Office Chats with Madame Blue

Episode 60: Cessie Cerrato is the Founder of Cessie C. Communications, a public relations and social media influencer marketing agency specializing in lifestyle, beauty, travel, and hospitality.Cessie has a track record of delivering high-profile public relations results for top brands including Visit Mexico, Bacardi, and Lights Lacquer. She has consistently been named among the “Top Women in Public Relations” by PR News and was named “15 Under 35” by the Public Relations Society of America, New York Chapter.In this episode, Cessie chats about: Getting her start in the PR industry and what led her to create her own agencyTips for building & maintaining relationships with freelancersHow she helps clients like Kathleen Lights develop successful campaignsThoughts on navigating negative publicityHer advice for succeeding as a solo entrepreneurIf you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe/follow the show and leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. You can follow us on Instagram here. Thank you

Episode 59: Ryan McElroy is the Co-Founder of Bird Bird Biscuit, an Austin-based eatery serving house-made buttermilk biscuit sandwiches for breakfast & lunch. In this episode, Ryan chats about: Lessons learned from launching multiple successful businesses How Bird Bird maintains quality while scaling operationsWhat to consider before going into business with a friendIf you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe/follow the show and leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. You can follow us on Instagram here. Thank you! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 58: Today’s guest is Barbora Samieian, the Co-Founder of Sundays! Founded in 2019 by four friends, ​​Sundays provides beautiful furniture designed to last. With curated collections of stylish yet comfortable pieces, Sundays offers an alternative to the traditional furniture shopping experience that can be overwhelming, stressful, and expensiveIn this episode, Barbora chats about:Lessons learned from starting two successful businessesAdvice for women on balancing family and careerHow Sundays is transforming the furniture industry with its curated approachThe importance of prioritizing progress over perfectionIf you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe/follow the show and leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. You can follow us on Instagram here. Thank you! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 57: Grayson DiFonzo is the Founder and CEO of BuddyLove.In 2010, Grayson left her Showroom Sales position with $10,000 of savings and set out to create a fun, bold, and confidence-boosting clothing brand with her husband and biggest supporter, Buddy DiFonzo. Today BuddyLove is a $15M+ business that is loved by influencers and has been featured in Elle, Buzzfeed, and more.In this episode, Grayson chats about: The highs and lows of starting a fashion brand from scratchWhat it takes to retain top employees for yearsHow she’s cultivated high-converting influencer relationships that boosted the brand’s successThe pros and cons of working with a significant otherEIf you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe/follow the show and leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Thank you! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 56: Madison Snider launched Fewer Finer in 2018 after dreaming up ideas for beautiful and symbolic jewelry pieces. Today, Fewer Finer is elevating the industry by bringing that sentimental value and quality craftsmanship to every piece of jewelry. In this episode, Madison chats about: How she started her business as a side hustle and has since grown it into a 5-person teamWhy she intends to remain a self-funded companyWhat goes into creating unique and sentimental fine jewelryHow the Entrepreneurial Operations System can help startups achieve successIf you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe/follow the show and leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Thank you! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 55: Today’s guests are Hannah Behzad Varamini, the founders of Tend Prenatal. Tend is the world’s first prenatal bar made entirely from fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds, providing 25+ prenatal nutrients along with ingredients proven to reduce nausea. Hannah is an artist and start-up consultant with a lifelong aversion to pills. Behzad is a professor with a Ph.D. in Human Nutrition with an emphasis on prenatal nutrition and infant brain development.In this episode, Hannah and Behzad chat about: Developing a prenatal bar that provides more nutrients than a traditional pill or gummyHow they’re balancing their start-up growth with other jobs and responsibilitiesHow their product has impacted the lives of womenTips for starting a business with your partnerIf you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe/follow the show and leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Thank you! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 54: Ju Rhyu, the Co-Founder and CEO of Hero Cosmetics. Hero Cosmetics launched in 2017 with one product, The Mighty Patch, a hydrocolloid pimple patch that visibly flattens and minimizes pimples overnight. Today, Hero Cosmetics sells a box of the Mighty Patch every three seconds, and it’s been the number-one product in the skincare and acne care categories on Amazon for several quarters.Since I last spoke to Ju on the podcast, Hero Cosmetics has expanded with over 30 products launched and generated $100 million in revenue in five years. Most recently, Hero Cosmetics was acquired by Church & Dwight in September 2022 for $630 million. In this episode, Ju chats about: Hero's successful omnichannel distribution strategyThe company’s product innovation processTop takeaways from Hero’s $630M acquisitionTips for founders and entrepreneursIf you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe/follow the show and leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Thank you! Hosted on Acast. See acas

