WHERE BRAINS MEET BEAUTY

Noah Bricker’s path to becoming General Manager of BaBylissPRO was anything but traditional. After beginning his career at Deloitte, he moved into private equity at American Securities, where he embedded himself inside portfolio companies undergoing major transformations, often working directly alongside CEOs. Noah joins Jodi and CEW President Elana Szyfer to talk about what it takes to earn a CEO’s trust, why careers can be made during a crisis, and how his years advising businesses ultimately showed him that he was an operator at heart.

Now running BaBylissPRO, part of Conair, Noah is taking a prof...

Ron Gee’s career has taken him from chemical engineering and Kraft Foods to senior leadership roles at some of the biggest companies in beauty including L’Oréal, Coty and Shiseido. Now an Industry Luminary Advisor at Accenture, Ron joins Jodi and CEW President Elana Szyfer to unpack the unexpected career decisions that led him from engineering to finance, M&A and ultimately beauty and why learning the language of finance became one of the most important building blocks of his career.

The conversation offers a rare insider’s look at beauty M&A: why major compani...

Shane Evans, CEO and co-founder of Heights Wellness Retreat, turned one disappointing spa experience into a business that has endured for more than two decades. After starting her career selling fitness memberships and later moving into medical sales, a frustrating birthday massage sparked an idea: what if high-quality massage could be professional, convenient and affordable enough to become a regular wellness habit? Four months later, the first Massage Heights opened and nine months after that, Shane opened location number two.

Today, Shane is transforming that original concept into Heights Wellness Retreat, evolving 100+ locations from a...

Michelle Lee has built a career around seeing where culture is headed next. From Editor-in-Chief of Allure and Nylon to a global leadership role at Netflix and now CMO of Landing International and K Beauty World, her path is anything but conventional. Michelle opens up about feeling intimidated when she first reached the top ranks of publishing, learning to take bigger creative risks, and recognizing early that the traditional media model was about to radically change.

Together with Jodi and guest co-host Lindy Firstenberg, Michelle explores what the modern beauty experience actually looks like as...

Michael Marcano, CMO of ZO Skin Health, didn’t follow the traditional path to the C-suite. He grew up in Far Rockaway, Queens, dreaming of becoming a doctor, worked full-time while finishing college, and even auditioned for American Idol…twice…before finding his way into the beauty industry. His career story is a lesson in curiosity, persistence and being willing to pursue opportunities even when you don’t have the expected credentials.

Michael shares how he deliberately built his career by raising his hand, asking successful colleagues to teach him, telling people where he wanted to go, and cult...

What happens when you stop accepting industry rules as fact and start asking, "Why not?"

On Episode 313 of Where Brains Meet Beauty, Personal Day CEO Amanda Domaleczny and Co-Founder Dan Reich join Jodi Katz for a conversation about entrepreneurship, innovation, and building brands that challenge conventional thinking.

Amanda shares how a career spanning operations, product development, sales, and retail strategy shaped her approach to leadership, while Dan reflects on his journey from technology entrepreneur to beauty founder and the lessons he's learned building multiple high-growth brands.

Together, they discuss the importance of questioning...

What does it take to build products that consumers don't just use, but genuinely love?

On Episode 312 of Where Brains Meet Beauty, Shark Beauty Global Head of Marketing Julie Bailey Blanche and Vice President of Product Development Shannon McSweeney join Jodi Katz for a conversation about innovation, leadership, and the relentless pursuit of solving real consumer needs.

Julie and Shannon share how Shark Beauty approaches product development differently, from identifying unmet consumer needs and challenging assumptions to creating a culture where teams are encouraged to evolve their thinking when new information emerges.

Together...

What does it take to transform a highly engaged community into a lasting consumer brand?

On Episode 311 of Where Brains Meet Beauty, Sincerely Yours COO & CMO Shelagh Wong and Coefficient Capital Partner Arpon Ray join Jodi Katz for a conversation about entrepreneurship, investing, and building brands that can stand the test of time.

Shelagh shares how her background in management consulting shaped her approach to leadership, operations, and brand building, while Arpon discusses what investors look for when evaluating emerging consumer brands and the importance of finding businesses with a true competitive advantage.

...

What does it take to build a beauty brand that can grow beyond a single hero product while staying true to its purpose? On Episode 310 of Where Brains Meet Beauty, Mutha COO David Krzypow and Head of Brand Marketing Lauren Katz join Jodi Katz for a conversation about brand building, leadership, and navigating growth in today's increasingly competitive beauty landscape.

David shares how his journey from engineering to beauty helped shape his approach to building brands through analytical rigor and creative thinking, while Lauren discusses the importance of deeply understanding your customer and translating authentic brand stories...

In Episode 309 of Where Brains Meet Beauty, host Jodi Katz sits down with two accomplished sales leaders, Jeff Giordano Martinez-Fonts, founder of GIO Marketing Consultants LLC, and Liz Cavalieri, Vice President of Sales at Malin + Goetz, for a candid conversation about the evolving relationship between beauty, sales, and leadership.

Jeff and Liz share the winding career paths that led them to the beauty industry, from early aspirations and unexpected career pivots to leadership roles at some of the industry's most recognized brands. Together, they explore the realities of driving growth in a competitive marketplace, the importance of i...

In Episode 308 of Where Brains Meet Beauty, Jodi Katz sits down with Michelle LeBlanc, VP Merchandising, Beauty, & Personal Care at CVS Health, to discuss the strategy behind merchandising beauty across more than 8,000 stores.

Michelle shares how CVS approaches localization, balances legacy and emerging brands, and thinks about shopper behavior through the lens of speed, convenience, and accessibility. She explains why CVS sees itself as an “anti-destination” retailer, how customer feedback shapes assortments, and what today’s shoppers are really asking for.

The conversation also explores Michelle’s 20-year career journey, her leadership philosophy centered on kindness...

Episode 307 of Where Brains Meet Beauty wraps the “Power Duos” series with Rose and Ben Siard, co-founders of Rose and Ben Beauty. They share their 23-year partnership from meeting as teens in Texas to building a brand rooted in clear roles, mutual respect, and a community-first mindset.

Before beauty, they were musicians, writing and performing together for over a decade, an experience that shaped their creative and business chemistry. Rose’s makeup journey began organically on social media, where a loyal, long-standing community became the foundation of the brand. Ben brought operational expertise from his career in oil and...

Episode 306 of Where Brains Meet Beauty continues the “Power Duos” series with sisters Allison and Jacqueline Taylor, co-founders of Le Prunier. What began as a fourth-generation Northern California plum farm evolved into a modern skincare brand rooted in sustainability, science, and family legacy.

Allison and Jacqueline took very different paths - music and fashion on one side, wellness and culinary science on the other but shared a deep curiosity about ingredients. That curiosity led them back to their family’s farm, where they uncovered the untapped potential of antioxidant-rich plum byproducts and transformed them into a hero skinca...

Episode 305 of Where Brains Meet Beauty continues our Power Duos theme with an iconic beauty brand and the duo helping it thrive in a new era: Laura Geller, Founder of Laura Geller Beauty, and Sara Mitzner, VP of Brand Marketing. Together they share how founder authenticity, sharp brand focus, and a deep understanding of the customer have powered massive relevance, especially as pro-aging and mature-skin makeup becomes a cultural movement.

Their power duo dynamic is built on mutual trust and amplification. Sara calls it plainly: Laura is the story. A founder who shows up, teaches, jokes, and...

Episode 304 of Where Brains Meet Beauty continues the Power Duos series with Jeffrey Lee, CEO & Co-Founder of DIBS Beauty and Katherine Rose, Vice President of Finance. Together they unpack what it really takes to scale a beauty brand through high-stakes moments - ERP overhauls, warehouse moves, tariff chaos, and rapid retail expansion.

Katherine shares how a career that started in public accounting evolved into operational leadership at a fast-growing startup, guided by a simple rule: say yes to opportunities and figure it out along the way. Jeffrey reflects on his unconventional path from corporate attorney to entrepreneur, and w...

Our Power Duos theme with a duo that is building in every sense of the word with Yongxi Tan and Aidan Neziri, co-founders of Bessie Nails. They share what it takes to launch a fast-growing press-on nail brand from a true consumer need, compete in a legacy category, and build a company together while also being partners in real life. Their roles are distinct but collaborative, and their dynamic is the through-line of this episode: Yongxi is momentum and experimentation, Aidan is precision and protection. The balance helps them move fast without breaking what matters.

The product...

