We had a great time on our LIVE interview session with Stephanie LaFlora discussing MULTI-SIDED PLATFORM MANAGEMENT.

It took being rejected for service at five separate salons due to her 4C textured hair for Stephanie LaFlora to realize that something was terribly wrong with the beauty industry. Driven to solve the problems of her own customer experience and already a serial entrepreneur, storyteller, marketer, and creator, Stephanie founded Crownhunt to make life easier for people with curly hair while helping under-resourced entrepreneurs thrive.

Alongside her business partner and long-time friend, Ryan Holdeman, Stephanie has spent the last decade building multi-sided platforms and working with partners to develop new business models using her background in data-driven product development and strategy. To that end, Crownhunt is a digital marketplace for textured hair, built to help existing hair entrepreneurs reach the 65% of the population with textured hair and to get their products, services, and education to the right people, more effectively. While is a seriously driven entrepreneur, she’s also a troublemaker at heart and serious about having fun. When she’s not building her start-up, she’s often mentoring other aspiring women entrepreneurs by showing them that life is one big adventure worth betting on.

Stephanie shared a wealth of information about:

-What it's like to quit your job to start a business during a pandemic while pregnant;

-What advice would she would give to entrepreneurs considering the same leap;

-How an entrepreneur can build a business that honors diversity and culture;

-How an early-stage startup can get in front of investors and convince them to write a check;

-What the best ways are for a startup to succeed through crowdfunding;

-Why is hair such a big deal, particularly textured hair; and

-so much more!

Stephanie LaFlora

• Email: Stephanie@crownhuntapp.io

• Website: http://www.crownhunt.io/

• LI: /in/stephanielaflora/

• Instagram: @stephanielaflora

• Twitter: /mslaflora

Naif Productions

• Website: https://www.naifproductions.com/​

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/naifproducti...

• LinkedIn:

We had a great time on our interview session with Annie McAllister talking about THE GUEST EXPERIENCE- MORE THAN JUST A PHOTO OP.

Annie brings a wealth of expertise with 14 years of dedicated experience in event production, positioning her as an invaluable asset to the 15|40 family. Her professional journey encompasses a diverse range of projects, from large-scale extravaganzas to intimate gatherings, making her a seasoned professional in the world of event management. Her comprehensive background spans the realms of broadcast, streaming, and music festivals, where she has demonstrated her prowess in overseeing projects at some of today's most coveted live events and premieres. Annie’s multifaceted skill set extends to various spaces, including conferences, award shows, fundraisers, experiential activations, brand launches, hospitality design, and large-scale live events.

In her role, Annie places a strong emphasis on overarching project management, design, and client relations, ensuring a seamless and exceptional experience for all stakeholders involved. With a keen eye for detail and a commitment to excellence, she has cultivated enduring relationships in the industry. Her collaborative approach, strategic vision, and commitment to delivering unparalleled results have consistently elevated the experiences of both clients and attendees alike. Her dog, Benny and her cat, Pickle are both pretty neat too.

Annie shared a wealth of information about:

- how she would define a great Guest Experience;

- how to respond when a client asks for a ‘WOW’ moment;

- an example of a WOW experience;

- if there is a starting place of inspiration when building the concept of an event;

- which area of the Guest Experience is the most critical to get right; and

- so much more!

If you are not connected with me on my FB page, please connect at https://www.facebook.com/naifproductions or on LinkedIn @annettenaif.

Connect with Annie McAllister:

Website: https://www.1540productions.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/15l40/

Facebook:

We had a great time on our live interview session with John Dwyer talking about DIRECT RESPONSE MARKETING.

John Dwyer is the owner of the Institute Of Wow, a Direct Response Marketing Company that provides businesses with highly creative customer attraction concepts.

Known as “JD”, this guy is a marketing enigma, an ideas guru who thinks WAY outside the box. He’s also the guy who scored the massive marketing coup of convincing Jerry Seinfeld to promote a bank down-under!

JD will leave the audience spellbound with the “behind-the-scenes” story of how this deal was done & what it was like to work with Jerry Seinfeld for 3 years.

John shared a wealth of information about:

-what his business is & what services he provides to businesses;

-what “Direct-Response Marketing” is and what makes it different from general marketing strategies;

-what kind of businesses should consider “Direct-Response Marketing”;

-if there is a proven formula for “Direct-Response Marketing”;

-if there are specific industries that the “PROBLEM/SOLUTION” formula is more suitable for; and

-so much more!

If you are not connected with me on my FB page, please connect at https://www.facebook.com/naifproductions or on LinkedIn @annettenaif.

Connect with John Dwyer:

Website: https://theinstituteofwow.com/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/instituteofwow/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theinstituteofwow

Connect with Annette Naif:

Website: