Episode 293 - Kara Posner & Thomas Cunningham on Legal Strategy, Growth & the Business of Beauty

In this episode of Where Brains Meet Beauty with Jodi Katz, we explore how legal and financial experts fuel the growth of beauty and wellness brands. Guests Kara Posner, Partner at Gianuzzi Lewendon and Thomas Cunningham, Director of Business Development at Physician Growth Partners share how they help founders navigate funding, scale strategically, and prepare for exits.From childhood dreams of animation and pro sports to careers in law and investment banking, Kara and Thomas reveal how early passions shape their approach to high-stakes advisory work. They dive into what it means to be true partners to entrepreneurs, offering not just strategy but empathy, creativity, and commitment.Expect insights on M&A, fundraising, managing strong personalities, and why real human connection still beats any app. A must-listen for anyone building a beauty, wellness, or med spa business.Thank you to our sponsor Beauty Connect - Get 10% off tickets with code WBMB.

In Episode 292 of Where Brains Meet Beauty, host Jodi Katz sits down with Sarah Foley, Managing Partner at InviNext Growth Partners and Caroline Chiaroni, Vice President at TJC for a compelling conversation at the intersection of private equity, consumer brands, and personal passion. From childhood dreams of veterinary clinics and art galleries to managing multi-million-dollar investments in beauty and wellness, these two trailblazers share how creativity, empathy, and strategic thinking shape their careers. They discuss the evolving role of technology in finance yes even AI, while emphasizing the irreplaceable power of human connection in brand building. You'll hear behind-the-scenes insights on spotting breakout brands, nurturing founder relationships, and balancing data with instinct. Whether you're an investor, entrepreneur, or just brand-curious, this episode delivers a refreshing look at the heart behind high-growth consumer investing.Bonus: Don’t miss the fun wrap-up game as Sarah and Caroline reveal their favorite art picks in a game of “museum tour, this or that.”Thank you to our sponsor Beauty Connect - get 10% off tickets with code WBMB.

In Episode 291 of Where Brains Meet Beauty with Jodi Katz, the spotlight turns to two investors redefining what it means to back beauty and wellness brands: Kara LaForgia, Founder & Managing Partner at Hive Ventures, and Rich Gersten, Co-Founder & General Partner at True Beauty Ventures. Their paths to venture capital could not be more different, yet both reflect the persistence, gut instincts, and passion that this industry demands.Kara’s story is one of constant reinvention. A lawyer by training, she started her career as an NFL sports agent, worked with Birdman and Lil Wayne at Cash Money Records, and went on to become the first employee at multiple startups before launching her own consulting business. From there, she began investing off her balance sheet, eventually managing capital for others and institutionalizing her approach under Hive Ventures. She describes herself as hands-on, gritty, and opportunistic, never afraid to step into an unfilled role or claim an open lane. For her, the ideal founder to back is someone who “eats, breathes, sleeps” their company, often an operator with deep experience at an early-stage brand who impresses her enough to think about them long after a meeting ends.Rich’s trajectory looks more traditional, but with its own twists. After business school, he entered private equity as a generalist, covering consumer companies across food, supplements, and retail. More than 20 years ago, he stumbled into his first beauty investment, Avalon Natural Products, followed by DDF Skincare. What began as an assignment from the founder of his firm “spend half your time on beauty” became a lifelong focus. Though initially skeptical, Gersten came to see beauty as uniquely resilient and endlessly dynamic. He recalls attending his first Women’s Wear Daily CEO Summit as the only private equity investor in the room, a stark contrast to today, where investors and bankers crowd those events alongside brand leaders. Five years ago, he co-founded True Beauty Ventures, a sector-specialized fund that now manages 20 brands across categories, channels, and geographies.Together, their perspectives reveal how beauty investing blends strategy with soul. The capital matters, but so do the founders, the vision, and the consumer connection. Both Hive Ventures and True Beauty Ventures may run lean teams, but they bring something more valuable than scale: deep expertise, empathy for founders, and an insider’s feel for where consumer trends are headed. As Gersten puts it, to invest successfully in beauty, you have to love it. Anything less just doesn’t stick.Thank you to our sponsor Beauty Connect. Get 10% off tickets with code WBMB.

