Dear Twentysomething

This week we chat with Kara Goldin. Kara is the Founder & CEO of Hint, Inc., best known for its award-winning Hint® water, the leading unsweetened flavored water. Navigating the world of large companies and startups in many industries including media, tech and consumer products, Kara found success in the world of entrepreneurship. Listed as The Huffington Post’s one of six disruptors in business, alongside Steve Jobs and Mark Zuckerberg, Kara established her space in the realm of business.In this episode, the pair backtrack Kara’s climb to success and reveal the highly anticipated secrets to a powerful startup. Conversation of house-painting business inspiration, coffee with the pioneers of tech, and the bay area tech hustle are but the tip of the iceberg covering Kara’s vast journey to entrepreneurship. The two breakdown the necessities to staying the path and pursuing a passion in just one hour! Kara takes us behind the scenes of working side by side with the pioneers of E-commerce and tech media as she strived to carve the path for the industry we all know today. A now active speaker & writer, Kara currently hosts the podcast The Kara Goldin Show where she interviews founders, entrepreneurs, and other disruptors across various industries. From tech, to beverage, to books, the pair cover it all in this week’s episode! Twentysomethings, make sure your AirPods are charged for this one-hour interview with one of the most recognized businesswomen of our time, Kara Goldin! Follow us!Kara Goldin: @karagoldinHint: @hint (and website here)The Kara Goldin Show: Apple Podcasts here and Spotify Podcasts hereDear Twentysomething: @deartwentysomething (and on Fireside here)

This week we chat with Moj Mahdara. You might know her best as the Co-Founder and Former-CEO of Beautycon, the globally-recognized community for content creators, celebrities, fans, and brands. Moj Mahdara’s expertise in the beauty, wellness, and CPG market formed the brains behind the driving brand vision for Beautycon and its growth initiatives, launching the brand globally; where her strategic media partnerships, content development, market intelligence, and e-commerce built the community empire we all know and love over the past 5 years. In this episode, the pair reveal a lot of the “unknown” about Moj; piecing together the mosaic of her journey to a successful marketing career building from her foundation of childhood immigration, trauma, and alienation. Conversation of survival strategy in early twenties, the future of cryptocurrency, and the stigmatized nature of mental health are only the beginning. The two create the space for a call to action towards the mental health crisis, leaving behind a trail of compassion and wisdom. As a now active investor and working on her first book, Moj focuses on bringing the industry together via Beauty United.org. Twentysomethings, you won’t want to miss this episode with the resilient Moj Mahdara, as she reveals the character development that drove her towards a life she once only dreamt of and a business that connects and inspires thousands.Follow us!Moj Mahdara: @mojBeautycon: @beautycon and (and website here)Dear Twentysomething: @deartwentysomething (and on Fireside here)

This week we chat with Alli Webb. You probably know Alli best as the co-founder of Drybar, the whimsical salon that made blowouts as accessible and budget-friendly as your favorite skinny vanilla latte. The pair shuffles through memories of Alli’s twenties as she supplemented college for a life in New York City and navigated her way through different job opportunities. Conversations on failed interviews, walking dogs down Madison Avenue, and raising two kids are just a glimpse into this week’s episode. Fueled by a determination to manage her curly hair and a passion for exploration in her twenties, Alli discloses her secrets to success in the beauty industry. Yes, she’s an extremely successful entrepreneur and investor. But yes, she’s also just like you—a woman who survived a public divorce and found love on the other side. A mom who bravely and full heartedly sent her son to rehab. A person who loves to give back and finds value in not only how well her ventures do, but how they make people feel—how she makes people feel.Twentysomethings, get ready for an hour with the ambitious Alli Webb, as she reveals the inspiration and drive behind a simple start-up business that transformed into the Drybar empire.Follow us!Alli Webb: @alliwebbDrybar: @thedrybar (and website here)Squeeze: @squeeze (and website here)Okay Humans: @okayhumans (and website here)Beckett + Quill: @beckettandquill (and website here)Canopy: @get.canopy (and website here)Dear Twentysomething: @deartwentysomething (and on Fireside here)

