Figure It Out

Yura Movsisyan was drafted into Major League Soccer at just 18 years old. From immigrating to America as a young boy to becoming an MLS Cup champion, Yura built a career most athletes only dream of.In this episode, we explore what it takes to compete professionally at the highest level and, more importantly, what it takes to stay there. Yura reflects on his journey, sharing the physical and emotional demands of thriving in such a competitive field, along with the ambition, discipline, and resilience that fueled his success.After enduring one too many injuries, Yura made the difficult decision to hang up his jersey and walk away from the career he once envisioned as his future. What began as prescription medication to manage his injuries eventually led to a struggle with addiction.Through his honesty and vulnerability, Yura demonstrates that true strength extends far beyond the field. His experiences ultimately led him to discover a new purpose: helping children and families facing similar challenges.If there's one takeaway from this conversation, it's the power of resilience. Yura's journey is a testament to overcoming adversity, finding purpose through life's challenges, and ultimately becoming the best version of yourself.

They say never go into business with friends or family… but these three guys did exactly that—and turned an unconventional idea into a brand now sold in over 9,000 stores, including Target! In this episode, I sit down with the three founders of Chili Chews to talk about how COVID forced them to think outside the box, get creative, and turn spicy gummies into a thriving business. We dive deep into the strategic decisions that helped them scale, from identifying untapped markets and creating a competitive advantage through unconventional packaging and design to leveraging marketing, advertising, and their collaboration with Chrissy Teigen to build awareness and drive growth. This conversation goes beyond the success story. It's about the actual steps, calculated risks, creative thinking, and business strategies that took them from an idea to nationwide retail shelves.

A new season of Figure It Out with Lilit is here!If there’s one thing I’ve learned in the last seasons, it’s that success isn’t built overnight. It takes consistency, resilience, and the willingness to keep learning and evolving.Stay true to who you are; you don't follow every trend. Instead, listen to your customers, hear what they want to see from you and work on building genuine relationships with your them. Study your industry to the fullest and learn from your competitors. Most importantly, never stop showing up, even when things get difficult.Every experience, every challenge, and every lesson I learned continues to shape the way I approach business and life today.This season, we’re diving deeper into the journeys, lessons, and conversations that remind us that success isn’t about having it all figured out. It’s about never giving up on figuring it out.

This week, I'm joined by Marian Sarkisian, the creator behind Cakes by Marian. What started as making birthday and wedding cakes evolved into a viral sensation, with hyper-realistic cake creations that have captivated millions across TikTok, YouTube, and social media. Today, she has built an audience of over a million subscribers on YouTube and hundreds of thousands of followers across platforms. Marian shares her journey from discovering her passion for baking to becoming one of the internet's most recognizable cake artists. We talk about entrepreneurship, taking risks, growing a personal brand, navigating social media success, and the shifts it takes to turn a creative hobby into a thriving career.

Behind every unforgettable restaurant is a vision and someone who knows how to bring it to life. Meet Carnie Armenian, Design Director at Kelly Architects. In this episode, we explore the art and strategy behind designing some of the most beautiful upscale restaurants and hospitality spaces. From creating environments that elevate the guest experience to balancing aesthetics, functionality, and brand identity, Carnie shares what it really takes to transform an idea into a destination. As a young Armenian woman in architecture, Carnie has helped bring to life renowned projects including Gravitas, TATEL, Gucci, Bacio di Latte, and many more. She also shares how Kelly Architects has distinguished itself through a boutique, hands-on approach, where relationships, trust, and referrals have become the firm's most powerful form of marketing. Whether you're passionate about design, hospitality, entrepreneurship, or building a luxury brand, this conversation offers a fascinating look inside the world of architecture—and the people shaping the spaces we love most.

On this episode, I sit down with Aren Bazerkanian, founder and creative director of Havid Nagan — an independent luxury watch brand redefining modern watchmaking through timeless craftsmanship and bold design. From working in real estate to immersing himself in the world of high-end watchmaking, Aren took an unconventional path to building his own Swiss watch company from the ground up.We talk about what it really takes to create a luxury brand without investors, the pressure of building something rooted in legacy and artistry, and how his Armenian heritage, obsession with watchmaking history, and belief in independent craftsmanship shaped Havid Nagan into one of the most talked-about emerging names in the watch world. This episode is about vision, conviction, and choosing to build something lasting — even when the odds say otherwise.

Meet Ani Abrahamyan — an Armenian woman, mother, and member of the U.S. Air Force who chose a path far outside of traditional cultural expectations. In a community where women are often encouraged to follow more conventional roles, Ani carved her own lane through service, discipline, and determination — balancing military life, motherhood, and her Armenian identity with strength and pride.On this episode of Figure It Out with Lilit, we talk about breaking generational norms, navigating judgment, redefining what strength looks like as a woman, and the courage it takes to choose a life that’s true to yourself.

This week, I sit down with Vatche & Andy, founders of MuscleLab, to talk about how two completely different skill sets — kinesiology and marketing — came together to build one of LA’s fastest-growing wellness brands. What started in 2020 with uncertainty, slow days, and struggling to find clients turned into a blessing in disguise, when word-of-mouth from celebrity clients helped put Muscle Lab on the map.Now with three successful businesses and more on the way, their story is a reminder that growth comes from staying focused on the bigger picture, believing in your vision, and never giving up on the mission to help people.

Nadine and Paul of Tacori have stepped in to help grow their family business into the household name it is today. With their father still closely involved, they’ve brought a fresh, modern perspective to the brand—evolving it while staying true to its foundation in craftsmanship and quality. They introduced their now-iconic crescent design, a signature detail that set Tacori apart and helped define the “modern vintage” aesthetic they’re known for. While Tacori creates a wide range of custom jewelry, it’s this distinct style that made the brand instantly recognizable. Through hard work, strong family partnership, and a forward-thinking mindset, Nadine and Paul have expanded Tacori into one of the top names in the industry—working with clients around the world, featured on shows like The Bachelor, and worn by leading celebrities. In this episode, they share the lessons, mindset, and decisions that helped shape Tacori’s success—and what it really takes to grow a legacy brand.

Meet Zaven & Van — the visionaries behind Zartonk Media, a platform built with purpose, pride, and a deep sense of responsibility to the Armenian community worldwide. What started as a desire to tell our stories differently turned into a movement: one that bridges the gap between Armenia and Armenians across the globe. Breaking away from traditional media, they recognized early on that social media isn’t just a tool—it’s the new language of connection, storytelling, and truth. Through Zartonk, they spotlight Armenian excellence, resilience, and success stories that deserve to be seen and celebrated. Their mission is simple yet powerful: to uplift, to inform, and to unite a global community through content that inspires the next generation to stay connected, proud, and empowered.