Brunch & Learn Podcast

Meet Ali:

Ali Bonar is CEO and co-founder of Oat Haus, a food company on a mission to bring fun & play back to food. Their flagship product, Granola Butter, is the world's first oat-based spread and was born out of Ali's eating disorder recovery. Oat Haus is available at over 1,200 stores, including Whole Foods, Sprouts, Harris Teeter, The Fresh Market & more. Ali lives in Philadelphia with her partner Eric and their dog, Squishy.

Website: https://oat.haus
Oat Haus Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oat.haus
Ali Bronar: https://www.instagram.com/alibonar

What You'll Learn in this Episode:

•  Oat Haus was born out of Ali's eating disorder recovery. Ali shares with us her eating disorder recovery and journey.
• Where and how does someone get started in building a CPG company.
• Great branding and storytelling on social media, what branding tips and advice.
• Starting a business with your partner. How to work together and prioritize business vs. relationship?
• Ali's egg freezing journey.
• Stepping into your power and people pleasing.

About Us - Women Who Brunch:

Women Who Brunch is a food community and event series for women who love connecting, networking, and learning from each other over the most important meal of the week...BRUNCH!

We're solving the problem of making adult friendships while doing cool stuff in the Hudson Vally, NY.

Visit our website for updates on events, recipes, brunch spots, product reviews, and more or say hi on Instagram!

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/womenwhobrunch
Website: https://womenwhobrunch.com

Meet Ali:

Ali Bonar is CEO and co-founder of Oat Haus, a food company on a mission to bring fun & play back to food. Their flagship product, Granola Butter, is the world's first oat-based spread and was born out of Ali's eating disorder recovery. Oat Haus is available at over 1,200 stores, including Whole Foods, Sprouts, Harris Teeter, The Fresh Market & more. Ali lives in Philadelphia with her partner Eric and their dog, Squishy.

Website: https://oat.haus
Oat Haus Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oat.haus
Ali Bronar: https://www.instagram.com/alibonar

What You'll Learn in this Episode:

•  Oat Haus was born out of Ali's eating disorder recovery. Ali shares with us her eating disorder recovery and journey.
• Where and how does someone get started in building a CPG company.
• Great branding and storytelling on social media, what branding tips and advice.
• Starting a business with your partner. How to work together and prioritize business vs. relationship?
• Ali's egg freezing journey.
• Stepping into your power and people pleasing.

About Us - Women Who Brunch:

Women Who Brunch is a community for women who love connecting, networking, and learning from each other over the most important meal of the week...BRUNCH!

Visit our website for updates on events, recipes, brunch spots, product reviews and more or say hi on Instagram!

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/womenwhobrunch
Website: https://womenwhobrunch.com

Meet Marissa:

Marissa kickstarted her professional career in 2012 gaining invaluable sales and marketing experience within a large corporation. She enjoyed the structure that corporate-life offered, but ultimately made the decision to transition over to a small agency focused in event design and production and immediately felt at home. After spending close to 5 years managing and growing teams, nurturing existing relationships, fostering new partnerships, and overseeing executive level operations the pandemic brought the industry that she loved to an immediate standstill. She wasn’t ready to give up on the industry that fed her passion for creativity and connection. After a year of event cancellations her partner asked her “Well, what do you really want to do?”. She simply responded with “I just want to do cool sh*t and have a good time". And with that, Marissa launched Good Time Creative in January of 2021.

Good Time Creative is a female-owned creative design and production agency. GTC is operated by fearless creatives who have a specialized expertise in the live event industry. We thrive on creativity and push the boundaries of experiential development.


