Coffee N° 5 with Lara Schmoisman

Send us Fan Mail Courtney Claghorn, co-founder of SUGARED + BRONZED, joins Lara Schmoisman on Coffee Nº5 to share how she bootstrapped a beauty service out of her apartment into a nationwide brand. From $1,000 in startup capital to 10 stores before raising funding, Courtney reveals the lessons of growth, customer loyalty, franchising, memberships, and creating a product line—all while keeping cust...

Send us Fan Mail Alec Batis, beauty industry veteran and founder of Sweet Chemistry, joins Lara Schmoisman on Coffee Nº5 to unpack the pursuit of eternal beauty. From organ regeneration science to peptide innovation, he shares how true beauty goes beyond flawless skin—blending performance-driven skincare with wellness, meaning, and social impact. We'll talk about : The personal story that dro...

Send us Fan Mail Mark Menning, PhD, pharmaceutical scientist and founder of MARK Los Angeles, joins Lara Schmoisman to unpack how flavonoids, clinical trials, and advanced delivery systems are reshaping skincare. From FDA-approved antivirals to cold sore serums and acne care, he shares how science—not hype—is driving the next era of beauty and wellness. We'll talk about : Why drug delivery—no...

Send us Fan Mail Susanah Zeffiro, Brand Partnerships Lead at BeReal and former Spotify and Epic Games exec, joins Lara Schmoisman to explore the future of social media, authenticity vs. AI, and how brands can win with Gen Z by leaning into raw, unfiltered connection instead of glossy campaigns. We'll talk about : Why Gen Z is rejecting filtered perfection and demanding authenticity The throug...

Send us Fan Mail Steven J. Edelstein, VP of Growth & Partnerships at MyFBAPrep, joins Lara Schmoisman to unpack why most brands fail before they scale—covering pricing strategy, supply chain traps, trade show mistakes, and the future of beauty innovation through personalization and smarter storytelling. We'll talk about : Why pricing strategy must start with your audience—not just your in...

Send us Fan Mail Henry Barton, Global Head of Network & Community at Duel Tech, joins Lara Schmoisman to reveal how the smartest fashion, beauty, and lifestyle brands turn their most passionate customers into unstoppable advocates—and why community is your ultimate growth engine. We'll talk about : Why your most loyal customers are your most powerful marketing channel—and how to activate...

Send us Fan Mail Ken Hughes, known as The King of Customer Experience, joins Lara Schmoisman to share why connection—not product—is the ultimate differentiator in today’s AI-driven world, and how brands can design loyalty that lasts. We'll talk about : Why products and services are now commodities—and why connection is your only real differentiator The “goldfish moment” every brand should be...

Send us Fan Mail Nader Naeymi-Rad, Founder and Publisher of Beauty Independent , joins Lara Schmoisman to unpack the evolution of the beauty industry—from the death of indie beauty to the rise of professional founders, and what it really takes to build a brand that lasts. We'll talk about : Why the “indie beauty” label is outdated—and what founders need to focus on instead The harsh truth abo...

Send us Fan Mail Daniel Scharff, Founder & CEO of Startup CPG and host of a top 0.5% global podcast, joins Lara Schmoisman to talk brand-building, retail truth bombs, and what it really takes to grow in the crowded CPG space. We'll talk about : How Daniel scaled Startup CPG into the most trusted brand community in the industry. What most CPG founders get wrong when pitching to retailers....

Send us Fan Mail Lara Schmoisman and Don Allen, CIO/CISO of Moda Operandi, discuss the evolution of e-commerce, the impact of AI on user experience and SEO, and strategic technology adoption for competitive advantage. We'll talk about : The surprising truth about SEO today—and why organic reach is (almost) a myth. Why a "compelling website" is now just "table stakes" in e-...

Send us Fan Mail Lara Schmoisman and Mimi Banks of MB Social dive into real talk about social media strategy, content that converts, and the future of the creator economy—from beauty brands to medical experts. We'll talk about : How Mimi helped turn nail art UGC into one of L'Oréal’s earliest creator strategies. The three types of creators you need to understand—and why the labels matter...

Send us Fan Mail Blair Enns joins Lara Schmoisman to unpack what actually works when experts sell their services. From value-based pricing to client alignment, this episode breaks down smart, integrity-driven growth. We'll talk about : The mindset shift that helped Blair move from chasing clients to choosing them. What not to include in a proposal—and how to avoid giving strategy away too soo...

Send us Fan Mail Board leader and former CEO Chelsea Grayson joins Lara Schmoisman on Coffee Nº5 to break down what actually drives business growth. From managing iconic brands to scaling through economic turbulence, this episode is packed with insights on strategy, governance, and real leadership. We'll talk about : Why hiring too fast after one "good season" could tank your brand....

