written by: Kaylee Franklin
We’re almost halfway through the year and we’ve launched some incredible episodes! In the month of May, we got to hear from five different CEOs and we heard some remarkable stories. Let’s get to it!
To start the month of May off strong, Lee sat down with Courtney Boyd Myers, Founder and CEO of AKUA!
Courtney’s career path has seen three separate tracks which collided in the form of the sustainable food brand, AKUA. Having grown up at the seaside in Connecticut, she has a deep love and appreciation for the ocean which, years later, manifested in her delicious, nutritious kelp burgers with numerous health and environmental benefits. In this episode, Courtney shares her entrepreneurship journey and recounts the pivotal moment when her passion and varied experience met. Tune in to learn about AKUA’s genesis and development, from the research process and abandoned products to fundraising and exciting collaborations!
Best piece of advice:
“A lot of times, as founders, we end up telling all the best parts about being a founder, and it’s only recently that being vulnerable as a founder has been seen as okay. So I heard a lot of the highlight reels, especially as a journalist.”
If you haven’t listened to Courtney’s episode yet, you can tune in HERE!
When the second week of May rolled in, we published Episode 157, with Sandro Roco, Founder and CEO of Sanzo!
Sandro’s career journey has been as flavorful as his products. Before founding Sanzo, he worked as a nuclear power plant engineer, on the trading floor at JPMorgan, and created his own fashion app! Tune in today to hear how Sandro’s pride in his Asian American heritage combined with his desire for financial freedom, led him to found Sanzo, the lessons that he has learned through the process of building the company from the ground up, and the myths about entrepreneurship that he is trying to bust!
Best piece of advice:
“Entrepreneurship isn’t for everyone. It is a taxing journey. It is a taxing life. There are a lot of sacrifices that you end up having to make, especially in the earliest days. And I think it is important to demystify that part.”
To listen to more of Sandro’s story, check out Episode 157!
On the third Tuesday of May, we got to hear from Allie Egan, Founder and CEO of Veracity.
Allie Egan is a passionate brand-builder and the Founder and CEO of Veracity. Offering personalized solutions based on its at-home hormone testing kit, Veracity’s uniquely data-driven approach and clean skincare products help you take your health into your own hands. In this insightful episode, Allie sheds some light on her journey from her first job as a waitress in a retirement home outside of Philadelphia to earning her MBA from Harvard Business School and becoming a two-time CEO. In her first stint as CEO at Cynthia Rowley, Allie began experiencing issues with her skin, which led her to learn more about hormonal health imbalances and sparked the idea for Veracity. Join us as we discuss micro-journaling, her partnership with Meridian Street Capital, and why she believes you should talk about your ideas early and often!
Best piece of advice:
“Being an entrepreneur is like, every day, either getting an acceptance or a rejection letter from your favorite college, but getting both accepted and rejected multiple times a day, every single day. Dealing with that elation down to the dumps is something that has become the norm.”
To hear more of Allie’s great advice tune in to Episode 158!
Continuing the month strong, we had Alec Jaffe, Founder and CEO of Alec’s Ice Cream.
Alec’s Ice Cream is the world’s first and only regenerative agriculture-verified and USDA-certified organic ice cream made using 100% gut-friendly A2 dairy. Alec gives us a glimpse into his background, from surfing in Laguna Beach as a child to playing football at USC with a dream of going pro before a shoulder injury shifted his career ambitions and led him to a job in corporate sponsorship for AEG Worldwide. You’ll gain some insight into his experience of working at a tech startup, what motivated his decision to start a delicious and sustainable ice cream brand, and the challenges he faced in finding an organic dairy supplier. We also dive into retail strategy, fundraising, and the importance of staying focused, plus so much more! To learn more about driving change in your industry, the value of patience, and what it takes to get your product on shelves, be sure to tune in today.
Best piece of advice:
“Take the time to get the details right, understand what you’re doing, and don’t just immediately rush into everything.”
Listen to Alec’s inspiring story here!
And on the last day of the month, we launched an episode with Megan Klein, Founder and CEO of Little Saints.
Megan Klein, Founder and CEO of Little Saints, a sugar-free, functional, nonalcoholic beverage company that has ditched the spirits in favor of the spiritual. Megan’s career journey began in the field of environmental law but her curious, independent, rebellious nature (and her aversion to fighting) led her down the entrepreneurial path. Today, she shares what she learned from the successes and failures she experienced while working in the vertical farming space, how the inspiration for Little Saints came to her during the pandemic, and why she has made spirituality and her belief in the power of feminine energy (i.e. trusting your intuition) foundational elements of her business.
Best piece of advice:
“The failure of a business ended up being the birthplace of a business that is really sustainable and continues to grow.”
Be sure to tune into Megan’s episode, number 160!
When we look back at the month of May, we can see a common pattern of trusting your funding, creating a story around the brand, and trusting yourself in your business. The five founders all mentioned the trust they have in themselves, their business, and how building a story around their business while funding is key.
Stay tuned through the month of June and continue to hear from some amazing CEOs. During the month of June, you’ll get to hear from:
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Have any guest suggestions, comments, or questions about Stairway to CEO? Drop us a line here!
Welcome to the third edition of Stairway to CEO's Holiday Gift Guide– your ultimate resource for finding the perfect gifts. As we’ve reached almost 200 episodes, the options of your favorite leading direct-to-consumer brands. We have a lot of amazing gift ideas for you and we’ll be sure to cover everyone you’re shopping for, so we hope you enjoy!
Welcome back to another monthly recap! I know for some, the month of September felt like the longest month of the year, and for others, it flew by. But nonetheless, we had an incredible lineup of four amazing guests, with incredible backgrounds and stories. Let’s jump in to see what they all had in common, some life lessons they had to share, and take a peak into what we have coming out in October.
As the year hurtles towards its close, the fourth quarter (Q4) offers a prime opportunity to not only meet financial targets but also leave a lasting impression on your customers. It's a time when holiday festivities mingle with year-end goals, and careful planning can make all the difference. In this blog post, we'll explore strategies to navigate Q4 with a focus on delivering outstanding customer experience, and how to partner with Awesome CX to offer seamless solutions to help your business not only weather the storm but also thrive during this crucial season.
