Building While Flying

Tanya Perkins is the founder of The Refig. The Refig is a plant-based hair care company without compromise. After finding out about an auto-immune condition, she needed hair care that didn’t have certain chemicals. She ended up making her own formula after being unable to find any. Once one of her college friends found out, she discovered there was a huge demand for her innovative hair care.

In this episode of the Building While Flying podcast, Tanya joins Maribel Lara to talk about her journey to creating this company. She gives insight into its birth, finding the right partners, and encouraging change in behavior.

In-flight topics:

• Birth of the company

• Creating accompany off a need

• Waiting for the right partner formulation

• Changes that were part of her journey

• How she makes time for this with all her other endeavors

• …and more!

Connect with Tanya:

Tanya’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tanyaperkins

The Refig Website: https://therefig.com/

The Refig Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_refig/

Abby Dubois is the founder of EACH Jewelry. After years of designing for world-renowned brands, like Kate Spade and Coach, Abby set out to forge her own path and build her own jewelry brand. Her mission is to make ethical fashion fun, accessible, and empowering. Since starting the company six years ago, they’ve sold over half a million units.

In this episode of the Building While Flying podcast, Abby joins Katie Hankinson to talk about her journey as a first-time founder. She gives insight into her background, shifting to hair accessories, and her big breaks.

In-flight topics:

• Why she chose to start her own company

• Creating a brand around her values

• The shift to hair accessories

• Using brand partnerships to grow

• Her dreams for what’s next

• …and more!

Connect with Abby:

Abby’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/abby-dubois-a463b132

Abby’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sparkleplentysparkleoften/

EACH Jewelry Website: https://www.eachjewels.com/

EACH Jewelry Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/each_jewels/

“We are able to have something that’s super profitable while still being super accessible.” - Abby

Tania Kottoor is the Founder and CEO of West X East (pronounced “West by East”). Tania has effectively married tradition with innovation. She’s led her team in building the world’s first AI-powered design platform for custom-fit cultural clothing and re-envisioned the process of shopping for weddings and special events.

In this episode of the Building While Flying podcast, Tania joins Maribel Lara to talk about how she uses AI to help you make the right choice for your big events and where her inspiration came from. She gives insight into her background, how she’s received so many grants, and what’s next.

In-flight topics:

• Her background and what led to West X East

• Using AI to help you make the right choice

• How she keeps track of everything

• The secrets to receiving so many grants

• Their soon-to-launch two-tiered rebrand

• …and more!

Connect with Tania:

Tania’s Website: https://www.taniakottoor.com/

Tania’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/taniakottoor/

West X East Website: https://www.westxeast.com/

West X East Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/westxeast/

Longevity expert Kas Bordier's story is one of tenacity and determination. As a biotech and medtech entrepreneur, Kas is commercializing the latest health innovations. She is making health and vitality not only the coolest but also an attainable thing. 

In this episode of the Building While Flying podcast, Kas joins Joe Quattrone to talk about how to take control of your own health and shape the future of proactive healthcare, aiming to move from reactive "sick care" to sustainable "healthcare."

In-flight topics:

• Kas' journey from communist Poland to leading a health tech revolution

• Her interest in longevity and the importance of proactive health management

• Reflections on the similarities between traditional health practices and modern biotechnology

• The role of Gen Z in shaping the future of health and wellness

• …and more!

Connect with Kas:

Kas LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adam-ross-6bbaab2/

“My body is the most important fuel that can either fuel my dreams or stop my dreams” - Kas

Adam Ross is the CEO and co-founder of Heyday, which launched its first skincare shop in New York City’s nomad neighborhood in 2015, with the belief that everyone should have access to professional skincare services, ultimately taking the facial out of the spa and into local communities across the United States.

In this episode of the Building While Flying podcast, Adam joins Mickey Cloud to talk about how Heyday is making skincare and facials more accessible. He gives insight into the evolution of their business model, franchising, and innovation within the industry.

In-flight topics:

• How he went from investment banker to the skincare industry

• The evolution of their business model

• Deciding to franchise and how to choose the right franchise partners

• The Wild Wild West that is skincare regulations

• The next challenges and how he stays calm under pressure

• …and more!

Connect with Adam:

Adam’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adam-ross-6bbaab2/

Heyday Website: https://www.heydayskincare.com/

Heyday Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heydayskincare/

“Scale is the magic of the consistency of the experience.” - Adam

Natalie Maxey is the CEO and co-founder of Winky Lux. From working in fashion, finance, and e-commerce, Natalie decide that the self-serious beauty business was ready for an overhaul and to bring fun to everyday beauty rituals. Winky Lux is a joyful clean makeup and skincare line that proves you can do really beautiful special stuff that is a lot less expensive and also has an award-winning formulation factor.

