On The Up & Up

Hey There Risers & Thrivers,  In this episode, host Janine introduces the new series format called The Taboo Table, bringing together founders in the pleasure and sex tech industry to discuss the challenges and nuances of building businesses in this stigmatized space. Guests:  Yasmin Stokinger - Founder of heyyoli , Rosanna Bandomer - Co-Founder of LubeLab , Avelina de Ment - Co-Founder of Lub...

In this episode, Maura Oerding , CEO of Kaffee Kooperative joins the podcast to talk about driving change and sustainability in the coffee industry. Maura outlines the challenges faced by coffee farmers, particularly women, and how the Kaffee Kooperative’s model is fostering economic independence and equitable trade practices. The discussion delves into:  The coffee industries colonial roots The i...

In this powerful episode of On the Up & Up , host Janine is joined by Shani St. Louis (Founder, MindHyrst), Adeola Ogunwale (Senior Manager, Amazon), and Sally Osei (Social Media Marketing Manager, AiDiA Pitch) to unpack the complex realities of Black Excellence . The discussion explores: The mental and emotional toll of striving for excellence The systemic and cultural expectations shaping Bl...

Hey there Risers and Thrivers, In this episode , we're joined by Malehlohonolo (Hloni) Romdani , a trailblazing lawyer turned entrepreneur and founder of Zamata Cosmetics . Hloni shares her inspiring journey of creating clean, organic haircare products designed specifically for Afro and curly hair—a mission born from personal struggles and the lack of safe, effective options in the market. We expl...

Hey there Risers and Thrivers,  In this episode of On The Up & Up, we’re joined by Jag Singh, a charismatic serial entrepreneur, investor, and former political strategist turned angel investor. Jag takes us on a journey through his unconventional path—from building tools for political campaigns to becoming one of Europe’s most active early-stage investors. We dive into the realities of startup...

Hey there Risers & Thrivers, In this episode of On the Up & Up , host Janine sits down with Agnieszka Walorska, a two-time founder, Ironman finisher, and the visionary behind Mika—an AI co-pilot designed to simplify accounting and tax management for entrepreneurs. Together, they tackle the profound impact of socioeconomic privilege on entrepreneurial journeys, drawing from Agnieszka's pers...

Hey there, Risers & Thrivers! In this episode, Janine sits down with Conny to unpack the unique challenges that female founders encounter in the startup landscape. We dive into the compelling story of Penelope Gazin and Kate Dwyer, who, back in 2016, invented a male co-founder named "Keith Mann" to navigate gender biases that often blocked their pathwhile building Witchsy . With "Keith" in the...

Hey there Risers & Thrivers,  In this episode, I had the absolute pleasure of sitting down with Dr. Lynae Brayboy, an esteemed physician-scientist specializing in reproductive health, and the Chief Medical Officer and Co-Founder of Ovom Care. The discussion highlights Dr. Brayboy’s personal and professional triumphs in the field of reproductive medicine, despite the insurmountable challenges s...

Hey there Risers & Thrivers,  In this episode, I step away from the usual interviews to reflect on the first year of On the Up & Up . I dive into some key lessons and memorable moments, including: My not-so-worth-it investment in podcast equipment How pre-recording too many episodes caused unexpected challenges The surprising question that consistently caught my guests off guard Why mental...

Janine chats with Basant Shenouda , a prominent career content creator with a rich Coptic Egyptian heritage who has built an impressive following of over 130k on LinkedIn and garnered 50 million views on her content. Together, they reminisce about their time studying in Germany and explore how those shared experiences shaped their personal and professional journeys. Basant candidly discusses:  Her...

In this episode, I had an enlightening conversation with Aniket Kumar , a 23-year-old entrepreneur, HR leader, and mentor with a unique background as a child of Afghan refugees growing up in Germany. We explored his experiences navigating a multicultural identity and how his parents' guidance shaped his career choices. Aniket opened up about:  The challenges he faced breaking into HR His journ...

Follow us on your favorite podcast streaming channels and social media platforms:  ( https://linkin.bio/ontheupandup-io ) –  Hey there Risers and Thrivers,  We’re kicking off Season 3 with Sharlene Durfey François , an artist, entrepreneur, and connector that is on a mission to create a movement. During our conversation, we dive into:  Her journey of creating Intimacy Cards and the Beyond the Surf...

In this special live podcast recording and season finale, I sat down with Cephas Ndubueze , the man infecting Berliners, Muncheners, and New Yorkers with the fear of missing out through his FOMO Newsletters and Events. We dove into his journey creating FOMO, as well as the shameless tactics and fruitful collaborations that helped him to amass over 6.5k subscribers within a couple of months.  This...

