It's A Matter Of..‪.‬ MouthMedia Network

Most of us spend the better part of our adult life actively building a career, and all that dedication results in extensive skills, deep knowledge, and overflowing rolodexes. When it comes down to it, most of us have a basic desire to do good and feel that we're making a positive contribution. A genuine investment in social responsibility means everybody wins. This week’s guest embodies the spirit of paying it forward. Don Frey, the President and CEO of the Independent Beauty Association sits down with Kelly Kovack to talk about his 35 years in the beauty industry, and his commitment to the education and advocacy for independent business in the beauty ecosystem.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Indie beauty is a breeding ground for generations of innovators who color outside the lines.While often considered a trend that has gained momentum in the rise of social media, these brands have always been around. They're an integral part of the beauty business cycle.

For example, MAC Cosmetics launched in 1984 with a new perspective on beauty, and it grew from an Indie, into an iconic global brand. This week's guest, Victor Casale, was at ground zero for MAC's inception, as a chief chemist, and he has never stopped innovating or raising the bar with his brands. He joins Kelly Kovack and they discuss how the businesses he has launched, like Mob Beauty, Pure Culture Beauty and Pact Collective, have all made beauty better.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Failure is often underrated. It's what you do with the failure that matters. The truth is success is often the result of a lot of mistakes. If you don't make a mistake, it probably means you're not taking risks, pushing beyond your comfort zone, or aiming high enough. Very often, founding stories are told through the lens of revisionist history, creating a perception of perfection that is rarely the truth. That's not the case with this week's guests, Colette Laxton and Mark Curry, the Co-Founders of the INKEY List. They sat down with Kelly Kovack to discuss how they set out to build a brand that filled a gap they saw in the market, and how learning from their past failures helped them create an instant hit.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Many things are not always intended to live forever, but many live on past their expiration dates, fueled by emotion rather than rational thinking. The reality is sometimes moving forward requires the courage to leave something else behind. This week, Kelly Kovack sits down with Garance Doré and Emily Yeston, to discuss why they decided to leave the beautiful chaos of the media business they had built. They explain how taking a break to reset both personally and professionally, led to a pivot to beauty, and the launch of their brand, Doré.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The tension between creativity and commerce is probably as old as humanity. There's no other beauty category where striking this balance is often at odds, than fragrance. At its core, perfumery is a profession with its soul grounded in creative processes. Yet the category is big business, and dominated by beauty conglomerates and licensing deals that turn out crowd pleasing scents for the masses. However, on the other end of this spectrum lies the passionate and growing tribe of niche fragrance houses, led by the art and love of perfumery. This week, Kelly Kovack sits down with Christopher Yu and Laurent Delafon, the Founders of United Perfumes and Ostens. They discuss how they've used passion and partnership to build a successful company in the business of fine smells and olfactory dreams.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Cult products are almost impossible to manufacture.This coveted status grows organically and happens when a product resonates with a loyal, sometimes fanatic community of fans. In today's fast moving beauty space where trends happen at the speed of TikTok, achieving cult status that sticks can be elusive. It requires vision and serious business chops. This week, Kelly Kovack is joined by Ju Rhyu, the Co-Founder and CEO of Hero Cosmetics. Ju explains how she self-funded the business' launch with one product on Amazon, built a brand that redefined the acne category and achieved a $630 million strategic exit in five years. 
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices