Takin' Care of Lady Business‪®‬ Jennifer Justice

An industry leader in accessible luxury handbags, accessories, footwear and apparel, Rebecca Minkoff’s modern bohemian designs are inspired by strong, confident and powerful women who are drawn towards a west-meets-east mentality. Rebecca Minkoff is a global brand with a wide range of apparel, handbags, footwear, jewelry and accessories products.

In September of 2018, she established the Female Founder Collective, a network of businesses led by women who invest in women’s financial power across a socio-economic spectrum by enabling and empowering female-owned businesses.

She introduced the RM Superwomen Podcast in 2017 after hosting sold-out table talks out of her NYC flagship SoHo boutique. Each week, designer, female founder, and social activist Rebecca Minkoff talks to women from all walks of life, from CEOs to artists, and shows us what life is like without the pretty filters in order to help you navigate what it means to be vulnerable, how loss can make you stronger, and other ways to make your inner superwoman shine. In an intimate, share-all interview, Rebecca uncovers the many sides of powerful women and learn how they are raising up those around them to make the world a kinder, more inclusive place.

In 2021, Rebecca Minkoff became a best-selling published author and simultaneously entered the world of Web3 as the first American Female Fashion Designer to unveil a collection of branded NFTs timed to NYFW, which sold out in under 8 minutes.

In this episode of Takin’ Care of Lady Business®, Jennifer Justice interviews Rebecca Minkoff, a celebrated designer, founder, and CEO, known for her significant contributions to the fashion industry and her advocacy for women in business. Minkoff's perspective on women's empowerment and advocacy in business is deeply rooted in her own experiences and observations. She recognizes the need for a supportive community for female founders and entrepreneurs, having felt the lack of it herself. Minkoff believes in the power of education and has acted by creating platforms such as the "Female Founders Collective," which provides mentorship, retreats, and educational programs to empower women and provide them with the resources they need to succeed. She also emphasizes the importance of women supporting each other financially, advocating for fair compensation for their expertise and experiences.
 
 
Here is what to expect on this week’s show:

Discover initiatives that empower women in business, address gender disparities, and provide valuable resources.

Learn about women's challenges when valuing their expertise and discover solutions for empowerment.

Discover how women can champion each other by recognizing the value of their expertise and experience.

Explore the real-world impact of initiatives supporting women in business and how they've helped female entrepreneurs secure funding.


Quotes:
"If I'm going to work this hard, it's going to be for me." - Rebecca Minkoff
"The conversation is changing. Instead of saying, "oh, it's cool, that's never happened to me as a woman.” Instead, it's like, ‘Oh, no, this happens to me all day long, and the people who hear my voice and see me and understand me are actually other women in the room in business." - Jennifer Justice
"We feel like too often women are just like, can I pick your brain? Can we have coffee? And you worked so hard to get to where you're at, you should charge for that, and that's okay." - Rebecca Minkoff
 
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Luisa “Yola” Jimenez Yola Jimenez, a native of Oaxaca and Mexico City, returned to her heritage by adopting her late grandfather's mezcal farm after international studies in Philosophy and women's studies. An innovator in the mezcal industry, Yola modernized the smoky counterpart to tequila, noting a demographic shift towards women in rural Oaxaca as men sought urban opportunities. Her strategy prioritized female economic autonomy across borders.
 
In 2016, she launched Yola Mezcal, preserving her grandfather's recipe. The brand stands out for its traditional crafting, female-driven leadership, unique design, and commitment to issues like equality, immigration rights, and LGBTQ support. Globally acclaimed, Yola Mezcal has clinched numerous awards. Yola has been featured in top publications like Forbes, Vogue, and The NY Times, and in 2022, Courier Magazine named her "The Queen of Mezcal".
 
Gina Correll Aglietti is CEO and Co-Founder of Yola Mezcal. Gina co-founded Yola Mezcal in 2016 where she grew the brand into a leading, nationwide mezcal company. In addition, Gina has led and managed the brand's distribution, business development, PR, and events, including but not limited to YOLA Dia, a sold-out, 7,000-attendee music festival. Under Gina's leadership, Yola Mezcal pioneered the expansion of female recognition in the mezcal industry across all facets with a vertically integrated business model that provides direct pay to women. 
 
