Built to Shine Podcast

When Pragati and Rahul Patel opened Blo Blow Dry Bar in Chapel Hill, they thought clients would just start walking through the door. Three and a half years later, they’ve navigated a slow start, learned hard lessons about staffing and leadership, brought their first baby, and watched six feet of floodwater destroy the bar they’d worked so hard to build.


In this episode of the Built to Shine Podcast, host Vanessa Yakobson sits down with the husband-and-wife team to talk about what it really takes to build a small business from the ground up. Pragati, a nurse by trade, and Rahul, who works alongside her as her back-of-house partner, share insights on building a thriving team culture, navigating the challenges of being a husband-and-wife entrepreneurial team, and staying resilient when facing unexpected obstacles.


What You'll Learn

• Why “wanting to be the cool boss” backfires
• How to hire for culture, not just capacity
• When to bring on a manager
• The real cost of keeping a toxic top performer
• How to turn revenue goals into daily staffing decisions
• What working as a husband-and-wife actually looks like
  
  

Episode Resources

• Pragati Patel on Instagram
• Vanessa Yakobson on LinkedIn
• Blo Blow Dry Bar Official Website
• Blo Franchise Opportunities
  
  

Want to be part of Blo? Turn your passion into a business and explore franchise opportunities at franchise.blomedry.com. Your next chapter could be ready to Blo! 💗


Built to Shine Podcast in handcrafted by out friends over at: fame.so

In this episode of the Built to Shine Podcast, host Vanessa Yakobson sits down with Leanne and Brandon Anderson to unpack what the first year and a half of business ownership actually looks like. Leanne shares her journey from a 20-year corporate career in financial services and healthcare to her passion for hair and makeup. At the same time, Brandon draws on more than a decade as a franchise consultant to explain why the right system, executive team, and support structure make all the difference.


The conversation moves through the realities of opening day, the mindset shifts required when you’re the owner scrubbing floors before shift, and the deliberate work of building a team culture rooted in authenticity and care. Brandon and Leanne open up about how they divide responsibilities as married co-owners with four kids, how they’ve built a bench of builders ready for their next locations, and the systems they use to stay “on the business” rather than stuck in it.


What You'll Learn

• Why franchising compresses the learning curve
• How to evaluate a franchise brand before you sign
• What the first six months of ownership actually feel like
• How to build a partnership that works at home and at work
• The 80% rule for aspiring entrepreneurs
• How to build and protect team culture from day one
  
  

Episode Resources

• Leanne Anderson on LinkedIn
• Brandon Anderson on LinkedIn
• Vanessa Yakobson on LinkedIn
• Blo Blow Dry Bar Official Website
• Blo Franchise Opportunities
  
  

Want to be part of Blo? Turn your passion into a business and explore franchise opportunities at franchise.blomedry.com. Your next chapter could be ready to Blo! 💗


Built to Shine Podcast in handcrafted by out friends over at: fame.so

Andrea Lombardi began her Blo journey as a customer at Blo Bloor West for seven years before stepping into ownership. When her family business was sold, Andrea bought her Blo franchise in 2017 and opened her doors in 2019, while unexpectedly remaining employed under the new family business owners.


Her journey proved that entrepreneurship is less about knowing every answer and more about staying humble enough to keep learning. Andrea discusses running "spaghetti experiments," taking feedback, learning from operational stumbles, and developing the grit required when things do not go to plan.


She reflects candidly on early hiring mistakes at her Blo Etobicoke location. Andrea explains why hiring for mindset, values, and coachability matters more than technical skill when building a service team, and how intentionally protecting company culture transformed her business performance.


From celebrating small wins to using daily sales data to control payroll percentages, Andrea shares practical frameworks for success. She reveals how disciplined operational systems allow her to grow as an entrepreneur while balancing business ownership, a full-time career, and family.