Send us Fan Mail eCommerce connector and community builder Sara Pereda joins Lara Schmoisman on Coffee Nº5 to unpack how Smarterships became a global force, what makes partnerships actually work, and how to scale with strategy, integrity, and connection. We'll talk about : Why Sara built a global Slack community—and made it paid on purpose. The real difference between connecting and collectin...

Send us Fan Mail Beauty industry leader Liza Rapay joins Lara Schmoisman on Coffee Nº5 to unpack the strategy behind Cosmoprof’s global success, how brands can actually win at trade shows, and why purpose-driven leadership always scales better. We'll talk about : Why building a show like Cosmoprof takes strategy—not just sparkle. What most beauty brands get wrong about trade shows. The mindse...

Send us Fan Mail Lara Schmoisman sits down with Elizabeth Robillard, eTail Portfolio Director, to talk retail strategy, evolving search trends, content that connects, and how to avoid falling for industry buzz. This episode of Coffee Nº 5 is packed with insight for retail marketers, brand leaders, and founders navigating the future of omnichannel commerce. We'll talk about : Why AI fatigue is...

Send us Fan Mail Communications strategist Jeanne Meyer joins Lara Schmoisman on Coffee Nº 5 to talk brand voice, reputation management, and crisis comms—from her work at EMI Music to major brand turnarounds at Toys R Us and Unilever. Learn how to build brand trust, adapt messaging across platforms, and lead with clarity in a noisy, fast-moving media landscape. We'll talk about : Why consiste...

Send us Fan Mail In the 200th episode of Coffee N° 5 , Sampo Parkkinen, CEO of Revieve, joins Lara Schmoisman to talk AI in beauty, brand positioning, and the power of solving real problems—not chasing trends. Learn why clarity beats gimmicks, how to build consumer trust with smart beauty tech, and what it really takes to grow a modern beauty brand. Perfect for beauty founders, marketers, and inno...

Send us Fan Mail Leadership expert Kevin Eikenberry joins Lara Schmoisman on Coffee N° 5 to unpack what real leadership looks like: responsibility, adaptability, and learning as you go. If you’re building a team—or building yourself as a leader—this one’s for you. We'll talk about : Why leadership is not the same as being the boss The hardest shift: from doing the work to leading the people W...

Send us Fan Mail Copywriter Carmine Montalto joins Lara Schmoisman on Coffee N° 5 to talk about the power of words, the importance of brand voice, and why good writing is non-negotiable across every touchpoint, from packaging to email. If your copy isn’t converting, this episode’s your wake-up call. We'll talk about : Why your consumer, not your brand, is the main character The difference bet...

Send us Fan Mail Andrea Moore joins Lara Schmoisman on Coffee N° 5 to talk real leadership, smart hiring, and the strategy behind a truly connected omnichannel brand. If you're tired of chaos and ready to lead with clarity, this episode delivers.  We'll talk about : Boss vs. leader: Why the title means nothing without vision How Andrea scaled omnichannel from the ground up Hiring for gro...

Send us Fan Mail Publishing a book? Learn the truth behind self-publishing, hybrid models, and traditional book deals with expert Meghan Stevenson. From securing an agent to building your platform, get industry-level insight in this episode of Coffee N° 5 .  We'll talk about : Meghan’s journey from Big Five publishing to independent author advocacy The three paths to publishing: self-publishi...

Send us Fan Mail From Argentina to the C-suite: Global Head of Marketing Marina Kirschner joins Lara Schmoisman on Coffee N° 5 to talk about brand growth, beauty industry shifts, the power of resilience, and building legacy with innovation. Don’t miss this global marketing masterclass! We'll talk about : Marina’s journey from Argentina to Moroccanoil The immigrant mindset: resilience, reinven...

Send us Fan Mail Join Lara Schmoisman on Coffee N° 5 as she chats with global event strategist Christian Muche, co-founder of POSSIBLE. Discover how this Miami-based event is redefining the future of marketing conferences through real connections, AI integration, and powerful brand collaboration. Tune in for insight into event innovation, the creator economy, and the art of curating meaningful mom...

Send us Fan Mail Discover the intersection of creativity and business in this episode of Coffee N° 5 with designer and entrepreneur Patrick. Learn about brand-building, storytelling in fashion, and the keys to long-term success in the industry. Tune in for a stylishly insightful conversation! We'll talk about : Patrick’s journey from designer to entrepreneur The role of storytelling in buildi...