PODCAST · business
UNBOXED
by Connie Nam
Connie Nam, founder of Astrid & Miyu, explores what it takes for an aspiring entrepreneur to build an empire. In every episode, you’ll hear our guest's stories of their biggest mistakes and greatest lessons while building their business. You’ll get valuable insights into what their company's early years looked like, the defining moments that shaped their future and their critical advice for early-stage founders. Get inspired and listen now. Follow @unboxed_founderconfidential @connienam @astridandmiyu Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.co
Episodes
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“Perfection Doesn’t Exist” The Founding Story of Oliver Bonas
Founder of Oliver Bonas, Olly Tress joins Conne Nam in this candid conversation about his founding story. Thank you to Payhawk for sponsoring this episode. In this episode, Olly shares how he created a brand with a consistent and compelling style, his own personal challenges including his…
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HR Special: How to Avoid Toxic Start-Up Culture
In a Chief People Officer special, Connie Nam is joined by Payhawk’s CPO, Aya Sority, and her own CPO at Astrid & Miyu, Alexia Aronsten. Thank you to Payhawk for sponsoring this episode. In this episode, they do a deep dive into how to build a positive and strong working culture when laying the...
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You Need Dangerous Positivity in a Start Up with Beyond Nine
Founder of Beyond Nine, Naomi Raybould joins Connie Nam to share how she revolutionised the maternity wear industry. Thank you to Payhawk for sponsoring this episode. In this episode, Naomi reveals the discrimination she faced coming back from maternity leave before starting her own business, the...
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Creating a Brand with Lasting Legacy with Elizabeth Scarlett
Founder of iconic accessories brand Elizabeth Scarlett joins Connie Nam to share how she’s creating a business marrying her artistic passions and love for wildlife. Thank you to Payhawk for sponsoring this episode. In this episode, Elizabeth shares how her hero product was almost a happy…
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How Naetive Studio Grew 100,000 Organic Followers in 2 Years
This week, we feature another early-stage founder to show what it’s like to start a business in 2024. Mollie Michelle launched her handmade mug company during the pandemic and maternity leave and 2 years on she’s organically grown to 100,000 followers. In this episode, she joins Connie Nam and...
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Women’s Health Affects 50% of Us – why is it called ‘niche’? with Hertility
Despite being a Professor in Reproductive and Molecular Genetics, when researching her own fertility Helen O’Neill found it confusing and expensive. This week, she joins Connie Nam to share the inspirational story behind her company ‘Hertility’, how she’s making hormone and fertility testing...
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Balancing Parenthood and Running a Business | Connie AMA
Astrid & Miyu founder Connie Nam shares her second AMA of the season, all about juggling parenthood and building a successful business. Connie answers burning questions such as: What plans she put in place when she got pregnant How her role changed with parenthood How to overcome mum guilt How to...
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From Serial Side Hustler to Dream Brand Collabs with Feyi Flowers
This week, we featuring another early-stage founder to show what it’s like to start a business in 2024. Connie sits down with Feyi Flowers founder, Eni Awoyemi, to find out the realities of being a serial side hustler, how she’s utilised her background in influencer marketing and she spills the...
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The Power of PR: How to Sell your Brand Story with Biscuiteers
Biscuiteers founder Harriet Hastings joins Connie Nam for a fascinating insight on how to leverage the power of PR. In this episode, Harriet explains how her iced biscuits company is really a design business, why PR is the most cost-effective strategy to tell your brand story and she offers her…
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10 Tips on Building a Cult Brand | Connie AMA
Astrid & Miyu founder, Connie Nam kicks off the new season with a special Q&A answering your question on how to build a successful consumer brand. Listen to find out how to find manufacturers, where to find effective market data and how to create highly anticipated cult products – like A&M’s own...
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The Start Up Story of Astrid & Miyu | Best of UNBOXED
For our final Best Of episode, we’re looking back on the conversations between Astrid & Miyu founder and CEO Connie Nam and her first hire turned CMO Sarah Hrywnak to learn the key lessons from the start up and scale up periods. To keep up with the podcast, follow @unboxed_founderconfidential,...
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How To Go The Extra Mile With Your Business | Best of UNBOXED
This week, we’re revisiting 3 founders who go the extra mile and offer their advice on how you can do the same. Founder of sleepwear brand Desmond & Dempsey, Molly Goddard reveals how far she went in the early days to acquire and maintain her customers, Natasha Thomas of Lockdown Liqour offers…
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Top 3 Pieces of Advice for Early Stage Founders | Best of UNBOXED
On UNBOXED, we champion female founders so we’re replaying 3 incredible female leaders offering critical advice for early-stage entrepreneurs. NEOM’s Nicola Elliott shares how she knew it was the right time to quit her day job, F*ck Being Humble founder Stef gives her ultimate guide to networking...
