SelfMade Stories

Megan Auman is the designer and maker behind her jewelry line, Megan Auman, and the founder of Designing an MBA, an online business course specifically for artists and makers. She graduated with a masters in metalsmithing and naturally made the transition into making and selling her own jewelry. After successfully scaling her practice, she founded her online education course to provide artists and makers with the tools necessary to become profitable and build a healthy business.

You can check out Megan and her jewelry on Instagram @meganauman or online at meganauman.com or designinganmba.com.

Vincent Biscaye is the founder of Step Two Advisors (CPG advisory) and a partner with Love Grace (organic cold-press juice). He started his career in financial trading, feeling unfulfilled he took a sabbatical and started advising his friend on the finances of his juice company. Inspired by the entrepreneurial journey, he decided to commit to the company full-time. After two years he took all the knowledge he acquired (including the mistakes he made) and started Step Two - a consulting firm specializing in CPG early stage startups. He has helped over 20 brands with everything ranging from financial modeling to fundraising to investor relations.

Brian and Vincent talk through how e-commerce companies can think about their finances even if you're a day-one business, re-targeting, and the importance of nailing the quality of your product. If you’re struggling with your financial model or don’t have one yet - this episode is a great one to check out.

If you’re an early stage start-up looking for a consultant check out steptwoadvisors.com. To see some of the brands Vincent has worked with check out @evivesmoothie, @mood33infusions, and @lovegracefoods. To learn more about the power of listening, listen to The Axe Files with David Axelrod (Episode 319: Beto O’Rourke). And if you’re looking for your next read check out 10% Happier by Dan Harris.

Vincent Biscaye is the founder of Step Two Advisors (CPG advisory) and a partner with Love Grace (organic cold-press juice). He started his career in financial trading, feeling unfulfilled he took a sabbatical and started advising his friend on the finances of his juice company. Inspired by the entrepreneurial journey, he decided to commit to the company full-time. After two years he took all the knowledge he acquired (including the mistakes he made) and started Step Two - a consulting firm specializing in CPG early stage startups. He has helped over 20 brands with everything ranging from financial modeling to fundraising to investor relations.

Brian and Vincent talk through how e-commerce companies can think about their finances even if you're a day-one business, re-targeting, and the importance of nailing the quality of your product. If you’re struggling with your financial model or don’t have one yet - this episode is a great one to check out.

If you’re an early stage start-up looking for a consultant check out steptwoadvisors.com. To see some of the brands Vincent has worked with check out @evivesmoothie, @mood33infusions, and @lovegracefoods. To learn more about the power of listening, listen to The Axe Files with David Axelrod (Episode 319: Beto O’Rourke). And if you’re looking for your next read check out 10% Happier by Dan Harris.

Cayla O'Connell is the founder of Knickey, organic cotton undies for everyday. Knickey is dedicated to providing a comfortable, sustainable alternative for women that's better for their bodies and better for the planet.

Cayla really knows her stuff. She cut her teeth working for non profits and in sustainable home goods before deciding to start her own sustainable retail line. She settled on a basics line comprised of organic cotton, specifically underwear that's inclusive in it's colors and sizing.

Cayla walks through what sustainability means to Knickey, the importance of putting your customer first, and how she thinks about diversifying what she delivers to her customers.

This is the third women's underwear brand we've featured on SelfMade Stories. Each one has managed to carve out a space for themselves in an immensely crowded industry by identifying a market need. If you're struggling to find your white space check out our other episodes with Marissa Vosper of Negative Underwear and Miki Agrawal of Thinx.

Cayla O'Connell is the founder of Knickey, organic cotton undies for everyday. Knickey is dedicated to providing a comfortable, sustainable alternative for women that's better for their bodies and better for the planet.

Cayla really knows her stuff. She cut her teeth working for non profits and in sustainable home goods before deciding to start her own sustainable retail line. She settled on a basics line comprised of organic cotton, specifically underwear that's inclusive in it's colors and sizing.

Cayla walks through what sustainability means to Knickey, the importance of putting your customer first, and how she thinks about diversifying what she delivers to her customers.

This is the third women's underwear brand we've featured on SelfMade Stories. Each one has managed to carve out a space for themselves in an immensely crowded industry by identifying a market need. If you're struggling to find your white space check out our other episodes with Marissa Vosper of Negative Underwear and Miki Agrawal of Thinx.

Miki Agrawal is the co-founder of Thinx, founder of Tushy and Wild, and the author of two books (Do Cool Shit and Disrupt-Her) not to mention a full-time, kick-ass mom. In Part II, Miki speaks to how she built Tushy and Thinx into what they are today. From the marketing moves that got her the traction and press she needed for launch, to how she allocates her own time and energy in a way that’s most beneficial for her business.

