajectory. The band doubled its sales as of October 2020 and is on track to double its overall sales in 2021. Needless to say, I’m so excited that she's here today to chat about how she started a successful second business, how she formulated a strategic exit strategy from her first company, and so much more! Welcome to WorkParty, Annie! Visit www.CoorsPure.com to see where you can find Coors pure! Visit www.joybird.com/WORK and get 30% off your purchase Visit www.MZWallace.com/workparty for 15% off your first purchase Produced by Dear Media

Going into business with a friend can be an incredible experience, but it can also be a real challenge. You need to ensure your values, goals, and work ethics align. So, how do you make it work with your bestie? How do you maintain healthy boundaries between being friends and being business partners? How do you navigate creative differences and make sure both of your opinions are heard? To talk about what it really takes to go into business with a friend, I have Shenae Grimes and AnnaLynne McCord here today to help answer those questions.  Although Shenae and AnnaLynne played fictional best friends on the CW show “90210,” today, they’re real-life besties and co-hosts of the podcast “Unzipped” where they talk about everything from friendship and parenting to pop culture and social issues. I’m so excited to chat with these BFFs turned business partners all about what it’s like to navigate the friend-business-partner relationship, why they launched their podcast, and so much more. So, without further ado… Welcome to WorkParty, Shenae and AnnaLynne! • Join the party on social @workparty and stay in-the-know at workparty.com. Visit www.mzwallace.com/Workparty for 15% off your first purchase. Visit www.Justworks.com to find out how JustWorks can help your business. Produced by Dear Media

Side hustles are on the rise. According to a recent survey, as many as one in four Americans are planning on starting a side hustle in 2021. On top of the 34% of people who have already started a side hustle venture this year. But starting a side-hustle while working a 9-to-5 isn't easy. It takes determination, drive, and passion. Which is something that today’s WorkParty guest, Samara Walker, knows a thing or two about. Samara started the luxury nail polish brand Àuda.B while working full-time as a senior financial analyst at Amazon after noticing that women of color aren’t often represented within luxury beauty. And, thankfully, major retailers have taken notice, too. Earlier this year, Àuda.B launched at Nordstrom, becoming the first Black-owned polish brand to be sold by the retailer. (Which is incredible!) Needless to say, I can’t wait to talk to Samara all about how she went from full-time employee to full-time entrepreneur, and how she’s pushing the beauty industry forward in the process. Welcome to WorkParty, Samara! • Join the party on social @workparty and stay in-the-know at workparty.com. Visit www.StitchFix.com/PARTY for 25% off when you keep everything in your Fix. Visit www.Conair.com to purchase the Conair Double Ceramic Waver Visit www.Betabrand.com/PARTY for 30% off Listen to Armchair Expert for free, now ONLY on Spotify. Produced by Dear Media