What You'll Learn

• How Andrea transitioned from a 7-year Blo customer to a successful franchise operator.
• Why humility and a positive mindset are critical for navigating business stumbles.
• How to run "spaghetti experiments" and embrace feedback to refine operations.
• Why hiring for mindset and values yields better long-term performance than technical skill alone.
• How to protect team culture using the "rotten orange" rule.
• The exact method Andrea uses to set and track Wildly Important Goals (WIGs).
• How tracking daily sales, add-on services, and payroll percentages removes business anxiety.
• How to balance owning a franchise while maintaining a full-time corporate role and family life.
• Why participating in franchisee peer networks eliminates entrepreneurial isolation.
• Lessons learned after winning Blo Franchisee of the Year and setting new growth targets.
  
  

Episode Resources

• Andrea Lombardi on LinkedIn
• Vanessa Yakobson on LinkedIn
• Blo Blow Dry Bar Official Website
• Blo Franchise Opportunities
  
  

Want to be part of Blo? Turn your passion into a business and explore franchise opportunities at franchise.blomedry.com. Your next chapter could be ready to Blo! 💗


Built to Shine Podcast in handcrafted by out friends over at: fame.so

Noah Yakobson moved from a business strategy role at a sports broadcasting company in Canada to owning multiple lash and brow studios. Although his corporate role brought together his business background and interest in sports, Noah wanted greater control over his own results and the opportunity to build something of his own. He shares how seeing his parents build businesses influenced his own interest in entrepreneurship and the freedom that can come with building something of your own. He started early, used a long time horizon, and took a leap of faith into an industry he knew very little about at first.


His approach focuses on business fundamentals rather than specific services. He highlights the importance of data-driven decisions and building trust with an inherited team. From managing staff issues to looking at daily sales projections, Noah explains the discipline required to keep four locations running smoothly while staying level-headed through every challenge.


What You'll Learn:

• Seeing the benefits of working for yourself at a young age.
• Evaluating a business opportunity using numbers and logic.
• Identifying why starting young can actually lower your risk.
• Moving from a corporate role to a hands-on owner position.
• Building rapport with a team that has more industry experience.
• Deciding which tasks to keep and which ones to delegate.
• Using daily data to stay ahead of financial issues.
• Managing your emotions during the ups and downs of ownership.
• Learning why community and local marketing are vital for growth.
• Trusting your ability to learn new industries quickly.
  
  

Episode Resources:

• Noah Yakobson LinkedIn
• MYNC Beauty Website
• Vanessa Yakobson LinkedIn
• Blo Blow Dry Bar Website
  
  

Want to be part of Blo? Turn your passion into a business and explore franchise opportunities at franchise.blomedry.com. Your next chapter could be ready to Blo! 💗


Built to Shine Podcast in handcrafted by out friends over at: fame.so

Jean Camilletti spent decades at the top of the fashion world before building her own empire. The corporate discipline and financial knowledge that she gained throughout her career were brought to the beauty world. Jean’s vision started with one location and eventually grew into several successful blow dry bars across New York.

Owning a business brought surprises about leadership and the weight of responsibility for others. Jean faced major setbacks during the global pandemic but kept moving forward with her team. In this episode, she tells her story, which shows how to stay true to a brand while supporting a local community.


What You'll Learn: 

• Recognizing the signs that it is time to work for yourself.
• Applying big business financial skills to a small shop.
• How to move from one location to many.
• The reality of how many people will depend on you.
• Managing staff who have different goals than you.
• Trusting the tools provided by a franchise.
• Standing your ground during a global crisis.
• Giving your team the power to handle their own tasks.
• Why helping your neighborhood matters for your bottom line.
  
  

About the Guest:Jean Camilletti spent 35 years in the fashion industry before becoming a business owner. She reached the level of president at a public company where she managed several large brands and learned the essentials of running a business. Jean opened her first Blo Blow Dry Bar location on Long Island nearly 14 years ago and eventually became a multi-unit owner. Jean is a firm believer in following proven brand systems while empowering her team to handle their own responsibilities. Outside her daily business tasks, she stays active in her community by supporting local charities and hospitals.


