Superwomen With Rebecca Minkoff

Toni Ko, beauty mogul and founder of NYX Cosmetics, just turned 50 this year. She's changed her perspective on life and her experiences, but she's not ready to put away her lipstick just yet. After climbing Mount Kiliminjaro, in a full face of makeup, it seems she is just getting started. Toni Ko was born in South Korea and immigrated to the United States with her family when she was 13 years old. She grew up in the beauty business working in her mother’s cosmetic store selling perfume. Toni founded NYX Cosmetics in 1999 at the age of 25. In its first year alone, NYX Cosmetics earned $2 million. NYX quickly became successful and in 2014 was acquired by L’Oréal. Falling into a deep depression after the acquisition, Toni did what she knew best and founded several new companies. Today, Toni runs Bespoke Beauty Brands, a company that helps launch new beauty brands. Thanks for listening!  Don't forget to order Rebecca's new book, Fearless: The New Rules for Unlocking Creativity, Courage, and Succe

This episode is sponsored by Magnum Ice Cream. Follow @magnumicecream on Instagram and Twitter and @magnumicecreamUS on Facebook. Find Magnum ice cream at retailers nationwide and at ⁠magnumicecream.com⁠. What if there was a workout that helped you to not only “look good, but…feel even better?” That’s exactly what Rachel Katzman, co-founder of P.volve asked herself before she discovered the world of functional fitness.  When Rachel first found out that she had scoliosis and had been struggling with high-intensity workouts, she was desperate for a new way to exercise that didn't involve pushing through pain. As Rachel went to gym after gym in NYC, she eventually discovered functional fitness and saw incredible results. Seeing a gap in the market, Rachel launched P.volve in November of 2017. As a result of Rachel's willingness to get uncomfortable and follow her intuition, P.volve is now a revolutionary fitness movement. Just ask Jennifer Aniston. Thanks for listening!  Don't forget to order Rebec

Rarely does Karen Harvey, CEO and Founder of The Karen Harvey Companies sit down on the other side of the podcast mic. Having worked with top talent and brands in the fashion world for almost 22 years, Karen shares what it takes to succeed in the industry. Karen knew at an early age that she wanted to know and help people on a deep level. This, coupled with her love for fashion, eventually led her into consulting. Karen began Karen Harvey Consulting in 2001. For Karen, placing talent was much more than just a transaction. Her commitment to her values, even while scaling her business, has enabled her to care deeply about the people and brands she works with. Karen attributes her success to her incredible team of women, most of whom, have been with her for over a decade. The Karen Harvey Companies also include Karen’s two other businesses: INDX and Fashion Tech Forum. Today, you can find Karen speaking on her podcast with some of the leading names in the fashion industry. Thanks for listening!  Don't forge

Behind every mission-driven brand is a passionate, heart-centered marketer. At Thrive Market (an online health food marketplace) that woman is Chief Marketing Officer, Amina Pasha. Amina has been in the business of marketing beauty and wellness products for over a decade. But it wasn’t until the birth of her first son in 2017, that she began to reevaluate her purpose and values. It was at this point that Amina made the difficult decision to move to LA and accept a position as vice president of marketing for The Honest Company. Just two short years later, Amina joined Thrive Market’s marketing team, finally feeling like she found her calling. Amina has dedicated herself to deepening the “brand DNA” of Thrive Market, based on the mission of making healthy food accessible to all while being environmentally friendly.  Thanks for listening!  Don't forget to order Rebecca's new book, Fearless: The New Rules for Unlocking Creativity, Courage, and Success. Follow Superwomen on Instagram. Big Ideas:  Makin

Tessa White, known as The Job Doctor, considers herself “the most unlikely influencer on the planet.” But after posting her first TikTok in 2020, she achieved viral success. Now, Tessa has over one million followers who turn to her for her unique career perspective and guidance on managing workplace relationships. Tessa White spent 25 years working her way up the corporate ladder in Human Resources, eventually becoming an HR executive for a Fortune 50 company. Along the way, she witnessed shifts in the workplace amongst younger and older generations. She noticed that younger generations do not know how to navigate conflict and often quit due to remaining quiet and not communicating their needs.  At 50 and the height of her career, Tessa became fearless and quit her high-level job. In the fall of 2020, Tessa launched the website, The Job Doctor. With the viral success of her first TikTok, many doors opened for speaking opportunities, media appearances, and even the launch of her first book, The Unspoken Truths