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Stories Behind 3 Top Beauty Brands | Best of UNBOXED
This week, we’re revisiting 3 inspiring beauty founders who offer advice for the next generation of beauty entrepreneurs and beyond. In this episode, Vanita Parti of Blink Brow Bar shares how she shamelessly poached clients, Thea Green of Nails.INC reveals what the most underrated skill a founder...
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Elevate Your Brand with These 3 Episodes | Best of UNBOXED
A strong brand is a key element to a successful start-up. In this bitesized episode, here are 3 brand experts so you can choose which episode to dive into next. In this episode, David Abramovich of Grind reveals how they pull off huge PR stunts, Abbie Roden Sandbach discusses how far she was...
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Iconic Influencer Interviews | Best of UNBOXED
Influencer or business founder – content is so important to marketing a start up. Listen to highlights from 3 episodes from 3 iconic influencers so you can choose which episode to listen to next. In this episode, we hear from the OG Lorna Luxe on brand building, travel influencer GinaGoesTo on…
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Expert Investment Advice for Start-Up Founders | Best of UNBOXED
Want to find the right investor for you? Start with trying 3 episodes from investors we’ve had on the podcast so you can choose which episode to dive into next. In this episode, we hear tips from Astrid & Miyu’s Investor Gary Clarke, the woman closing the gap on female investments Daina Spedding...
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Inspirational Female Founder Stories | Best of UNBOXED
If you’re looking for something more bitesized, we’re sharing the best bits from some of our incredible founders and creators so you can choose which episode to dive into next. In this episode, we hear inspirational stories from Katie Lopes (Stripe & Stare) on how she hit rock bottom, Jo…
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Becoming an Overnight Success with Little Moon’s founder, Vivien Wong
Co-founder of Little Moons, Vivien Wong, joins Connie Nam to discuss the journey of transforming a small family bakery into a viral sensation. Vivienne explains the catalyst that led her to leave the corporate world to start a mochi ice cream business, the initial scepticism they faced due and…
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The Critical Tipping Point in Growing Your Business | Start Up Clinic
In the second edition of the Start-Up Clinic, Connie Nam invites two new early-stage founders so they can get advice on the pressing issues of their business. Founder of body-skin care brand, Sarah Sklaventis is first with her questions about how to find new customers when the cost of acquisition...
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How To Execute Your Vision with Varley
Varley co-founder Lara Mead joins Connie Nam to share tips on how to execute your vision to harbour success. Laura explains how she slowly developed strategy after the start-up days, the biggest difference between US and European customers and why she doesn’t like to make decisions based off…
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Do you HAVE to seek investment as a founder? | Start Up Clinic
In the first edition of our Start-Up Clinic, Connie Nam has invited two early-stage founders to the podcast to get advice and ask their burning questions. First up, Lili Sinclair-Williams, creator of a wellbeing stationary brand wants to know about cash flow. Connie answers her questions about…
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The Most Common Mistake Managers Make
Heather Elkington is a leadership and management expert and joins Connie Nam to share her invaluable expertise. Heather explains how in her mid-twenties, she helped grow and sell a business for millions of pounds, the most common mistakes first-time managers make and why you should aim to grow…
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Why You Need To Own Your Competitiveness | Astrid & Miyu's Start Up Story
Connie Nam is once again joined by her CMO and first hire, Sarah Hrywnak to discuss the next step in her founding story – the scale up period. Connie and Sarah discuss the difference between a start up and a scale up, learning how to hire the right people and the 2 incremental things you need to…
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The Pros and Cons of Being the Face of the Brand with Never Fully Dressed
Founder and CEO of Never Fully Dressed, Lucy Aylen joins Connie Nam to unbox her founding story this week. Lucy describes the intricacies of building a fashion brand before social media in the markets of London, why she was resistant to being the face of the brand and the struggles of being a…
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8 Secrets to Build a Billion-Pound Business
Richard Harpin sold his business, Home Serve, for 4 billion pounds. Yet he believes if he’d just done 8 things differently he could have grown better and quicker. In this episode, he joins Connie Nam to share his 8 secrets he wishes he knew before building his business. He explains how to lock…
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How To Let Go of Perfection with Frankie Gaff
You may recognise Frankie Gaff from her time on Made in Chelsea, but since leaving she’s built a huge following online. But how did she break free from reality TV to be known as her authentic self? In this episode, Frankie shares with Connie Nam the strategic decisions she made to distance…
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‘Don’t try to do everything, do one thing well’ Blink Brow Bar, Vanita Parti
Before Vanita Parti, no one in London threaded their eyebrows. After she founded Blink Brow Bar, it became a staple in thousands of women’s routines. Vanita joins Connie Nam to share how she went from one cramped chair in a department store to 15 stores internationally, how she built a client…
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“We have invested £420 million in female-led businesses” Investor, Daina Spedding
Investor Daina Spedding is passionate about putting more money behind female-led businesses and in this conversation, she explains how she’s trying to close the gap. Daina shares with Connie Nam the shockingly low percentage of funding that goes to female founders, what being on a board is…
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‘I dropped out of university twice’ Desmond & Dempsey, Molly Goddard
Co-founder and Creative Director of Desmond & Dempsey, Molly Goddard, joins Connie Nam on this week's episode. Molly reveals how she dropped out of university twice, the challenges of growing a business and a family, and how she navigated the complexity of the fashion industry with no experience....
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"Most people in my life I've met through networking, even my husband” amie wine, Abbie Roden Sandbach
Co-founder of amie wine and marketing guru Abbie Roden Sandbach joins Connie Nam to share how far perseverance can take you. Abbie explains how she made her own opportunities in social media, why networking was the key to her success and why she doesn’t care about university when it comes to...
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‘Patience is the most underrated skill for a founder’ Nails.INC, Thea Green
Founder and CEO of Nails.INC, Thea Green, joins Connie Nam to reveal how she transformed the culture of nail treatments in the UK over 20 years ago. Thea explains what nail salons were like in the late 90s, how she pitched to investors and why she thought about quitting by the hour. Plus, she...
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How Astrid & Miyu became a cult brand | Astrid & Miyu's Start Up Story
In a special episode of Unboxed, host Connie Nam is interviewed by her producer Charlie about how she took Astrid & Miyu from idea to cult brand. Connie explains how she spotted the gap in the market, if she ever considered a co-foudner and how she found her initial audience. Plus, she offers...
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‘Influencer Marketing is gold standard for establishing a brand’ Lorna Luxe, LA Space
Lorna Luxe is one of Astrid & Miyu’s OG influencers and now she has 1.4 million followers and is the founder of her own brand LA SPACE. Connie Nam sits down with Lorna to discuss the steady yet meteoric growth she saw in the early days of influencing, how she wasn’t always the relatable creator…
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‘I was so stressed I thought my head was going to explode’ Scamp & Dude, Jo Tutchener Sharp
Jo Tutchener Sharp shares how a traumatic event led to founding Scamp & Dude and the poignant mission that she is still working towards today. Jo joins Connie Nam to discuss the near-death experience that led to her business, her advice for PR if you have zero budget and how the surprising...
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“I wanted to make people proud, so I just couldn't fail” Astrid & Miyu’s Start Up Story
In a special episode of Unboxed, Connie Nam is joined by Astrid & Miyu’s Chief Marketing Officer and her first-ever hire, Sarah Hrywnak, to reveal what the early days of the business were like. Sarah shares the tumultuous times of interning in London, Connie shares the reasons she hired Sarah and...
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‘I don’t have all the answers, but the confidence to find them’ Sculpted by Aimee
Aimee Connolly, the founder and CEO of makeup brand Sculpted by Aimee, joins Connie Nam to share how she went from MUA to building a beauty empire. Aimee explains how she built a simple beauty brand during the heavy IG makeup era, how she manages the influencing side of her role and how she…
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‘Get comfortable with feeling uncomfortable’ Investor, Matt Truman
What is an investor is really like? Connie Nam sits down with Matt Truman, founder of True Global, to find out if Dragon’s Den is more than a reality show. Matt breaks down common industry jargon, reveals the key market opportunities for the next 20 years and the important traits a successful...
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‘I didn’t think influencing full time was a possibility for me’ Travel Influencer, GinaGoesTo
Travel writer and content creator Gina Jackson joins Connie Nam to share her expertise on influencing. As someone who has worked with influencers for huge fashion brands and is an influencer herself, Gina offers valuable insights whether you’re an aspiring influencer or you’re ready to use…
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‘Don’t wait for it to fall into your lap.’ F*ck Being Humble, Stefanie Sword-Williams
Motivational speaker, author and founder of F*ck Being Humble, Stefanie Sword-Williams sits down with Connie Nam to explain why she turned her back on modesty. Stefanie explains how she spotted her gap in the market, where the FBH slogan came from and how she couldn’t have timed going freelance...
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‘It doesn’t matter if you love the idea if the customer doesn’t’ Saint and Sofia, Dessi Bell
Founder and CEO of fashion brand Saint and Sofia, Dessi Bell, joins Connie Nam for this week’s episode. Dessi reflects on how her experience moving to the UK from Bulgaria as a teenager has informed her role as a business owner, why she prefers to give her team full freedom rather than…
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‘You just need to back yourself, and that's half the battle’ Lockdown Liquor, Natasha Thomas
From out of Natasha Thoma’s kitchen, Lockdown Liquor was born as a fun pandemic activity to share with friends; now their chic and stylish premium blended cocktails are in stores, bars and restaurants. In this conversation with Connie Nam, Natasha explains how she was able to found her first...
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“If you wake up in the morning and you own the company, it's your problem” Astrid & Miyu Investor, Gary Clarke.
Angel Investor Gary Clarke joins Connie Nam for a behind the scenes look of early stage investing, and what an investor can offer you and your business. Gary shares how failure has been pivotal for his success, what he looks for in potential founders for investment and the biggest mistakes he…
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‘I’d ask why are you buying that? I was totally shameless’ Childs Farm, Joanna Jensen
Joanna Jensen created sensitive skin products for her own daughter, but through founding Childs Farm it went on to change children’s lives around the world who were suffering from Eczema. Joanna joins Connie to discuss the shameless ways she sought customer feedback, how her stubbornness helped…
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‘It's better to make the wrong decision than make no decision’ Cubitts, Tom Broughton
Founder of modern eyewear company Cubitts, Tom Broughton, joins Connie Nam to share his mission to change the stigma on wearing glasses. Tom shares how his disappointment in the high street glasses option when he was a teenager sparked his entrepreneurial vision, the turning point after only...
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‘90% of success is grit’ Stripe and Stare, Katie Lopes
Katie Lopes, founder of Stripe & Stare, shares how she overcame £1.5 million debt, a relationship breakdown, and her low self-confidence, to create the knicker brand that everyone is talking about. Katie tells Connie Nam the devastating circumstances that pushed her to build a future for her...
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‘Culture takes a decade to build and 10 minutes to destroy’ Grind, David Abrahamovitch
Founder of cult coffee brand Grind, David Abrahamovitch, joins Connie Nam on this episode of Unboxed. After David’s first appearance on the podcast in 2020, where Grind was just focussing on its high street presence, it has now evolved into a multimillion-pound multichannel venture. David reveals...
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‘I’m going to tell you all the good and bad things’ NEOM Organics, Nicola Elliott
Nicola Elliott, the Founder of NEOM Organics joins Connie In this episode of Unboxed. After spending seven years working 60-hour weeks as a journalist, Nicola wanted to create a brand to address rising stress levels, lack of sleep, energy and low mood. NEOM Organics quickly became one of the…
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Astrid & Miyu: Inside A&M EP3 - Experiential Retail
We're kicking off the New Year with the launch of our internal mini series Inside A&M. Listen in as Lex, our People & Culture Director sits down with three of our Retail team Adam, Charlotte and Abi to discuss all things experiential retail. The panel discussion shares inside HQ behind the scenes...
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Astrid & Miyu: Inside A&M EP2 - Finance
We're kicking off the New Year with the launch of our internal mini series Inside A&M. Listen in as Lex, our People & Culture Director sits down with three of our Finance team Ellie, Amit and Parisha. The panel discussion shares inside HQ behind the scenes knowledge, actionable interview advice…
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Connie Nam, founder of Astrid & Miyu, explores what it takes for an aspiring entrepreneur to build an empire.
In every episode, you’ll hear our guest's stories of their biggest mistakes and greatest lessons while building their business. You’ll get valuable insights into what their company's early years looked like, the defining moments that shaped their future and their critical advice for early-stage founders.
Get inspired and listen now.
Follow @unboxed_founderconfidential @connienam @astridandmiyu
Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.co
HOSTED BY
Connie Nam
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does UNBOXED have?
UNBOXED currently has 90 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is UNBOXED about?
Connie Nam, founder of Astrid & Miyu, explores what it takes for an aspiring entrepreneur to build an empire. In every episode, you’ll hear our guest's stories of their biggest mistakes and greatest lessons while building their business. You’ll get valuable insights into what their company's early...
How often does UNBOXED release new episodes?
UNBOXED has 90 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to UNBOXED?
You can listen to UNBOXED on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts UNBOXED?
UNBOXED is created and hosted by Connie Nam.
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