Check out Miki on Instagram @mikiagrawal and her current venture Tushy @hellotushy and hellotushy.com. You can keep up with SelfMade @selfmade and email us at [email protected].

Miki Agrawal is the co-founder of Thinx, founder of Tushy and Wild, and the author of two books (Do Cool Shit and Disrupt-Her) not to mention a full-time, kick-ass mom. In Part II, Miki speaks to how she built Tushy and Thinx into what they are today. From the marketing moves that got her the traction and press she needed for launch, to how she allocates her own time and energy in a way that’s most beneficial for her business.

Check out Miki on Instagram @mikiagrawal and her current venture Tushy @hellotushy and hellotushy.com. You can keep up with SelfMade @selfmade and email us at [email protected].

Miki Agrawal is the co-founder of Thinx, founder of Tushy and Wild, and the author of two books (Do Cool Shit and Disrupt-Her) not to mention a full-time, kick-ass mom. Wild was the first of its kind, bringing farm to table, gluten free pizza to New York in 2006. Shortly after she came up with the idea for period-proof underwear that supports women everyday of the month. After changing the way we think and talk about periods and pizza she set out to revolutionize the American bathroom with Tushy - an affordable, easy to install, bidet. While all this was happening she wrote and published two books and had a kid. In the first part of Miki’s story, Brian and Miki go all the way back to Miki’s childhood and talk about what made her the person she is today, how she comes up with business ideas, and how she stays dialed in while captaining her businesses to success.

Brian and Miki reference a ton of great books and resources. Check em out to get further inspired on your entrepreneurial journey:

Shoe Dog by Phil Knight

Trying Not to Try by Edward G. Slingerland

Laws of Attraction by Michael Losier

Passive Income & Ready, Set, Live! by Chris Atwood

“Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming "Wow! What a Ride!”

Hunter S. Thompson

TLDR: Miki Agrawal is an all star entrepreneur, co-founder of Thinx, founder of Tushy and Wild, and the author of Do Cool Shit and Disrupt-Her. Brian and Miki discuss how she grew up and how Miki comes up and executes her business ideas. Stay tuned for Part II.

Miki Agrawal is the co-founder of Thinx, founder of Tushy and Wild, and the author of two books (Do Cool Shit and Disrupt-Her) not to mention a full-time, kick-ass mom. Wild was the first of its kind, bringing farm to table, gluten free pizza to New York in 2006. Shortly after she came up with the idea for period-proof underwear that supports women everyday of the month. After changing the way we think and talk about periods and pizza she set out to revolutionize the American bathroom with Tushy - an affordable, easy to install, bidet. While all this was happening she wrote and published two books and had a kid. In the first part of Miki’s story, Brian and Miki go all the way back to Miki’s childhood and talk about what made her the person she is today, how she comes up with business ideas, and how she stays dialed in while captaining her businesses to success.

Brian and Miki reference a ton of great books and resources. Check em out to get further inspired on your entrepreneurial journey:

Shoe Dog by Phil Knight

Trying Not to Try by Edward G. Slingerland

Laws of Attraction by Michael Losier

Passive Income & Ready, Set, Live! by Chris Atwood

“Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming "Wow! What a Ride!”

Hunter S. Thompson

TLDR: Miki Agrawal is an all star entrepreneur, co-founder of Thinx, founder of Tushy and Wild, and the author of Do Cool Shit and Disrupt-Her. Brian and Miki discuss how she grew up and how Miki comes up and executes her business ideas. Stay tuned for Part II.

Jessy Fofana is the founder of LaRue PR, a boutique PR agency that represents all the brands and entrepreneurs everyone aspires to be like. This episode is a little different - while Jessy doesn’t have a direct background in e-commerce she did build a cosmetics brand in the 90s which she successfully sold before going into PR full time and eventually starting her own agency.

Brian and Jessy discuss the importance of PR for your business and how you can think about PR on a zero dollar budget. Jessy has a ton of great tips and tricks on how to get your brand exposure if you’re just starting out and some resources that are helpful for a company at any stage.

To get inspired further check out some of Jessy’s favorite female founders and their brands on Instagram:

Alli Webb of Drybar (@alliwebb & @thedrybar)

Jeni Britton Bauer of Jeni’s Splendid Ice Cream (@jenibrittonbauer & @jenisicecreams)

Jaclyn Johnson of Create and Cultivate (@jaclynrjohnson & @createcultivate)

Jen Gotch of Ban.do (@jengotch & @shopbando)

Justina Blakeney of The Jungalow & Justina Blakeney Home (@justinablakeney, @thejungalow, & @justinablakeneyhome)

And check out prcouture.com and createcultivate.com for great articles and blog posts touching on everything from PR to social and marketing.