WOW Brand Podcast

WOW Brand
  • 5.0 (3)
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Updated Semiweekly

Every small business has a story behind it. The late nights. The sacrifices. The moments that almost broke them and the ones that made it all worth it. WOW Brand is a podcast dedicated to spotlighting small business owners across America. We sit down with the everyday entrepreneurs building their communities one business at a time and we let them tell it in their own words. From burger shops in Georgia to businesses across the country these are the stories that don't always make the headlines but deserve to be heard. Real people. Real struggles. Real success. New episodes available

  1. Aug 25

    Why Banking Is More Than Just Money

    In this episode of the WOW Brand Podcast, we sit down with Eric Bustamante, First Vice President and General Manager of Philippine National Bank New York, to explore his inspiring journey through more than two decades in the banking industry and why he believes banking is ultimately about serving people.What began as an unexpected career path became a lifelong mission of helping the Filipino community in the United States. Eric shares how leadership, humility, and a passion for service have shaped his career, from leading one of the oldest overseas Philippine banks to guiding clients through financial milestones, even during the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.We dive into leadership, finance, customer service, personal growth, and the lessons he's learned after more than 20 years in banking.In this conversation, we discuss:How an unexpected career led to bankingWhat it takes to lead a successful financial institutionWhy banking is a service-driven professionLeading a team through the COVID-19 pandemicCommon financial mistakes people should avoidBuilding trust through exceptional customer serviceLeadership lessons from managing high-performing teamsHelping overseas Filipinos invest back homeThe importance of humility and leading by exampleAdvice for young professionals entering the banking industryWhether you're a finance professional, entrepreneur, aspiring leader, or simply interested in personal and professional growth, this episode is filled with practical wisdom, leadership lessons, and real stories from one of the banking industry's most respected leaders.Guest: Eric BustamanteFirst Vice President & General ManagerPhilippine National Bank New YorkHighlights:Over 20 years in the banking industryFirst Vice President & General Manager of PNB New YorkLeading one of the oldest overseas Philippine banksPassionate advocate for the Filipino-American communityThree-time Best Customer Service Award recipient (PNB New York team)📸 Instagram:@ericbustamantee📍 WOW Brand Podcast – Midtown Manhattan

  2. Aug 24

    From Home Kitchen to Restaurant Owner

    In this episode of the WOW Brand Podcast, we sit down with **Christopher Yu**, co-founder of **Yumpling**, to explore how an idea that started in a home kitchen grew into one of New York City's fastest-growing Taiwanese fast-casual restaurant brands.Without any formal culinary background, Chris left corporate life, started cooking for friends, tested his recipes with neighbors, and slowly scaled from a home kitchen to flea markets, food trucks, and now two successful restaurant locations. Along the way, he learned that building a restaurant isn't about luck. It's about discipline, partnership, execution, and relentless consistency.We dive into entrepreneurship, building a food business from scratch, creating a unique fast-casual concept, expanding a restaurant brand, and why success often comes from taking calculated risks one step at a time.In this conversation, we discuss:* Leaving corporate America to start a restaurant* Growing from a home kitchen to two successful locations* Building Yumpling without a culinary background* Why testing your idea before scaling matters* The importance of finding the right business partner* Creating the first fast-casual Taiwanese concept in New York* Scaling through systems and operational excellence* Managing burnout as an entrepreneur* The discipline required to grow a restaurant business* Why customer experience is the foundation of every successful brandWhether you're an entrepreneur, restaurant owner, foodie, or someone thinking about starting a business, this episode is packed with honest advice, practical lessons, and real stories about what it takes to build a brand from the ground up.**Guest:** Christopher YuCo-Founder of YumplingHighlights:* Co-Founder of Yumpling* Two restaurant locations in New York City* Featured by Eater, The Infatuation, and NBC* Winner of Taiwan's Golden Bell Award for hosting a History Channel travel show* Expanding one of NYC's leading Taiwanese fast-casual brands📍 WOW Brand Podcast – Midtown Manhattan

  3. Aug 21

    He Quit Wall Street. It Changed His Life

    In this episode of the WOW Brand Podcast, we sit down with John Kastanis, co-founder of Casita of BK, to explore how he left a successful career on Wall Street to build one of New York City's fastest-growing coffee brands.What started as a leap of faith during the uncertainty of 2020 has grown into three successful coffee shop locations built around one simple philosophy: Home is not a place, it's a feeling. John shares how hospitality, community, and genuine human connection became the foundation of Casita of BK and why creating memorable experiences matters more than simply serving great coffee.We dive into entrepreneurship, opening a business during COVID, building a loyal customer base, scaling multiple locations, and why getting uncomfortable is often the first step toward building something extraordinary.In this conversation, we discuss:Leaving Wall Street to pursue entrepreneurshipBuilding three successful coffee shop locationsOpening a business during the height of COVIDCreating a hospitality-first brandBuilding customer loyalty through genuine relationshipsGrowing a business without losing its identityThe challenges of hiring and scaling a teamUsing social media to grow a local businessWhy community is the heart of every successful brandThe mindset every entrepreneur needs to succeedWhether you're an entrepreneur, restaurant owner, coffee lover, or someone thinking about taking a leap of faith, this conversation is filled with practical business advice, inspiring stories, and lessons on building a brand people truly love. Guest: John Kastanis Co-Founder of Casita of BK Highlights:3 successful coffee shop locations across New YorkFeatured in The Wall Street JournalFeatured by The InfatuationBuilt one of NYC's most community-focused coffee brands📍 WOW Brand Podcast – Midtown Manhattan

  4. Aug 20

    How Mastering One Skill Changed Her Life

    In this episode of the WOW Brand Podcast, we sit down with Dilara Malikova, founder of Didi Nails NY, educator, author, and entrepreneur, to discuss her inspiring journey from immigrant to building one of New York City's most recognized nail salon brands.What started as a passion for mastering her craft eventually grew into two successful salon locations, a thriving education business, and a book teaching her signature manicure technique. Dilara shares how focusing on quality instead of growth, building strong standards, and investing in education helped her stand out in one of the most competitive industries in New York.We talk about entrepreneurship, building a personal brand, hiring and training a team, the reality of owning a salon, social media marketing, and why mastering your craft is the foundation of every successful business.In this conversation, we discuss:Building a successful beauty business from scratchGrowing from one nail technician to two salon locationsThe truth behind the Russian manicure techniqueWhy business owners must stop doing everything themselvesBuilding a brand through social mediaCreating unforgettable customer experiencesHiring, training, and maintaining high standardsHelping immigrant women build successful careersWriting a book and becoming an educatorWhy trying is more important than waiting for perfectionWhether you're an entrepreneur, beauty professional, salon owner, or someone working toward a dream, this conversation is filled with practical business lessons, inspiration, and actionable advice.🎙️ Guest: Dilara Malikova💅 Founder of Didi Nails NY🏆 Highlights:Two Didi Nails NY salon locationsYelp Award Winner (2023, 2024, 2025)Author of a book teaching her Russian manicure techniqueNail educator and trainer📍 WOW Brand Podcast – Midtown Manhattan

  5. Aug 19

    The Truth About Running Multiple Businesses

    In this episode of the WOW Brand Podcast, we sit down with **Mita Quiogue**, a serial entrepreneur, immigrant from the Philippines, and founder of **AKA Medical, KVQ Group, Glossy Skinnovation, Mamita's Grab & Go, and NYC Tanghulu**.From supplying pastries to movie theaters as a teenager in the Philippines to building five businesses across healthcare, technology, beauty, food, and business acquisitions in the United States, Mita shares the mindset, discipline, and systems that have fueled her entrepreneurial journey.We dive into how she evaluates business opportunities, why she believes numbers never lie, how she scales companies without micromanaging, and the lessons she's learned from launching businesses in completely different industries. Mita also shares the story behind AKA Medical's remote patient monitoring platform, her vision for acquiring and growing small businesses, and why every entrepreneur needs a plan beyond going viral.In this conversation, we discuss:* Building five businesses across multiple industries* Growing companies through systems and leadership* How to scale without micromanaging* Trusting the right people and building strong teams* Why numbers should drive every business decision* Turning viral success into sustainable growth* Healthcare innovation through remote patient monitoring* Acquiring and scaling small businesses* Leadership lessons from years of entrepreneurship* The mindset required to build multiple successful companies* Why action beats perfection in businessWhether you're an entrepreneur, business owner, aspiring founder, or simply looking for practical business advice, this episode is filled with valuable insights on leadership, growth, innovation, and building businesses that stand the test of time.🎙️ **Guest:** Mita QuiogueFounder of:* AKA Medical* KVQ Group* Glossy Skinnovation* Mamita's Grab & Go* NYC TanghuluFollow Mita's businesses:📸 AKA Medical Wellness – @akamedicalwellness📸 Glossy Skinnovation – @glossyskinnovation📸 Mamita's Grab & Go – @mamitasgrabandgo📍 WOW Brand Podcast – Midtown Manhattan