A true power duo: Blair Lancer, CMO, and Daniela De Los Santos, Global Education Director from Lancer Skincare. Together they share what it takes to grow a family-founded, dermatologist-led brand in a world where trust is everything, education cuts through noise, and community is built one conversation at a time.

Daniela brings the brand to life on QVC, where she treats the camera like a one-on-one appointment, translating ingredients, claims, and routines in a way that feels like chatting with your mom or best friend. She also reflects on her own path, from dreaming of becoming a...

Each year, the Listen Again Awards recognize the episodes our audience continues to return to. Conversations that stay relevant, spark reflection, and offer depth beyond the moment. We’re thrilled to honor the 2025 Listen Again Award winners in this special Where Brains Meet Beauty episode.

Q1 Power Moves: Excellence in Leadership Episode 277 – Danessa Myricks & Anncy Rowe. A powerful conversation on leadership, vulnerability, and growth. Danessa and Anncy explored what it truly means to lead with intention, create space for honest feedback, and continue evolving. Their openness around fear, empathy, and personal power made this episode unforgettable.

Q2...

For its 300th episode, Where Brains Meet Beauty highlights two women who prove that creative careers rarely follow a straight line. Celebrity hairstylist and makeup artist Sarai Martinez and influencer and UGC creator Tania Grover share how childhood dreams, unexpected pivots and sheer perseverance shaped the paths they are on today.

Sarai always knew she wanted to be a hairstylist, even drafting a sixth grade project imagining her future salon career. But family expectations and finances pushed her into fashion school, then insurance work, then years of assisting in high-end Boston salons on late nights and little...

Episode 299 of Where Brains Meet Beauty™ brings together two very different kinds of “technicians” who both turned specialized skills into flexible, creative lives. AR and AI developer, content creator and Cannes Lion winner Grace Choi sits beside fashion industry veteran, technical design consultant and creator Emily Kammeyer Sumner for a conversation that moves from X-Men superpowers to tax codes for dogs, and somehow makes it all make sense.

Grace shares how a makeup printer startup led her into AR filters, where she now builds the viral effects that other creators and brands rely on. She pulls back the cu...

Episode 298 of Where Brains Meet Beauty is one of the most emotional and human conversations of the season. Celebrity Esthetician Miranda Sturce and creator, former Miss South Carolina and Bachelor alum Davia Esther Bunch join the show for a raw discussion on ambition, burnout, healing and finding your way back to yourself.

Miranda shares how caring for others has been part of her identity since childhood, soothing her father’s hands after long labor-filled days. That instinct led her into luxury hotel spas and ultimately her own practice, where touch becomes both artistry and therapy. She talks op...

In Episode 297 of Where Brains Meet Beauty, founder and CEO of Glamazon Beauty Cosmetics Kim Baker and content creator and Your Glow Guide author Felicia Walker sit down to talk about building careers that did not exist when they were kids.

Kim’s path starts at 13 as a model with Elite, crossing paths with legends like Andy Warhol and Basquiat, then being pulled out of the industry for her own safety. She later returns, co-pioneers plus-size modeling and eventually pivots into makeup artistry after years of struggling to find foundation that matched her skin. Mixing shades behind th...

In this Artistry & Influencer episode of Where Brains Meet Beauty, content creators Jess Martinez (@jessstheblessed) and Kirti Tewani (@kirtitewani) share what it really looks like to build a career online while staying grounded offline.

Jess calls herself an “accidental creator.” After casually posting hair videos, one went viral - 46 million views in under three weeks, while she was still working full-time in criminal justice. The sudden visibility was thrilling and disorienting, but with support and boundaries, she found a rhythm: mission-driven work by day, creativity by night. Kirti’s journey began after motherhood made the long, unpredictable schedu...

In this episode of Where Brains Meet Beauty, Jodi Katz sits down with Dr. Ariel Ostad Dermatologist, Cosmetic Surgeon & Brand Founder and Kelsie Johnston, Former GM/Head of Beauty & Personal Care TikTok Shop US to explore how artistry, influence, and authenticity shape the future of beauty.

From a middle school dream of becoming a buyer to helping launch TikTok Shop in the U.S., Kelsie shares how pairing data with creativity unlocked massive growth transforming e-commerce into a community-driven experience. She explains that the brands thriving today are those that let creators and customers co-author the narrative...

In Episode 294 of Where Brains Meet Beauty, host Jodi Katz sits down with Annie Robertson Hockey, President & Head of Consulting Skytale Group and Lauren D’Amore, Vice President Prelude Growth Partners to explore the intersection of personal passion and professional success in the booming beauty and med spa industries. From nearly becoming a ballerina or a doctor to leading investment and consulting firms, these two powerhouse women share how their early experiences shaped their careers.

They dive into the evolution of med spas into mainstream brands, the importance of building loyalty over chasing trends, and how leadership and...

In this episode of Where Brains Meet Beauty with Jodi Katz, we explore how legal and financial experts fuel the growth of beauty and wellness brands. Guests Kara Posner, Partner at Gianuzzi Lewendon and Thomas Cunningham, Director of Business Development at Physician Growth Partners share how they help founders navigate funding, scale strategically, and prepare for exits.

From childhood dreams of animation and pro sports to careers in law and investment banking, Kara and Thomas reveal how early passions shape their approach to high-stakes advisory work. They dive into what it means to be true partners to ent...

In Episode 292 of Where Brains Meet Beauty, host Jodi Katz sits down with Sarah Foley, Managing Partner at InviNext Growth Partners and Caroline Chiaroni, Vice President at TJC for a compelling conversation at the intersection of private equity, consumer brands, and personal passion. From childhood dreams of veterinary clinics and art galleries to managing multi-million-dollar investments in beauty and wellness, these two trailblazers share how creativity, empathy, and strategic thinking shape their careers.

They discuss the evolving role of technology in finance yes even AI, while emphasizing the irreplaceable power of human connection in brand b...

In Episode 291 of Where Brains Meet Beauty with Jodi Katz, the spotlight turns to two investors redefining what it means to back beauty and wellness brands: Kara LaForgia, Founder & Managing Partner at Hive Ventures, and Rich Gersten, Co-Founder & General Partner at True Beauty Ventures. Their paths to venture capital could not be more different, yet both reflect the persistence, gut instincts, and passion that this industry demands.

Kara’s story is one of constant reinvention. A lawyer by training, she started her career as an NFL sports agent, worked with Birdman and Lil Wayne at Ca...

In this episode of Where Brains Meet Beauty we meet Kevin Kim the Director of Beauty & Personal Care Investment Banking at Raymond James. His career journey didn’t begin with balance sheets and deal rooms it began with medicine.

As the oldest son of two psychiatrists, Kevin grew up assuming he’d follow in their footsteps. But by late high school, he realized his path needed to be his own. Drawn to a more global career, he pivoted from pre-med aspirations to business, ultimately landing in investment banking.

His early years at H...

What do NASA and luxury beauty have in common? In this stellar episode of Where Brains Meet Beauty, Jodi Katz sits down with Lindy Firstenberg, Senior Vice President, Beauty & Luxury at Alix Partners and Catherine Nekavand, Partner at Alix Partners - two powerhouse leaders who traded space suits and oil rigs for silk scarves and fragrance launches.

Lindy, who once tested satellite mechanisms at NASA, shares how her journey took a glamorous turn at Louis Vuitton, where she helped launch the brand’s fragrance line. Catherine, a petroleum engineer who’s worked everywhere from Chad to N...

In this high-energy finale of our Health Compass: Navigating Careers in Wellness theme, host Jodi Katz welcomes Lisa Rossmann, Chief Concept Officer at Hand & Stone Spa and Bryan Appio, CEO of Drywater for a dynamic conversation about leadership, career pivots, and hydration.

Lisa shares her journey from aspiring spy to beauty industry executive, while Bryan reflects on early entrepreneurial ventures and a drive to succeed shaped by his upbringing. Together, they explore what it takes to lead with empathy, build trust, and focus on internal excellence rather than external competition.

Both Lisa and Bryan have...

Preventative care meets powerful branding in this electric conversation with Dr. David Kim, board-certified dermatologist and founder of Lightsaver and Vicente Vasquez, Global Senior Brand Design Manager at Colgate-Palmolive.

We explore the emotional and behavioral roots of beauty rituals — and what it really takes to shift them. From daily sunscreen to oral care routines, they reveal why so many people know what to do, but still don’t follow through.

Vicente brings a sharp creative lens, shaped by a lifelong love of mixtapes, theater, and storytelling. That background fuels the emotional resonance behind the design work...

Host Jodi Katz sat down with two women at the forefront of redefining health care as we know it: Liz Josefsberg, Founder & CEO of Target 100 Inc and Sarah Pesce, COO of stealth-mode wellness startup Radence.

Despite wildly different paths—Liz went from Broadway star to Weight Watchers executive, while Sarah pivoted from nurse practitioner to health-tech builder—both share a mission: to help people move from “sick care” to well care.

Liz's early career was center stage—literally. She spent years performing in Showboat and Les Misérables, all while privately battling we...

Jodi Katz sat down with two powerhouse women making waves in personal health: Taryn Shockley, USA Sales & Education Manager at AlumierMD, and Kelly Murphy, General Manager at Lola. What followed was a deep, human, and often hilarious look at ambition, imposter syndrome, reinvention—and the workouts that keep them grounded.

Taryn’s story starts on the balance beam. A gymnast from age two, she was competing at elite levels by ten and earned a full ride to ASU. But when an injury ended her collegiate career, she made her first major pivot—into skincare. What began as a pass...

What does a TikTok-famous hand surgeon and the descendant of mushroom farmers in France and have in common? Purpose—and the courage to follow it, even when the path looks nothing like the plan.

Jodi Katz sat down with Dr. Erin Nance, founder of FeelBetr Health and Sonia Gaillis-Delepine, founder of Verdoie. While their companies serve different corners of the wellness space, both women share a mission: to help people better understand their bodies—and to redefine what care really looks like. Their stories of resilience, purpose, and transformation show how following your passion can lead to powe...

We sat down with two trailblazers in women’s health Claire Coder, founder and CEO of Aunt Flow and Smita Asrani, VP of Partnerships at UE Life Sciences. The episode opened with childhood dreams—Claire reminisced about staging Britney Spears concerts in her closet, while Smita shared her early love of horses. Neither imagined a future in healthcare, but both ultimately found themselves tackling some of the most overlooked (and long overdue) issues in women’s wellness.

Claire shared her journey from being a Party Princess to becoming a purpose-driven entrepreneur, a path sparked by a frustrating moment...

In this raw and honest conversation, leaders Cara Kamenev, President of Stripes Beauty and Sharon del Valle, General Manager of Kose America Inc, break away from the typical leadership talk to share real, unfiltered truths about navigating life and leadership. In this episode, they dive into the power of self-trust, the importance of listening to your inner needs, and the strength found in vulnerability.

Cara opens up about how making decisions based on what you truly need—not just your goals—leads to more authentic leadership. Sharon reflects on how her framework for life evolved as she lear...

What if the key to exceptional leadership isn’t commanding authority but leaning into vulnerability? What if the moments you feel most uncertain are the ones that hold the greatest growth opportunities?

In this week’s episode of Where Brains Meet Beauty, host Jodi Katz delves into these questions with Henry Davis, CEO of Sakara Life, and Debbie Perelman, a partner at InviNext Growth. Together, they explore how leading with radical candor, authenticity, and empathy can ignite team transformation.

Debbie opens up about how Kim Scott's Radical Candor changed her perspective on leadership through behavior. Inst...

Ever wondered how a casual compliment or a brief conversation could shape your career? Networking isn’t always about grand gestures or polished pitches—it can be as simple as noticing someone’s shoes, discussing the weather, or striking up a chat with the person standing by themselves in a crowded room. Sometimes, the smallest interactions can spark the most meaningful connections.

In the latest episode of Where Brains Meet Beauty, host Jodi Katz sits down with Nancy Berger Founder of Start With a Good and Jennifer Parrott CEO of Locks & Mane for an inspiring discussion about the po...

How do childhood dreams translate into powerhouse careers? What happens when your path turns unexpectedly and leads to something even bigger?

In this episode of Where Brains Meet Beauty, host Jodi Katz sits down with Dawn Hilarczyk, COO of Borghese and Vimla Black-Gupta, former CEO of Ourself, to uncover the unexpected twists, bold pivots, and defining moments that shaped their journeys.

Vimla was once voted “Most Likely to Own a Spa” in high school, a prediction that eerily foreshadowed her path in beauty and wellness. Meanwhile, Dawn had two vastly different dreams: becoming a veterinarian or a...