Episode 52: Rachel Clark is the founder of Dearest Rachel, a floral business based in New York that provides unique creations for events, weddings, and installations.Rachel is known for her appearance on HBO Max’s Full Bloom and Bravo’s latest season of Winter House. She was included in Florists' Review's Top 35 Florists Under 35 and has created floral installations for brands like Gucci, Chanel, Nike, 818, and more.In this episode, Rachel chats about:How she found her passion in floral design after leaving her career at NordstromThe importance of working for others before working for yourselfThe logistics and unique challenges that go into floral designWhy asking for help is an underrated business skillWhat her experience on Winter House was like and whether she’d join a future seasonIf you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe/follow the show and leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Thank you! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 51: Léo Dominguez is the Co-Founder of Léo et Violette.Léo et Violette offers timeless and elegant leather handbags and accessories designed in Paris and made in Italy.Léo and his now-fiancé Violette Polch founded their company in 2013 while they were in college after failing to find high-quality goods at a fair price.In this episode, Léo chats about:Founding his company on Kickstarter with no prior fashion experienceHow he and Violette went from shipping products out of their college apartment to opening a flagship store in ParisThe benefits of starting a business in collegeHis biggest advice for founders and entrepreneurs If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe/follow the show and leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Thank you! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 50: Mike Xhaxho and Connor Saeli are the founders of Waterboy. Waterboy offers hangover recovery and sports recovery hydration packets that have natural formulas and ingredients that help with dehydration, nausea, and hangxiety. Compared to Liquid IV, Waterboy has more electrolytes, more Vitamin B12 and Vitamin C, with fewer calories and no sugar.In this episode, Mike and Connor chat about:Their journey from finance to entrepreneurshipHow they've grown their business and team since launching in 2021How their unique approach to social media marketing has benefited themPlans for scaling their businessIf you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe/follow the show and leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Thank you! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 49: Founded in 2010 by Amanda Wadsworth and her mom, Kit Seay, Tiny Pies offers sweet and savory pies baked from scratch daily, using recipes that go back four generations in Amanda’s family.Tiny Pies uses high-quality ingredients, sourced from local Texas farms when in season. Their pies are available in 5 retail locations in Austin, and they ship nationwide on their website. In this episode, Amanda chats about:How she turned a farmer’s market side hustle into a booming businessLessons learned from operating 5 retail locationsHow Tiny Pies creates joy in people’s lives through foodWhat’s next for Tiny Pies in terms of growth & expansionIf you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe/follow the show and leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Thank you! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 48: Milly Fotso, the Founder of The Braided Life, a braiding salon in East Austin that aims to celebrate the Black hair experience. In this episode, Milly chats about:How moving from Cameroon to the United States impacted her childhoodWhy she decided to leave the corporate world at L’Oreal to start a business that celebrated all types of beauty Memorable moments and lessons from opening her self-funded salonHow The Braided Life aims to empower the Black community in AustinIf you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe/follow the show and leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Thank you! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 47: Morgan Potts is the founder and CEO of Granarly. Granarly is the world’s first whiskey-baked granola that comes in unique flavor combinations and is packaged in waterproof pouches so that you can bring your snack on any adventure! In this episode, Morgan chats about:Turning down vet school to start her own businessHow she got her products into retailers like Whole Foods and Central MarketThe importance of viewing business as an adventure You can use the code OFFICECHATS at Granarly for 20% off your order.If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe/follow the show and leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Thank you! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 46: Thurman and Torrence Thomas are the duo behind THEBROSFRESH, an R&B, southern hip-hop, and rock band based in Austin, Texas. When they’re not writing, performing, and creating music, Thurman and Torrence are busy running a nonprofit organization they created called Tankproof.Founded in 2011, Tankproof is working to address the 64% of minority children in the U.S. that are not water safe and at risk of drowning. In addition to swim lessons, the organization provides meals to youth, veterans, and homeless shelters.In this episode, Thurman and Torrence discuss:Their career in music, including performing at this year's ACL festivalWhat inspires Tankproof's mission to create equity and opportunity in underserved communities The impact Tankproof is having on kids nationwideTheir top advice for creatives and founders Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 45: Andrea Lisbona is the founder and CEO of Touchland. While the pandemic brought hand sanitizer to the forefront of everyone’s minds, Andrea Lisbona’s vision to beautify the hand sanitizer industry began over a decade ago. In the early 2010’s Andrea sought to commoditize a stale industry that hadn’t seen innovation in 20 years with the creation of the moisturizing, sleek, fast evaporating, and cruelty-free sanitizing formulations from Touchland, that are available in elevated scent profiles.In 2019, Touchland closed its first year in business with over $1.5M in sales bolstered by distribution with retailers like Urban Outfitters, Revolve, Sephora, Ulta, and Target. They also had a collaboration with Disney that increased their sales by 86% within just one week launching. Touchland is currently in over 1,500 retails doors, has won awards from Allure, and is loved by celebrities like Kris Jenner and Mindy Kaling.In this episode, Andrea discusses: Her journey immigrating to the U.S. from Spain to pursu