  6. Jul 20

    How They Turned One Restaurant Into Three Successful Concepts

    In this episode of the WOW Brand Podcast, we sit down with Halley and Kip, co-founders of Tree Top Hospitality, to explore how they've built three unique restaurant concepts across New York City in just a few years. From launching their first restaurant, Margot, to creating the community-focused Montague Diner and their newest West Village concept Cleo, Halley and Kip share the realities of entrepreneurship, raising capital, building the right team, and learning through failure. They open up about the challenges of opening restaurants, the importance of strong partnerships, and why hospitality is ultimately about creating spaces where people feel comfortable returning again and again. In this conversation, we discuss:• Building multiple restaurant concepts from the ground up• What makes a successful business partnership• Lessons learned from opening and scaling restaurants• Hiring, leadership, and building strong teams• Fundraising and growing a hospitality business• Creating memorable guest experiences that keep people coming back• Balancing creativity with business strategy• The future of Tree Top Hospitality and New York dining Whether you're an entrepreneur, restaurant owner, hospitality professional, or someone passionate about building meaningful businesses, this episode is packed with valuable insights and real-world lessons. 🎙️ Guests: Halley & Kip🍽️ Co-Founders of Tree Top Hospitality Featured Restaurants📍 Margot – Brooklyn📍 Montague Diner – Brooklyn Heights📍 Cleo – West Village Follow their restaurants:📸 Margot: https://www.instagram.com/margotbrooklyn/📸 Montague Diner: https://www.instagram.com/montaguediner/📸 Cleo: https://www.instagram.com/cleodowntown/ Own a business or building something as an entrepreneur? Contact us at wowbrandny@wowbrand.com or DM us on www.instagram.com/wowbrandnyc/ to apply, collaborate, or share your story. 📸 Instagram: www.instagram.com/wowbrandnyc/🎵 TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@wowbrandnyc▶️ YouTube: www.youtube.com/@wowbrandnyc🧵 Threads: www.threads.com/@wowbrandnyc𝕏 X: x.com/wowbrandnyc📘 Facebook: www.facebook.com/wowbrandnyc 📍 WOW Brand Podcast – Midtown Manhattan Want to be featured on the WOW Brand Podcast?Follow WOW Brand

  7. May 22

    How Boy Isaw Turned Filipino Street Food Into an NYC Sensation

    In this episode, we sit down with Robin, the founder of Boy Isaw NYC, to talk about how he built one of New York City’s most loved Filipino street food pop-ups.From working in the restaurant industry to quitting his manager job during the pandemic, Robin shares how Boy Isaw grew through word of mouth, community support and authentic Filipino barbecue culture. We talk about Filipino street food, pop-up events, family, entrepreneurship, food struggles during winter seasons and his dream of owning a food truck one day..If you love Filipino food, business stories and community-driven entrepreneurship, this episode is for you.📍 WOW Brand Podcast – Midtown

  8. May 22

    From Bronx Kid to Media Agency Owner

    In this episode we sit down with Kevin Talbot founder of Talbot Media.This isn’t a straight success story.Kevin shares how he got laid off multiple times early in his career… and how those moments forced him to bet on himself.From shooting music videos with friends in the Bronx to building a full digital marketing agency, Kevin breaks down the real journey behind entrepreneurship.We talk about:Getting fired and using it as fuelWhy most creatives stay underpaidHow storytelling actually makes you moneyBuilding a business through networking (not luck)Working a 9–5 while building your dreamWhen to stop doing everything yourselfWhy your pricing mindset is keeping you smallKevin also shares how he turned small opportunities into long-term success — and why consistency beats talent every time.This episode is for creatives, entrepreneurs, and anyone tired of playing it safe.🎬 Your story isn’t a weakness it’s your biggest asset.📍 Midtown Manhattan, NYC - WOW Brand Studio

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5
out of 5
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About

Every small business has a story behind it. The late nights. The sacrifices. The moments that almost broke them and the ones that made it all worth it. WOW Brand is a podcast dedicated to spotlighting small business owners across America. We sit down with the everyday entrepreneurs building their communities one business at a time and we let them tell it in their own words. From burger shops in Georgia to businesses across the country these are the stories that don't always make the headlines but deserve to be heard. Real people. Real struggles. Real success. New episodes available

Information

  • Creator
    WOW Brand
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    23
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © WOW Brand
  • Show Website
    WOW Brand Podcast