UNBOXED

Founder of Oliver Bonas, Olly Tress joins Conne Nam in this candid conversation about his founding story.  Thank you to Payhawk for sponsoring this episode. In this episode, Olly shares how he created a brand with a consistent and compelling style, his own personal challenges ​​including his recent ADHD diagnosis, and how it influences his leadership style. Olly also discusses the pivotal rol...

In a Chief People Officer special, Connie Nam is joined by Payhawk’s CPO, Aya Sority, and her own CPO at Astrid & Miyu, Alexia Aronsten.  Thank you to Payhawk for sponsoring this episode. In this episode, they do a deep dive into how to build a positive and strong working culture when laying the foundation of your business.  They discuss how to build values that reflect your business...

Founder of Beyond Nine, Naomi Raybould joins Connie Nam to share how she revolutionised the maternity wear industry.  Thank you to Payhawk for sponsoring this episode. In this episode, Naomi reveals the discrimination she faced coming back from maternity leave before starting her own business, the fascinating insights behind only 30% of her customers being pregnant and the best type of people...

Founder of iconic accessories brand Elizabeth Scarlett joins Connie Nam to share how she’s creating a business marrying her artistic passions and love for wildlife.  Thank you to Payhawk for sponsoring this episode. In this episode, Elizabeth shares how her hero product was almost a happy accident, the story behind her husband being her maternity cover and tips for getting your first products...

This week, we feature another early-stage founder to show what it’s like to start a business in 2024. Mollie Michelle launched her handmade mug company during the pandemic and maternity leave and 2 years on she’s organically grown to 100,000 followers.  In this episode, she joins Connie Nam and shares why she’s grateful for making so many mistakes early on, how she built a 10+ strong producti...

Despite being a Professor in Reproductive and Molecular Genetics, when researching her own fertility Helen O’Neill found it confusing and expensive.  This week, she joins Connie Nam to share the inspirational story behind her company ‘Hertility’, how she’s making hormone and fertility testing accessible from home and why she likens being a female founder to walking up a down escalator. ...

Astrid & Miyu founder Connie Nam shares her second AMA of the season, all about juggling parenthood and building a successful business. Connie answers burning questions such as: What plans she put in place when she got pregnant How her role changed with parenthood How to overcome mum guilt  How to set boundaries whether you’re the boss or not! To keep up with the podcast, follow @unboxed_...

This week, we featuring another early-stage founder to show what it’s like to start a business in 2024.  Connie sits down with Feyi Flowers founder, Eni Awoyemi, to find out the realities of being a serial side hustler, how she’s utilised her background in influencer marketing and she spills the secrets on how to create strong and lasting brand relationships.  Plus, Eni quizzes Connie on...

Biscuiteers founder Harriet Hastings joins Connie Nam for a fascinating insight on how to leverage the power of PR.  In this episode, Harriet explains how her iced biscuits company is really a design business, why PR is the most cost-effective strategy to tell your brand story and she offers her top tips if you’re thinking of crowdfunding.  Plus, she shares a critical mistake she made ab...

Astrid & Miyu founder, Connie Nam kicks off the new season with a special Q&A answering your question on how to build a successful consumer brand. Listen to find out how to find manufacturers, where to find effective market data and how to create highly anticipated cult products – like A&M’s own Advent Calendar. Plus, Connie shares her thoughts on the pros and cons of selling direct to...

For our final Best Of episode, we’re looking back on the conversations between Astrid & Miyu founder and CEO Connie Nam and her first hire turned CMO Sarah Hrywnak to learn the key lessons from the start up and scale up periods.  To keep up with the podcast, follow @unboxed_founderconfidential , @connienam and @astridandmiyu Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, we’re revisiting 3 founders who go the extra mile and offer their advice on how you can do the same. Founder of sleepwear brand Desmond & Dempsey, Molly Goddard reveals how far she went in the early days to acquire and maintain her customers, Natasha Thomas of Lockdown Liqour offers her advice on how to find the right investor and Never Fully Dressed’s Lucy Ayelin shares the the pro...

On UNBOXED, we champion female founders so we’re replaying 3 incredible female leaders offering critical advice for early-stage entrepreneurs. NEOM’s Nicola Elliott shares how she knew it was the right time to quit her day job, F*ck Being Humble founder Stef gives her ultimate guide to networking and leadership expert Heather Elkington offers insights for first-time managers on how to hire (and fi...

