Being different is definitely desirable, but how does a brand become “unmatched”?

Tune into my discussion with Oana Leonte, marketer and (more recently) entrepreneur extraordinaire, who shared valuable insights on marketing tips for growing a business. Among them,

• a sports brand and a luxury brand have more in common than you might think; it’s all about coming up with that “object of desire”;
• the key to building a successful brand is knowing your audience; the biggest mistake one can make is presuming that clients will like what the founder likes (been there, done that)
• being on social media and “going viral” is overrated; one also needs a good product, proper pricing and, among other, proper distribution channels
• people will always connect with the founder and the story behind the brand; creating a “heritage” brand will ensure you stay relevant in all economic contexts
• micro-influencers are here to stay
• find your “football shoe”; that product/service which, in the darkest of times, will still connect your audience to your heritage

In the future, “everybody will be world famous for 15 minutes” (Andy Warhol). What are you planning to do to stay relevant beyond your few minutes of fame?

"Know your customer — it's the biggest reason brands succeed or fail. Once you understand your audience, offer a product they want and need, and stay consistent with your message. Finally, focus on quality and timing. Exceptional products delivered at the right time will always win."

The Madgician Podcast is back!

Our first guest of 2025 is Alina Balaci, Independent Consultant | Managing Director at Di Minno. In this episode, we talked about fashion as a business, the challenges of managing high-end brands, lessons small brands can learn from industry giants, and key strategies for global expansion. Alina - who has worked with global brands like Christopher Kane, Lacelier, Burberry, and Debenhams - shared valuable insights on leadership, navigating omnichannel strategies, and advice for aspiring entrepreneurs in the ever-evolving fashion landscape.

We’re back with Ep.10 of The Madgician Podcast! This time around, we’ve had the chance to speak with Tjaša Jarc, founder of Džungla Plants, a leading Slovenian shop for trendy indoor plants. We talked about first-year challenges, adapting to economic downturns, lessons learned, overcoming the fear of launching a business, and a lot more.

"The best advice I got before starting Džungla was to stop pushing. A guy once told me, 'I built my first company after having my third child and building a house—not exactly ideal timing. But I knew it was the right time.' He told me to relax, keep exploring options, but let go of the pressure that something must happen. And once I did that, Džungla came to life just a month later. Now, I always remind myself: the key is to enjoy building, to stay focused on the purpose behind it, and to let things unfold naturally, without stressing over every detail." - Tjaša Jarc

About Tjaša Jarc

After four years living abroad in places like Bali, Berlin, and Melbourne, and gaining valuable life and work experiences, Tjaša Jarc recently returned to her home country, Slovenia. With a background in advertising and PR, she started her career in agencies such as Studio Mi and Pristop while studying communication sciences. After a four-month break in Bali, Tjaša moved to Berlin, where she helped manage one of the city’s main coworking spaces, Ahoy Berlin.

Two years later, she relocated to Australia, where she set up operations for the Blockchain Centre in Melbourne and opened its new premises. She also launched and managed Melbourne’s first blockchain incubator. Back in Slovenia, Tjaša has spent most of her time running operations for Silicon Gardens, a Slovenian founders-for-founders investment fund, and managing Kyuriosity Hub. During the first wave of the pandemic, she launched Džungla, an e-store for indoor plants, which has since become her main focus.

What you’ll learn by listening

• First-year challenges in entrepreneurship & tips to overcome them
• Adapting to economic hurdles in real time
• Replicable marketing tips for any business
• Mistakes made & lessons learned in entrepreneurship
• Listening to customer demands: why & how it shapes your business
• Overcoming the fear of launching a new business

Innovation in luxury fashion is crucial, but it’s a bit of a paradox. Luxury is rooted in exclusivity, heritage, and tradition, yet modern customers, especially younger generations, expect a more personalized, sustainable experience. The challenge is to introduce innovation without compromising a brand's core values. - Diana Balogh

In today’s episode of The MADgician, we had the pleasure of speaking with Diana Balogh, innovation for sustainable luxury advisor and founder of Ludysco. We talked about building resilience, innovation in luxury fashion, and balancing heritage with agility in entrepreneurship.

