Conversations with Cohen

Today Gregg sits down with Jennifer Fisher, founder and Chief Creative Officer of Jennifer Fisher, also known as ‘The Queen of Hoops’!

Growing up in Montecito and watching her silversmith grandfather make jewelry in her parent’s garage, Jennifer had no idea she’d enter the jewelry industry years later. She had a childhood passion in fashion, but no jewelry experience. All self-taught! Gregg has Jennifer step back 18 years ago and explain her evolution from college student to business mogul!

While working as a wardrobe stylist, she decided to start a family, had some bumps along the way, but ultimately had her son, Shane. Wanting a unique piece of jewelry to commemorate his birth led to the start of Jennifer Fisher jewelry. The charm pendant she designed was a hit with celebrities on the set she was styling for. Uma Thurman was one of her first celebrity clients-she even wore the charm on the cover of Glamour magazine.

Jennifer started in a tiny studio in Soho and grew from the ground up. She used intuition to help grow her business. She dealt with magazines saying charm jewelry wasn’t fashion-forward enough and she would never be successful. Customizable fine jewelry wasn’t a thing at the time and Jennifer saw the opportunity to bring to market this new trend. Pivoting to brass jewelry made the charms more accessible to everyone, and the business exploded!

Jennifer’s top tips:
Resiliency is key and relationships are everything!
Family support means everything. This support led to Jennifer taking risks knowing they had her back. Watching her father fail at times in business taught her how people can come back from failures. Life is not perfect, especially for working parents. Jennifer is not only married, but her husband is her business partner!

Be a self-funded smaller business with an entrepreneurial spirit. Find the employees that appreciate that spirit. Transitioning older employees from the entrepreneurial style the company used to have, to the current style with more ‘guardrails’ in place. It’s been a challenge for Jennifer to no longer be the one in charge as her company has grown. Her design schedule has changed to accommodate her new company’s structure.

Be vulnerable and finally, don’t take anything too personally, especially while fundraising!

Want insight into growing a business from the ground up, entering an industry without any experience, working with your spouse as your partner, how to hustle and handle the word ‘no’? Check out my full interview with Jennifer Fisher for all this and much more!

Welcome to another episode of Conversations with Cohen! Today Gregg sits down with Don Gelestino, President and CEO of Champion Elevator. Don had no background in the elevator business, so how did he become one of the largest elevator companies in the NY area? 

From very humble beginnings, Don came from a working class family that moved out of the NY area due to an increase in crime while Don was in high school. As soon as the opportunity came for Don to head back to NY, he hitched a ride with $20 in his pocket and a dream to play bass guitar in NYC. 

Sleeping on a friend’s couch and needing to pay for rent led to his introduction into the elevator business. The rest is history as Don shares his fascinating journey, from having nothing to being the President and CEO of Champion Elevators. Learn how being a team player, having innovation, a great work ethic, grit, and a heart of gold led Don to success as a founder. 

Today Gregg Cohen sits down with none other than Kevin Gearheart, president and partner of Rehab Medical, an Indianapolis-based company that provides mobility solutions for people with neurological and spinal cord injuries.

Kevin's journey as a founder is a unique one. After getting an MBA, he ventured into healthcare by running a retail optical chain for 5 years. He had the desire to get into some type of business ownership, went back to business school, and was approached about a unique opportunity to buy a business that was being split in two.

Kevin felt there was risk but was willing to do whatever it takes to win, so he went for it! By taking on a company that was split in two, Kevin had no back-office support, no infrastructure, IT, or HR and had to spend 4-5 years to stabilize and gain traction as essentially a new medical solutions company. It was like building an airplane while it's in the air!

Kevin stresses that building his business was a forced necessity. It took not only a winning mindset, belief in the product, and growing a team made up of the right people, in the right seats, aligned for success. Learn how this bootstrapped business went from a disaster to a success. If you're a new founder, you don't want to miss Kevin's insight into breaking into a new industry.

Welcome to another episode of Conversations of Cohen! Today Gregg sits down with Rachel Apfel Glass and delves into her inspiring entrepreneurial journey as the founder of Glosslab, a revolutionary nail salon chain on a mission to modernize the manicure and pedicure experience.

What started as a quest for personal fulfillment to fill the gap from her own customer experiences in the nail industry, has now grown into a flourishing business with 20 locations across New York, Miami, Dallas, and Washington DC. The idea presented itself to Rachel at a crossroads in her career. Despite excelling in investor relations, marketing, and raising money for hedge funds the demands of starting and raising a family didn't mix well with the constant travel that work demanded. Rachel tapped into the entrepreneurial spirit she had since childhood. She decided to build a business in an industry where she had no prior work experience. The business? Glosslab. The industry? Nails.

