Office Chats with Madame Blue

Founded in 2020 by Dana Cohen, Hyer Goods is a sustainable fashion brand that offers accessories made from leather and fabric sourced from factory scraps. By upcycling trash, Hyer Goods helps eliminate the massive energy footprint needed to cultivate land, livestock, crops, and fertilizers while also reducing the amount of waste sent to landfills. "My career in corporate fashion coincided with the rise in fast fashion, so I felt like it was my last hope in the industry to create my own brand that was more sustainable both in lifestyle and how it treated the planet."  We discuss: - How Dana's career in corporate fashion led her to create a sustainable brand - Ways consumers can create change in the fashion industry - Tips for shopping sustainably and reducing waste in your life - Her advice for aspiring entrepreneurs You can follow Hyer Goods on Instagram and Facebook You can find this interview and many more by subscribing to Office Chats on Apple Podcast and Spotify. Follow @officechats on Instagram for more

Ashley Jennett is the founder of The Bee and The Fox - a lifestyle and apparel brand known for their unique vintage style t-shirts that had its start on Etsy. Jennett started her business in 2014 with $700 and a small assortment of children’s shirts on Etsy. Today, the business is a popular e-commerce platform with mugs, key chains, stickers, greeting cards, and apparel for kids, babies, women, and men.  “Content wise, our designs always speak to me on a personal level whether its motherhood, political, or being a feminist. I take whats going on in my life and put it into the brand.”   We discuss:- How Jennett turned her business from a side hustle to a full-time job - Tips for staying inspired during challenging times - Balancing work and life as an entrepreneur You can follow The Bee and Fox on Instagram and shop on The Bee and Fox Site You can find this interview and many more by subscribing to Office Chats on Apple Podcast and Spotify. Follow @officechats on Instagram for more content. Hosted on Acast. Se

Marvin Revells is the creative director playing an integral role in curating a sales platform for European and Southeast Asian clothing designers at 3NY-a women’s clothing boutique based out of Soho, NYC. For over a decade, 3NY buyers and associates have offered clients around the world hand picked one-of-a-kind contemporary pieces from the fashion industry’s up-and-coming designers. Revells discusses what it's like to be a Black man, specifically a Black man in the fashion industry and fashion’s problem with diversity and performative action. “Companies need to look like what they represent. There are so many false narratives out there. You’ll see Black models all over Gucci but when you get into the higher management you don’t see those decision makers. I think they need to start hiring Black people, there are millions of talented African Americans. We are applicable, we are hard workers, and we’ve proven ourselves time and time again.”  We talk about: - Revells start in the fashion industry  - How NY creat

Before creating CBD beauty brand Cannuka, Founder and CEO Michael Bumgarner's idea of skincare was "a bar of Dial soap, Vaseline, and lotion." Fast forward to today, and Bumgarner is the man behind the largest CBD beauty launch in the world with brand partnerships at Ulta Beauty, Neiman Marcus, and 2000 other retail doors. In this episode, Bumgarner revealed it was a background in farming that led him to discover the power of cannabis and see its potential to be a game-changer in the beauty world.      "I got interested in beauty because of my passion for industrial hemp. I identified beauty, specifically skincare, as a wide-open space where we could get a product on people's skin and show them the benefits of cannabis so they'd want to learn more about the plant and why it's effective."    We discuss:- How Cannuka is reintroducing cannabis to consumers - The scaling process in a competitive and rapidly growing industry - How hemp can bring jobs to rural America - Cannuka’s unique formulation and future expan

When the COVID-19 pandemic began, Austin high schoolers Sarah Zeng and Alice Huang faced canceled summer plans, the challenges of remote learning, and a community struggling to combat the effects of coronavirus. The two childhood friends and avid bakers created a small cookie business to cheer people up with homemade treats while donating 80% of proceeds to All Together ATX for COVID relief. Zeng and Huang's business, Dough Re Mi Cookie Co, has since donated upwards of $3,000 for COVID Relief in the Austin community. Zeng, 16, and Huang, 15, bake and deliver classic cookies and dog treats, rotating specialty recipes into the mix every month. Customers can buy cookies for themselves or send them as a sweet surprise for someone else with a customizable message card.  "Our mission was to bring together the community at a time of stress and anxiety. It's really amazing when we go out to deliver every Saturday, people smile at us through their windows and are really excited."  Word of these cookies for a cause qui

