Foundher by Entrepinayship

This episode with Karena Higgins, serial entrepreneur behind Phlavor Profiles and Pig Parts & Beer, was recorded in July 2016. We talked about her experience opening a restaurant around the time of the Great Recession, the benefits of owning commercial real estate, and her mission to shift the narrative about Filipino food and culture through her creative businesses.

We take a break from interviews to share about the journey to building Entrepinayship, from an idea sparked by recognizing a need in the community, to what it is shaping into today. Self doubt is probably the biggest killer of ideas. I'll share about how that self doubt delayed my own process, but how intuition and a strong Why helped me overcome it.

Thinking about starting your project, but dealing with self doubt? This episode covers some tips, including:

• the importance of testing your ideas
• committing to your Why
• understanding and owning your personal story

On this episode, I speak with Fran de Leon, whose credits include Speechless, Criminal Minds, That's So Raven, and so much more. She's both an onstage and onscreen actress as well as an Artistic Director for Will & Company, "a theater for social change," which travels to various college institutions teaching diversity and inclusion through theater.

Fran speaks candidly about her experience in the entertainment industry, balancing career and family, as well as finding creative flow within and beyond her first love of acting.

On this episode, we speak with Rheena Mae, foundher of MaeMae Jewelry, the jewelry that loves you back. She talks about overcoming heartbreak and finding inspiration to start a business that is based on positive affirmations and helping others love and accept themselves. She also discusses what it takes to build a product company that is profitable and unique and how to stand out in a sea of competition.

Follow her at: https://www.facebook.com/maemaejewelry https://www.twitter.com/maemaejewelry https://www.instagram.com/maemaejewelry https://www.pinterest.com/maemaejewelry

Check out her website at: http://www.maemaejewelry.com/

Resources Rheena talked about in this episode: https://www.16personalities.com/ https://humandesignamerica.com

On this episode, we speak with Kristine de la Cruz, foundher and owner of Creme Caramel LA, a bakeshop specializing in custard-based artisanal food that uses Filipino and traditional ingredients and recipes.

You will learn about:

• How Kristine used and still uses a business plan to guide her decisions for Creme Caramel
• Testing a concept at farmers' markets and growing a following that would justify a permanent location
• The importance of creating multiple distributions channels - direct to consumer and wholesale
• Tools and skills that every business owner should have

Kristine is a graduate of the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program and has participated in the Small Business Majority Summit in Washington D.C. to discuss the needs and concerns of small businesses along with other founders from across the nation. It has been an honor for her to be included in several food and business panels discussing the state of the industry (Next Day Better, Women's Entrepreneurship Day by City of Los Angeles, Filipino American Chamber of Commerce, Los Angeles, Eastside Food Festival).

Crème Caramel LA was named an Outstanding Small Business by Mayor Eric Garcetti and SBA, featured in several media outlets including Food Network, PBS, Eye On L.A., Eater, Los Angeles Magazine, and TimeOut LA. Crème Caramel LA partnered with Found Coffee to open their 2nd location, FrankieLucy Bakeshop, a collaborative effort that features Crème Caramel LA branded products and Demitasse coffee (a local Los Angeles boutique coffee roaster). Crème Caramel LA is managed by the two founding members, Kristine de la Cruz and Sean Gilleland.

On this episode, I speak with Myey Moens, a Filipina-American entrepreneur behind a chocolate brand already making waves called Theo and Brom. We talk about her journey to creating the first ever Belgian tableya, which fuses two cultures together - her native Filipina heritage and her new home of Belgium - while highlighting the best of what each one has to offer.

You will learn about:

Resources for building an e-commerce company

The power of positive thinking for entrepreneurs

How to find the right partners in business

How Myey overcame self doubt at the most difficult moments of her journey

Building a brand based on your values

Navigating international trade regulations

Crowdfunding to test the market

Myey Moens is a Filipino-American entrepreneur and the mind behind Theo and Brom. She recently moved to Belgium to settle down with her husband Matthias.

Resources:

www.foundr.com

On this episode, I speak with Vina Lustado, foundher and owner of Sol Haus Design, a design firm based in Ojai, California. We talk about how she left a corporate architecture career behind to build a design firm that focuses on smaller-scale projects. We also delve into the process of building a business that goes beyond profit and also prioritizes people, planet, and purpose.

Staying true to her core values, Vina has completed the design and construction of her tiny home on wheels. Equipped with simple luxuries as a loft skylight and cozy fireplace, Vina manifested her dream home in 140 square feet. It reflects her philosophy about simplicity, sustainability, and living within her means.

Since 2013, Vina has been living full-time in her tiny house and couldn't be happier living anywhere else. One year later, she decided to build her own tiny office, SOL POD, where she spends most of her time designing and creating.

She has been a featured speaker at Yale University to inspire young minds about sustainability and social entrepreneurship.

Resources: Women's Economic Ventures, The Magic of Tiny Business, Social Venture Network.

(Disclaimer: Vina Lustado is not a licensed architect. For more info on licensure, please visit California Architects Board)