Driven by a commitment to hygiene and an unsatisfactory customer experience in traditional nail salons, Glass decided to challenge the status quo. She went outside her comfort zone, attending nail technician training school to understand the industry from the ground up. Glosslab began as a pop-up, evolved into signing leases for two locations, and gradually expanded. Each move was incredibly strategic.

Behind the scenes, running a corporate team with partners, managing stores, and ensuring a seamless customer journey present their own set of challenges. The pressure is constant, but Glass remains resilient, attributing her ability to stay 'on' to her genuine love for what she does.

While the external world may perceive entrepreneurship as a stroke of luck, Glass dismantles this misconception. She stresses that the entrepreneurial path is paved with hard work, stress, and the constant need to prove oneself. For those not in the entrepreneurial trenches, understanding this reality can be elusive.

And finally, Rachel says it's important to "Create your own happiness."

David Olk is the co-founder of ShopKeep. After a successful exit, he now runs a venture capital firm, Junction Venture Partners.

Given his background as both a founder and investor, he has a unique perspective to help current and aspiring business owners. In this interview, we dive into many of the misconceptions about being a founder, as well as the keys to receiving venture capital investment — from someone who makes investments now.

David shares the challenges of running a startup, highlighting the need for founders to delegate responsibilities and focus on long-term strategies. He emphasizes the demanding nature of entrepreneurship, where founders are always working and facing a relentless stream of challenges and loneliness. He shares personal anecdotes of mistakes he made along the way, how he scaled the business, warns about the dangers of pursuing too many different markets, and the importance of specialization.

As someone who has experienced both sides of the fundraising process, as a co-founder looking for capital, and as a venture capitalist deploying investment dollars, David offers a unique look into the VC world.

Welcome to another exciting episode of Conversations with Cohen Season 3! In this latest interview, Gregg Cohen sits down with none other than David Olk, the visionary force behind Junction Venture Partners. David's journey from his early days in accounting to the helm of a venture firm is nothing short of inspirational.

David's entrepreneurial spirit led him through multiple businesses, including ventures with Voray and ShopKeep. Tune in to hear about his incredible career path and the insightful lessons he's gained along the way.

Starting a business can be a hard and daunting endeavor, and David doesn't hold back in sharing the ups and downs of the entrepreneurial journey. He sheds light on the unique challenges faced by start-ups and offers invaluable advice on dealing with the pressures of this exciting, yet demanding path.

Throughout the interview, David emphasizes the importance of staying connected with fellow founders to keep stress at bay and to have someone to relate to. Discover the secrets to maintaining a work-life balance, honing your focus, and mastering time management while building your empire.

If you're an aspiring founder, or a seasoned entrepreneur, this interview is a must-watch! David's transition from founder to venture capitalist provides a wealth of knowledge, full of insights for those looking to make their mark in the business world.

And for those of you who are in the process of starting a vertical SaaS company with a B2B focus, David Olk offers a valuable opportunity to connect. Reach out to him at [email protected] and tap into his extensive expertise.

Don't miss out on this episode that's sure to inspire and inform! Like, share, and subscribe to Conversations with Cohen Season 3 to stay up to date with our engaging interviews and thought-provoking discussions.

Welcome to Conversations with Cohen Episode 1 of Season 3! 

Ben Evans, the co-founder and Executive Chairman of Marathon Health, and his team are on a mission to revolutionize healthcare by partnering with employers to provide enhanced better healthcare for employees. What sets Ben apart is his remarkable journey that started with an idea that has resulted in leading the charge in the healthcare industry.

Ben's story is nothing short of inspirational. Starting his career in healthcare real estate, he ventured into uncharted territory and founded his first health company, OurHealth, at the tender age of 26. The catch? He had zero background in healthcare. Ben's tale is a testament to how passion, determination, and a willingness to learn can lead to remarkable success.

This podcast episode dives deep into the early days of Ben's entrepreneurial journey, where he made the bold decision to step away from his full-time career and plunge headfirst into building a brand-new business. Learn how he leveraged his impressive sales skills to raise capital and hear the incredible story behind securing his first customer.

But the story doesn't end there. Ben guides us through his evolution as an entrepreneur, including the momentous decision to personally guarantee $15 million! It's a rollercoaster ride through the highs and lows of entrepreneurship, painted vividly by someone who has been there and done that.