This week we chat with Melissa Rivers. New York Times bestselling author and award-winning producer, Melissa Rivers is an entertainment journalist and correspondent, an equestrian, an Ivy League graduate, an accomplished public speaker and an animal advocate. While her professional achievements are plentiful, it is her role as a single parent to her son Cooper that Melissa calls her greatest accomplishment.As co-creator, executive producer and co-host of E!’s wildly successful “Fashion Police,” Melissa shared with viewers her candor, quick wit and meticulous eye for fashion, which she honed throughout her years covering the Red Carpet. Melissa also starred opposite her mother, Joan Rivers, during four seasons of WEtv’s hit reality series, “Joan & Melissa: Joan Knows Best?”Melissa remains an in-demand speaker and lecturer, and is the New York Times bestselling author of both “Joan Rivers Confidential: The Unseen Scrapbooks, Joke Cards, Personal Files, and Photos of a Very Funny Woman Who Kept Everything”, released in 2017, and "The Book of Joan: Tales of Mirth, Mischief, and Manipulation", which debuted in 2015.Melissa continues to co-manage the “Joan Rivers Classics Collection” on QVC with business partner David Dangle, as well as develop the myriad projects she and her mother created together.A philanthropist and an advocate, Melissa ardently supports a number of charitable causes including PETA, the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, the Entertainment Industries Council, Our House Grief Support Center, and Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services. Melissa has received distinguished accolades and awards from both Our House and Didi Hirsh Mental Health Services for her openness in discussing the suicide of her father, Edgar Rosenberg, and for addressing with honesty, dignity and respect, the subjects of death and grieving. Follow us!Melissa Rivers: @melissariversPre-order Melissa's NEW book"Lies My Mother Told Me: Tall Tales from a Short Woman", releasing April 12, 2022: Website hereMelissa Rivers' Group Text Podcast: Apple Podcasts hereDear Twentysomething: @deartwentysomething (and on Fireside here)

This week we chat with Karen Cahn. Karen is the Founder & CEO of IFundWomen, the world’s largest funding marketplace for women-owned businesses and the people who want to support them with access to capital, coaching, and connections all designed to launch and grow profitable, sustainable businesses. Since founding IFundWomen, thousands of women-owned companies, who started their businesses on the IFundWomen platform, have raised over $135M in early-stage capital and have created over 30,000 jobs helping to fuel the startup and small business economy. Named to Inc. Magazine’s Top 100 Female Founders of 2020, and The City and State of New York’s Most Responsible CEOs of 2020, Karen is a true pioneer in tech and media. Karen was an early Google Intrapreneur, spending 10 years leading sales teams in search, display, and video. Most notably, in 2006, Karen started the Branded Entertainment business at YouTube by making powerful and substantive connections between big, global brands and creators, resulting in the creation of the first native video ad experiences that helped creators make exponentially more money from their YouTube videos. Karen then went on to spend three years at Aol where she started Aol’s female creative economy in video by funding and monetizing dozens of women-produced, premium-quality video series, resulting in Aol nabbing its first-ever Emmy nod. Follow us!Karen Cahn: @karencahniFundWomen: @iFundWomen and (and website here)iFundWomen Show Podcast: Apple Podcasts here and Spotify Podcasts hereDear Twentysomething: @deartwentysomething (and on Fireside here)

This week we chat with Stacey Stewart. Stacey is the President and CEO of March of Dimes and is currently serving as its fifth President. She heads the organization leading the fight for the health of all moms and babies and is responsible for all aspects of the organization's strategy, vision and operations.Stacey came to March of Dimes from United Way Worldwide, where she held several positions, most recently serving as U.S. President of United Way, the nation's largest nonprofit organization. There she provided strategic direction for more than 1,000 local United Ways. She was also responsible for United Way's national efforts in education, financial stability and health as well as guiding efforts to enhance the brand and grow revenue. She spearheaded the transformation of United Way from a pass-through fundraiser to a leading organization for local community impact. Prior to becoming the United Way U.S. President, she served as Executive Vice President, Community Impact Leadership and Learning. In this role, Stacey developed global partnerships to advance community impact in more than 40 countries.As a business veteran, Stacey has also held a number of senior roles, including Chief Diversity Officer and Senior Vice President for the Office of Community and Charitable Giving at Fannie Mae, as well as President and Chief Executive Officer for the Fannie Mae Foundation. Additionally, Stacey has an extensive background in finance and investment banking, having served as Vice President for Pryor, McClendon, Counts & Co., and as a senior associate for Merrill Lynch, specializing in financings for state and local governments.Follow us!Stacey Stewart: @marchofdimesceoMarch of Dimes: @marchofdimes (and website here)March for Babies: Website hereDear Twentysomething: @deartwentysomething (and on Fireside here)

This week we chat with Kelly Rutherford. Kelly Rutherford is a mother, actress, and entrepreneur. You may know her as Megan Lewis from soap opera Melrose Place or from Gossip Girl where she played the iconic role of Lily van der Woodsen. After decades in the entertainment industry, Kelly has more recently entered the world of entrepreneurship.Kelly is currently the co-founder of two business: Sovereign Collective and Whyzzer. Sovereign Collective is a global shopping website where go-to partner for businesses abroad to scale and be discovered. Their mission is to help brands abroad reach a greater audience, tell the stories behind the world's best creators, and make scaling easy, efficient, and meaningful.Kelly's other venture, Whyzzer, is building a creator-focused app centered on educating its users. Their mission is to create the education of tomorrow, building a globally available database of knowledge, experience and expertise. They are still in the early stages, but Kelly gives a sneak peek to our listeners in the episode.Follow us!Kelly Rutherford: @kellyrutherfordSovereign Collective: @shopsovereigncollective (and website here)Whyzzer: @whyzzer (and website here)Dear Twentysomething: @deartwentysomething (and on Fireside here)

