How to Expand a Brand Worth Talking About with Esther McIlvain (Hawkers Asian Street Food)

How to Use Setbacks to Build What’s Even Better with Katrina Markoff (Violet Flame Chocolate)

What if crisis and conflict can be the beginning of your most meaningful work? Katrina Markoff, founder of Violet Flame Chocolate and Vosges Haut-Chocolat, has spent her career building brands that are impossible to replicate. Long before “immersive experiences” became a marketing trend, Katrina was blending storytelling, global ingredients, rituals, craftsmanship, and imagination to create the most distinctive luxury chocolate brands. She has been named one of the Top 10 Chocolatiers in the World by National Geographic, Top 100 Most Creative People in Business by Fast Company, Food Artisan of the Year by Bon Appetit, and more. But after profound personal and professional upheaval, Katrina found herself rebuilding from the ground up. And instead of recreating what already existed, she created something entirely new. In this episode, we explore how creativity became part of her healing process and why some of the strongest brands emerge after disruption, reinvention, and loss. In this episode, you'll learn: ✨ Why the strongest founders use disruption to carve out new territory ✨ How setbacks can become the catalyst for better, more meaningful creativity ✨How sensory experiences and ritual create deeper emotional brand connection ✨ Why brands that are emotionally resonant stand apart in an AI-driven world ✨ Why the future belongs to brands that create truly immersive experiences This conversation is a powerful reminder that the best brands and versions of ourselves are not created by avoiding hardship, but by overcoming obstacles to become stronger, more intentional, and more original. Katrina’s Creative Inspiration Book: Coction: The Alchemy of Food Brands: Ulla Johnson and Flamingo Estate Beverage: Toffee and Scotch whiskey Song: Florence + the Machine

The Secret to Leading Brands That Never Go Out of Style with Paul Damico (Perkins/Huddle House)

How do you ensure 60-year-old brands last another 60 and beyond? Paul Damico is the CEO of Ascent Hospitality Management, parent company of Perkins and Huddle House, two breakfast brands that have been serving guests for generations. Paul brings more than four decades leading brands from Moe's Southwest Grill and Cinnabon to Fuzzy's Taco Shop, NAF NAF Grill, and Global Franchise Group. Paul shares what it truly means to lead iconic brands that can outlast pandemics, recessions, labor shortages, new concepts, and more. He shares advice about what to protect, what to evolve, and how to create teams that drive long-lasting results. In this episode, you'll learn: ✨ How to protect and leverage legacy brand equities to continue success ✨ What to look for to create and motivate high-performing teams ✨ How to introduce brands to new audiences while retaining loyal guests ✨ Why the best franchise systems scale people and not just new stores ✨ How servant leadership drives better teams, stronger culture, and lasting results A conversation for leaders ready to revive legacy brands, build top-performing teams, and create what truly stands the test of time. Paul's Creative Inspiration Book: The Monday Morning Emails by former Focus Brands CEO Russ Frith Brand: Steak 48 Beverage: Classic Negroni (Monkey 47 gin, Italian sweet vermouth, Campari) Song: "September" by Earth, Wind & Fire

How to Grow a Brand Without Ads, Amazon, or Influencers with Kate Assaraf (Dip)

What if the best way to expand your brand is to stop following the typical playbook? Kate Assaraf is the founder of Dip, the plastic-free haircare brand that has sold thousands of shampoo and conditioner bars without paid advertising, Amazon, or influencers. Instead, Dip has grown through word of mouth, independent refill retailers, authentic storytelling, and products people want to share with their favorites. After decades behind the scenes in the beauty industry, Kate saw how much modern marketing relied on hype, imitation, and manufactured trust. So she built Dip differently: salon-quality products designed to last longer, reduce waste, and create a brand experience rooted in nostalgia, emotional connection, and real customer advocacy. In this episode, you’ll learn: ✨ How to grow through trust and word of mouth instead of paid hype ✨ Why authentic community beats chasing scale at all costs ✨ How nostalgia, emotion, and distinctiveness make brands memorable ✨ Why independent retailers can become your strongest growth engine ✨ How to decide which opportunities strengthen your brand and which dilute it A refreshing conversation for founders and brand leaders who want to create something more distinctive, intentional, and lasting inspired by another kind of book. Kate’s Creative Inspiration Book: Company of One by Paul Jarvis [https://www.amazon.com/Company-One-Staying-Small-Business/dp/0358213258/ref=sr_1_1?adgrpid=186020618763&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.H9MvHqAUroxapq0xnhiJJlt-ouRjlzSzg3vW9SnYbbcLoe1sckw73i7drPWJ-xTehSWUXjc-eUqje22dlMHeIYcBVYDRh7fk7Su5cF_UaCCdMwc_OUr81mqWKc6N64_1Y9SNgzr0zFWOFoUJtGlpRIr2_-ALMyIfeR7zI6WRlDAOeH6ckxq-8jxWfZ1fzqIf_sVHbqqxyWcuhv7i-afBLxgvbqzfpururH3jMjmf8RE.sA1NKzvl8kewRaMSHgGvOj9oZK3BYXodmMoiSot23jM&dib_tag=se&hvadid=779666435978&hvdev=c&hvexpln=0&hvlocphy=9198602&hvnetw=g&hvocijid=7816611325420573521--&hvqmt=e&hvrand=7816611325420573521&hvtargid=kwd-624025838791&hydadcr=21878_13324243_9360&keywords=company+of+one+book&mcid=0bcf3bc2a8ad3ce08e8dfdac25fc588b&qid=1778127996&sr=8-1] Brand: Vacation Beverage: Spicy margarita Song: Anything by Steven Page / Barenaked Ladies [https://music.apple.com/us/artist/steven-page/206660018]

How to Build a Brand People Believe In with Jennifer Dodd and Tyler Owen (Main Squeeze Juice Co.)

What does it take to build a brand people trust enough to choose and help grow? Jennifer Dodd is CEO of Main Squeeze Juice Company, and Tyler Owen is a new franchisee who recently joined the brand after a career at Panera. Together, they share two perspectives about building a brand: the leader shaping its future and the operator executing it, highlighting the special relationship between franchisor and franchisee. Jen shares how her own health journey reshaped the way she thinks about leadership and why the next generation of brands will win by making better choices easier. Tyler shares what he looked for before investing as an operator, what gave him confidence to make the leap into entrepreneurship, and how he invested all he had into his business. Together, they discuss product quality, partnerships, community connection, and how to stay close to customers and teams as you expand a franchised brand. In this episode, you’ll learn: ✨ How to turn personal conviction into a stronger brand purpose ✨ Why pausing to refine your brand can unlock stronger growth ✨ How to operate like an owner and make better decisions no matter your role ✨ How to use partnerships and limited-time offers to drive trial and relevance ✨ Why your “customer” isn’t just the end user and how to serve every target audience For leaders building brands that customers choose, teams are proud to stand behind, and partners believe in to expand. Jen and Tyler’s Creative Inspiration Book: Extreme Ownership [https://www.amazon.com/Extreme-Ownership-U-S-Navy-SEALs/dp/1250067057] by Jocko Willink [https://www.amazon.com/Extreme-Ownership-U-S-Navy-SEALs/dp/1250067057]; Start Before You’re Ready [https://www.amazon.com/Start-Before-Youre-Ready-Entrepreneurs/dp/073036626X] by Mick Spencer [https://www.amazon.com/Start-Before-Youre-Ready-Entrepreneurs/dp/073036626X] Brand: Sweetgreen [https://order.sweetgreen.com/]; Chick-fil-A [https://www.chick-fil-a.com/] Beverage: Main Squeeze’s Burn (Apple, Lime, Ginger, Jalapeño) [https://mainsqueezejuiceco.com/products/] Song: “I Believe That We Will Win” by Pitbull [https://music.apple.com/us/song/i-believe-that-we-will-win-world-anthem/1725158131]; anything Morgan Wallen [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLrBVa6WnfcwlM7UCxhhf6oCAlaMdBbMt5]

How to Expand a Brand Worth Talking About with Esther McIlvain (Hawkers Asian Street Food)

Want to grow a brand people discover and share without paying for attention? Esther McIlvain is Head of Marketing at Hawkers Asian Street Food, where she leads brand strategy, creative, marketing, and communications for the fast-growing concept. Since joining, she has helped shape Hawkers’ evolution and doubled their store count with the power of repeat guests, recommendations, and community connection. Esther shares how her start in PR shaped the way she thinks about branding today. She explains why the best brands don’t chase attention, how Hawkers uses customer personas to guide decisions, and why saying “no” is one of the best ways to protect a growing brand. She also gets into community-led marketing, why group chats matter more than reach, and how to create experiences guests actually want to talk about. In this episode, you’ll learn: ✨ Why the best brands don’t pay for PR, they create what’s worth talking about ✨ How to define your guest by stage, not age, and why it leads to better decisions ✨ How to turn discovery and surprising experiences into emotional connections ✨ Why smaller community creators matter more than the biggest influencers ✨ How to view your brand like a customer would and spot what to optimize A conversation for leaders who want to build brands with stronger stories, deeper loyalty, and more meaningful consumer connections. Esther’s Creative Inspiration Book: Start With Why [https://www.amazon.com/Start-Why-Leaders-Inspire-Everyone/dp/1591846447] by Simon Sinek [https://www.amazon.com/Start-Why-Leaders-Inspire-Everyone/dp/1591846447] Brand: Graza [https://www.graza.co/] Beverage: Hawkers’ Coco Kobe [https://eathawkers.com/menus/beverage/] Song: “Enter Sandman” by Metallica [https://music.apple.com/us/song/enter-sandman/1572046436] or “…Ready For It?” by Taylor Swift [https://music.apple.com/us/song/ready-for-it/1440934248]