In this episode of Where Brains Meet Beauty we meet Kevin Kim the Director of Beauty & Personal Care Investment Banking at Raymond James. His career journey didn’t begin with balance sheets and deal rooms it began with medicine.As the oldest son of two psychiatrists, Kevin grew up assuming he’d follow in their footsteps. But by late high school, he realized his path needed to be his own. Drawn to a more global career, he pivoted from pre-med aspirations to business, ultimately landing in investment banking.His early years at Houlihan Lokey provided a crash course in analytics and resilience. But financial services M&A, mortgage servicing rights and insurance deals left him craving work that was more dynamic, more connected to culture. That pivot came when he joined boutique bank Financo in New York, where a chance partnership with beauty M&A legend Vennette Ho introduced him to founder-led brands and the artistry of storytelling in finance.From helping Lily Gordon of First Aid Beauty raise early capital, to later selling the brand to P&G, Kevin learned that beauty transactions are never just about numbers, they’re about people. Founders bring vision, quirks, and dreams to the table, and he leaned on skills inherited from his psychiatrist parents: listening deeply, decoding motivations, and helping brands show up as their best selves when it matters most.Today at Raymond James, Kevin has worked on more than 25 beauty deals, guiding brands through capital raises, acquisitions, and exits. He and his team specialize in founder-led businesses, translating brand “sparkle” into financial value while advising buyers on how to preserve the magic post-acquisition. His lens is global covering fragrance booms in Paris, K-beauty trends from Seoul, and indie darlings in Sephora aisles.His leadership style reflects the same ethos: hands-on, people-first, and rooted in immersion. New analysts join him on “Sephora field trips,” learning that to advise in beauty, you must love the category, feel the consumer pulse, and respect its nuances.For Kevin the real thrill isn’t just closing a deal it’s knowing that a beloved brand has a shot at its next chapter, that founder visions are honored, and that beauty continues to evolve as a global language.Thank you to our sponsor Beauty Connect - get 10% off tickets with code WBMB.

What do NASA and luxury beauty have in common? In this stellar episode of Where Brains Meet Beauty, Jodi Katz sits down with Lindy Firstenberg, Senior Vice President, Beauty & Luxury at Alix Partners and Catherine Nekavand, Partner at Alix Partners - two powerhouse leaders who traded space suits and oil rigs for silk scarves and fragrance launches.Lindy, who once tested satellite mechanisms at NASA, shares how her journey took a glamorous turn at Louis Vuitton, where she helped launch the brand’s fragrance line. Catherine, a petroleum engineer who’s worked everywhere from Chad to Norway, reveals how she pivoted into the world of Tiffany & Co. and luxury retail, armed with a global perspective and an MBA from HEC Paris.Together, they unpack the art of transformation in luxury consulting, preserving brand heritage while using data and strategic insights to drive growth. They also share their leadership philosophies, tips for navigating career pivots, and how they keep the “magic” alive during mergers and acquisitions.And yes, we play a little game of “Beauty in Zero Gravity” because who says astronauts don’t need great moisturizer? Whether you're in the boardroom or dreaming of the stars, this episode will inspire you to embrace your path, even if it's not linear.A huge thank you to our partners at Beauty Connect Series - grab your ticket today at beautyconnectla.com and use code WBMB for 10% off! 

In this high-energy finale of our Health Compass: Navigating Careers in Wellness theme, host Jodi Katz welcomes Lisa Rossmann, Chief Concept Officer at Hand & Stone Spa and Bryan Appio, CEO of Drywater for a dynamic conversation about leadership, career pivots, and hydration.Lisa shares her journey from aspiring spy to beauty industry executive, while Bryan reflects on early entrepreneurial ventures and a drive to succeed shaped by his upbringing. Together, they explore what it takes to lead with empathy, build trust, and focus on internal excellence rather than external competition.Both Lisa and Bryan have learned to tune out the noise. In industries where competition is fierce and trends evolve daily, they’re not chasing comparisons—they’re doubling down on clarity. Instead of reacting to what other brands are doing, they focus on what truly matters: building strong teams, creating meaningful products and experiences, and staying aligned with their values.Their stories are proof that leadership today looks different than it did even a decade ago. It’s not about titles or traditional benchmarks—it’s about showing up with vision and the willingness to do things differently.The episode wraps with a fun and insightful hydration quiz, revealing surprising truths about water, wellness, and skin health. Whether you're a beauty industry insider or a leadership junkie, this episode is a masterclass in resilience, authenticity, and staying hydrated - inside and out. Tune in and drink it all in literally and figuratively. Check out more info on both companies at Handandstone.com and Drywater.com.

Preventative care meets powerful branding in this electric conversation with Dr. David Kim, board-certified dermatologist and founder of Lightsaver and Vicente Vasquez, Global Senior Brand Design Manager at Colgate-Palmolive.We explore the emotional and behavioral roots of beauty rituals — and what it really takes to shift them. From daily sunscreen to oral care routines, they reveal why so many people know what to do, but still don’t follow through.Vicente brings a sharp creative lens, shaped by a lifelong love of mixtapes, theater, and storytelling. That background fuels the emotional resonance behind the design work he now leads for one of the world’s biggest personal care brands.Dr. Kim shares the kind of insights that make you rethink your own habits — like why most people skip sunscreen (even when they have it), and how products feel, tone, and texture could be the key to long-term skin health. His take on beauty as preventative care is both science-based and deeply human.Together, they explore what makes a brand unforgettable, how to navigate creative critique, why timelessness beats trend-chasing — and yes, the best egg sandwich ever eaten during an interview.

