Smart Women Big Deals

08. Lezlie Karls Saltarelli and Nick Saltarelli didn’t just build Mid-Day Squares together. They built it as husband and wife, alongside Lezlie’s brother, while documenting the entire journey for the world to watch.

In this episode, Liza sits down with two of the co-founders behind the Montreal-based snack company for a remarkably candid conversation about entrepreneurship, marriage, family and the personal cost of building an unconventional consumer brand.

Lezlie and Nick reveal how a previous business failure shaped their decision to build in public, why they invested in their own manufacturing facility when the company nearly stalled and what happens when the people you love most are also your business partners.

In this episode:

• How Lezlie and Nick went from teenage friends to spouses and co-founders
• Why building in public became central to the Mid-Day Squares brand
• The decision to build their own manufacturing facility—and the risk behind it
• How Lezlie, Nick and Jake’s opposing strengths shaped the founding team
• The reality of mixing marriage, family and business
• How startup pressure affected Lezlie’s health and sense of identity
• Why stepping away, delegating and knowing when to pass the baton became essential

And, as always, Liza asks the question at the heart of every conversation: What is the Smartest Big Deal you have ever made?

ABOUT SMART WOMEN BIG DEALS

Smart Women Big Deals is a podcast hosted by Liza Kaufman, featuring candid conversations about entrepreneurship, leadership, reinvention and the defining decisions behind extraordinary success.

CONNECT WITH SMART WOMEN BIG DEALS

Website: https://smartwomenbigdeals.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smartwomenbigdeals

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@smartwomenbigdeals

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@smartwomenbigdeals

Media and partnership inquiries: [email protected]

New episodes every Wednesday. Follow Smart Women Big Deals wherever you listen to podcasts and subscribe on YouTube to watch the full conversations.

07. Vanya Filipovic has helped build some of Canada’s most celebrated restaurants. But ask the award-winning sommelier what makes a restaurant unforgettable, and she won’t begin with the food or wine... She’ll tell you it’s how you feel when you leave.

In this episode, Liza sits down with the restaurateur behind Joe Beef and Vin Papillon’s influential wine programs and the co-founder of Mon Lapin, named Canada’s best restaurant, and Rôtisserie La Lune.

Vanya shares how growing up in her parents’ restaurant shaped her instincts for hospitality, why she left the security of Joe Beef after 15 years and what it took to build an acclaimed restaurant with her husband, chef Marco Frappier, and their partners.

In this episode:

• How Vanya helped shape Joe Beef and Montreal’s evolving restaurant culture
• What separates a technically good wine from one with genuine “energy”
• Why she helped champion natural wine—and now questions the usefulness of the label
• The philosophy behind Mon Lapin and its rise to becoming Canada’s best restaurant
• Why she hires for the “twinkly eye” rather than experience alone
• How the pandemic nearly cost them everything—and ultimately strengthened the business
• Why thoughtful hospitality depends on curiosity, memory and attention to detail

And, as always, Liza asks the question at the heart of every conversation: What is the Smartest Big Deal you have ever made?

ABOUT SMART WOMEN BIG DEALS

Smart Women Big Deals is a podcast hosted by Liza Kaufman, featuring candid conversations about entrepreneurship, leadership, reinvention and the defining decisions behind extraordinary success.

CONNECT WITH SMART WOMEN BIG DEALS

Website: https://smartwomenbigdeals.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smartwomenbigdeals

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@smartwomenbigdeals

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@smartwomenbigdeals

Media and partnership inquiries: [email protected]

New episodes every Wednesday. Follow Smart Women Big Deals wherever you listen to podcasts and subscribe on YouTube to watch the full conversations.

06. Dr. Trevor Born has spent more than three decades renewing faces but his goal has never been to make someone look like a different person.

In this episode, Liza sits down with the cosmetic plastic surgeon she personally trusted with her own face for a candid conversation about beauty, aging and what actually works.

Known for his natural aesthetic and pioneering use of facial fat grafting, Dr. Born separates meaningful innovation from industry hype. From facelifts, Botox and fillers to lasers, exosomes and regenerative medicine, he explains why the most sophisticated aesthetic work begins with knowing what to change and what to leave alone.

In this episode:

• Why natural-looking plastic surgery begins with balance, not transformation
• How facial fat grafting changed modern approaches to aging and rejuvenation
• What “deep-plane facelift” really means and what the marketing leaves out
• The truth about Botox, fillers, CO2 lasers, PRP and exosomes
• How rapid GLP-1 weight loss can affect facial volume and skin
• Why social media, filters and online trends have transformed patient expectations
• Where AI, genetics and regenerative medicine could take aesthetics next

And, as always, Liza asks the question at the heart of every conversation: What is the Smartest Big Deal you have ever made?

ABOUT SMART WOMEN BIG DEALS

Smart Women Big Deals is a podcast hosted by Liza Kaufman, featuring candid conversations about entrepreneurship, leadership, reinvention and the defining decisions behind extraordinary success.