This week we chat with Taylor Frankel. Taylor Frankel is one of the savvy, female founders of NUDESTIX and NUDESKIN. Embodying the easy-going ideals of the millennial generation, Taylor was the natural inspiration to her mother, Jenny Frankel, who developed the brand. Growing up surrounded by beauty, Taylor believes beauty is a lifestyle. She was always drawn to the industry and created NUDESTIX for a minimalist,natural and no-fuss look and most recently, she launched NUDESKIN to provide a simple, multi-tasking vegan powered skincare regimen for a confident, nude-faced look. Taylor actively serves as the Chief Brand Officer and brand spokesperson for the brand. She oversees the overall brand vision and creative for both the NUDESTIX and NUDESKIN teams and continues to inspire through her efforts to advocate for Love Is Louder, a movement by The Jed Foundation in support of Mental Health Awareness, The Canopy Project and WWF in support of the environment and wildlife, and Beauty Be Change in support of spotlighting under-represented artists and content creators in the beauty industry.With a deep understanding and aptitude for social media, Taylor drives the brand and creates loyalists wherever she goes. Taylor was featured in Nylon’s 25 Gen Z’ers Changing the World, served as a contributor for PopSugar, featured on QVC and is an ongoing host for media and consumer facing masterclasses in support of Nudestix global retailers, from Sephora, Nordstrom and Selfridges.Follow us!Taylor Frankel: @taylorfrankelNUDESTIX: @nudestix (and website here)NUDESKIN: @nudestixskin (and website here)Dear Twentysomething: @deartwentysomething (and on Fireside here)

This week we chat with Cyndi Ramirez-Fulton. Cyndi Ramirez-Fulton is a second generation Colombian-American who grew up watching her mother treat patients in her cosmetology spas in Queens and Manhattan not knowing one day she would reflect on that experience to launch a new self care movement.After recognizing the lack of affordable, aspirational spa services in NYC, Cyndi, along with her husband and a team of partners, opened Chillhouse with a goal to modernize the spa industry and become an authority in self-care. Cyndi mainly noticed a gap between the more antiquated, traditional spas and the on-the-go, modern millennial, fueling her Chillhouse empire and earning her the title: Queen of Chill.In creating Chillhouse, the team sought out to provide easy, attainably-priced, tried & true services to stressed out New Yorkers in a modern setting, ensuring Chillhouse was a place with something for everyone. Chillhouse has grown into a shining example of what a new-age spa can be, with the mission of easing you into the deepest form of self-care through trendy, updated services and a wellness cafe. Chillhouse's concept resonated widely, making it the go-to online & physical destination to FIND YOUR CHILL™. Along with its chic Soho flagship, Chillhouse creates self-care rituals for chill-seekers everywhere through their line of clean beauty and wellness products - including press-on nails, face & body oils, candles and more - aimed at maximizing your “me time.”Follow us!Cyndi Ramirez-Fulton: @cyndiramirez (and on Fireside here)Chillhouse: @chillhouse (and website here, The Chill Times here)Dear Twentysomething: @deartwentysomething (and on Fireside here)

This week we chat with Erin Levine. Erin Levine is a California-based attorney specializing in Family Law since 2005. Erin was an undergraduate student at the University of California in Santa Barbara and attended law school at the University of San Francisco. After owning and managing the Levine Family Law Group in Oakland, CA for over a decade, Erin became disillusioned with the broken, inefficient and expensive system and set out to change it. In 2018, she founded the online platform Hello Divorce. Hello Divorce was created to help people navigate the divorce process on their terms, quickly and affordably with less stress. Its services are currently available in California, Utah, Colorado, and Texas with plans for immediate expansion into additional states in 2021. As Founder and CEO of Hello Divorce, Erin’s goal is to provide everyone who wants a divorce access to easy, affordable, and ethical legal assistance. Her passion and approach to family law has been guided by her own experience with the legal system. As a child, Erin was the victim of violence and as a teen, she was the plaintiff in a civil action and a witness in a criminal action. It was stressful, intimidating, and confusing and Erin was determined to not let anyone else feel that way. Her goal is to leave clients ready to embark on a fresh start and feeling empowered.Erin has been recognized by James I. Keane Memorial Award for Excellence in eLawyering, Women Founders Network, American Bar Association “Women in LegalTech”, and the Duke Law & Tech Accelerator’s Grand Prize Winner to name a few. And featured in publications such as; Vice, TechCrunch, Entertainment Tonight, Forbes, Entrepreneur, and Women’s Health.Follow us!Erin Levine: @erinlevine (and on Fireside here)Hello Divorce: @hellodivorce (and website here)Dear Twentysomething: @deartwentysomething (and on Fireside here)