Figure It Out

What began as a mother’s vision to create the most special teddy bear evolved into Zippy the Bear — thoughtfully designed with a zipper pocket that holds matching pajamas, transforming the nighttime routine into a moment of comfort and ease.

Rooted in Amy’s desire to support children through life’s harder moments, and brought to life with Evelyn’s expertise as an occupational therapist, the bear incorporates sensory elements that nurture both emotional comfort and fine motor development.

Together, they’ve created ultra-soft, sensory-friendly bamboo pajamas in elevated, breathable designs that keep kids comfortable through the night — a true win for both parents and little ones.

Their rapid growth has captured major attention, with Khloé Kardashian’s daughter, True Thompson, becoming the face of the brand — seamlessly placing Zip N Bear at the intersection of modern parenting and culture.

We talk about how they turned a heartfelt idea into a fast-growing product-based business, and what it really takes to build something that both parents and children genuinely connect with.

This is a conversation about vision, execution, and building a brand with purpose.

This week, I sit down with Dr. Sam Saleh, world-renowned cosmetic dentist and the expert behind some of the most beautiful smiles in Beverly Hills. We talk about building a global brand, the artistry behind smile design, and what it really takes to succeed at the highest level of your craft. We dive into the mindset, discipline, manifestation and the vision it takes to build a luxury brand and become a leader in your industry. Key ingredient? Passion.

Today’s guest is Manana Arakelyan, an Instagram personality who has built a strong online community through lifestyle content and authentic storytelling. In this episode, we talk about social media, personal & professional growth, and what it really takes to build a platform in today’s digital world. What started as simple posts has grown into a platform where thousands of people follow along with her journey daily. She has worked with some of the biggest brands like Skims, TJ Max, MondaySwimwear, Walmart - just to name a few. Her blueprint? Repeating the Success formula.

Sev Ohanian is an Armenian American immigrant who became one of the most talked about producers in the industry. From home-made humorous films about Armenians to making Oscar history with 16 Academy Award Nominations, including Best Picture. He also won major awards like Sundance Institute Producer of the Year Award and Golden Globe for Best Cinematic and Box Office Achievement for Sinners. From indie beginnings to producing record breaking films, Sev's journey is all about creativity, resilience, passion & great partnerships.

After interviewing so many amazing founders, creators and CEO's in Season 2 - I learned 5 things that were common amongst all my guests. If we can take even just 1 lesson and apply it to our lives, careers or business, then we are one step ahead to our goals and dreams. I hope you enjoyed this season and I am looking forward to coming back with more amazing guests next time. Stay tuned. As always, thank you for your love and support on this new endeavor - without you, this would not be alive.

Shushan Darzian was a grade school teacher for 18 years before she decided make Catering her full time career. What started out as a passion for cooking & hosting, turned into a full force production crew hosting weddings & events up to 1000 guests. Shushan leverages her educational background, cultural roots, and creative vision to create memorable experiences for her guests. She is now hired to serve 1000 students, 5 days a week on top of her event catering business. In addition, she has also created her own server ware, Shushan Collection. This is a story about a mother who sacrificed so much to achieve the level of success she has...but I have a feeling, this is only the beginning.

Brothers Greg and Gerr Avetisyan share one clear career goal: success. After exploring a variety of industries, they launched Whata Peach, a smoothie shop that quickly gained momentum. By their second month, the business was already profitable, and by year two, it had generated $1 million in revenue. Today, they operate five thriving locations with ambitious plans to continue expanding.

Their formula for success is rooted in simplicity: serving quality food and drinks, fostering genuine connections with customers, spreading kindness, and maintaining unwavering perseverance. Along the way, they’ve collaborated with celebrities like Kristen Bell and have given back by donating 100% of their proceeds to charity.

Above all, their greatest asset is not just their business acumen, but the bond they share as brothers.

Katy DeGroot started her career in the beauty space in 2014, creating tutorials on YouTube and quickly made a name for herself in the industry. After almost a decade, she transitioned into the next chapter in her career, clothing: Thirty Years, known for its timeless wardrobe fashion. Katy shares her journey on how she made a successful clothing brand by creating pieces that she felt was missing in the market. Influencer created brands may be common, but continued success in the industry has been a challenge to most. Thirty Years has really set a blueprint in what it takes to make it in the industry.

While I received my Masters in Business Administration in 2008 & worked in Finance at Disney; I took a leap of faith and decided to make 'makeup' my career. I worked out of my parents garage for 10 years before I decided it was time to open my own studio/school. In 2013, I launched Lilit's Makeup Studio which I outgrew in 3 years and expanded into a 3000 sq ft location in the heart of Sherman Oaks. During this time, I launched my makeup line, Elcie Cosmetics, where I created classic essential products, anyone can use. I won a Cosmopolitan Award the same year I launched for Foundation of the Year. In 2022 I expanded into skincare and launched Elcientials. All these businesses have made 7 figure numbers in their respective fields and I have learned a lot on the way. Sharing my story, experience, advise and guidance. I hope you take away at least 1 thing that will help you excel in your life or career.

Scott Laporta has led many multi-million dollar industries from food, to fashion, hospitality and now candy. He took over Sugarfina in 2019 and has taken the brand to the next level, growing distribution across multiple channels. Sugarfina not only has delicious candy but has created a gifting culture with its beautiful packaging and concepts. Scott shares his expertise, what he looks for when partnering & what the key points are in scaling the brand.