About Diana Balogh

Diana Balogh brings over 15 years of luxury industry expertise, with an impressive focus on operations across logistics, customer service, e-commerce, and innovation, particularly in the watches and jewelry sectors. Spending more than a decade at Cartier, Diana led significant initiatives, from implementing SAP and launching multi-brand e-commerce to pioneering Cartier’s diamond traceability efforts. Her projects have spanned cutting-edge technologies, including blockchain and AI applications within luxury.

In 2016, she launched her first entrepreneurial venture, Varadi, a high-heeled shoe company for women. Following this, Diana joined Prada in 2021 to lead the supply chain strategy for their inaugural fine jewelry collection, emphasizing traceability, sustainable sourcing, and boutique customer experience.

Driven by her passion for innovation and social impact, Diana embraced entrepreneurship once more in 2022. She now runs Ludisco, offering activities for children with developmental disorders, and DBC Consulting, which advises luxury brands, jewelry workshops, and tech companies on sustainability, business refinement, and leveraging AI and blockchain to drive growth and innovation.

What you’ll learn by listening

• Balancing heritage with agility: Lessons from luxury brands to entrepreneurship
• Innovation in luxury: How quickly are big brands updating technology?
• How disruptive technologies shape luxury: Insights for small brands
• Comfort-style dilemma: Can high heels deliver both?
• Shoe brands vs. jewelry brands: Which one holds greater potential for success
• Building resilience: Lessons learned from the world of business
• Breaking through the noise: Marketing tips for small brands

“The only bad ventures are the ones that never happen. Don’t think, 'What if I fail?'—think, 'What if you fly?'” - Rebecca Schween.

In today’s episode of The MADgician, we had the pleasure of speaking with Rebecca Schween, managing director at @FutureSales, about entrepreneurship in sales, personal branding, choosing your niche, and trusting your intuition.

Rebecca also shared valuable advice for women transitioning from employment to entrepreneurship, and we discussed the balance of sacrifice, compromise, and pressure - while recognizing the incredible rewards that come with it.

About Rebecca Schween

With over a decade of experience in sales recruitment, Rebecca is the founder of FutureSales, a sales recruitment agency that helps German and international tech companies find and hire the best sales talents in the market. As the managing director, she leads a team of dedicated consultants and researchers who share her passion and vision for delivering high-quality and personalized recruitment solutions.

“At FutureSales, we have successfully placed hundreds of sales professionals across various levels and roles, from account executives to sales directors, in some of the most innovative and fast-growing tech companies.

We leverage our extensive network, industry knowledge, and recruitment expertise to match our candidates and clients based on their needs, goals, and culture fit. We also provide mentoring, coaching, and advisory services to both candidates and clients, helping them achieve their full potential in the cloud sales industry.”

What you’ll learn by listening

• The power of choosing a niche: why specialization is crucial for entrepreneurs in 2024
• Overcoming fear: advice for women transitioning from employment to entrepreneurship in tech
• Entrepreneurship: balancing sacrifice, compromise, and pressure - but with incredible rewards
• Why personal branding matters: people buy from the founder, not just the business
• Trust is everything: how your personal brand drives business success
• Key lessons learned in entrepreneurship
• The power of authenticity: staying true to yourself on the path to success

“To be a leader is to be vulnerable. To be a leader is to be curious. To be a leader is to be kind. That's the burning fire inside of me. That's why I say certain things and I repeat certain things. And I make sure all the seats in the back can hear them.” - Deborah Choi

Words can’t describe how I feel about this week’s episode of The Madgician. Deborah Choi, I commend you for your words of wisdom. There’s no doubt about it - vulnerability is strength, in life and business. As a woman founder, letting my guard down hasn’t always been easy. But I’m getting there. As I like to say, it’s a work in progress.

