Aerin Lauder, Founder & Creative Director of AERIN, on Stepping Outside Your Comfort Zone

Kevin Hart, the multi-talented comedian, actor, and entrepreneur, joins us in this episode to discuss his latest venture: Gran Coramino Tequila. Known for his relentless work ethic and unparalleled success in the entertainment industry, Kevin brings the same level of dedication and passion to his tequila brand. Realizing that his culture and community had not been properly introduced to Cristalino, a unique type of tequila, and its accessible price point, Kevin saw a perfect opportunity for a business venture. Join us as Kevin shares the story behind Gran Coramino, emphasizing the importance of hard work and the unique qualities that set his tequila apart

Jill W. Fox is the Founder of Fox Social Media. Jill initially learned social media to keep an eye on her then-teenagers. In 2010, Jill founded the company after working with her children’s sports teams to run their social media pages and falling in love with the process. Now, Jill runs a six-figure company planning and managing social media for her clients. Her advice? Make sure you love what you do. Listen to the Side Hustle to Small Business podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, or visit: entm.ag/hiscox

Stephen Lease, CEO and Co-Founder of Goodr, shares his journey from early challenges to leading a thriving company known for its stylish and affordable sunglasses. Passionate about running, Stephen saw a problem that needed fixing: affordable, quality glasses for runners. Embracing failure as a stepping stone, he turned setbacks into opportunities, driving Goodr to success. Join us as Stephen discusses the importance of resilience, innovation, and learning from failures in building a successful brand and business.

Philip Krim, Co-Founder of Casper, shares his journey from starting his first company while still enrolled at the University of Texas to becoming a prominent entrepreneur with many success stories. Philip doesn't sugarcoat the challenges of starting and running a successful business, emphasizing that it takes a unique individual to persevere through the hardships. He candidly discusses his willingness to start his company no matter what, despite numerous rejections and challenges in getting people to believe in his vision. Join us as Philip delves into the importance of resilience, the power of perseverance, and the ability to get back up after being knocked down in shaping a successful entrepreneur and in turn a successful business. 

Need funding to launch or grow your business? Meet two founders who successfully took an often-overlooked approach to fundraising: grants. Jessica Martin Eckerly, CEO and co-founder of Forward BIOLABS, and Alex Tyink, co-founder of Fork Farms, each received transformative awards from WEDC, the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation. And on this special episode, we find out what it took to win these incredible grants, and how that money has bolstered their businesses and impacted their communities. Today's bonus episode of How Success Happens is sponsored by the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation. Whether you're starting a business or have a groundbreaking idea, WEDC is here to support your success. Learn more at WEDC.org.

Kwamane Liddell, Founder of Thrive Link, 2024 American Nurses Association Innovation Award Winner, shares his journey from trauma nurse to accomplished business leader and healthcare lawyer. Witnessing the impact of barriers to social determinants of health, he created ThriveLink, which empowers families to enroll in health insurance, food stamps, and discount medication programs via phone. Join us as Kwamane shares his journey of dedicating his life to addressing healthcare disparities and ensuring equitable access for all. This episode is presented by Slack. Learn more at slack.com

Bobbie Lloyd, CEO of Magnolia Bakery, shares her journey from culinary school graduate and former chef for Calvin Klein to leading an iconic brand renowned for its amazing cupcakes and out-of-this-world banana pudding, a favorite of host Robert Tuchman. After working under former guest Danny Meyer, she saw what it took to run a successful restaurant and used her newfound insights to help create her own. Bobbi prides herself on kindness, hospitality, and humanity, showcasing the resilience and heart behind her entrepreneurial spirit. Thanks to our sponsor Hertz Business Rewards for helping small businesses save big. Join for free at Hertz.com/businessrewards.

Adam Wexler, the digital marketing savant shares his journey from a real estate major at UGA to the founder of PrizePicks. Explore how his early ventures, like GoRankem, honed his entrepreneurial skills, and how serving Fortune 500 companies with Insightpool enriched his expertise. We talk about his time with the Atlanta Hawks, where he embraced the digital and social media boom. Finally, witness how Adam's passion for sports and innovation converged, propelling him to create PrizePicks, and revolutionizing fantasy gaming becoming the largest growing sports company in North America. Thanks to our sponsor Hertz Business Rewards for helping small businesses save big. Join for free at Hertz.com/businessrewards.

Amy Errett, the visionary behind Madison Reed, shares her journey of building a successful omnichannel beauty brand specializing in the hair color space. Despite reaching the top of the Venture Capitalist industry, Amy felt a burning desire to create her own venture. Recognizing a gap in the hair color market riddled with harmful ingredients, she seized the opportunity to offer safe, high-quality alternatives for everybody to enjoy. Join us as Amy discusses the resilience and passion it takes to become a successful entrepreneur. Thanks to our sponsor Hertz Business Rewards for helping small businesses save big. Join for free at Hertz.com/businessrewards.

One in four employees are now using AI at work – a significant jump from the adoptions rates seen in 2023. So how are businesses leveraging AI in the workplace? We sit down with Christina Janzer, SVP of Research and Analytics at Slack, to discuss how businesses are embracing AI to increase productivity, make data-drive decisions, drive innovation and how Slack AI is enabling people to work smarter and faster. This bonus episode is brought to you by Slack. Learn more about Slack AI, visit Slack.com.