Host Jodi Katz sat down with two women at the forefront of redefining health care as we know it: Liz Josefsberg, Founder & CEO of Target 100 Inc and Sarah Pesce, COO of stealth-mode wellness startup Radence.Despite wildly different paths—Liz went from Broadway star to Weight Watchers executive, while Sarah pivoted from nurse practitioner to health-tech builder—both share a mission: to help people move from “sick care” to well care.Liz's early career was center stage—literally. She spent years performing in Showboat and Les Misérables, all while privately battling weight fluctuations. That struggle led her to Weight Watchers, first as a member, then as a team member, and ultimately as their Director of Brand Advocacy. She helped build programs, consulted for the CEO, and guided celebrities like Jennifer Hudson and Charles Barkley through their own wellness transformations.But Liz wanted more than just the Weight Watchers playbook. She authored Target 100, a behavioral weight loss book that evolved into an app platform connecting hydration tracking, biometrics, and movement. Her mission? To give people a simple, evidence-based way to understand their bodies—and stay in the game without guilt or shame.Sarah began in cardiology, treating patients already facing chronic illness. It didn’t sit right. She saw an opportunity to move upstream—to build better systems for prevention. That led her to advanced degrees, hospital innovation work, and eventually to launching wellness labs that deliver “digital twins” of users through biomarker testing, wearables, and environmental data.Now, at Radence, Sarah’s team is developing a member-based preventative screening experience backed by a powerhouse science team. Her focus? Making cutting-edge longevity care accessible, personalized, and understandable—without needing an advanced medical degree to interpret your own labs.Liz and Sarah agreed on nearly everything: that bio-data is only helpful if it’s explained clearly. That technology is outpacing consumer understanding. That shame is a sales tool used too often—and that emotional support is what most health programs are missing. Whether it’s using AI to build “Liz in your pocket” or designing a membership that meets people where they are, their north star is clarity, context, and compassion.As Liz put it: “No woman has ever come to me and said she doesn’t know an apple is better than a Snickers. The problem isn’t information. It’s behavior—and how we stay in the game.”

Jodi Katz sat down with two powerhouse women making waves in personal health: Taryn Shockley, USA Sales & Education Manager at AlumierMD, and Kelly Murphy, General Manager at Lola. What followed was a deep, human, and often hilarious look at ambition, imposter syndrome, reinvention—and the workouts that keep them grounded.Taryn’s story starts on the balance beam. A gymnast from age two, she was competing at elite levels by ten and earned a full ride to ASU. But when an injury ended her collegiate career, she made her first major pivot—into skincare. What began as a passion for facials turned into a sales role that demanded she master the art of influence in highly clinical, physician-led spaces. Today, she's navigating a category that’s equal parts science and sales—and getting real about how to stay resilient when your numbers (or your self-worth) are on the line.Meanwhile, Kelly dreamt of being editor-in-chief of Seventeen Magazine—a goal she nearly touched when working at Penguin Books. But the realities of New York rent pushed her into digital marketing, where she built a versatile toolkit across SEO, UX, and data strategy at top agencies like Publicis and Havas. Now, she’s steering the ship at Lola, a pioneer in clean period care, and facing challenges every modern marketer knows too well: a saturated market, rising media costs, and a pressing need to evolve the brand story. Her secret weapon? Relationship-building. Whether managing a 20-person team or advocating for upper-funnel investment, Kelly leads with connection—and a healthy dose of what she calls “female rage.”While their paths are wildly different, Taryn and Kelly share a trait we see often in the Where Brains Meet Beauty community: the willingness to leap. Whether it’s changing industries, stepping into roles they weren’t quite ready for, or pushing back on outdated business norms, both women prove that reinvention isn’t just possible—it’s powerful. Yes, we had fun. From underwater spin classes to soundscape-enhanced yoga, Taryn and Kelly gave us their go-to workouts and how they use fitness as both therapy and mental reset. (Spoiler: one peed on a trampoline, one has a Fuze House membership in every city.)Their stories are packed with honesty, hustle, and the kind of lessons you only learn by leaping before you're ready.

What does a TikTok-famous hand surgeon and the descendant of mushroom farmers in France and have in common? Purpose—and the courage to follow it, even when the path looks nothing like the plan.Jodi Katz sat down with Dr. Erin Nance, founder of FeelBetr Health and Sonia Gaillis-Delepine, founder of Verdoie. While their companies serve different corners of the wellness space, both women share a mission: to help people better understand their bodies—and to redefine what care really looks like. Their stories of resilience, purpose, and transformation show how following your passion can lead to powerful change, even when the path takes unexpected turns. We end with a fun game of TikTok trends and what these start ups will pick to promote their brands.Want to try Verdoie - Use Promo Code BeautyBrains20 for 20% off your first order of Clinical skincare powered by mushrooms at Verdoie.com. And Join the waitlist for FeelBetr Health at feelbetr.health/subscribe-to-feelbetr