"I didn't go to college. I went to beauty school. Don't doubt the sweat equity you put in and the learnings you've had are worth an education that sometimes you can't get in college.”
In this episode of The Entreprenista Podcast, Laura Geller, founder of Laura Geller Beauty, shares the unfiltered story behind her journey from a single makeup chair in Hell’s Kitchen to a nationally recognized brand featured on QVC, Sephora, and Ulta. Laura opens up about the highs, the hard lessons, and the pivotal moments that forced her to trust her instincts, even when others in the room didn’t.
From selling handmade products door-to-door to navigating investor relationships that nearly cost her everything, Laura reveals how resilience, street smarts, and knowing your customer can outweigh any formal business training. She dives into the challenges of scaling, the realities of managing people, and why learning to ask for help is one of the most important skills an entrepreneur can develop.
What We Talked About:
Building a Brand From Scratch [7:09]
Navigating Challenges/Learning Lessons [13:52]
The Role of Investors and Partnerships [21:02]
Trusting Your Voice [27:55]
Marketing Strategies for Success [35:11]
Connect with Lauren:
@laurageller on Instagram
@lauragellerbeauty on Instagram
Laura Geller on LinkedIn
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Guests
Laura Geller
Hosts
Stephanie Cartin
Stephanie Cartin is a serial entrepreneur, investor, podcast host, community builder, and a champion for women founders. She created the Entreprenista League, a community for women founders, to provide resources and support necessary at all business stages. She’s also the Co-founder of Socialfly, one of the first social media marketing agencies, as well as Entreprenista Media and Pearl Influential Capital which was recently acquired by Cherub. Stephanie has shared her journey managing her health challenges with Multiple Sclerosis, Infertility, and a complicated pregnancy and is an advocate for women going through similar challenges. Her story and businesses have been featured on the Today Show, Bloomberg and Forbes. Consider Stephanie your biggest business cheerleader.
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