In this episode of Takin’ Care of Lady Business®, Jennifer Justice speaks with Gina Aglietti and Yola Jimenez, the co-founders of Yola Mezcal. This Mezcal company is committed to empowering women and promoting sustainability in the industry. Gina and Yola, with a friendship spanning 15 years, have a shared vision of preserving traditional recipes and supporting the indigenous people and producers of Mezcal in Oaxaca, Mexico. Their shared experiences and perspectives have shaped Yola Mezcal into a company that produces quality Mezcal and champions social impact.
 
 
Here is what to expect on this week’s show:

Learn how a business can thrive while positively impacting society and the environment.

The importance of providing opportunities to marginalized communities.

Learn about the vital role of diversity and representation in business and how aligning stakeholders with a shared mission can drive meaningful change.

The significance of challenging industry norms to retain cultural authenticity and community stewardship.

Discover how success transcends mere financial gains and see how businesses can make a tangible, positive impact on their communities and cultural heritage.



Quotes:
"Being as friends and business owners and partners is also beyond liquor, which is this whole other bag of challenges is complicated because as women, we go through so many changes as we grow up and enter these new chapters." - Gina Aglietti
"We never had that experience in the corporate world, so we didn't know. And everyone's going to believe in our story, and everyone's going to want to support a company that's trying to do good. And of course, the world is not quite like that, but I still think it's a really beautiful inception of our company that we were young and really, truly wanted to do things differently." - Yola Jimenez
"If you do not give up, you can find your way." - Gina Aglietti
“I think when you are treated like an equal and a human being, you act very differently. And that's the problem that women have had throughout history, is that we haven't had that chance.” - Yola Jimenez
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Marian Leitner created Archer Roose in 2015 with the mission of producing affordable luxury wines with minimal intervention. Instead of building a winery and committing to a specific geography and varietal, Marian wanted to offer wines from the most renowned regions around the world. So, she fostered personal relationships with small, adventurous winemakers to produce six unique, natural wines that are made from organic grapes and are vegan-friendly. 
 
Her emmy-award winning commercials, starring business partner Elizabeth Banks, have been lauded by the San Francisco Chronicle as the "most innovative wine marketing around." Archer Roose has been recognized by Wine Spectator and the Beverage Tasting Institute. Her wines can be found in James Beard Award Winning restaurants, Target stores, and on JetBlue flights.
 
In this episode of Takin’ Care of Lady Business®, Jennifer Justice speaks with Marian Leitner Waldman, a seasoned entrepreneur with a rich operations and brand-building background and a significant player in the wine industry. Drawing from her experiences as a consumer who desired a convenient and sustainable wine option, she co-founded Archer Roose. This brand offers fruit-forward, dry wines with a clean label and a transparent supply chain. Her perspective on disrupting the wine industry with sustainable, high-quality canned wine is shaped by her desire to address the industry's challenges, such as fragmentation, disconnection from consumers, and additives in wine.
 
 
Here is what to expect on this week’s show:

Explore how the wine industry is undergoing a sustainable transformation.

Discover the secrets behind the origins of your favorite wines and the push for transparency in the industry.

Dive into the world of innovative, environmentally friendly wine packaging, reducing the industry's carbon footprint.

Gain valuable business insights, including tips on securing capital, staying authentic, and managing budgets effectively.

Learn how you can contribute to a greener world through sustainable wine consumption.

 
Quotes:
"We're shaking things up in the wine industry over here. So we are building a transparent, sustainable, high-quality wine brand that produces wine all around the world and brings it to consumers in kegs and cans." - Marian Leitner Waldman
"People can smell b******t a mile away. So [a celebrity partnership] really has to be an authentic connection, but also got to make business sense." - Marian Leitner Waldman
“We can drink our way to a cleaner planet on our own." - Marian Leitner Waldman
 
This episode is sponsored by Medjet. Medjet is the top-rated air medical transport and crisis response membership for travelers. If you’re hospitalized while traveling or your safety is threatened abroad, they get you home. Join Medjet before your next trip at Medjet.com.
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Vanessa Barboni Hallik is the Founder and CEO of Another Tomorrow, a new ready-to-wear brand operating at the intersection of sustainability, ethics and design, launched in January 2020. She is also an investor in early-stage companies with strong ESG commitments and potential to catalyze positive change, and currently serves on the New York Advisory Board for the Trust for Public Land, for which she chairs the Playgrounds Committee.
Prior to Another Tomorrow, Vanessa was a Managing Director at Morgan Stanley, where she held several leadership roles in the emerging markets fixed income business. While at Morgan Stanley, she served as a trustee on the Board of the Morgan Stanley Foundation and chaired the Fixed Income Philanthropy Committee where she initiated and subsequently led the firm's mentoring program with East Side Community High School, a public school in the East Village of Manhattan, in partnership with PENCIL.org.
Vanessa holds a B.A. in Economics from Cornell University and is an M.S. candidate in Sustainability Management at Columbia University’s Earth Institute. She resides in New York City with her family and two dogs.
 
In this episode of Takin’ Care of Lady Business®, Jennifer Justice speaks with Vanessa Barboni Hallik, a former Wall Street professional who made a significant career transition into sustainable fashion entrepreneurship fueled by her upbringing in a creative and environmentally conscious family and her strong business development background. Vanessa's perspective on this transition is deeply rooted in her belief that capital allocation shapes our future. She saw an opportunity to transform the fashion industry by meeting customer needs and delivering value through her sustainable fashion brand, Another Tomorrow. The brand differentiates itself through merchandising, price positioning, and technology, aiming to lead the industry towards a more sustainable and circular economy. Vanessa believes that commercial success and sustainable scale are crucial for their mission to succeed. She aims to expand geographically and deepen their focus on technology and circularity to benefit her business model and potentially others.
 
Here is what to expect on this week’s show:

Learn about Another Tomorrow's circular fashion model and its eco-friendly impact.

Overcoming funding hurdles in the sustainable fashion world.

Debunking the sustainability vs. profitability myth.

Tune in for insights on overcoming obstacles and fostering growth.


Quotes:
"I became really convinced that the way that we allocate capital defines our future. Like minded." - Vanessa Barboni Hallik
"If we had a choice, we would all choose another tomorrow than the one we're on course for. We would make different decisions and those different decisions would be available to us." - Vanessa Barboni Hallik
"I deeply believe that for us to succeed in our mission of really modeling the future of fashion, we need to be incredibly commercially successful. And otherwise, everything that we're doing is just like cute, that's cute, that's nice. Small niche brands can do that, but these are not things that are applicable to the wider industry." - Vanessa Barboni Hallik
 
This episode is sponsored by Medjet. Medjet is the top-rated air medical transport and crisis response membership for travelers. If you’re hospitalized while traveling or your safety is threatened abroad, they get you home. Join Medjet before your next trip at Medjet.com.
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Sheri Howell is Head of Marketing & Communications for Medjet, the top-rated traveler protection membership in North America. She started her career at MTV, where as Vice President of Music she helped evolve a "little niche music television channel" into one of the most internationally recognized brands in history. Former clients and project partners of the branded content company she started after leaving MTV have included Walmart + Miley Cyrus, Intel + will.i.am, Virgin Airlines, Snickers, Sports Illustrated, the Hard Rock Casinos & Hotels, and more. Howell's viral content marketing and artist integrated campaigns have earned Emmy, Clio, Webby, CES Global Media, and NAACP Awards, multiple Telly Awards, and a nomination for the Titanium Lion at Cannes. 
 
In this episode of Takin’ Care of Lady Business®, Jennifer Justice speaks with Sherri Howell, a seasoned professional in the entertainment industry, began her career at MTV Music Television and quickly ascended to Chief Marketing Officer at Medjet, demonstrating her adaptability and prowess in various industries. Sherri's perspective on her career is one of growth, adaptation, and fulfillment. Starting at MTV, she honed her brand and talent management skills and, after 15 years, transitioned into entrepreneurship and marketing. Despite facing challenges in this new venture, Sherri embraced them with a problem-solving mindset, finding satisfaction in working with brands she believed in and creating successful strategies. Her innovative thinking and strategic approach have been instrumental in doubling sales at Medjet, even during the challenging times of the COVID-19 pandemic.
 
Here is what to expect on this week’s show:

Discover how embracing change and taking calculated risks can lead to incredible career opportunities and personal growth.

Explore how a diverse skill set can serve as a secret weapon, allowing you to thrive in various industries and roles, opening doors you never imagined.