Hey there Risers & Thrivers,  In this uplifting episode of "On the Up and Up," Janine had the pleasure of chatting with Alain Missala , the inspiring founder of Zula and Black Dads Germany . We delved into Alain's journey of creating a supportive community for Black fathers in Germany, driven by his own experiences and the lack of role models. Alain shared how his grandparents&#3...

Stay in touch & up-to-date via our social: https://linkin.bio/ontheupandup-io -- Hey there Risers & Thrivers,  In this riveting episode, you’ll meet Moroccan-born 2x founder turned investor, Zakaria Jaiathe . Here’s what you can expect in this episode:  From Dreams to Reality: Zak recounts his childhood dream of flying and how it became a reality when he moved to France for his studies. He...

Stay in touch & up-to-date via our social: https://linkin.bio/ontheupandup-io -- Hey there Risers & Thrivers, In this special Mother's Day episode of " On the Up & Up ," host Janine Vanessa Heinrich engages in a heartfelt conversation with her mother, Sussie. They delve into various topics that showcase their unique mother-daughter relationship. Sussie shares her experien...

Stay in touch & up-to-date via our social: https://linkin.bio/ontheupandup-io -- Hey there Risers and Thrivers,  In this episode, we take a deep dive with Cosima Richardson , a pioneer in the hair and beauty industry, who is transforming the way we think about and use synthetic hair extensions. Cosima discusses the alarming presence of toxic chemicals in traditional hair products and shares he...

Stay in touch & up-to-date via our social: https://linkin.bio/ontheupandup-io -- Hey there Risers and Thrivers,  Meet Daniel Hanemann , a growth-driven entrepreneur and business angel. A graduate of WHU , he is currently the CEO of wundertax , the tech startup he co-founded in 2016 and returned to as CEO in 2022. wundertax is an online tax tool to submit your German tax return easily!  In this...

Stay in touch & up-to-date via our social: https://linkin.bio/ontheupandup-io -- Hey there Risers and Thrivers,  In this episode, Darya Kamkalova , the founder of the Venturing Woman Lab and Venturing Women Podcast, an incubator for women aspiring to delve into entrepreneurship. Darya, a tech enthusiast and angel investor, discusses her journey from feeling stuck in her corporate career to lau...

Stay in touch & up-to-date via our social: https://linkin.bio/ontheupandup-io -- Hey there Risers & Thrivers,  In this episode, we’re diving into a journey of discipline and intention with Sufyan Osamah , the Co-Founder and Managing Director of HonestDog .  Born in Pakistan, Sufyan moved to the UK at the age of 11 and then back to Pakistan at 15. In 2016, he moved to Germany, where he comp...

Stay in touch & up-to-date via our social: https://linkin.bio/ontheupandup-io -- Hey there Risers & Thrivers,  On this episode, we’re sitting down for an inspiring conversation with DEI expert and founder of Creative Jam Session , Omena Ukeleghe . We discussed:  Omena’s upbringing in a Nigerian household and the example her mother set advocating for herself in the workplace Her personal ex...

Stay in touch & up-to-date via our social: https://linkin.bio/ontheupandup-io -- Hey there Risers & Thrivers! We're excited to kick-off season two with an intimate look into the force behind On the Up & Up, Janine Vanessa Heinrich, who is the creator and host. In this episode, Constance Habringer takes the seat as host for the day and asks all the right questions. Together, they ex...

Stay in touch & up-to-date via our social: https://linkin.bio/ontheupandup-io -- Hey there Risers and Thrivers! Welcome to the last episode of season one and I couldn't be happier to introduce you to our outstanding guest, Archita Fritz ! She is a formidable force  in the business world with over two decades of experience steering Fortune 500 companies and founding experience through endea...

Stay in touch & up-to-date via our social: https://linkin.bio/ontheupandup-io -- Hey there Risers and Thrivers! I’m really excited to introduce you to the first guest of this podcast Alhaji Allie Bangura. Together, we’re going to explore:   The pivotal moments in his life that took him to where he is today His experiences navigating and trying to find a place in society where he rarely saw oth...

Stay in touch & up-to-date via our social: https://linkin.bio/ontheupandup-io -- Hey there Risers and Thrivers! I’m really excited to introduce you to Jaclyn Siu , who is a 3x founder, mentor, educator, and angel investor with deep expertise in the culture, creative, and tech industry. With over 12 years of experience as a growth operator and brand marketer across three continents, she has spe...