Episode Resources:

• Vanessa Yakobson LinkedIn
• Jean Camilletti LinkedIn
• Blo Blow Dry Bar Website

Want to be part of Blo? Turn your passion into a business and explore franchise opportunities at franchise.blomedry.com. Your next chapter could be ready to Blo! 💗


Built to Shine Podcast in handcrafted by out friends over at: fame.so

Samantha Sherman didn't become an entrepreneur because she had all the answers. She became one because she believed in hard work, embraced calculated risk, and wanted to build something of her own. After becoming a franchisee, growing a struggling business into a successful one, and eventually transitioning into franchise support, Sam gained a unique perspective on what helps business owners thrive.

In this episode of Built to Shine, Sam shares lessons from both sides of franchising, from navigating uncertainty and leading a team to building consistent habits and staying grounded through challenges. She and Vanessa explore why self-awareness, resilience, and a willingness to embrace discomfort often matter more than having the perfect business plan, and why the most successful entrepreneurs never stop learning or growing.

Want to be part of Blo? Turn your passion into a business and explore franchise opportunities at franchise.blomedry.com. Your next chapter could be ready to Blo! 💗


Built to Shine Podcast in handcrafted by out friends over at: fame.so

Komal Noordin never expected entrepreneurship to lead her back to herself. After spending time at home with her young children, she realized she wanted something that challenged and fulfilled her beyond motherhood. Through business ownership, she found a renewed sense of purpose and built Blo Germantown into a thriving part of the Memphis community.

In this episode of Built to Shine, Komal shares how her background in behavioral therapy shaped her leadership style, from coaching employees with empathy to creating a culture rooted in accountability, communication, and growth. She opens up about balancing motherhood with entrepreneurship, navigating employee turnover, and learning that successful leadership is less about having all the answers and more about staying open to learning.

Want to be part of Blo? Turn your passion into a business and explore franchise opportunities at franchise.blomedry.com. Your next chapter could be ready to Blo! 💗


Built to Shine Podcast in handcrafted by out friends over at: fame.so

In this episode of Built to Shine, Vanessa Yakobson sits down with multi-unit franchise owner Kenny Trattner to unpack what entrepreneurship really looks like behind the scenes. From his early decision to work for himself to building and scaling multiple locations, Kenny shares the mindset, discipline, and responsibility required to succeed.

Want to be part of Blo? Turn your passion into a business and explore franchise opportunities at franchise.blomedry.com. Your next chapter could be ready to Blo! 💗


Built to Shine Podcast in handcrafted by out friends over at: fame.so

In this episode of Built to Shine, Vanessa sits down with Jessica Carothers, owner of Blo Albuquerque and multiple beauty businesses, to talk about what it really takes to grow sustainable businesses through people-first leadership. Jessica shares her unconventional path from education to entrepreneurship, the hard lessons she learned while opening three businesses in three years, and how vulnerability, trust, and intentional culture-building became the foundation of her success. This conversation explores leadership development, delegation, balance, and why creating opportunity for others is both the hardest and most rewarding part of business ownership.

Want to be part of Blo? Turn your passion into a business and explore franchise opportunities at franchise.blomedry.com. Your next chapter could be ready to Blo! 💗


Built to Shine Podcast in handcrafted by out friends over at: fame.so

In this episode of Built to Shine, Vanessa Yakobson sits down with Marissa Torres, owner of Blo Daly City, for an honest conversation about what entrepreneurship really looks like behind the scenes.

Marissa shares her journey from corporate work into franchise ownership, including the confidence that pushed her to take the leap, the self doubt that followed, and the mindset shift that ultimately changed everything.

From navigating uncertainty during the pandemic to learning when to step out of the day to day and into true leadership, this episode explores resilience, self accountability, and the importance of surrounding yourself with the right people.

Whether you’re building a business, considering entrepreneurship, or learning how to grow as a leader while balancing real life responsibilities, this conversation offers thoughtful perspective and hard earned lessons.

Want to be part of Blo? Turn your passion into a business and explore franchise opportunities at franchise.blomedry.com. Your next chapter could be ready to Blo! 💗


Built to Shine Podcast in handcrafted by out friends over at: fame.so