Audree Lopez is an NYC-based fashion and celebrity stylist, editor, and consultant. In 2018, Lopez launched her digital course and community for fashion students, Fashion Fundamentals, where she shares her tips for breaking into the world of fashion. Because financial barriers, social obstacles, colorism, and racism play significant roles in the lack of diversity in the industry, Lopez launched The Fashion Fundamentals Foundation, a scholarship and mentorship program for students from diverse backgrounds and underrepresented communities.   “My goal is to help bring in this new class of fashion professionals who are diverse, talented, creative, and deserve to be there.”  We discuss:- The role networking played in Lopez’s career growth - How Audree is helping break barriers in the fashion industry - What you should know about pursuing a career in fashion - Tips for stepping out of your comfort zone Resources From This Episode Audree Lopez on Instagram | Audree Kate Studios Site | Simply Audree Kate Blog | Fashi

Journalist and former swim coach, Paulana Lamonier, launched Black People Will Swim, in hopes of dismantling the long-standing stereotype that Black people can’t swim. The two-entity swim business and media company launched in March 2020. Lamonier describes Black People Will Swim as a “full circle ecosystem of education centered around swimming.”  Their Brooklyn and Long Island locations offer services revolving around teaching clients how to swim and conquer their fears through group or private swim lessons.  “From that moment, I just thought about how many times do we hear false information or this jargon, and we take it to be our truth because it’s been said too many times. I started Black People Will Swim out of necessity. Not only are we teaching people how to swim, but we’re working our best to eliminate that stereotype altogether. “   We discuss:- Paulana’s journey to end racial stereotypes and empower the Black community - How Black People Will Swim is creating an open and accepting environment throug

Nadine Joseph is the founder and entrepreneur behind Peak and Valley - a small health and wellness company that offers science-backed, and honest products to the world of wellness. The brand is known for its plant and fungi based natural, vegan, and sustainable herbal blends, that seek to balance stress.  Joseph was dealing with chronic stress, anxiety, fatigue, and skin issues when she happened to be working at a lab researching the neuroscience of stress. After months of dedicated personal research, she discovered the stress relieving properties of adaptogens—mushrooms and herbs like reishi mushroom and ashwagandha—tested them out in smoothie blends and experienced calming effects, healed eczema, and less adrenal fatigue. In her journey to heal her conditions, Peak and Valley Co was born.  Joseph’s research background gave way to her company’s high sourcing standards for the quality, sustainability, and conditions of the mushrooms and herbs in her products. As a result of this, Peak and Valley Co works with

Fashion designer Ardelle Fawehinmi shares insight on launching her fashion brand Ardelle in 2019. Ardelle, which means enthusiasm and warmth in Latin, offers quality luxury garments and art work that allows women to freely express themselves. The British designer explains how her Nigerian heritage inspires her designs and how she plans to expand her label.  Fawehinmi studied visual arts and design at the British School of Performing Arts and Technology, went on to the London College of Fashion, where she studied fashion styling and production, and ventured into design in her masters degree.  We talk about:- Fawehinmi’s creative design process - Advice for aspiring designers of color  - Fawehinmi’s experience interning for fashion brands like Hugo Boss and Erdem  - How to find inspiration for creative work  Resource From This Episode Ardelle Fawehinmi on Instagram | Ardelle on Instagram | Ardelle Site You can find this interview and many more by subscribing to Office Chats on Apple Podcast and Spotify. Follow

Maya Vander, luxury real estate professional and star of Netflix's Selling Sunset, joined us to discuss everything from her real estate career to reality TV and motherhood. Vander immigrated to the United States from Israel in 2002, working in retail before pursuing a real estate license in 2012. She built her career at a small real estate company and then joined The Oppenheim Real Estate Group, where she is featured as a real estate agent on the Netflix reality show Selling Sunset. “I love real estate and I’m very passionate about what I do. I’m always driving around looking at construction sites, researching what it costs to develop houses, and always checking out different properties and networking with people. That's the part that I enjoy the most. In this industry, you need to have thick skin, be patient, and consistent in order to succeed.”  We discuss:- Maya’s career journey in real estate  - Tips for succeeding in the real estate industry  - Behind the scenes and inside scoop on the next season of Sel