If you're an aspiring entrepreneur or thinking about diving into a new industry with no prior experience, this podcast is a goldmine of insights. Ben offers a realistic perspective on the entrepreneurial journey and shares a wealth of knowledge that can inspire and guide you in your own business endeavors.
Tune in now to learn from the best and embark on an unforgettable entrepreneurial adventure with Ben Evans! 

Don't forget to like, subscribe, and share this episode with fellow dreamers and doers.

In this latest interview, the last interview of Season 2, we're joined by Catherine Heath, CEO of HYL Architecture, an architectural design practice with a penchant for creating spaces that thrive in the modern business landscape. As we navigate the changing dynamics of office spaces in a post-pandemic world, Catherine sheds light on the critical considerations for law firms when it comes to reimagining their work environments.

Drawing from her decades of experience, Catherine discusses the evolution of space planning for law firms, dispelling the myth of the cookie-cutter approach that once dominated the industry. She emphasizes the need for firms to set clear goals aligned with their mission and values, considering how spaces can attract talent, foster engagement, and promote mentorship.
A key takeaway from this conversation is the importance of peak day occupancy. Catherine emphasizes the significance of designing spaces that accommodate the demands of the busiest days, debunking the one-size-fits-all approach that benchmarking metrics may suggest. She also addresses the challenges law firms face in striking a balance between senior mentorship and efficient space allocation, offering insights into fostering a culture of interaction and collaboration.

For law firms pondering their real estate strategy, Catherine provides valuable advice: start by defining your goals, explore flexible and space-sharing models, and prioritize engagement-enhancing design elements. As the CEO of an architectural firm that understands the nuanced requirements of the legal industry, Catherine's expertise is invaluable for law firms navigating the path to a successful and effective workspace.

To connect with Catherine and learn more about HYL Architecture's transformative designs, visit her LinkedIn profile or reach out via email at [email protected].

Join us in our mission to explore the ever-evolving world of business through insightful conversations. 

Stay tuned for Season 3 of Conversations with Cohen, where we unravel the strategies, inspirations, and stories behind the brands shaping the vibrant landscape of New York City's business arena.

As we’ve been doing all season, on Conversations with Cohen, we continue to focus on issues managers in law firms deal with on a daily basis. For episode 8, I interviewed Jonathan Friedman of Friedman and Williams. They work heavily with law firms in a support function, including administrative and employee placement. They handle technology, finance, business development, legal assistants, and their newer Grant & Maxie division which strictly focuses on associate attorneys for clients across the nation.

We discussed why law firms have so much difficulty hiring good professionals right now. Jonathan identifies competition as a main issue, as all the firms are competing for the same candidates. The demand for talent and workload is out there, so firms need to make their firms more attractive so new hires will stay. Company culture and career paths are a huge factor for candidates.

Jonathan says that money isn’t the main factor anymore in drawing in candidates. Expectations over how often an employee can work from home is a big topic right now. Firms are looking at how they want to structure their workweek for the long term, whether a hybrid work schedule or back in the office full-time.

We went over different scenarios and how counteroffers work to entice new employees. Firms need to move candidates through the hiring process quickly, be prepared for counter offers and competition that will take place, and act quickly. The hiring market this summer looks different than last summer; it is an employee's market.

If you’re a law firm and you struggle with finding and retaining talented attorneys, Jonathan drops a lot of wisdom on this subject that will be invaluable to you and your hiring department. Forward-thinking and growth is a must to remain competitive in the current market. You can reach out to Jonathan through his LinkedIn or his company website.

I frequently help law firms find office space and have learned a lot about the issues they are facing. My latest interview for Conversations with Cohen features Abdi Shayesteh, the CEO of AltaClaro, where we discuss how law firms can improve operating efficiency, reduce associate burnout, and how mentoring can be done in a hybrid work environment.

 Managing partners know that training new lawyers is imperative, but they don’t always know how to go about it internally. That’s where Abdi and AltaClaro come in. Abdi worked in corporate banking law for over 15 years in a variety of settings and one issue he saw over and over was that lawyers were entering the workforce lacking real world knowledge of contract law, due diligence, and how to manage a deal.

AltaClaro’s job is to augment internal training and allow on-the-job training to be more high level. The courses are helping the attorneys to be more efficient with less wasted time and helping create a better work-life balance. Fear levels go down, and confidence levels go up.

Managing partners that are looking for just the right training to take their firm to the next level should reach out to Abdi at AltaClaro.com and check out the courses and book an exploratory call.