This episode is sponsored by Magnum Ice Cream. Follow @magnumicecream on Instagram and Twitter and @magnumicecreamUS on Facebook. Find Magnum ice cream at retailers nation-wide and at magnumicecream.com. When it comes to following her passions, French makeup artist Violette Serrat, Founder and CEO of VIOLETTE_FR has zero fears. At 19, while living in Paris, Violette was applying glitter to her friend’s face for a party. At that moment, Violette realized doing someone’s makeup merged her two loves of fashion and painting. She immediately decided she was leaving to pursue makeup in New York City and left two weeks later with no makeup or experience. After spending a short time in NYC, Violette returned to Paris. She was determined to become a makeup artist on her own terms while remaining authentic to herself, even if it meant going against industry standards.  Violette worked really hard and eventually caught her first break with an appearance in Vogue. Over the course of 17 years, Violette worked for numerou

Deeannah Seymour never set out to become an entrepreneur. She was accidentally catapulted into entrepreneurship. After many rounds of antibiotics from chronic sinus infections, Deeannah was left with an unbalanced vaginal biome. Desperate for a solution, she began to search for a holistic product that was commercially available. Coming up empty-handed, she started to do her own research and stumbled upon boric acid. This led to the birth of her very first product and the founding of her company, pH-D® Feminine Health. At the time, Deeannah thought this would just be her side hustle. But after a moment of clarity, she leaned into her intuition and took a leap of faith. She left the security of her 20-year pharmaceutical job to go all in on pH-D® Feminine Health, forever revolutionizing women’s health. Deeannah’s goal from the beginning has been to remove the stigma surrounding feminine health and vaginal odor. Throughout the process, she has learned the ins and outs of business and now runs a highly success

It’s hard to imagine ⁠Norma Kamali⁠ as anything other that the iconic, successful designer she has built herself to be over the last 50+ years. Her avant garde designs have graced the likes of Farrah Fawcett and Whitney Houston, and decades of creative looks have earned her a CFDA Lifetime Achievement Award. There was a time, however, when Norma was still figuring it all out. As a young woman sharing a clothing business with her then-husband, Norma had to make the difficult decision to leave behind what they’d built in a time that was famously hostile toward female entrepreneurs. Norma’s courageous choice to strike out on her own taught her to be strategic in good times and bad, welcoming the cycles of life as opportunities to learn and grow, making decisions that fuel self-esteem and self worth. In choosing to honor integrity and creativity above all else, Norma has invoked success in her own terms. Now expanding her brand to include skincare and home goods, Norma shares her secrets to a happy and successful

You don’t often see the interviewer become the interviewee, but Diana Ransom is a wealth of knowledge when it comes to advice for small business owners and entrepreneurs. Diana Ransom is the Executive Editor at Inc. and has been a journalist for 20 years, mainly focusing on small businesses and entrepreneurs. She is deeply passionate about studying business and telling the stories of female entrepreneurs. Recently releasing Inc.’s Female Founders 200 issue (the largest list yet), Diana shares the remarkable stories of some of the women that were featured this year. She also dishes out her best advice for female entrepreneurs at all stages of business. Thanks for listening!  Don't forget to order Rebecca's new book, Fearless: The New Rules for Unlocking Creativity, Courage, and Success. Follow Superwomen on Instagram. Social Media: ⁠@dianaransom⁠ --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/superwomen/support

After fighting to pull out her strength, Tamara Walcott is now the strongest woman in the world. But it didn’t start out that way.  In 2018, Tamara Walcott had reached her breaking point. Lost in motherhood and marriage, Tamara started binge eating. At 415 pounds, she no longer recognized herself and could barely look in the mirror. She finally decided enough was enough. Tamara shifted her mindset and began to prioritize herself. That’s when she found powerlifting. Tamara trained everyday and became stronger and stronger. And the rest is history. Today, Tamara balances being a mom, holding a world record in powerlifting, and running her foundation, Women in Powerlifting.  Thanks for listening! Don't forget to order Rebecca's new book, Fearless: The New Rules for Unlocking Creativity, Courage, and Success.  Follow Superwomen on Instagram.  Guest Website:  ⁠tamarawalcott.com⁠  Social Media:  ⁠@tamarawalcott.shw ⁠ ⁠@plussizefitqueen ⁠ Big Ideas:  Shifting your mindset to prioritize yourself and g

Cat Lee grew up with the intention of following in her father’s footsteps, and she did, for a while. After graduating from Stanford she immediately began work at Lockheed Martin where her father had made his career for 40 years. However, it wasn’t long until she realized that working in the defense industry was not kindling her passion for life. After pursuing an MBA, Cat graced the halls of Google, Facebook, and then Pinterest before realizing that what really gets her excited is angel investing and variations thereof. Now a partner at Maveron, an investment company that funds startups, Cat gets to do what she does best, breaking down barriers to entrepreneurship and helping to fund the next big rocketship! Thanks for listening!  Don't forget to order Rebecca's new book, ⁠Fearless: The New Rules for Unlocking Creativity, Courage, and Success.⁠ Follow Superwomen on ⁠Instagram⁠. Big Ideas The cultural implications of not following your parents’ vision for your life. How to choose the right investme

Ever since she spent afternoons watching TRL and Oprah, Marianna Hewitt knew she wanted to be in entertainment. After various stints studying broadcast journalism, public relations, and hosting, a mix of timing and skill poised Marianna to become one of the first big influencers, first on YouTube and then through Instagram. Marianna’s understanding of PR and presenting helped her transform from influencer to full-fledged entrepreneur. Her background and sharp wit ensured she had the boss babe skills to build a business with longevity. Summer Fridays, her cruelty-free skincare line, is evidence of that. Now in its fifth year, Summer Fridays continues to grow and expand with each successful new product launch. The best part? Marianna loves creating products that help her customers feel confident and beautiful. Thanks for listening!  Don't forget to order Rebecca's new book, Fearless: The New Rules for Unlocking Creativity, Courage, and Success. Follow Superwomen on Instagram. Social Media @marianna_hewi

Jenny Fleiss has been an entrepreneur since she was a child. Where most kids are content to simply sell lemonade by the cup, she spent her summer days figuring out how to bundle products, the best form of signage, and what location would generate the highest number of sales. That spirit stayed with her as she grew older, always finding creative ways to solve a problem, like the time she duct taped her heel on the fly. Co-founding both Rent the Runway and Jet Black, Jenny has only picked up steam since her lemonade days. Ever the entrepreneurial mind, she is constantly excited by ways of growing and adapting her businesses to the ever-changing needs of her audience. But that doesn’t mean that business solutions have to be complicated. According to Jenny, one of the greatest gifts you can give yourself is learning how to work creatively with what you have. Thanks for listening! We love our listeners! Drop us a line or give us guest suggestions here, or visit https://anchor.fm/superwomen/messages on your desktop

*This interview was released in November 2019. Kerry is no longer with Rothy’s.* When Kerry Cooper was hired as a consultant for sustainable footwear company, Rothy's, she didn’t think she’d be sticking around. After working for multiple successful companies, Kerry enjoyed the flexibility that consulting gave her. It wasn’t long, however, before the company culture won her over. Built upon a strong foundation of eco-minded operations, Kerry enjoyed the work the company was doing as much as the people doing it. Rothy’s loved her too. In her second year there sales soared to $140 million in direct to consumer sales. Even more impressive, however, is the fact that that those shoes were made from 38 million plastic water bottles saved from a long, slow demise in a landfill. They’re proving you can drink your water and wear it too. Thanks for listening!  Don't forget to order Rebecca's new book, Fearless: The New Rules for Unlocking Creativity, Courage, and Success. Follow Superwomen on Instagram. Big Ideas

Bed. We spend a third of our lives there, and yet oftentimes, our beds, or what we put on them, become somewhat of an afterthought. Ariel Kaye sought to change that. After spending some years in advertising, Ariel came to a point where she was looking for more excitement, and more of a direct way to connect with people. She had always been passionate about interior design and home goods, going so far as to maintain her own blog on the subject in her free time. As she was pondering a change in career, it dawned on her that there were little to no direct to consumer options for bedding. That is when the idea for Parachute Home was born. Now in its fifth year and about to open the fifth brick and mortar (!), Ariel fondly recalls the early days when she would drive around in her car, delivering orders directly to buyers in Los Angeles. Growth and success have come with their own challenges. Here Ariel discusses entrepreneurial ups and downs, what makes her passionate about her company, and how at the heart of it