Episode 44: Austin M. Pittman is the Co-Founder of Blue Norther. Founded in 2019, Blue Norther brews award-winning craft hard seltzer in Austin, Texas with real fruit and organic agave nectar. Their seltzers are lightly carbonated, free of strange aftertastes and confusing ingredients, and come in refreshing Southwest flavors like Prickly Pear, Wild Blackberry, and Watermelon.They also operate the state’s first hard seltzer Tasting Room, where they host live music and more every week. Find Blue at H-E-B, Whole Foods, and other retailers in the Greater Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth, and Houston markets.In this episode, Austin chats about:What inspired him and his father to create a hard seltzer unlike any other Lessons learned from getting Blue Norther into top retailers Advice for founders to stay positive and maintain their entrepreneurial drive You can visit the Blue Norther Hard Seltzer tasting room at 440 E St Elmo Rd Building C1, Austin, Texas.If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe/follow the show an

Episode 43: Katie Diasti is the founder and CEO of Viv, an eco-friendly period care brand that is free of harmful toxins. After graduating from Boston College in 2019, Katie knew her calling was to combine her passion for women empowerment and sustainability to build a brand that empowered consumers rather than thriving off their insecurities. In this episode, Katie shares: How she turned a college assignment into a business that has raised $1 million in pre-seed roundsThe process of developing eco-friendly menstrual products that are both effective and comfortableThe importance of building a supportive community as a solopreneur3 tips for entrepreneurs seeking investmentsYou can follow Viv on Instagram @vivforyourv!If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe/follow the show and leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Thank you! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 42: Tracy Adkins is the founder of Jivana, a skincare brand made from a blend of Ayurvedic botanicals and skincare actives. Tracy is a nurse and Ayurvedic practitioner that unintentionally turned a home remedy for her toddler’s eczema into a small business.In this episode, Tracy explains:Exactly what Ayurveda is and the role it plays in skincareHow Jivana's products target the needs of three specific skin typesThe biggest lessons learned from running a small businessIf you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe/follow the show and leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Thank you! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 41: Mbali Z. Ndlovu is the founder of Lukafit, an empowering activewear brand designed with curves in mind. Lukafit's mission is to celebrate women of all shapes, sizes, and shades along their health and wellness journeys.In this episode, Mbali discusses:How her own health and wellness journey led her to create an activewear brandThe importance of community both in business and lifeHer advice for entrepreneurs on staying mentally soundWhat sets her small business apart from others on the marketIf you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe/follow the show and leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Thank you! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 40: Lina and Louis Guarin are the founders of Stivali New York, a women's leather footwear label founded in 2016. Stivali has a story to share—that of Columbian families, immigrants, and entrepreneurs around the globe.Designed in New York and handcrafted by artisans in their family's atelier in Colombia, Stivali New York offers shoes that are sophisticated and stylish without sacrificing comfort.In this episode, Lina and Louis discuss:Immigrating from Columbia to New York City with just $100 in their pocketHow their family and culture inspires their designs and businessMaking the shift from a majority retail footprint to direct-to-consumerAdvice on what it takes to succeed as an entrepreneurIf you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe/follow the show and leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Thank you! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.