Real Quick

Tune into our first-ever extended audio feature with Karen Young, founder and CEO of the barrier-breaking beauty brand Oui the People! In this unedited and candid interview, Help Scout's VP of Brand Kristen Bryant Smith gets real with Karen about big topics like: The inspiration (and frustration) that led to founding Oui the People Karen's experience and emotions around running a Black-owned company in 2020, during the rapid rise of the Black Lives Matter movement and protests How her identity shapes her business, and how she's creating a platform for others to express their unique identities through the Oui the People brand, team, and community The ways in which motherhood has impacted her perspective and her business …and so much more. Add this one to your must-listen list.

In this episode of Real Quick, Jolene DeLisle chats with Kristen about: The inspiration that led to founding The Working Assembly, and how she transitioned from side hustle to full-time Why it matters to her to support other women and founders of color, and how she helps founders build their brands and networks Her newest creative project — converting a roadside ice cream stand into an all-in-one space for sweet treats, art classes, and community

In this episode, we go behind the scenes with Kayla Castañeda and Erin PonTell, co-founders of Agua Bonita, about the founding story of their rapidly growing agua fresca brand. The founders chat with Kristen about: The origin story of Agua Bonita, which began in the early days of the pandemic Finding the right balance between honoring cultural recipes and traditions with creating something that would resonate with modern consumers Fundraising and growth challenges, as well as the pressures associated with being the *first* Latinx-owned beverage brand to raise more than $2M in funding

When Sirena Rolfe, founder of Tempus Hood, was repeatedly caught out in unpredictable weather, she saw the opportunity to solve a problem. But she didn't realize that her idea — to create a packable, detachable hood — would turn her into an entrepreneur and an inventor. In this episode, Sirena shares her journey to receive a patent and build her business, along with her purpose to help break common barriers to outdoor recreation.

Of the 5,452 outdoor equipment stores in the U.S., only three are Black-owned. Mark Boles, founder and owner of Intrinsic Provisions, is one of those three pioneers. In this episode, Mark describes why he feels passionate about helping people of color participate in outdoor recreation and the challenges he faces as a Black business owner in the outdoor industry.

Kay Rodriguez, CEO and founder of Urban Outdoors, wants to shift the narrative around who participates in outdoor activities — and help city dwellers, specifically, get out there. Kay's commitment to creating an online hub to connect people who live in urban areas with outdoor recreation within easy reach of their homes grew from her own experience with the therapeutic benefit — to mind and body — of getting outside. In this episode, Kay shares the Urban Outdoors origin story and her belief in the healing power nature offers in the face of today's mental health crisis.

Yo! In this issue, I talked with two founders about what generational wealth means to them. Both Tanya and Dennis are building in the fintech space, where wealth has historically been talked about from a narrow point of view. But they're bringing what they know from their own communities and life experiences to the discussion. I'm honestly dumbfounded by how little has been done to date when it comes to improving generational wealth for more families — and how much opportunity there is to build in this space. Through their businesses, Tanya and Dennis are proving just how powerful it can be to educate and share knowledge and resources to empower a more equitable next generation. Thanks for listening! —Izzy ✌

What do you do with over $1 million in company shares? Without the right financial education, Tanya Van Court learned the hard way and saw the value of her shares shrink to just $20K overnight. What she did next would define her future: She committed to educating herself and developing a path to help kids and families empower themselves through prioritizing financial literacy. In this episode of Real Quick, Tanya joins Izzy to talk about the founding story of Goalsetter, the opportunity of generational wealth, and her experience as a Black woman building in fintech.

You wouldn't think a founder whose regular coffee order is a quad cappuccino would be a man of few words, but Dennis Cail is the exception. He chooses his words with intention, and in this conversation with Izzy, the result is an inspiring glimpse into his background and his company, Zirtue. With a professional path that included prior roles in the U.S. Navy and IBM, Dennis is building a business that formalizes the process of lending between friends and family and eliminates the negative impact of the predatory lending industry. In this episode, Dennis offers up the personal experiences that have shaped the company, his thoughts on generational wealth, and the impact he hopes to have through Zirtue's double bottom line.

Growing up in Oakland, California, Skyler Mapes never imagined she'd be building an olive oil business in south Italy. But after achieving what she thought was her goal to become an architect, she felt less than satisfied. In this episode, Izzy talks with Skyler about the new dream she's living as founder of world-renowned EXAU Olive Oil, and the challenges and joys of trailblazing in a traditionally slow-growth industry.

When a friend was diagnosed with an autoimmune disorder and presented with a long list of foods to avoid, cookbook editor Shaun Chavis thought there had to be a different way to approach planning a nutritious, customized diet. In this episode, she talks to Izzy about the journey of building her company, LVNGbook, created to serve folks with unique dietary needs, the “why” that drives her business, and the community she hopes it will serve for generations to come.

