AG10: Covering 10 Lessons from 10 Years of Business

As Agency Guacamole celebrates 10 years of business, the AG10 Podcast continues with conversations featuring leaders who have built successful careers by embracing change, staying true to who they are and creating meaningful connections.

In this episode, Agency Guacamole Founder & Principal Bilal Kaiser sits down with Cynthia Alvarez, celebrity hairstylist, educator and textured hair specialist with nearly two decades of experience across editorial, advertising, television and red carpet.

Cynthia reflects on her journey from becoming the neighborhood hair braider in the Bronx to building a successful career in the beauty and entertainment industries. Together, they discuss the evolution of textured hair representation and education, building an authentic personal brand through social media and why trust, energy and relationships are just as important as technical skill.

Cynthia also shares how motherhood has shaped her perspective on work and life, why she has let go of the pressure to find perfect balance and how her definition of success has evolved from constant hustle to having the freedom to choose what matters most.

Whether you’re a hairstylist, beauty professional, entrepreneur or creative, this episode offers valuable insights on building a career with intention, staying true to who you are and creating meaningful relationships along the way.

To learn more about Agency Guacamole, visit agencyguacamole.com or connect with us on Instagram and TikTok at @AgencyGuacamole. 

As Agency Guacamole celebrates 10 years of business, the AG10 Podcast continues with conversations featuring leaders who have built successful careers by embracing change, creating opportunity and staying true to their purpose.

In this episode, Agency Guacamole Founder & Principal Bilal Kaiser sits down with Brian Underwood, Beauty & Grooming Director at Women's Health and Men's Health, an accomplished editor, writer and content creator with more than 20 years of experience across multiple leading media brands.

Brian reflects on his career journey from his early days in magazine publishing to shaping beauty and wellness content at some of the industry’s most influential media brands, including O, The Oprah Magazine, Oprah Daily and The Good Life with Dr. Oz. Together they discuss building a career through unexpected opportunities, launching a media brand from the ground up, the evolution of beauty and wellness journalism, fostering meaningful partnerships between editors and PR professionals and balancing a successful career with life beyond work.

Whether you work in beauty, communications, journalism, marketing or public relations, this episode offers thoughtful insights on staying curious, embracing change and turning new opportunities into lasting career growth.

To learn more about Agency Guacamole, visit agencyguacamole.com or connect with us on Instagram and TikTok at @AgencyGuacamole. 

As Agency Guacamole celebrates 10 years of business, the AG10 Podcast continues with conversations featuring leaders who have built successful careers by embracing change, driving innovation and staying true to their purpose.

In this episode, Agency Guacamole Founder & Principal Bilal Kaiser sits down with Amanda Lehner, Vice President of Global Brand Marketing at ILIA, whose career has spanned some of the most recognizable names in beauty and wellness, including L'Oréal, Estée Lauder, Vital Proteins and Therabody.

Amanda reflects on her journey from studying journalism at the start of the social media era to building and leading brands in an industry transformed by digital culture. Together, they discuss the evolution of beauty marketing, building brands with a social-first mindset, staying culturally relevant while remaining authentic, the growing influence of consumers and the importance of creating genuine connections and communities. Amanda also shares lessons from her career on thoughtful leadership and building strong, high-performing teams.

Whether you work in beauty, marketing, communications or brand building, this episode offers valuable insights on navigating change, driving innovation and building meaningful relationships while evolving alongside the industry.

To learn more about Agency Guacamole, visit agencyguacamole.com or connect with us on Instagram and TikTok at @AgencyGuacamole. 

As Agency Guacamole celebrates 10 years of business, the AG10 Podcast continues with conversations featuring leaders who have built successful careers by embracing change, creating opportunity and staying true to their purpose.

In this episode, Agency Guacamole Founder & Principal Bilal Kaiser sits down with Castillo Bataille, celebrity hairstylist, educator and content creator with more than a decade of experience in the beauty industry. A licensed cosmetologist and barber, Castillo has worked across editorial shoots, red carpet events, national campaigns and creative partnerships with some of the industry's leading brands while building a loyal online community through his authentic approach to beauty, fashion and lifestyle.

Castillo reflects on his journey from discovering his passion for hair to becoming one of the industry's most respected artists and educators. Together they discuss overcoming self-doubt, building an authentic personal brand on social media, the realities behind the glamour of celebrity styling, the importance of kindness and human connection in creative industries and why staying true to yourself is the foundation for long-term success.

Whether you’re a hairstylist, beauty professional, content creator or creative entrepreneur, this episode offers thoughtful insights on embracing your individuality, cultivating meaningful relationships and building a career rooted in authenticity.

To learn more about Agency Guacamole, visit agencyguacamole.com or connect with us on Instagram and TikTok at @AgencyGuacamole. 

As Agency Guacamole celebrates 10 years of business, the AG10 Podcast continues with conversations featuring leaders who have built successful careers by embracing change, creating opportunity and staying true to their purpose.

In this episode, Agency Guacamole Founder & Principal Bilal Kaiser sits down with Erica Metzger, Founder of The Beauty Loop and an accomplished beauty editor, writer and brand consultant, with nearly two decades of experience across leading media brands.

Erica reflects on her career journey from legacy magazines to freelancing and entrepreneurship, sharing how she navigated an evolving media landscape and transformed career transitions into new opportunities. Together, they discuss the evolution of beauty journalism, building a personal brand beyond a job title, fostering meaningful relationships between editors and publicists and why community remains one of the industry's greatest strengths.

Whether you work in beauty, communications, media, marketing or entrepreneurship, this episode offers thoughtful insights on embracing change, creating your own path and evolving alongside your industry.

To learn more about Agency Guacamole, visit agencyguacamole.com or connect with us on Instagram and TikTok at @AgencyGuacamole. 

As Agency Guacamole celebrates its 10-year anniversary, we're reflecting on the people, partnerships and stories that have shaped our journey along the way.

In the first episode, Jennifer Rhee Yoo, Founder of LAIT, joins Agency Guacamole Founder & Principal Bilal Kaiser for a conversation about entrepreneurship, creative inspiration and personal growth.

Their conversation also explores the vision behind our custom 10-Year Anniversary Candle, where Jennifer shares a powerful perspective on scent as a form of storytelling:

"Scent is the most honest form of memory. It doesn't ask you to remember—it simply takes you back."

The 10-Year Anniversary Candle was thoughtfully crafted to capture the spirit of Agency Guacamole's first decade, and the result is more than just a candle—it's a sensory reflection of the people, partnerships and milestones that have shaped our journey over the past 10 years.

To learn more about Agency Guacamole, visit agencyguacamole.com or connect with us on Instagram and TikTok at @AgencyGuacamole.