Ju Rhyu is the co-founder/CEO of Hero Cosmetics, a skincare brand dedicated to fighting acne. Hero Cosmetics launched in 2017 with one product, The Mighty Patch, as a test on Amazon. Today, Hero Cosmetics sells a box of Mighty Patch every 30 seconds through channels like Amazon, Target, Urban Outfitters, Anthropologie, and more. Rhyu’s entrance into the skin care market happened candidly, when she was sent to Korea as part of her corporate job and was exposed to K beauty in 2012. Recently, the savvy business woman was included in Inc Magazine’s 2019 Female Founders 100 list.  We discuss- Ju’s career journey and how she broke into the skincare industry - Breaking the stigma around acne through education  - Advice for aspiring entrepreneurs - How to find mentors, build connections, and pitch your brand  Resources From This Episode  Ju Rhyu on Instagram | Hero Cosmetics on Instagram | Hero Cosmetics Site You can find this interview and many more by subscribing to Office Chats on Apple Podcast and Spotify. Follow

Ashley Feinstein Gerstley is the founder and CEO of The Fiscal Femme: a company on a mission to help women get wealthy through financial coaching. Gerstley is an author, entrepreneur, and feminist on a mission to end inequality through financial well-being. "My goal is to make [financial knowledge] accessible, fun, and relevant to all women because money touches every area of our lives. At The Fiscal Femme, we talk about money in ways that feel a lot more relevant rather than just the numbers themselves.”    She is the creator and author of the 30-Day Money Cleanse program, which has helped thousands of women cultivate harmonious relationships with money and achieve their financial goals. As a trusted money expert, she has been featured by Forbes, NBC, Glamour and the New York Times, among others. We discuss - How Gerstley is making financial wealth and knowledge more accessible to women - Helpful money tips for young professionals  - Free financial resources, guides, and tools provided by The Fiscal Femme Re

The Workout LA offers dance-based fitness classes with one goal: to empower women and encourage an appreciation for their bodies. The studio was founded by former professional dancers and best friends, Nicole Haworth andAshley Layfield. With more than five years as top trainers in the fitness world working with celebrity clients, Haworth and Layfield are pros when it comes to helping others sculpt and strengthen muscles. But when the duo felt like there was something left to improve when it came to working out their clients, they set out to create a unique fitness experience rooted in meaning.We discuss:Haworth and Layfield’s inspiration behind creating their own fitness experienceHow The Workout LA is empowering women to practice self loveTips for aspiring business ownersWhat to expect from The Workout LA in the future  You can follow The Workout LA on Instagram and learn more on The Workout LA Site.You can find this interview and many more by subscribing to Office Chats on Apple Podcast and Spotify. Follow

Paola Hernández is a NY-based fashion designer and founder of her namesake sustainable label whose designs have been featured in Vogue, Harper's Bazaar, and InStyle. Hernández studied fashion at Central Saint Martin's College of Art and Design in London. Her pieces are all locally sourced, designed with quality materials made to last, and are produced with single-materials, allowing them to be easily recyclable and biodegradable with materials such as merino wool, cashmere, cotton, and silk.We talk about:Paola's inspiration for designing new collectionsHer Advice for aspiring designersHow Paola emphasizes sustainability in her collectionsCareer tips for those in the fashion industry Follow Paola Hernández on Instagram and shop on the Paola Hernández Website.You can find this interview and many more by subscribing to Office Chats on Apple Podcast and Spotify. Follow @officechats on Instagram for more content. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Logan LaMance and Teddy Giard, the founders ofKanga Coolers, turned a Clemson University class project into a business that garnered a $100k investment from Mark Cuban on Shark Tank, one of the fastest deals made in Shark Tank history. The idea for Kanga's Kase Mate, which keeps a case of beer cold for seven hours, came to LaMance, naturally, at a tailgate. "I was drinking warm beer out of a case. I had a Yeti. I spent $300 on a cooler that could keep my beer cold for three weeks but I wouldn't use it for three hours," he said. This problem led to the creation of a koozie for an entire case of beer - a solution less expensive and more convenient than a large cooler. While the five friends behind this solution got a B on their project (which stands for 'beer' according to LaMance), their success pitching in front of the sharks was far greater.We talk aboutHow the founders of Kanga Coolers turned a class project into a successful businessAdvice for college students who are aspiring entrepreneursWhat is was like

In this episode, NY-based model Alexandria Morgan talks about the ups and downs of the modeling industry. In this episode, Morgan opens up about difficult experiences she's encountered in her modeling career. From harmful body critiques, nepotism, and a lack of resources and benefits, there are many hardships in the industry many have accepted as a part of the job. Morgan, however, chooses not to accept the unjust practices in the modeling industry. Instead, she hopes to be able to help change them. By sharing her story, Morgan hopes to inspire other models to feel comfortable about speaking out and demanding a just industry.We discuss:Morgan’s career journey and memorable modeling momentsThe struggles and unjust practices of the modeling industryHow Morgan hopes to create change in the industryAdvice and tips for aspiring models Follow Alexandria Morgan on Instagram and YoutubeYou can find this interview and many more by subscribing to Office Chats on Apple Podcast and Spotify. Follow @officechats on Instagr

Sean Garrette is a licensed esthetician, skin care specialist, and content creator who grew his career on social media and founded Sean Garrette Skin. Garrette’s interest in the skincare industry burgeoned from his work as a makeup artist and once his esthetician journey began, he started posting skin care advice on Instagram in 2017. Garrette currently works in a spa and also does virtual consultations via social media to build a foundation for followers who want to start their skin care journey.  Garrette talks about his career in skincare and the use of technology to build his career skills and market himself to reach a larger audience of clients.  We talk about: - Advice for finding the right esthetician - Skin care do’s and don'ts and best practices  - How to use social media to market yourself and grow your career  - The importance of realistic expectations in your career and skin journey Resources From This Episode Follow Sean Garrette on Instagram and Twitter.You can find this interview and many more

Beatrice Dixon is the founder and CEO of The Honey Pot CO-a feminine care company offering 100% natural products powered by herbs to cleanse, protect, and balance customers’ vaginal health.    Although the company is still considered small, Dixon sought to make a community impact through her brand’s empowering and charitable ethos. To further The Honey Pot Co’ s mission to help women, the brand partnered with charities like AFRIPads and #HappyPeriod to support homeless women and women in developing countries have access to menstrual and feminine care products.  We discuss: - How Dixon is innovating in the feminine hygiene market - Advice for aspiring entrepreneurs - The importance of staying grateful  - Maintaining a work life balance in a startup environment  Youcan follow Beatrice Dixon on Instagram and The Honey Pot Company on Instagram.You can find this interview and many more by subscribing to Office Chats on Apple Podcast and Spotify. Follow @officechats on Instagram for more content. Hosted on Acast. S

Founded in 2013 by New Orleans native Brandi Blocker, LaPierre Cosmetics is a nail polish brand free of ten toxic chemicals used in conventional nail polish. In this episode, Madame Blue's Valeria Ramos talks with Blocker about creating a small business and building a legacy. "LaPierre Cosmetics was inspired by my mother, Jacquelyn Marie LaPierre. For years, she created many fond memories with me over a bottle of nail polish In 2013, she was diagnosed with lung cancer and was limited to the brands of nail polish she could use."  Blocker’s mother lost her battle with lung cancer on January 1, 2014. In her memory, LaPierre Cosmetics supports the Livestrong Foundation, empowering people in the cancer community to address unmet needs.  We discuss:- How Blocker is growing a small business in a competitive industry - Why conventional nail polishes can be toxic to your health - The importance of giving back to your community - Advice for aspiring entrepreneurs Follow Brandi Blocker on Instagram and LaPierre Cosmetic