CONNECT WITH SMART WOMEN BIG DEALS

Website: https://smartwomenbigdeals.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smartwomenbigdeals

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@smartwomenbigdeals

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@smartwomenbigdeals

Media and partnership inquiries: [email protected]

New episodes every Wednesday. Follow Smart Women Big Deals wherever you listen to podcasts and subscribe on YouTube to watch the full conversations.

05. Ines Di Santo started with $10, a Singer sewing machine and one clear motivation: to build a better future for her daughter.

In this episode, Liza sits down with the internationally celebrated bridal designer to explore how ten rolls of fabric, ten handmade samples and an unwavering belief in her talent became a global couture fashion house.

Ines shares the risks behind her earliest collections, the Casa Loma fashion show everyone told her was impossible and the deeply personal approach that has earned generations of brides’ trust. Joined in business by her daughter, Veronica, she also reflects on creativity, family and why great design is not always about giving a woman what she asks for but understanding what she truly needs.

In this episode:

• How Ines turned $10 and a Singer sewing machine into her first bridal collection
• Why providing for her daughter became the driving force behind her ambition
• The bold Casa Loma fashion show that helped establish her name
• How her first collection sold out and filled her appointment book for the following year
• Why earning a bride’s trust is at the heart of designing a custom wedding gown
• How Ines and Veronica built a creative partnership across two generations
• Why couture must continue evolving with modern, fashion-forward brides

And, as always, Liza asks the question at the heart of every conversation: What is the Smartest Big Deal you have ever made?

ABOUT SMART WOMEN BIG DEALS

Smart Women Big Deals is a podcast hosted by Liza Kaufman, featuring candid conversations about entrepreneurship, leadership, reinvention and the defining decisions behind extraordinary success.

CONNECT WITH SMART WOMEN BIG DEALS

Website: https://smartwomenbigdeals.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smartwomenbigdeals

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@smartwomenbigdeals

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@smartwomenbigdeals

Media and partnership inquiries: [email protected]

New episodes every Wednesday. Follow Smart Women Big Deals wherever you listen to podcasts and subscribe on YouTube to watch the full conversations.

04. Before luxury real estate, there were management consulting, fashion photography, entrepreneurship, race cars and more than a few unexpected turns.

In this special episode, Liza Kaufman leaves the host’s chair and hands it to the person who knows her story best: her daughter and business partner, Alfee Kaufman.

Together, they trace Liza’s journey from a childhood in Peru and an abrupt move to Canada to a cancer diagnosis in her twenties, motherhood and an almost accidental entrance into real estate. It is a candid conversation about independence, resilience and learning to see reinvention as an opportunity rather than evidence that the plan went wrong.

In this episode:

• How immigrating from Peru to Canada shaped Liza’s need for independence
• The unexpected crisis that launched her management-consulting career at 21
• Why she refused to let cancer become the defining story of her life
• The businesses and professional experiments that came before real estate
• How one course unexpectedly led to a career in luxury real estate
• What it means to build Kaufman Group alongside her daughter
• Why family has always mattered more than business

ABOUT SMART WOMEN BIG DEALS

Smart Women Big Deals is a podcast hosted by Liza Kaufman, featuring candid conversations about entrepreneurship, leadership, reinvention and the defining decisions behind extraordinary success.

CONNECT WITH SMART WOMEN BIG DEALS

Website: https://smartwomenbigdeals.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smartwomenbigdeals

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@smartwomenbigdeals

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@smartwomenbigdeals

Media and partnership inquiries: [email protected]

New episodes every Wednesday. Follow Smart Women Big Deals wherever you listen to podcasts and subscribe on YouTube to watch the full conversations.

03. Mindy Weiss has planned extraordinary celebrations for Justin and Hailey Bieber, Selena Gomez, the Kardashians and families around the world. But her real business isn’t celebrity...it’s trust.

In this episode, Liza sits down with the legendary event planner to explore how a love of stationery became one of the world’s most recognized event-planning businesses.

Mindy shares the creativity, pressure and problem-solving behind unforgettable weddings. After more than 35 years in business, she also reveals why the moments people remember most rarely have the highest price tag.

In this episode:

• How Mindy went from custom invitations to celebrity weddings and global events
• Why problem-solving is the most important skill in event planning
• How she built decades-long relationships with clients and their families
• The emotional and financial conversations behind beautiful celebrations
• What makes an event feel deeply personal and genuinely unforgettable
• How becoming a grandmother changed her relationship with work

And, as always, Liza asks the question at the heart of every conversation: What is the Smartest Big Deal you have ever made?

For Mindy, the answer has nothing to do with business.

ABOUT SMART WOMEN BIG DEALS

Smart Women Big Deals is a podcast hosted by Liza Kaufman, featuring candid conversations about entrepreneurship, leadership, reinvention and the defining decisions behind extraordinary success.

CONNECT WITH SMART WOMEN BIG DEALS

Website: https://smartwomenbigdeals.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smartwomenbigdeals

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@smartwomenbigdeals

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@smartwomenbigdeals

Media and partnership inquiries: [email protected]

New episodes every Wednesday. Follow Smart Women Big Deals wherever you listen to podcasts and subscribe on YouTube to watch the full conversations.

02. Katherine Garbarino never set out to become an influencer. She simply started sharing what she genuinely loved and built a powerful business by being entirely herself.

In this episode, Liza sits down with the entrepreneur behind KGMTL, Girls Living Well and The GLW Shop to unpack how authentic recommendations became a trusted personal brand, an engaged wellness community and a growing portfolio of digital businesses.

Katherine speaks candidly about entrepreneurship, online criticism, financial mistakes and why having an audience is not the same as having genuine influence.

In this episode:

• How Katherine’s experience in retail and fashion shaped her entrepreneurial instincts
• Why health and wellness became the unexpected catalyst for her online community
• How consistency helped her build trust long before social media became a business model
• What criticism taught her about confidence, identity and being misunderstood
• The expensive lesson that changed how she approaches teams, money and growth
• Why protecting her peace now matters more than accepting every profitable opportunity

And, as always, Liza asks the question at the heart of every conversation: What is the Smartest Big Deal you have ever made?

For Katherine, the answer began with the decision to put herself online.

ABOUT SMART WOMEN BIG DEALS

Smart Women Big Deals is a podcast hosted by Liza Kaufman, featuring candid conversations about entrepreneurship, leadership, reinvention and the defining decisions behind extraordinary success.

CONNECT WITH SMART WOMEN BIG DEALS

Website: https://smartwomenbigdeals.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smartwomenbigdeals

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@smartwomenbigdeals

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@smartwomenbigdeals

Media and partnership inquiries: [email protected]

New episodes every Wednesday. Follow Smart Women Big Deals wherever you listen to podcasts and subscribe on YouTube to watch the full conversations.

01. Behind Robert Reffkin’s success is the woman who taught him to lead with resilience, kindness and purpose: his mother, Ruth Reffkin.

In this episode, Liza sits down with Robert, Founder, Chairman and CEO of Compass International Holdings—the largest residential real estate brokerage in the United States—and Ruth, an educator, entrepreneur and real estate leader whose philosophy is rooted in “mission before commission.”

Together, they reveal the personal story behind Compass and explore how a mother’s belief can shape not only a child’s ambition, but the kind of leader they ultimately become.

In this episode:

• The childhood challenges that shaped Robert’s ambition and resilience
• How Ruth navigated single motherhood, entrepreneurship and reinvention
• Why mentorship became central to Robert’s life and leadership
• The values that helped Robert build Compass and lead through uncertainty
• What mother and son have learned from each other about success, kindness and giving back

And, as always, Liza asks the question at the heart of every conversation: What is the Smartest Big Deal you have ever made?

Their answers are not what you might expect.

ABOUT SMART WOMEN BIG DEALS

Smart Women Big Deals is a podcast hosted by Liza Kaufman, featuring candid conversations about entrepreneurship, leadership, reinvention and the defining decisions behind extraordinary success.

CONNECT WITH SMART WOMEN BIG DEALS

Website: https://smartwomenbigdeals.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smartwomenbigdeals

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@smartwomenbigdeals

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@smartwomenbigdeals

Media and partnership inquiries: [email protected]

New episodes every Wednesday. Follow Smart Women Big Deals wherever you listen to podcasts and subscribe on YouTube to watch the full conversations.

Success is the headline. Smart Women Big Deals is the story behind it.

Hosted by Liza Kaufman, Smart Women Big Deals goes beyond the résumé and behind the success for candid, long-form conversations with extraordinary entrepreneurs, leaders, creators and change-makers.

Through stories spanning business, leadership, reinvention, resilience, health, longevity, family and purpose, Liza uncovers the risks her guests took, the failures they rarely discuss, the relationships that shaped them and the decisions that changed everything.

Because the biggest achievements are never the whole story—and the smartest deals are rarely financial.

Every conversation ends with one defining question:

What is the Smartest Big Deal you have ever made?

Subscribe now and join our community for the stories behind the success.

New episodes every Wednesday, beginning September 23 with Episode 1.

ABOUT SMART WOMEN BIG DEALS

Smart Women Big Deals is a podcast hosted by Liza Kaufman, featuring candid conversations about entrepreneurship, leadership, reinvention and the defining decisions behind extraordinary success.

CONNECT WITH SMART WOMEN BIG DEALS

Website: https://smartwomenbigdeals.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smartwomenbigdeals

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@smartwomenbigdeals

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@smartwomenbigdeals

Media and partnership inquiries: [email protected]

New episodes every Wednesday. Follow Smart Women Big Deals wherever you listen to podcasts and subscribe on YouTube to watch the full conversations.