Uncover the power of collaboration between brands and talent and how aligning interests can lead to extraordinary success stories.


Quotes:
"I love to hear these stories because I think it's very inspiring and encourages women to understand that life is not linear. Your career is not linear. And you can use all of these assets and experiences that you've gained over time to transfer into other industries." - Jennifer Justice
“It kind of broke my heart that there was just less and less music [on MTV], and the types of programming that they were evolving into, I didn't really want to make.” - Sheri Howell
"People call us from all over the world. They've had an accident or they're really sick, they're scared, they're stuck in a foreign hospital. And we send a team that shows up at their bedside, rolls them out, puts them on a jet, brings them to the hospital of their choice." - Sheri Howell
"Make your own way. Don't let anybody tell you what you should be and do something that you love, because if you do things that you love, you will succeed." - Sheri Howell
 
This episode is sponsored by Medjet. Medjet is the top-rated air medical transport and crisis response membership for travelers. If you’re hospitalized while traveling or your safety is threatened abroad, they get you home. Join Medjet before your next trip at Medjet.com.
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Courtney Leimkuhler is the co-founder and managing partner of Springbank Collective, an early-stage investment firm focused on building the infrastructure to close the gender gap. By investing in companies creating the tools, technology, and services that support women and working families, Springbank’s goal is to catalyze the new care economy and the future of inclusive work.
 
Before founding Springbank, Courtney was the Chief Financial Officer of Marsh, the world’s leading corporate insurance broker with 35,000 employees in over 100 countries. Previously, Courtney spent a decade at the New York Stock Exchange from pre-IPO through the sale of the public company in 2013. She served as a member of the Management Committee and the Head of Corporate Strategy and M&A during a transformational period for the company and the global exchange industry. Courtney began her career at Goldman Sachs.
 
Courtney serves as a board member or advisor to several fintech and insurtech companies, including New Front, Orchard, Coverwallet (sold to Aon in 2020), Betterment, and Asta Capital.
 
Courtney is a graduate of Harvard College summa cum laude and Harvard Business School where she was a Baker Scholar. Courtney and her husband live in New York City with their two daughters.
 
In this episode of Takin’ Care of Lady Business®, Jennifer Justice speaks with Courtney Leimkuhler, a seasoned professional with a background in financial services began her career at Goldman Sachs, gaining valuable experience in electronic trading, fintech, and regulatory matters. However, she decided to take a year off to travel and reflect on her career goals, giving her a unique perspective on navigating career paths and taking risks. Courtney believes in letting go of the idea that there is a specific path or set of boxes to check off to achieve success. Instead, she emphasizes the importance of being prepared to make the best of whatever opportunities come along and being open to alternative ways of acquiring skills. Her experiences, from starting in a traditional role at Goldman Sachs to co-founding Spring Bank, a company focused on building better childcare and making paid leave universal, have taught her the value of embracing flexibility, seizing unexpected opportunities, and adaptability.
 
Here is what to expect on this week’s show:

Learn the importance of trusting your instincts when making career decisions.

Discover why you should be adaptable and willing to take calculated risks to achieve career growth.

Why you should align your career decisions with societal challenges and find ways to make a positive difference.

Understand how to critically evaluate advice and make decisions based on your unique circumstances.


Quotes:
“We have massive problems to solve. I'm talking about one of them. But we have some really big societal challenges that I'd love to see more smart people with experience, without experience, engineering, everyone working together." - Courtney Leimkuhler
 
“My perception was like those practical and logistical supports were actually the main barrier and the way we worked was the problem." - Courtney Leimkuhler
 
"I think just sort of letting go very early on of this idea that there is a path and there's a specific set of boxes you're trying to check off has proved to be very valuable to me over the rest of my career." - Courtney Leimkuhler
 
“Nothing is objectively bad or good. It's sort of trying to understand what is the set of experiences that is leading to this piece of advice and do I think that those sets of experiences are actually relevant to me in this circumstance." - Courtney Leimkuhler
 
This episode is sponsored by Medjet. Medjet is the top-rated air medical transport and crisis response membership for travelers. If you’re hospitalized while traveling or your safety is threatened abroad, they get you home. Join Medjet before your next trip at Medjet.com.
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