Where Brains Meet Beauty

There are many life lessons in the story of this week’s guest, Indie Lee. A terrifying medical diagnosis (and full recovery) motivated her to launch her truly green skincare line, Indie Lee, defined by clean ingredients and full transparency on what’s in, what’s not and where it all comes from. Tune in to hear how this beauty entrepreneur used one of the biggest challenges anyone can face to forge a new path and make her world—and everyone’s skin—healthier. #wherebrainsmeetbeauty @wherebrainsmeetbeautypodcast wherebrainsmeetbeauty.com

Life slapped Soyoung Kang in the face pretty early on, when her father’s sudden death meant she’d have to give up her lifelong dream of becoming an architect and choose a more financially stable path. How she faced her disappointment and found a new road that landed her (happily) in the beauty C suite are central themes of this moving episode. #wherebrainsmeetbeauty @wherebrainsmeetbeautypodcast wherebrainsmeetbeauty.com

Growing up on a cattle farm in Ohio, Michael Bumgarner always knew he wanted to be an entrepreneur. But he had no idea that desire would someday lead him to the beauty industry. The founder of Cannuka walks me through his journey into cannabis-based skincare, and how he believes the incredible, versatile hemp plant can change the future of American farming for the better. #wherebrainsmeetbeauty @wherebrainsmeetbeautypodcast wherebrainsmeetbeauty.com

Nicknamed 'Rosy' by her family for her positive outlook on life, this NY Times Best Selling-Author, Entrepreneur, Actress, Wife and Mom sees the world through rose colored glasses! In this episode, Suzanne Somers, Founder of Suzanne Organics, shares her secret to lifelong optimism and how the challenging parts of life are the ones we can learn the most from. #wherebrainsmeetbeauty @wherebrainsmeetbeautypodcast wherebrainsmeetbeauty.com

Dr. Zahir Dossa is an unexpected beauty entrepreneur. He pivoted his dreams of outer space to the beauty industry after a meandering career journey here on earth. Now the CEO + Co-Founder of Function of Beauty focuses on sustainability and individuality, reminding his customers that beauty is about them, not what's in the bottle. #wherebrainsmeetbeauty @wherebrainsmeetbeautypodcast wherebrainsmeetbeauty.com

Casey Georgeson says that building her business has been like building the plane mid-flight. While many entrepreneurs have hesitated to set sail on the CBD wave because of tough headwinds, the Saint Jane CEO and Founder believes it's provided an opportunity for her brand to succeed. #wherebrainsmeetbeauty @wherebrainsmeetbeautypodcast wherebrainsmeetbeauty.com

After nearly a year of discomfort, an ancestral vision provided Beatrice Dixon with the recipe to resolve her bacterial vaginosis - and the inspiration for a first-of-it's kind business. Bea provides women with the tools to safely and naturally care for their "honey pots" with the first plant-based feminine care system that cleanses, protects and balances the vagina. #wherebrainsmeetbeauty @wherebrainsmeetbeautypodcast wherebrainsmeetbeauty.com

When mother-daughter duo Mila & Ada Juristovski lost their husband and father, they transformed their grief over intense loss into a drive to create something focused on health and wellness. Nala combines Mila's expertise in biotech and Ada's mastery of marketing to bring a free-from, natural and effective deodorant to the market.   #wherebrainsmeetbeauty @wherebrainsmeetbeautypodcast wherebrainsmeetbeauty.com

It was friends at first sight for besties and business partners Kayla Bertagna and Lisa Ballstaedt. The Co-Founders of Soon Skincare named the brand for Lisa's Korean Grandmother, keeping in mind the meaning of the word in Korean - smooth and pure. The pair aims to bring the world the excitement and innovation of Korean skincare with an unsurpassed user experience (and do it with a lot of laughs along the way).   #wherebrainsmeetbeauty @wherebrainsmeetbeautypodcast wherebrainsmeetbeauty.com

Anisa shares insights that every leader should hear - from the attitude that keeps her calm, to how she delivers authenticity through compassion. Tune in for an episode that's as honest as it is informative. #wherebrainsmeetbeauty @wherebrainsmeetbeautypodcast wherebrainsmeetbeauty.com

As the CEO and Founder of Kreyol Essence, Yve-Car Momperousse is changing the way people see Haiti and challenging the beauty standards that have traditionally taught women that natural hair isn't beautiful. She's passionate about making a tangible mark in the world, creating a blueprint for poverty alleviation through sustainable work, starting in Haiti.   #wherebrainsmeetbeauty @wherebrainsmeetbeautypodcast wherebrainsmeetbeauty.com