About Deborah

Deborah is a dynamic and innovative leader with over 15 years of experience in entrepreneurship, digital strategy, and business development. She's built a proven track record of scaling startups, driving digital transformation, and fostering diversity in tech.

She's founded six ventures, raised VC funding, and joined the BusinessWeek ‘Top 25 under 25’ with her first startup and Business Insider's top 25 Zukunftsmacherinnen (Futuremaker) list for 2022. Deborah is a recipient of the Google for Startup's Black Founders Fund (2021) and a Top 100 Woman for Diversity in Germany (2023).

Deborah is also a sought-after public speaker and executive coach to founders and has been featured in TechCrunch, Sifted, EU Startups, and Business Insider.

Born in Nigeria and raised in the US, Deborah earned a BA from the University of Chicago and now resides between Berlin and Marrakech.

What you’ll learn by listening

• Entrepreneurship in Germany vs. the rest of Europe: localized growth vs. international expansion
• What’s the hardest challenge you’ve faced as a founder? What would you do differently today?
• Intuition in entrepreneurship: does it matter?
• From employee to business owner: taking the leap of faith
• The link between general marketing and personal branding
• Vulnerability in leadership: why it matters
• About Founderland: supporting women entrepreneurs of color across the continent
• Product vs. service companies: which is easier to start and grow?

Today’s episode of The Madgician - a podcast with women entrepreneurs, dives into the world of luxury and innovation with Kristina Bokova, founder of fine jewelry platform, LustrLabs.

During this episode, we explore her journey of turning a vision into a reality, the challenges of navigating the luxury sector, and the transformative impact of emerging technologies like blockchain and AI in luxury jewelry. Kristina shares her experiences with resilience, creativity, and the strategic use of digital tools to elevate her brand.

“I believe resilience is one of the most important qualities an entrepreneur needs. It’s about being able to navigate through the negative turns. You encounter many rejections, have tough days, and often feel alone because no one cares about your idea and vision as much as you do. Resilience is key; you need to try different approaches and pivot when necessary. Exploring all your options, testing, and learning is crucial, and you shouldn’t fear failure. It’s important to give yourself time to determine if something will work or not.

About Kristina Bokova:

With over a decade of experience at the intersection of luxury and technology, Kristina is a passionate entrepreneur, strategic advisor, and global leader dedicated to creating value through the fusion of design and technology.

Kristina is the founder of LustrLabs, a Paris-based fine jewelry platform. LustrLabs combines the craftsmanship of Place Vendôme’s legacy with the creative expression of contemporary artists, serving as a hub where artists, collectors, coders, and designers converge. The platform redefines the collector's journey with a membership-like experience, fostering a deep connection between collectors and their jewelry within a community of art and jewelry enthusiasts. LustrLabs offers unique products and experiences, blending technology, fine jewelry expertise, and traceability.

Additionally, Kristina actively supports women’s empowerment, student mentorship, and startup initiatives, including mentoring for the Outlier Ventures x Farfetch Dream Assembly program, focusing on luxury, fashion, and web3.

What you’ll learn by listening

• Luxury fashion meets technology: How tech is transforming the luxury fashion industry.
• Blockchain for authenticity: Enhancing traceability and authenticity of luxury goods.
• Crafting fine jewelry: Merging creativity, logic, and tech to bring jewelry designs to life.
• Storytelling in luxury fashion: The power of compelling narratives for building a luxury brand.
• Overcoming challenges: Navigating imposter syndrome and celebrating milestones.
• Effective go-to-market strategies: The impact of a strong launch strategy on brand success.
• The power of resilience: The role of persistence in overcoming business obstacles.
• Emerging tech trends: How AI and 3D modeling are shaping the future of luxury brands.