In this episode of the Building While Flying podcast, Natalie joins Maribel Lara to talk about how Winky Lux is making makeup more fun. She gives insight into product innovation, the balance between making great new products and getting them out as quickly as possible, and saucy gloss.

In-flight topics:

• Getting product ideas from everywhere

• The balance between making great new products and getting them out quickly

• How AI is changing how we do business

• Partnership with Applebees (BBQ Lip Gloss!)

• Instagram Live Shopping

• …and more!

Connect with Natalie:

Natalie’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natalie-mackey-15169370/

Natalie’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/natmack1/

Winky Lux Website: https://www.winkylux.com/

Winky Lux Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/winky_lux/

Devin Lars is the Founder and CEO of Kurieo Media, a creative agency specializing in fusing digital marketing with the physical world to bring unique solutions to their clients. Kurieo has worked with some of the biggest brands in the world, like Tesla, Cisco, and Nike, and A-list celebrities in the transportation, technology, music, and film industries. Although Kurieo is a relatively young company, Devin has spent more than a decade building the foundation that led to Kurieo’s success. Before even graduating high school, Devin built a successful screenprinting business out of his grandfather’s garage, selling customized t-shirts in his neighborhood and beyond.

In this episode of the Building While Flying podcast, Devin joins Joe Quattrone to talk about how he started his agency and the future of creativity and business. He gives insight into his personal journey, merging storytelling with production, and the importance of therapy.

In-flight topics:

• Devin’s journey to starting his own agency

• What makes his agency unique

• How AI is changing how we do business

• Growing out of the small business mindset

• His upcoming podcast and personal healing

• …and more!

Connect with Devin:

Devin’s Website: https://devinlars.com/

Devin’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/devinlars/

Kurieo Website: https://kurieo.com/

Kurieo Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kurieoagency/

Nancy Rhodes, the founder of Alternew, is a veteran in the fashion industry. Her years of adding to the wasteful overconsumption of goods led her to a Master’s degree in sustainability and eventually to founding Alternew, a brand that’s designed to be inherently sustainable by promoting a re-fashion economy. Alternew is an on-demand clothing alteration and repair service with a strong mission of sustainability, positive body image, and accessibility.

In this episode of the Building While Flying podcast, Nancy joins Maribel Lara to explain her vision to make the fashion industry more sustainable. She gives insight into her journey, shifting the mindset of fashion haul to fashion care, and why this creates an opportunity for experience and storytelling.

In-flight topics:

• Nancy’s fashion journey and where the idea came from

• What her business is and who her customers are

• Returning to a former time of tailoring

• Reframing fashion hauls into fashion care

• What keeps her going

• …and more!

Connect with Nancy:

Nancy’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nancyrhodes/

Nancy’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/partycaptainnancy/

Alternew Website: https://alternew.com/

Alternew Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alternew_official/

Dale Dupree is the co-founder of Sales Rebellion, which provides sales training and personal development. He is audacious with his outreach, intentional in his sales walk, and driven to create a community of sales professionals that cause undeniable curiosity and true impact. The rebellion believes in people over products, community over commission sales, fellowship over negotiations, and experiences over performing a pitch. Dale’s sales background dates back to his childhood when he wandered the halls of his father’s business.

In this episode of the Building While Flying podcast, Dale joins Maribel Lara to explain why he is rebelling against the typical canned approach to sales and creating a place that offers freedom from it. He gives insight into his sales journey, why sales should be more personal, and why he focuses on connection and community, not numbers.

In-flight topics:

• Dale’s Sales Journey

• Building the rebellion

• Evolving the way you sell

• Finding mutual ground with your customer

• What his father taught him about entrepreneurship

• …and more!

Connect with Jared:

Dale’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/copierwarrior/

Sales Rebellion Website: https://www.thesalesrebellion.com/

Sales Rebellion Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/salesrebellion/

Jared Kleinert is the founder of Offsite, a company that plans retreats that can save you time, money, and stress. Jared is also a TED speaker and is recognized as USA Today’s most conceptual millennial. He has written 3 books and his insights on entrepreneurship, networking, remote work, and offsites have been featured in major media such as Forbes, Time, Harvard Business Review, Fortune, NPR, Fox Business, and more.

In this episode of the Building While Flying podcast, Jared joins Mickey Cloud to explain how he scaled his business. He gives some insight into its beginnings, why he prioritized service before software at first, and the unconventional ways he keeps calm under pressure.

In-flight topics:

• The origin story of Offsite

• Their business model and how it will evolve

• Prioritizing service over software

• Choosing the right clients to work with

• Could Offsite be a leading indicator of the health of the economy?

• …and more!

Connect with Jared:

Jared’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaredkleinert/

Jared’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jared.kleinert/

Offsite Website: https://www.offsite.com/

Offsite Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/joinoffsite/