Above The Fold

This week on Above the Fold, I sat down with Daniel Schwarz, founder of Chuza, to talk about what it actually takes to build a spicy Latin snack brand from the ground up. We get into Daniel’s journey from tequila and spirits brand management to entrepreneurship, why having skin in the game matters, and how Chuza was built with one hundred percent Mexican spices and zero artificial ingredients. Daniel shares how growing up in Monterrey shaped the flavors behind the brand, why representation on the shelf matters, and how early customer feedback influenced product decisions. We also talk about launching during the pandemic, getting into stores through persistence and cold outreach, and what he learned from participating in the PepsiCo Greenhouse Accelerator. If you are building a consumer brand, thinking about product development, or curious how culture and flavor translate into scalable business, this episode is packed with insight you can actually use.📲 Follow Daniel:LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/daniel-schwarz-2b882943📲 Check out Chuza:Website: chuza.com👋 Enjoying Above the Fold?Keep the insights coming by subscribing to my newsletter, Sunday Postcards. Each week, I share tips, stories, and strategies that help you unlock the secrets to brand success. Written from my experience in the marketing world, it’s your go-to source for staying ahead of the curve. Subscribe at www.sundaypostcards.co and join the community!Connect with Jess on:LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jess-cervellonTwitter: x.com/jesscervellonInstagram: instagram.com/jess.cervellon

This week, I sat down with Aniesha Jones to talk about what customer experience actually looks like when empathy, data, and revenue are all in the same room. We get into her unconventional path from opera and vocal performance to leading high-growth CX and retention teams, and why creativity is one of the most overlooked skills in business today.We cover CX leadership, retention strategy, the real ROI of empathy, and why CX deserves a seat at the executive table instead of being treated like a cost center. Aniesha breaks down how data and storytelling work together, how DEI should inform experience design from day one, and why loyalty is built through belonging, not discounts.If you’re a CX leader, founder, marketer, or operator trying to build experiences that customers actually remember, this episode is packed with insight you can use immediately. Listen now for a grounded, honest take on empathy, retention, and what sustainable growth really looks like in ecommerce today.📲 Follow Aniesha:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anieshajones/👋 Enjoying Above the Fold?Keep the insights coming by subscribing to my newsletter, Sunday Postcards. Each week, I share tips, stories, and strategies that help you unlock the secrets to brand success. Written from my experience in the marketing world, it’s your go-to source for staying ahead of the curve. Subscribe at www.sundaypostcards.co and join the community!Connect with Jess on:LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jess-cervellonTwitter: x.com/jesscervellonInstagram: instagram.com/jess.cervellon

This week, I sat down with the operations queen herself, Hattie Gilpin, to talk about what it really takes to keep subscribers around in one of the most competitive categories out there. If you’ve ever wondered why customers churn, what actually drives operational success, or how brands can earn long-term trust without leaning on discounts, this episode is for you.We cover subscription retention, billing cycle psychology, customer experience, and why the unsexy parts of operations matter just as much as great marketing. Hattie breaks down everything from time-to-churn analysis to warehouse partnerships, plus the real story behind HAM — the analytics platform built specifically for subscription operators who are tired of messy spreadsheets and bad data.If you’re running a subscription brand, leading a CX or ops team, or trying to understand why customers cancel in the first place, this episode is packed with actionable insights you can actually use.Listen now for tactical advice on retention, subscription analytics, operational excellence, and why great customer experience is built long before a support ticket ever gets opened.📲 Follow Hattie: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/harriet-gilpin/📲 Check out Wellbel: https://www.wellbel.com/👋 Enjoying Above the Fold? Keep the insights coming by subscribing to my newsletter, Sunday Postcards. Each week, I share tips, stories, and strategies that help you unlock the secrets to brand success. Written from my experience in the marketing world, it’s your go-to source for staying ahead of the curve. Subscribe at www.sundaypostcards.co and join the community!Connect with Jess on:LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jess-cervellonTwitter: x.com/jesscervellonInstagram: instagram.com/jess.cervellon