Jen Cafferty, founder and CEO of Nourished Group, knows well that community creates an essential support mechanism. After founding the first consumer gluten-free event 15 years ago, she has gone on to build online and in-person events for the GF community, as well as the Find Me Gluten Free app. In this episode, Izzy speaks with Jen about the founder's passion for solving problems and how she has navigated the challenges of the pandemic.

In this issue of Real Quick, Izzy chatted with four founders about four different traits that contribute to authentic leadership: confidence, self-awareness, transparency, and consistency. Tune in to hear how this issue's featured founders have mastered these elements of authenticity and fostered them within their teams and businesses. intheworks.com

When Shelly Omílàdé Bell created Black Girl Ventures, she set out to empower a whole new generation of entrepreneurs to change the world. In this episode, she talks to Izzy about confidence: how to build it, what it means for company culture, and the difference between being confident and being self-absorbed. intheworks.com

Through her own cancer diagnosis and treatment, Kathleen Brown learned firsthand what kind of real support cancer patients need: support from those who have been in their shoes. In this episode, Kathleen talks about the early days of her business, Buddhi, and how self-awareness led her to leave a 9-to-5 job to become a founder. intheworks.com

Growing up in a family of entrepreneurs, Kelley Cambry learned at a young age that being open and honest is instrumental in building a business. In this episode, Kelley covers how her transparent leadership style at Blue Studios encourages the team to be the best versions of themselves. intheworks.com

Dave Bolotsky has kept a few things consistent throughout his life and career: a strong set of values, a commitment to his community, and a frugal lifestyle to name a few. In this episode, Dave talks about the role consistency has played in his personal life and his decades-long founder journey and how it helped him grow Uncommon Goods and gain credibility with partners. intheworks.com

Hey! In this issue, I talked through four traits of authentic leadership with four amazing founders who each brought a different, honest perspective to the table. While recording and editing these episodes, authenticity started to take on a completely new meaning for me. I had been thinking about authenticity as it relates to building a strong business, but these four traits — confidence, self-awareness, transparency, and consistency — are much bigger than that. They add up to being the best version of yourself, whether that's at work or outside of it. Here's my recap. Thanks for listening! —Izzy intheworks.com

Izzy reflects on his conversations with founders about their overreactions, what they learned, who it affected, and the red flags to avoid while growing and running a business. Check out all the amazing content on intheworks.com

Although Quinnton Harris of Retrospect is still in the beginning stages of a long entrepreneurial journey, he's already learned a few important lessons about spending time and energy on the right priorities. In this episode, Quinnton opens up about the grind of entrepreneurship, overreacting to the wrong things, and the importance of the interpersonal relationships you build while growing a business. Check out all the amazing content on intheworks.com

While in medical school in the Dominican Republic, Alejandra had an idea. To bring it to life, she left everything she knew and moved to Paris to build FlyWallet in one of the largest startup incubators in the world. In this episode, she chats with Izzy about staying humble, recognizing that not everything will be perfect right away, and how she's responded to wake-up calls along the way. Check out all the amazing content on intheworks.com

When a potential business partner ghosted him, materials chemist Brantly Fulton of Lamar didn't let that stop him. In this episode of Real Quick, he shares what that experience taught him and how it helped him push his company forward to continue fixing gaps in the supply chain. Check out all the amazing content on intheworks.com

In this interview with Alex, we talk through why she started Get Sh!t Done, sustainable growth, how she avoids overreacting to the small stuff, and how her squad helps her build. Check out all the amazing content on intheworks.com

Izzy shares his takeaways and lessons from his five distinct, honest conversations about self-care for founders. Stay tuned for next issue to hear five more quick convos with real founders!

Instead of continuing to swipe left, Naza Shelley took matters into her own hands and created a video-based dating app, CarpeDM, to meet the dating needs of professional Black women. In this episode, Naza talks about the importance of “me” time, how she plans for self-care, and the impact dating has on mental health.

Oakland native and Fitnesse founder Michael Garrick is no stranger to stress — and as a former Division 1 collegiate athlete, he often uses exercise as an outlet. In this episode, Michael talks with Izzy about his experience building Fitnesse and how important it is for founders to have a consistent workout regimen, especially while raising capital.

How does Saraa Green balance her full-time role at Adidas while starting her own successful business? Through resilience, time management, and a commitment to self-care. In this episode, Saraa chats with Izzy about the mental health challenges that come with the stress of being a founder and the roles that self-care and therapy have played in her entrepreneurial journey.

When taking over the family business didn't work out, Khalif El-Amin didn't let that stop him. In this episode, Khalif talks about the importance of surrounding yourself with positive influences, what self-care means to him, and the steps they're taking at his organization, Young Enterprising Society, to ensure that the next generation of entrepreneurs puts their needs first.

In this interview with Chanita, we talk through how and why she started Melanin.Tech, the stresses of starting a business and taking on others' pain, and how she cements self-care time into her schedule.

In this issue of Real Quick, Izzy talks with five different founders about how they decompress, make time for themselves, and prioritize mental health in the midst of growing and running a business.