Priya Rao has worked at nearly every beauty and fashion magazine out there. After starting her career in banking, a sitcom worthy roommate situation opened her eyes to the world of creative pursuits. She realized if she was willing to journey off the beaten path, she could lead a more exciting and creative career - so she did. Listen in to this week’s episode as Priya and I connect on networking discomfort, the many manifestations of feeling like an outsider, and how she got where she is today.   #wherebrainsmeetbeauty @wherebrainsmeetbeautypodcast wherebrainsmeetbeauty.com

Dr. Michelle Koo wants to bring out the best in you. As a plastic surgeon, she creates symmetry and optimal aesthetics in her clients through surgical options, but she also delivers results as a skincare expert. Her luxury skincare brand, Dr. Koo Private Practice Skincare, designed to provide plastic surgery results without plastic surgery, was patiently developed over two decades of research and development. #wherebrainsmeetbeauty @wherebrainsmeetbeautypodcast wherebrainsmeetbeauty.com

Jess Weiner isn’t just any expert, she’s a cultural expert. Throughout her 15 years in the business of consumer relations, Jess realized that having a strategic marketing and consumer engagement is quite different from actually engaging with the consumer and understanding their needs. To be successful in today’s business world, you need more than just a big name, you need to stand for something - and mean it! This episode focuses on the need for change within the business world’s reactive plans in times of crisis and the corporate responsibility of businesses to engage in ongoing socio-economic conversations.   #wherebrainsmeetbeauty @wherebrainsmeetbeautypodcast wherebrainsmeetbeauty.com

Like many entrepreneurs, Pam Zapata saw a need and decided to fill it. As an expert in influencer marketing and the CEO at Society Eighteen, Pam is passionately bridging the gap between what's been historically referred to as 'multicultural marketing' and 'general marketing', helping companies reach diverse influencer partners, and vice versa. This episode focuses on important topics of tokenism, diversity, and racial inequality.   #wherebrainsmeetbeauty @wherebrainsmeetbeautypodcast wherebrainsmeetbeauty.com

Travel may be on pause, but Veronique Gabai believes fragrance can transport us on a journey to somewhere else. Her namesake fragrance, jewelry and beauty product company is inspired by her birthplace and the place of her childhood, the French Riviera. After growing up surrounded by beautiful sensation, she wanted to put nature directly into her products, to help people feel better - more joyful, beautiful and confident - and express themselves more authentically. She made the switch from corporate America to indie beauty when the risk of ignoring that little voice telling her to leave became greater than the risk of leaving the corporate pool, and hasn't looked back.   #wherebrainsmeetbeauty @wherebrainsmeetbeautypodcast wherebrainsmeetbeauty.com

Dr. Susan Taylor, Skin of Color Society Founder, always wanted to grow up and be a doctor, but she didn’t know she’d become a dermatologist. She created @skinofcolorsociety when she realized that many dermatologists were not well-versed in treating darker skin tones, and even afraid to perform procedures on brown or black skin. Tune in to this week's episode to hear about how Dr. Susan Taylor started SOCS, and the ways they help promote awareness, research and education on treating skin of color, and provide mentorship and networking opportunities to aspiring dermatologists.   #wherebrainsmeetbeauty @wherebrainsmeetbeautypodcast wherebrainsmeetbeauty.com

Thirty years ago, Sonya Dakar was taking polaroid photos of clients in her esthetician office, fondly referred to as skin boot camp. Today her namesake skincare line is recognized worldwide. As a skincare expert, Sonya is renowned for building a brand dedicated to educating consumers and treating the skin with clean, effective ingredients. Her iconic clinic in Beverly Hills serves as a center for innovation where clients come to transform their skin concerns into a healthy, glowing complexion through proven, non-invasive treatments.   #wherebrainsmeetbeauty @wherebrainsmeetbeautypodcast wherebrainsmeetbeauty.com

After being fired from a fast-paced banking biz position in London, Maria Hatzistefanis, Founder of Rodial, took months before making her next move. That move eventually combined her business savvy and experience in the finance world with her long-time love of the beauty industry. This episode reminds us to keep calm and find the beauty in every road block, rejection and set-back.   #wherebrainsmeetbeauty @wherebrainsmeetbeautypodcast wherebrainsmeetbeauty.com

What’s it like to be the first African American woman to hold a patent within a space? In this week’s episode, we hear from Gwen Jimmere, Naturalicious CEO & Founder and the journey that took her from dreams of being a singer, to a swanky corporate position at Ford, and eventually starting a natural hair care company. Gwen is as raw and honest as she is determined, taking this episode through some heavy topics like domestic violence and racial inequality. Gwen's courage and resilience shines through as she explains the extraordinary journey that led her to becoming the first African American woman to hold a patent for a natural hair care product. #wherebrainsmeetbeauty @wherebrainsmeetbeautypodcast wherebrainsmeetbeauty.com