Coffee N° 5 with Lara Schmoisman

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Bet Hannon, web accessibility expert and founder of AccessiCart, joins Lara Schmoisman on Coffee Nº5 to break down what accessibility really means for websites, marketing, and global compliance. From ADA lawsuits to the EU Accessibility Act, Bet shares why inclusive design is not just about avoiding legal risks—it’s about unlocking a $500 billion consumer market.

We'll talk about:

• How Bet pivoted from nonp...

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Courtney Claghorn, co-founder of SUGARED + BRONZED, joins Lara Schmoisman on Coffee Nº5 to share how she bootstrapped a beauty service out of her apartment into a nationwide brand. From $1,000 in startup capital to 10 stores before raising funding, Courtney reveals the lessons of growth, customer loyalty, franchising, memberships, and creating a product line—all while keeping customer service at the core.

We'...

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Alec Batis, beauty industry veteran and founder of Sweet Chemistry, joins Lara Schmoisman on Coffee Nº5 to unpack the pursuit of eternal beauty. From organ regeneration science to peptide innovation, he shares how true beauty goes beyond flawless skin—blending performance-driven skincare with wellness, meaning, and social impact.

We'll talk about:

• The personal story that drove Alec to chase beauty through ...

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Mark Menning, PhD, pharmaceutical scientist and founder of MARK Los Angeles, joins Lara Schmoisman to unpack how flavonoids, clinical trials, and advanced delivery systems are reshaping skincare. From FDA-approved antivirals to cold sore serums and acne care, he shares how science—not hype—is driving the next era of beauty and wellness.

We'll talk about:

• Why drug delivery—not just ingredients—defines wheth...

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Susanah Zeffiro, Brand Partnerships Lead at BeReal and former Spotify and Epic Games exec, joins Lara Schmoisman to explore the future of social media, authenticity vs. AI, and how brands can win with Gen Z by leaning into raw, unfiltered connection instead of glossy campaigns.

We'll talk about:

• Why Gen Z is rejecting filtered perfection and demanding authenticity
• The throughline of Susanah’s career: spotti...

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Steven J. Edelstein, VP of Growth & Partnerships at MyFBAPrep, joins Lara Schmoisman to unpack why most brands fail before they scale—covering pricing strategy, supply chain traps, trade show mistakes, and the future of beauty innovation through personalization and smarter storytelling.

We'll talk about:

• Why pricing strategy must start with your audience—not just your ingredients
• The real margin rules t...

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Henry Barton, Global Head of Network & Community at Duel Tech, joins Lara Schmoisman to reveal how the smartest fashion, beauty, and lifestyle brands turn their most passionate customers into unstoppable advocates—and why community is your ultimate growth engine.

We'll talk about:

• Why your most loyal customers are your most powerful marketing channel—and how to activate them
• The difference between brand...

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Ken Hughes, known as The King of Customer Experience, joins Lara Schmoisman to share why connection—not product—is the ultimate differentiator in today’s AI-driven world, and how brands can design loyalty that lasts.

We'll talk about:

• Why products and services are now commodities—and why connection is your only real differentiator
• The “goldfish moment” every brand should be creating (and how to scale it)
• How...

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Nader Naeymi-Rad, Founder and Publisher of Beauty Independent, joins Lara Schmoisman to unpack the evolution of the beauty industry—from the death of indie beauty to the rise of professional founders, and what it really takes to build a brand that lasts.

We'll talk about:

• Why the “indie beauty” label is outdated—and what founders need to focus on instead
• The harsh truth about brand exits, celebrity equity, ...

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Daniel Scharff, Founder & CEO of Startup CPG and host of a top 0.5% global podcast, joins Lara Schmoisman to talk brand-building, retail truth bombs, and what it really takes to grow in the crowded CPG space.

We'll talk about:

• How Daniel scaled Startup CPG into the most trusted brand community in the industry.
• What most CPG founders get wrong when pitching to retailers.
• The surprising reason brand story is mo...

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Lara Schmoisman and Don Allen, CIO/CISO of Moda Operandi, discuss the evolution of e-commerce, the impact of AI on user experience and SEO, and strategic technology adoption for competitive advantage.

We'll talk about:

• The surprising truth about SEO today—and why organic reach is (almost) a myth.
• Why a "compelling website" is now just "table stakes" in e-commerce.
• The strategic shift: whe...

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Lara Schmoisman and Mimi Banks of MB Social dive into real talk about social media strategy, content that converts, and the future of the creator economy—from beauty brands to medical experts.

We'll talk about:

• How Mimi helped turn nail art UGC into one of L'Oréal’s earliest creator strategies.
• The three types of creators you need to understand—and why the labels matter.
• Why good content alone isn’t eno...

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Blair Enns joins Lara Schmoisman to unpack what actually works when experts sell their services. From value-based pricing to client alignment, this episode breaks down smart, integrity-driven growth.

We'll talk about:

• The mindset shift that helped Blair move from chasing clients to choosing them.
• What not to include in a proposal—and how to avoid giving strategy away too soon.
• When your sales process is actu...

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Board leader and former CEO Chelsea Grayson joins Lara Schmoisman on Coffee Nº5 to break down what actually drives business growth. From managing iconic brands to scaling through economic turbulence, this episode is packed with insights on strategy, governance, and real leadership.

We'll talk about:

• Why hiring too fast after one "good season" could tank your brand.
• The real cost of expanding your ...

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eCommerce connector and community builder Sara Pereda joins Lara Schmoisman on Coffee Nº5 to unpack how Smarterships became a global force, what makes partnerships actually work, and how to scale with strategy, integrity, and connection.

We'll talk about:

• Why Sara built a global Slack community—and made it paid on purpose.
• The real difference between connecting and collecting contacts.
• How to tell if your pa...

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Beauty industry leader Liza Rapay joins Lara Schmoisman on Coffee Nº5 to unpack the strategy behind Cosmoprof’s global success, how brands can actually win at trade shows, and why purpose-driven leadership always scales better.

We'll talk about:

• Why building a show like Cosmoprof takes strategy—not just sparkle.
• What most beauty brands get wrong about trade shows.
• The mindset shift every founder needs before...

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Lara Schmoisman sits down with Elizabeth Robillard, eTail Portfolio Director, to talk retail strategy, evolving search trends, content that connects, and how to avoid falling for industry buzz. This episode of Coffee Nº 5 is packed with insight for retail marketers, brand leaders, and founders navigating the future of omnichannel commerce.

We'll talk about:

• Why AI fatigue is real—and how to shift the conve...

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Communications strategist Jeanne Meyer joins Lara Schmoisman on Coffee Nº 5 to talk brand voice, reputation management, and crisis comms—from her work at EMI Music to major brand turnarounds at Toys R Us and Unilever. Learn how to build brand trust, adapt messaging across platforms, and lead with clarity in a noisy, fast-moving media landscape.

We'll talk about:

• Why consistency across platforms is make-or-...

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In the 200th episode of Coffee N° 5, Sampo Parkkinen, CEO of Revieve, joins Lara Schmoisman to talk AI in beauty, brand positioning, and the power of solving real problems—not chasing trends. Learn why clarity beats gimmicks, how to build consumer trust with smart beauty tech, and what it really takes to grow a modern beauty brand.
Perfect for beauty founders, marketers, and innovation leaders.|

We'll ta...