Figure 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 platfor...

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 br...

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 ab...

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...

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...

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...

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...

Hayk Barseghyan, the force behind Meat Master LA, is a true American success story—an immigrant who, in just nine years in the U.S., has built a standout brand in Los Angeles by redefining the meat industry. Driven by a deep love and passion for his craft, Hayk traveled the world to study meat at the highest level, including being invited to Japan to immerse himself in its renowned meat culture an...

Not every success story starts with stability — some start with survival. In this episode of  Figure It Out with Lilit , Isabel Alysa, founder of Dolce Glow, opens up about her upbringing in foster care and how those early experiences shaped the woman and founder she is today. From navigating uncertainty at a young age to building one of the most recognized names in the sunless tanning industry, I...

On this episode, we dive into what it really means to walk away from something that looks like “the dream”… but doesn’t feel like it. Qveen Herby, formerly known as Karmin), made the bold decision to leave a record deal — a path many spend their entire careers chasing — to rebuild on their own terms. What they realized was this: success without alignment isn’t success at all. Instead of staying co...

What began as a mother’s vision to create the most special teddy bear evolved into Zippy the Bear — thoughtfully designed with a zipper pocket that holds matching pajamas, transforming the nighttime routine into a moment of comfort and ease. Rooted in Amy’s desire to support children through life’s harder moments, and brought to life with Evelyn’s expertise as an occupational therapist, the bear i...

After interviewing so many amazing founders, creators and CEO's in Season 2 - I learned 5 things that were common amongst all my guests. If we can take even just 1 lesson and apply it to our lives, careers or business, then we are one step ahead to our goals and dreams. I hope you enjoyed this season and I am looking forward to coming back with more amazing guests next time. Stay tuned. As alw...

This week, I sit down with Dr. Sam Saleh, world-renowned cosmetic dentist and the expert behind some of the most beautiful smiles in Beverly Hills. We talk about building a global brand, the artistry behind smile design, and what it really takes to succeed at the highest level of your craft. We dive into the mindset, discipline, manifestation and the vision it takes to build a luxury brand and bec...

Today’s guest is Manana Arakelyan, an Instagram personality who has built a strong online community through lifestyle content and authentic storytelling. In this episode, we talk about social media, personal & professional growth, and what it really takes to build a platform in today’s digital world. What started as simple posts has grown into a platform where thousands of people follow along...

Sev Ohanian is an Armenian American immigrant who became one of the most talked about producers in the industry. From home-made humorous films about Armenians to making Oscar history with 16 Academy Award Nominations, including Best Picture. He also won major awards like Sundance Institute Producer of the Year Award and Golden Globe for Best Cinematic and Box Office Achievement for Sinners. From i...

Shushan Darzian was a grade school teacher for 18 years before she decided make Catering her full time career. What started out as a passion for cooking & hosting, turned into a full force production crew hosting weddings & events up to 1000 guests. Shushan leverages her educational background, cultural roots, and creative vision to create memorable experiences for her guests. She is now h...

Brothers Greg and Gerr Avetisyan share one clear career goal: success. After exploring a variety of industries, they launched  Whata Peach , a smoothie shop that quickly gained momentum. By their second month, the business was already profitable, and by year two, it had generated $1 million in revenue. Today, they operate five thriving locations with ambitious plans to continue expanding. Their fo...

Katy DeGroot started her career in the beauty space in 2014, creating tutorials on YouTube and quickly made a name for herself in the industry. After almost a decade, she transitioned into the next chapter in her career, clothing: Thirty Years, known for its timeless wardrobe fashion. Katy shares her journey on how she made a successful clothing brand by creating pieces that she felt was missing i...

While I received my Masters in Business Administration in 2008 & worked in Finance at Disney; I took a leap of faith and decided to make 'makeup' my career. I worked out of my parents garage for 10 years before I decided it was time to open my own studio/school. In 2013, I launched Lilit's Makeup Studio which I outgrew in 3 years and expanded into a 3000 sq ft location in the heart of Sherman...

Scott Laporta has led many multi-million dollar industries from food, to fashion, hospitality and now candy. He took over Sugarfina in 2019 and has taken the brand to the next level, growing distribution across multiple channels. Sugarfina not only has delicious candy but has created a gifting culture with its beautiful packaging and concepts. Scott shares his expertise, what he looks for when par...

Armen Aslanian didn't become a private jet broker overnight - he worked his way up in the industry for over 20 years. What started as a career in fueling airplanes, led him to taking mechanics classes in high school & later getting his license in aviation mechanics. Armen gained his experience in the aerospace industry and worked his way up to VP of Operations. Today, he works at Avjet Global...

Kirk Cartozian has shifted more careers than your averageperson; started as a teacher, then a mayor, then realtor and now, a restauranteur and tequila brand owner. Kirk is the epitome of the term “entrepreneur.” He takes us on his journey to success, sharing the opportunities, challenges, risks and achievements. Kirk’s story is a true inspiration for anyone listening who is afraid to take chances...

Anush Movsesian was a beauty junkie with a popular blog called “It’s not about inner beauty” at 19 years old. She took her love of the beauty world and transcended into a career, focusing on injectables and non-surgical procedures. Anush received her Bachelors in Nursing and Registered Nurse license at the age of 28 and began working in plastic surgery in BeverlyHills. While working, she continued...

Carlito's Gardel is a family owned Argentine Steakhouse established in 1996. When him and his family moved from Argentina, they brought their food & culture with them into the restaurant business in America. Over 20 years in the business now, this quaint restaurant his made a name for itself with a Michelin recommendation & named celeberties along with being booked almost every night! Gera...

Talin Kevoian has worked her way up in the television industry to become the Producer at the #1 daytime cable TV show, Price is Right. She has produced some of the top tv shows you may have heard of including the Emmy nomited lifestyle series "Home & Family" and "Bake Squad". She has worked her way up from assisting positions with one goal in mind - to be a producer. Coming from an immigrant f...