This week, we’re revisiting 3 inspiring beauty founders who offer advice for the next generation of beauty entrepreneurs and beyond. In this episode, Vanita Parti of Blink Brow Bar shares how she shamelessly poached clients, Thea Green of Nails. INC reveals what the most underrated skill a founder can have and Sculpted by Aimee’s founder, Aimee Connolly, reveals how teaching make up gave her the c...

A strong brand is a key element to a successful start-up. In this bitesized episode, here are 3 brand experts so you can choose which episode to dive into next. In this episode, David Abramovich of Grind reveals how they pull off huge PR stunts, Abbie Roden Sandbach discusses how far she was willing to go to get her foot in the door and Tom Cubbits shares how he turned a medical product into a fas...

Influencer or business founder – content is so important to marketing a start up. Listen to highlights from 3 episodes from 3 iconic influencers so you can choose which episode to listen to next.  In this episode, we hear from the OG Lorna Luxe on brand building, travel influencer GinaGoesTo on how not to sell out and Frankie Gaff on how she rebranded when she became a mum.  To keep up w...

Want to find the right investor for you? Start with trying 3 episodes from investors we’ve had on the podcast so you can choose which episode to dive into next.  In this episode, we hear tips from Astrid & Miyu’s Investor Gary Clarke, the woman closing the gap on female investments Daina Spedding and the man behind ‘8 Secrets to Building a Million Pound Business’ Richard Harpin. To keep u...

If you’re looking for something more bitesized, we’re sharing the best bits from some of our incredible founders and creators so you can choose which episode to dive into next. In this episode, we hear inspirational stories from Katie Lopes (Stripe & Stare) on how she hit rock bottom, Jo Tutchener Sharp (Scamp and Dude) on how a near-death experience inspired her to make a difference and how V...

Co-founder of Little Moons, Vivien Wong, joins Connie Nam to discuss the journey of transforming a small family bakery into a viral sensation.  Vivienne explains the catalyst that led her to leave the corporate world to start a mochi ice cream business, the initial scepticism they faced due and the overwhelming demand that followed their TikTok fame during the COVID-19 pandemic.  Plus, V...

In the second edition of the Start-Up Clinic, Connie Nam invites two new early-stage founders so they can get advice on the pressing issues of their business.  Founder of body-skin care brand, Sarah Sklaventis is first with her questions about how to find new customers when the cost of acquisition is so high. Connie offers advice on building awareness and why TikTok is integral to new busines...

Varley co-founder Lara Mead joins Connie Nam to share tips on how to execute your vision to harbour success.  Laura explains how she slowly developed strategy after the start-up days, the biggest difference between US and European customers and why she doesn’t like to make decisions based off data.  Plus, she shares why raising investment is like dating (and why it’s awful!) and offers a...

In the first edition of our Start-Up Clinic, Connie Nam has invited two early-stage founders to the podcast to get advice and ask their burning questions.  First up, Lili Sinclair-Williams, creator of a wellbeing stationary brand wants to know about cash flow. Connie answers her questions about when to find investment, what to spend it on and whether or not it’s the right time. Next, Cuca, fo...

Heather Elkington is a leadership and management expert and joins Connie Nam to share her invaluable expertise.  Heather explains how in her mid-twenties, she helped grow and sell a business for millions of pounds, the most common mistakes first-time managers make and why you should aim to grow your business slowly.  Plus, she shares her number one piece of advice for start-up founders,...

Connie Nam is once again joined by her CMO and first hire, Sarah Hrywnak to discuss the next step in her founding story – the scale up period.  Connie and Sarah discuss the difference between a start up and a scale up, learning how to hire the right people and the 2 incremental things you need to do as a manager.  Plus, Connie explains the strength culture she introduced to Astrid &...

Founder and CEO of Never Fully Dressed, Lucy Aylen joins Connie Nam to unbox her founding story this week.  Lucy describes the intricacies of building a fashion brand before social media in the markets of London, why she was resistant to being the face of the brand and the struggles of being a boss. Plus, she explains why physical stores are a great marketing piece, breaking into the US and w...