You don’t often hear people touting the benefits of seeing the glass half-empty, but Anna Harman believes that’s what makes her an effective decision maker in tumultuous times. After launching Studs piercing stores in 2019, the company quickly needed to grow an online presence in order to make it through the pandemic without closing permanently. Luckily Anna’s long-term vision helped them navigate a path to success. Now customers can get a top-notch piercing experience in 15 locations throughout the country, and find quality, affordable jewelry on Studs’ website 24/7! Thanks for listening!  Don't forget to order Rebecca's new book, Fearless: The New Rules for Unlocking Creativity, Courage, and Success. Follow Superwomen on Instagram. Social Media @studs Big Ideas How the role of a founder shifts as the company grows. How to market your product when you no longer represent your target audience. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/superwomen/support

*At the time of this interview, Amy Shecter was the CEO of Glamsquad. She is now the CEO of Ever/Body.* How would your life be different if you were less afraid to make mistakes, to “fail”? Amy Shecter doesn’t think women let themselves fail enough, and she thinks it’s high time we become less risk-averse. Statistically, she says, women will only take risks when they feel 95-100% confident in a favorable outcome, versus the average man, who will take the same risk at only 50% confidence. And what, really, is there to lose? Most of the time a supposed failure simply means you’re that much closer to the next success. Amy spent years in fashion and footwear before delving into the world of fitness and beauty. She immediately saw it as an expanding consumer market. Now the CEO of Glamsquad, a company that brings hair, nail and makeup artists to your door, Amy finds excitement not only in great products and services for clients, but also in the fact that Glamsquad gives freelance beauty professionals a platform to

When Natalie Dawson and her husband sold their company, they had pretty much achieved every entrepreneur’s dream. But settling into a pseudo-retirement lifestyle didn’t sit well with Natalie, and it wasn’t long before she was brainstorming the next big way to make an impact. Pairing with Grant Cardone, Natalie co-founded Cardone Ventures, a management consulting firm that helps businesses grown tenfold and more. Natalie now trains founders in how to be radically honest in their team-building process in order to create the company culture and achieve the results that their goals reflect. Most importantly, she’s reminding women that it’s okay to dream big – and when you achieve success, you’re in a better position to help the world around you. Join Natalie’s free Tuesday night call, 10X Owners LIVE. This takes place every Tuesday at 8pm EST, more info at https://10x.cardoneventures.com/owners-live. Get a free copy of Natalie’s book at https://www.10xteams.com/teamwork-3 Thanks for listening!  Don't fo

Jaclyn Johnson, one of our favorite serial entrepreneurs, is back and ready to share some of her most helpful insights as a recent co-founder of a venture capital brand. New Money Ventures seeks to invest in women-led brands that make it their mission to disrupt traditional models of products and distribution, and if they see a hole in the market with no one to fill it, they start the company themselves! Through Create & Cultivate and now her own VC firm, Jaclyn continues to champion fellow female founders to grow their businesses and build long-term wealth. The best thing you can do as an entrepreneur? Use your unique skillset to build a passion-driven business, and you don’t even need VC to begin! Thanks for listening!  Don't forget to order Rebecca's new book, Fearless: The New Rules for Unlocking Creativity, Courage, and Success. Follow Superwomen on Instagram. Guest Website DrinkMaie.com Social Media @jaclynrjohnson Big Ideas The many methods of funding, and why venture capital may not

We’ll address the big question first: Christina Stembel of Farmgirl Flowers really did  grow up on a farm. Growing up in northern Indiana, Christina was expected to  fulfill her womanly duties as a wife and mother while her brother went  off to college. But Christina had other plans. She hightailed it to New York within two weeks of  graduating from high school and started working. Christina did not grow up with a lot of people cheering her on and wishing her success, and that made her strive for it all the more. Over some years and many different ideas, she saw that the floral industry held an opportunity to do exactly what she desired in starting her own business: disrupt the status quo, create scalability, and do good in the world. While not without its challenges (who knew the floral industry could be so cutthroat?), Christina has scaled from 56K her first year of business to $31 million 8 years later. As Christina fondly says, success is the best revenge. Thanks for listening!  D