Minutes With Mike

On this episode of Minutes with Mike , I sit down with Dasha Manina, founder of Licensify and Beauty A-List, to talk about building smarter solutions in beauty tech and what it really takes to lead with purpose. We cover: How a gap in nail tech licensing sparked a startup The evolution from consumer tool to brand-facing SaaS The role of vulnerability, resilience, and blunt feedback in entrepreneur...

On this episode of Minutes with Mike , Mike Ryan sits down with Alice Audley, founder and CEO of bCreator, to talk about launching one of the most respected award platforms in influencer marketing and what it means to be a champion for the creator economy. We cover: • How a print magazine evolved into a global creator movement • What sets the bCreator Awards apart—and why it matters • The shifting...

On this special episode of Minutes with Mike , we kick off a new chapter—with co-hosts! Mike is joined by PIMS’ own Samantha Romano for a conversation that’s equal parts powerful and personal with the incredible Heathere Evans. Heathere’s story spans decades of success in PR and corporate communications, but what stands out most is how she transformed a career built on external leadership into a l...

In this episode of Minutes with Mike , Mike and guest Co-Host Dylan Simonson from the PIMS team were joined by Sean Cote of Sundial Cocktails for an honest conversation about what it really takes to build a beverage brand from scratch. In this awesome discussion we dive into flavor decisions, branding battles, startup logistics, and the rollercoaster of being all-in on a growing read-to-drink (RTD...

In this episode of Minutes with Mike, we sit down with Jonny Grubin, founder & CEO of SoPost , one of the most innovative platforms in product sampling today. Jonny shares how his entrepreneurial mindset started at an early age, how a pivot helped shape SoPost’s success, and why landing on objective team values is more important than you think. A few standout points from this conversation: How...

In this episode of Minutes With Mike, Mike Ryan and PIMS’ President Ayla Anaya sit down with Erica Cocilova, CEO of Ethique, a standout brand in the sustainable haircare space. Erica shares how growing up as the “oldest girl in an Italian family” shaped her team-first mindset, why taking risks even in uncertain times pays off, and how being clear on values helped guide her next move. A few standou...

In this episode of Minutes with Mike , Mike sits down with Leslie Ann Hall, founder of Iced Media and Co-founder of Haut Drops , to unpack the evolution of social selling, the rise of TikTok Shop, and how performance media is reshaping beauty marketing. Leslie shares her path from Capitol Hill to digital strategy, what it takes to lead with purpose, and how focusing on what you’re best at can fuel...

In this episode of Minutes with Mike, Mike sits down with Teja Urankar, the founder, CEO, founder, & product developer behind Butter Be Kind to unpack how a lifelong struggle with eczema, coupled with her grandparents’ herbal remedies, drove her to study biotechnology and create products that are effective and gentle. Taya’s entrepreneurial journey is a powerful story of purpose over profit. S...

In this episode of Minutes with Mike , Mike sits down with Ken Kerrigan, current president of PRSA -NY, to unpack an unlikely path into public relations. What started as a pre-law student’s rejection letter and a late-night job counting bonds turned into a lifelong career in communications — a journey Ken now calls “accidental.” Ken reflects on internships that began with scissors and glue in a co...

Abby Wallach – Resilience, reinvention, and the power of storytelling take center stage in the latest episode of Minutes With Mike. Beauty industry innovator, category creator, storyteller, and Scentinvent Technologies, Co-founder and CEO, Abby Wallach joins host Mike Ryan and co-host Alfonsina Messina, VP of Sales & Client Experience, to share how curiosity, bold moves, and community have sha...

In this episode of Minutes With Mike, Mike Ryan sits down with Caroline Walker , Global Brand Ambassador at philosophy. In this engaging conversation, Caroline Walker, the global brand ambassador for Philosophy, shares her journey in the beauty industry, emphasizing the importance of authenticity, wellness, and mental health in brand marketing. She discusses the evolution of live streaming as an e...

Technology has transformed how we connect but it has not replaced the power of finding the right connection. In this episode of Minutes With Mike , Donetta Allen, President at Bobbie , reflected on how much the PR and influencer landscape has evolved. From flipping through magazine credits to identify journalists to now leveraging advanced digital tools, the process has become faster—but not simpl...

As leaders in beauty and lifestyle, how are you using both technology and intuition to find the right voices for your brand stories? In this engaging conversation, Daniella McNulty shares her diverse career journey, from her beginnings in marketing at Heineken and L’Oreal to becoming a CMO and eventually starting her own agency. She discusses her role as a mentor and educator, emphasizing the impo...

In this episode of Minutes with Mike, host Mike Ryan engages with Jaime Aspen, who shares her journey from Omaha to becoming a key player in the tech world with Growth Friday, a video commerce platform. The conversation explores the intersection of technology and sales, the importance of authenticity in content creation, and the evolving landscape of retail. Jaime emphasizes the role of AI in enha...

In this episode of Minutes with Mike, host Mike Ryan interviews Grace Bryan, co-founder of Juicy Brick . Grace shares her unconventional journey from the event industry to founding Juicy Brick, a food and beverage innovation agency. The conversation explores the challenges and triumphs of starting a business, the importance of client relationships, and the impact of AI on the food industry. Grace...

In this episode of  Minutes with Mike , PIMS Chief Networking Officer Mike Ryan sits down with marketing thought leader and founder Sedge Beswick to explore the evolution of influencer marketing, work-life balance, and the entrepreneurial journey behind building a global agency. Hear how Sedge grew SEEN Connects from startup to success story, her reflections on leadership and motherhood, and...