Coffee N° 5 with Lara Schmoisman

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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• Why the “indie beauty” label is outdated—and what founders need to focus on instead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...

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Leadership expert Kevin Eikenberry joins Lara Schmoisman on Coffee N° 5 to unpack what real leadership looks like: responsibility, adaptability, and learning as you go. If you’re building a team—or building yourself as a leader—this one’s for you.

We'll talk about:

• Why leadership is not the same as being the boss
• The hardest shift: from doing the work to leading the people
• What “leading by example” really me...

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Copywriter Carmine Montalto joins Lara Schmoisman on Coffee N° 5 to talk about the power of words, the importance of brand voice, and why good writing is non-negotiable across every touchpoint, from packaging to email. If your copy isn’t converting, this episode’s your wake-up call.

We'll talk about:

• Why your consumer, not your brand, is the main character
• The difference between nice copy and copy that sell...

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Andrea Moore joins Lara Schmoisman on Coffee N° 5 to talk real leadership, smart hiring, and the strategy behind a truly connected omnichannel brand. If you're tired of chaos and ready to lead with clarity, this episode delivers. 

We'll talk about:

• Boss vs. leader: Why the title means nothing without vision
• How Andrea scaled omnichannel from the ground up
• Hiring for growth: Skill, grit, and lo...

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Publishing a book? Learn the truth behind self-publishing, hybrid models, and traditional book deals with expert Meghan Stevenson. From securing an agent to building your platform, get industry-level insight in this episode of Coffee N° 5. 

We'll talk about:

• Meghan’s journey from Big Five publishing to independent author advocacy
• The three paths to publishing: self-publishing, hybrid, and traditional
• Why aud...

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From Argentina to the C-suite: Global Head of Marketing Marina Kirschner joins Lara Schmoisman on Coffee N° 5 to talk about brand growth, beauty industry shifts, the power of resilience, and building legacy with innovation. Don’t miss this global marketing masterclass!

We'll talk about:

• Marina’s journey from Argentina to Moroccanoil
• The immigrant mindset: resilience, reinvention, and leadership
• How Moroccano...

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Join Lara Schmoisman on Coffee N° 5 as she chats with global event strategist Christian Muche, co-founder of POSSIBLE. Discover how this Miami-based event is redefining the future of marketing conferences through real connections, AI integration, and powerful brand collaboration. Tune in for insight into event innovation, the creator economy, and the art of curating meaningful moments.

We'll talk about:

• Wh...