L'épisode d'aujourd'hui du Madgician - un podcast avec des femmes entrepreneures, est très spécial. Parce que nous voulons rendre ce podcast aussi inclusif que possible, l'épisode 05 est en français.

Tout au long de cet épisode, notre invitée, Laura Loghin, Fondatrice et Directrice Générale de Chineurs du Monde, a partagé des insights précieux sur son parcours entrepreneurial. Nous avons parlé de l'importance de la passion pour faire avancer une entreprise, du storytelling comme stratégie marketing, de l'importance cruciale de faire des erreurs dans les affaires pour pouvoir grandir.

Écoutez l'épisode complet sur Spotify :

À propos de Chineurs du Monde :

Chineurs du Monde promeut le savoir-faire ancestral et propose une sélection d'artisanat et de trouvailles uniques du monde entier : objets décoratifs et accessoires - pièces uniques, entièrement réalisées à la main.

Ce que vous apprenez en écoutant :

• Voyage et entrepreneuriat: un parcours alimenté par la passion
• Surmonter les défis en tant que femme entrepreneur
• L'importance de commettre des erreurs pour grandir, tant dans les affaires que dans la vie
• Stratégies marketing qui conduisent au succès : le pouvoir du récit
• Faire face au doute de soi : comment combattre le syndrome de l'imposteur

Today’s episode of The Madgician - a podcast with women entrepreneurs, is all about the intricacies of building a successful business in the fashion industry; a competitive industry that calls for patience, strength, innovation, and a tremendous amount of creativity. In this episode, we’ve had the pleasure of speaking with Trinity Hislop, founder of THIRD, the first search and comparison site for preloved luxury bags.

We talked about building relationships that matter, overcoming challenges, not giving up in the face of adversity, and so much more.

“I keep saying, 'slow and steady wins the race.' You have to hold on to that. I think the path of life materializes when you least expect it. We're all on different journeys, but in the same way, we're on the same journey.”

About THIRD:

THIRD is a dedicated search & compare destination for preloved luxury bags. Offering the broadest range of products from the world’s most trusted resellers, THIRD acts as the origin for preloved luxury bags online. Operating as an inventory-free platform, you can discover and buy unique bags from the world’s most prestigious luxury brands.

What you’ll learn by listening

• Navigating business challenges: paths to sustained success
• The intricacies of networking & how to build connections with like-minded people in the fashion industry
• Timelines, deadlines, and setting achievable goals
• Behind the glitz: marketing strategies that work
• The trust factor: building relationships that matter with partners and customers
• How to build resilience and thrive in times of uncertainty

In today’s episode of The Madgician, we’ve had the pleasure of speaking with Marine Tanguy, CEO at MTArt Agency & Author of The Visual Detox. Marine shared her beautiful story with us; a story about entrepreneurship in the art world, the power of practice & consistency in business, how building trust is the key to building a strong brand, and so much more.

About Marine:

Marine launched Certified B Corporation, MTArt Agency in 2015, following a career in visual arts in London and LA. MTArt agency is worth £35 million and is the art sector's leading talent agency representing some of the most talented, forward-thinking artists in the world.

For us, art is not a luxury but an essential, and that is why we are passionate about democratizing art. We want to live in a world that is inclusive, diverse, and fair, which is why we support our artists financially and personally and dedicate ourselves to promoting and supporting meaningful art. It is through these actions that we became the first UK company in the art sector to have B Corp status – one of our proudest accolades. MTArt Agency is now worth £35 million and was recently featured on the Sunday Times as one of the fastest-growing businesses in the United Kingdom.

What you’ll learn by listening:

• The entrepreneurial factor in the art world
• Built for legacy not exit: the different dynamics of entrepreneurship in art vs tech
• An overview of “Artivism”: activism through art
• How can we consume media without letting is consume us
• Learning from mistakes: the power of practice in entrepreneurship & beyond
• How storytelling shapes your marketing strategy
• Consistency & trust, the key to building a strong brand