This week, I sat down with Alex Ferzan, co-founder of Manojo Mezcal and founder of ZADDY, creative agitator, and the definition of a career shapeshifter, from the late-90s punk scene to managing bands, to building culture-shifting brands that go way beyond hype.We get into the real story behind how someone who once toured with hardcore bands ended up helping create some of the most irreverent, unforgettable brand voices in the last decade. Alex breaks down the chaos, luck, timing, and intuition behind building businesses that actually hit, including the wild early days of BABE Wine and what it really takes to create a brand with momentum (hint: it’s not perfection, it’s punk energy).We talk scrappiness, culture-making, why marketing is “bullshit” but also the whole game, and how to know when you’ve hit that strategic moment where a brand is ready for its next level. Plus, Alex shares the story behind Manojo Mezcal; from Oaxacan lore to thoughtful design decisions, to partnering with world-renowned chef Enrique Olvera to build something that stays true to place, people, and craft.If you're building a brand, dreaming about your next product, or trying to figure out how the hell to make noise in a crowded space, this episode is stacked with insight you can actually apply.Tune in for stories about creative risk, real brand building, entrepreneurship that doesn’t look like a LinkedIn post, and why the best ideas usually start with a little chaos.📲 Follow Alex:Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexanderferzan/📲 Check out Manojo Mezcal:Website: https://manojomezcal.com/📲 Check out ZADDY:Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/zaddy-llc/Website: https://www.zaddy.net/👋 Enjoying Above the Fold?Keep the insights coming by subscribing to my newsletter, Sunday Postcards. Each week, I share tips, stories, and strategies that help you unlock the secrets to brand success. Written from my experience in the marketing world, it’s your go-to source for staying ahead of the curve. Subscribe at www.sundaypostcards.co and join the community!Connect with Jess on:LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jess-cervellonTwitter: x.com/jesscervellonInstagram: instagram.com/jess.cervellon

This week, I sat down with Patrick Coyne, founder and chief executive of Laoban Dumplings, for a conversation that reminds you why some brands just hit differently. From teaching English in China to running dumpling shops in D.C. to building one of the most exciting frozen food brands in the country, Patrick’s journey is proof that authenticity travels, even into the freezer aisle.We get into how Laoban went from brick and mortar to CPG during the pandemic, with Patrick and his team hand-packing dumplings and delivering them to local stores, often with the brand’s mascot, Rollie the Chief Dough Officer, riding shotgun and controlling the music.Patrick breaks down his philosophy on hospitality and why frozen food deserves the same level of care as a restaurant experience. From packaging and cooking instructions to emotional branding and clarity of communication, every detail is intentional. He also shares how the team uses kids’ reactions to Rollie, retailer feedback, and product testing to shape the future of the brand.We talked about the whitespace in frozen Asian food, why the category has not evolved in decades, and how Laoban plans to change that with items like scallion pancakes, Taiwanese popcorn chicken, bao, and of course dumplings. Patrick also opens up about hard decisions, like pulling a product launch from Whole Foods until it met their standards — a choice that led to an even stronger partnership and their successful bao rollout.If you love brand building, hospitality, food culture, or founder stories that do not take themselves too seriously, this episode is full of heart, honesty, and plenty of Rollie energy.📲 Follow Patrick:Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/j-patrick-coyne/📲 Check out Laoban:Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/laoban-dumplings/Website: https://laobandumplings.com/👋 Enjoying Above the Fold?Keep the insights coming by subscribing to my newsletter, Sunday Postcards. Each week, I share tips, stories, and strategies that help you unlock the secrets to brand success. Written from my experience in the marketing world, it’s your go-to source for staying ahead of the curve. Subscribe at www.sundaypostcards.co and join the community!Connect with Jess on:LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jess-cervellonTwitter: x.com/jesscervellonInstagram: instagram.com/jess.cervellon