Experts

Sue serves as Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Brutus Broth, Inc. Sue is a graduate of St. Lawrence University and has a strong background in marketing and business. Before launching Brutus Broth, Sue co-founded and served as President of Ilios Dairy Brands, LLC, a dairy company focused on offering an innovative and natural alternative in the dairy segment. The Ilios’ Greek Yogurt Butter was lauded as a “Top New Products” by Supermarket Guru in August 2012 and as a “Rising Star” in Specialty Foods Magazine in November 2012. Prior to launching Ilios, Sue spent 10 years as a fundraising and strategic marketing professional in a variety of non-profit organizations. She focused on major giving ($10,000+), endowment gifts and planned giving. She played a key role in securing gifts from Individuals, Foundations and Corporations as well as handling all Media Relations.

Stacy Bernstein is a brand builder, storyteller, and entrepreneur with 16 years of experience bringing creative visions to life. Her passion lies in crafting and growing brands, forging deep, immersive partnerships, and creating compelling narratives that transform everyday products into authentic, unforgettable experiences for consumers and brand loyalists alike.In 2022, Stacy teamed up with co-founder Merav Goldman to launch All Better Co., a dream born from necessity. As moms, they searched for clean, safe first aid solutions—especially for mosquito bites—and came up empty. So, they did what entrepreneurs do best: they made their own. Now, they’re on a mission to reimagine the first aid aisle, bringing modern, planet-friendly solutions to a category that hasn’t seen innovation in decades.Stacy’s superpower? Relationship-building. She’s a connector, leveraging her expansive network of professionals, influencers, and industry leaders to propel brands forward. At All Better Co., she leads brand strategy, growth, partnerships, and community building—all with an unwavering commitment to supporting women in commerce, empowering female investors, and championing women in sports.Before becoming an entrepreneur, Stacy’s first passion is Soccer. She was a Division 1 athlete, played semi-professionally, and coached at every level—from youth leagues to college teams.She brings that same competitive spirit and team-first mentality to everything she does.She lives in Los Angeles with her husband, their three kids, and the real boss of the house, their dog Frank.

Stacey Feeley, is a seasoned entrepreneur dedicated to creating a cultural shift in how consumer goods are used, driven by sustainable and environmental initiatives. She has launched and scaled several startups focusing on environmental and social initiatives, successfully lead multiple funding rounds through different platforms, ventures and strategic financing, as well as lead 2 successful acquisitions. In addition to her entrepreneurial endeavors, Stacey is deeply committed to social responsibility, driven by equitable access and giving back to the community. She firmly believes in the power of entrepreneurship as a force for positive change.Stacey is currently the co-founder and CEO of GoSili®, a consumer product company that produces silicone tableware as a replacement to plastic.  The brand has built a social movement away from toxic and unsustainable plastic wares by providing the alternative to them. Over the last 17 years, Stacey has been the powerhouse behind GoSili, creating a cultural shift in the marketplace away from the overuse of these “throw away” plastics. Her determination and dedication have played a crucial role in building the brand that continues to make a difference for human health and the planet.

Smitha Rao is a scientist, wife, mother and accomplished executive with nearly 20 years of experience transforming brands with strategy and innovation. She has operated in multiple leadership roles as a general manager with a track record of implementing sales, digital marketing strategies across multiple brands and channels of distribution.Rao has a consistent record in building and scaling brands, channel strategies, increasing sales, managing P&L and improving profitability. She has led organizational turnaround by launching new brands and reviving latent brands by developing innovative product portfolios or original content with authentic storytelling. Rao also has a strong background in technology (R&D), brand and product development having created 200+ products across beauty and wellness and working with more than 15 brands including Strivectin, Sugarbear, Firefly and Dr. Kellyanne. Well aware that the beauty industry is crowded and confusing, Rao has now founded her own clean beauty brand, Parëva™ Beauty, and is on a mission to deliver clinically crafted™ skin longevity for extraordinary transformation.

Raelina has worked as a designer and creative since 2012 specializing in branding and illustration. Her love of early childhood education inspired her to write and illustrate her first children's book "How to Train a Chicken" in 2014. She lives and works in Northern California with her partner and enjoys developing her pottery practice when she's not behind a computer.

Paula graduated from the University of Toledo with a major in business and a minor in communications. Immediately upon graduating from college, Paula was hired by a Fortune 500 company, Owens-Illinois Corporation, Forest Products Division, where she sold corrugated packaging to manufacturers in New England. Having seen everything manufactured from cranberry juice to blue jeans, after 5 years, she decided to move back to her hometown, Toledo, OH, to pursue her real passion -- politics. Before launching her political career, Paula served as the Development Director for the United States Marines Youth Foundation, for US Major General Walter A. Churchill, a program devoted to keeping our children off drugs, alcohol, and tobacco, through the promotion of physical fitness in U.S. schools. After that, she was asked to host a political talk show, hosting a daily 3-hour program on, the number 1 rated station at that time, WSPD radio. After becoming a house-hold name through her radio program and political activism, she decided the time was right to run for public office, and ran for City Council in 1989, and then mayor of Toledo in 1991, and 1993. But getting elected was elusive for her as she is not the go-along-to-get along type. Pointing out corruption, government waste, and patronage is not a recipe for winning elections when you are going up against the entrenched political machines of both parties. Having lost the opportunity to change Toledo, and after seeing herself on TV during her campaigns, she realized that black mascara was not a good look for redheads, so she decided to change the life of redheads instead. Putting her marketing background to work with her late husband, Duane Abbajay, they set out to develop the first line of beauty products for those with red hair. After operating JFR in Toledo for several years -- Paula and her husband decided to get out of the rough and tumble world of politics in Toledo and move to beautiful Sedona, Arizona to work on the brand inspired by Sedona's amazing red rock, natural beauty. Paula now resides in Scottsdale, with her son. Just for Redheads Beauty Products is now headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona and reaches over a million redheads worldwide.

Nina S. Naidu, MD FACS is a mother, plastic surgeon, and the founder of anokha. Dr. Naidu completed her undergraduate studies at The Johns Hopkins University and obtained her medical degree from Cornell University Medical College. After completing her general surgery and plastic surgery training at New York Presbyterian – Weill Cornell Medical Center, she performed an additional year of fellowship training at the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Naidu is Board Certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and is a Clinical Assistant Professor of Surgery at Weill Cornell Medical College. She is a former member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) and American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (ASAPS), and has held leadership positions within the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (ISAPS). She has also served as an operating surgeon with humanitarian medical missions to Beirut (2016) and Ghana (2019).In 2008, Dr. Naidu founded anokha in response to patient demand for clinical-grade products without frequently harsh medical ingredients. years of independent research and study of cosmetic chemistry resulted in a luxury skincare line designed to celebrate both women and men, allowing them to feel to feel beautiful, every day. While many physicians carry their own skincare brands, Dr. Naidu is one of the very few who formulates her own products herself.Dr. Naidu maintains a busy surgical practice located on Park Avenue in New York City, where her surgery focuses on aesthetic surgery of the breast and body. She has been recognized by Castle Connelly as a Top Doctor yearly since 2008, and was recently named by Newsweek Magazine as one of the top 25 plastic surgeons in the United States for breast augmentation. Dr. Naidu's nurse offers a range of facial rejuvenation procedures which incorporate anokha into the aftercare regimens to soothe and calm the skin. Dr. Naidu's patients serve as an invaluable validation group for anokha, and continue to provide her with inspiration for new products. For more about her surgical practice, please visit naiduplasticsurgery.com .

Missy’s passion lies in creating fun, easy and unique ways for others to package their personalized gifts and sweet treats! Creator of the first cookie advent calendar designed specifically with cookie business owners in mind, and designer behind all Miss Cookie Packaging products, her shop offers both specialty packaging and digital products. Missy, the creative brain behind the biz is an award winning packaging graphic designer who took one cookie decorating class and never looked back. After two years of making decorated sugar cookies, she realized no one was making specialty packaging specifically for cookiers and the lightbulb went off - “why don’t I do it”? And so she combined everything she learned during her many years of designing packaging with her new found knowledge of making and selling cookies, to create new and exciting cookie packaging for everyone. Fast forward four years and now Missy and her husband run this small business together and are so thankful for the love and support that the cookie community shows their products!

Meghan’s love affair with clean skincare began in the woods as a child. Creating potions was always a source of connection for her leading to courses of study in skincare formulations, Deeply rooted in the wellness world as a massage therapist and yoga teacher, Meghan found herself connecting most to classes centered around the divine feminine and the power of collective energy. Thus formed her desire to draw from the natural world to create potent and efficacious products designed to celebrate the feminine, honor the beauty of aging, and the energetic connection between us all.

Meet LiaBorn from her vision, Peppertux Farms continues to grow with her approach to clean living and sustainable manufacturing. She has extensive experience across consumer electronics and automotive before finally taking the leap!'Under her supervision, Peppertux launches numerous high quality products and entered top distributors and retailers around the nation! She is the visionary behind the Peppertux brand and product selection and thrives to keep the brand on the forefront of retail innovation.

A board-certified neurologist and mother, Dr. Gupta is also known as Dr. Brain Mom. She has a degree in biochemistry and humanities from MIT, and completed her neurology residency in New York City. Dr. Gupta was inspired to create Best Nest Wellness after learning her son Ajax had Down Syndrome. She wanted to create a prenatal vitamin that was convenient to take and made with methylated vitamins, which she believed were best for a developing baby. Best Nest Wellness creates brain-supporting supplements for every life stage, including preconception, pregnancy, postnatal, childhood, and parenthood. Their supplements are designed to support neuro-development, immunity, energy, stress reduction, and sleep. 

Madelyn Valenzuela is the founder of Paradiso Skin, a botanical skincare and beauty brand that focuses on clean, consciously crafted products made with naturally-derived ingredients. With a background as a cardiac procedure specialist, Madelyn brings a unique perspective to the wellness and beauty space, having spent years in healthcare witnessing the vital importance of making healthy, intentional choices for overall well-being.Madelyn’s passion for clean beauty was sparked by her own personal frustration with toxic skincare products, which led her to create Paradiso Skin as a solution that marries her healthcare expertise with her love for self-care. She is dedicated to offering products that empower individuals to nurture their skin with pure, effective botanicals—without the harmful chemicals that can compromise our wellbeing over time.As the one-woman show behind the brand, Madelyn is deeply involved in every step of creating each new formula, ensuring every blend aligns with the brand's core values: Clean. Conscious. Botanical. Under her lead, Paradiso Skin has earned a reputation for providing eco-chic beauty solutions that deliver both results and peace of mind. She is deeply passionate about creating products that empower others to make healthy, intentional choices that nourish both their skin and spirit.Through her tireless dedication and holistic approach to beauty, Madelyn continues to drive Paradiso Skin with the goal of inspiring confidence, balance, and a beautiful, glowing life—inside and out.