Website:  https://www.goodtimecreative.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/goodtimecreativeco
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GoodTimeCreativeCo
Twitter: https://twitter.com/goodtmcreative
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/goodtimecreative_co


What You'll Learn in this Episode:

• Best event planning or time management tips especially when it comes to staying organized and getting everything done with trade shows.
• Some things she's seen whether it's clients she works with or on the trade show floor to get the most out of ExpoWest, Specialty Food Association - Fancy Food Shows, Sweets & Snacks Expo, or any food trade shows
• What you can expect from some of her 11 clients exhibiting at ExpoWest this year. 
• What makes a good event strategy and ROI tips.
• Planning/goals/tips for a brand to focus on pre-show, during, post show
• Brand activations, pop-ups come back post-pandemic.
• How she nurtures professional and self development; either with new skill sets or keeping up the event industry trends.

About Us - Women Who Brunch:

Women Who Brunch is a food community and event series for women who love connecting, networking, and learning from each other over the most important meal of the week...BRUNCH!

We're solving the problem of making adult friendships while doing cool stuff in the Hudson Vally, NY.

Visit our website for updates on events, recipes, brunch spots, product reviews, and more or say hi on Instagram!

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/womenwhobrunch
Website: https://womenwhobrunch.com

Meet Marissa:

Marissa kickstarted her professional career in 2012 gaining invaluable sales and marketing experience within a large corporation. She enjoyed the structure that corporate-life offered, but ultimately made the decision to transition over to a small agency focused in event design and production and immediately felt at home. After spending close to 5 years managing and growing teams, nurturing existing relationships, fostering new partnerships, and overseeing executive level operations the pandemic brought the industry that she loved to an immediate standstill. She wasn’t ready to give up on the industry that fed her passion for creativity and connection. After a year of event cancellations her partner asked her “Well, what do you really want to do?”. She simply responded with “I just want to do cool sh*t and have a good time". And with that, Marissa launched Good Time Creative in January of 2021.

Good Time Creative is a female-owned creative design and production agency. GTC is operated by fearless creatives who have a specialized expertise in the live event industry. We thrive on creativity and push the boundaries of experiential development.


Website:  https://www.goodtimecreative.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/goodtimecreativeco
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GoodTimeCreativeCo
Twitter: https://twitter.com/goodtmcreative
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/goodtimecreative_co


What You'll Learn in this Episode:

• Best event planning or time management tips especially when it comes to staying organized and getting everything done with trade shows.
• Some things she's seen whether it's clients she works with or on the trade show floor to get the most out of ExpoWest, Specialty Food Association - Fancy Food Shows, Sweets & Snacks Expo, or any food trade shows
• What you can expect from some of her 11 clients exhibiting at ExpoWest this year. 
• What makes a good event strategy and ROI tips.
• Planning/goals/tips for a brand to focus on pre-show, during, post show
• Brand activations, pop-ups come back post-pandemic.
• How she nurtures professional and self development; either with new skill sets or keeping up the event industry trends.

About Us - Women Who Brunch:

Women Who Brunch is a community for women who love connecting, networking, and learning from each other over the most important meal of the week...BRUNCH!

Visit our website for updates on events, recipes, brunch spots, product reviews and more or say hi on Instagram!

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/womenwhobrunch
Website: https://womenwhobrunch.com

Meet Leesa:
Leesa works as a commercial photographer and creative thought partner for natural food brands, hospitality groups, and wellness publications.

Website:  https://leesarenae.com
Instagram: instagram.com/itsleesa__
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/leesarenae

What You'll Learn in this Episode:

• How her background and studies in nutrition play a role in what she's doing now with photography.
• What advice she has for finding or creating an alternate career path.
• How she has built and made an impact in the natural foods industry.
• How  someone can get started if interested in food photography and videography. What tips she has - resources, books, equipment/set up.

About Us - Women Who Brunch:

Women Who Brunch is a community for women who love connecting, networking, and learning from each other over the most important meal of the week...BRUNCH!

Visit our website for updates on events, recipes, brunch spots, product reviews and more or say hi on Instagram!

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/womenwhobrunch
Website: https://womenwhobrunch.com

Meet Leesa:
Leesa works as a commercial photographer and creative thought partner for natural food brands, hospitality groups, and wellness publications.

Website:  https://leesarenae.com
Instagram: instagram.com/itsleesa__
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/leesarenae

What You'll Learn in this Episode:

• How her background and studies in nutrition play a role in what she's doing now with photography.
• What advice she has for finding or creating an alternate career path.
• How she has built and made an impact in the natural foods industry.
• How  someone can get started if interested in food photography and videography. What tips she has - resources, books, equipment/set up.

About Us - Women Who Brunch:

Women Who Brunch is a food community and event series for women who love connecting, networking, and learning from each other over the most important meal of the week...BRUNCH!

We're solving the problem of making adult friendships while doing cool stuff in the Hudson Vally, NY.

Visit our website for updates on events, recipes, brunch spots, product reviews, and more or say hi on Instagram!

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/womenwhobrunch
Website: https://womenwhobrunch.com

Meet Megan:

Megan O'Brien is the Founder & CEO of Arch Insights, a market research company helping startups and small businesses better understand their consumer bases. Prior to Arch, Megan attended Harvard Business school, was the Business Operations & Strategy Lead for Flamingo (Harry's Inc.), and was a consultant at Bain & Company.

Website: https://www.archinsights.co
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/arch_insights

What You'll Learn in this Episode:

• What interested her the most about consumer insights and getting into this industry. 
• Some interesting consumer data, trends, or insights she's come across recently.
• How she approaches concept, messaging, branding, and package testing with a client and more about that process.
• Stories, case studies, or client wins in taking consumer insights and turning it into result based solutions for their business.
• Chicago brunch recommendations!

About Us - Women Who Brunch:

Women Who Brunch is a community for women who love connecting, networking, and learning from each other over the most important meal of the week...BRUNCH!

Visit our website for updates on events, recipes, brunch spots, product reviews and more or say hi on Instagram!

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/womenwhobrunch
Website: https://womenwhobrunch.com

Meet Megan:

Megan O'Brien is the Founder & CEO of Arch Insights, a market research company helping startups and small businesses better understand their consumer bases. Prior to Arch, Megan attended Harvard Business school, was the Business Operations & Strategy Lead for Flamingo (Harry's Inc.), and was a consultant at Bain & Company.

Website: https://www.archinsights.co
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/arch_insights

What You'll Learn in this Episode:

• What interested her the most about consumer insights and getting into this industry. 
• Some interesting consumer data, trends, or insights she's come across recently.
• How she approaches concept, messaging, branding, and package testing with a client and more about that process.
• Stories, case studies, or client wins in taking consumer insights and turning it into result based solutions for their business.
• Chicago brunch recommendations!

About Us - Women Who Brunch:

Women Who Brunch is a food community and event series for women who love connecting, networking, and learning from each other over the most important meal of the week...BRUNCH!

We're solving the problem of making adult friendships while doing cool stuff in the Hudson Vally, NY.

Visit our website for updates on events, recipes, brunch spots, product reviews, and more or say hi on Instagram!

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/womenwhobrunch
Website: https://womenwhobrunch.com

Meet Jamie:

Jamie's Farm is an award-winning granola company based in New York, crafting creative flavors baked with thoughtfully sourced ingredients. I initially started the business in college as a passion project in 2017, then turned it into a full-time business. Prior to that, I worked in the hospitality industry interning at a 3 Michelin star restaurant as a high school student. I've always enjoyed cooking and bringing people together at the table, and found that granola was a great way to connect with more people through food.

What You'll Learn In This Episode:

• Jamie's growth journey and building the company from a hobby to full-time business.
• What she learned out of her experience in a Michelin star restaurant out of high school.
• Working as a solopreneur and how she's bootstrapped the business. 
• How she approaches partnerships with some of granola flavors like Dona and Truffleist.
• Creative culinary process in creating new flavors or sourcing ingredients.
• Defining what success means and how she's balancing work and life, and taking care of herself.
• Small Batch Club!

Website: https://www.jamies-farm.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jamiesfarmnewyork

About Us - Women Who Brunch:

Women Who Brunch is a food community and event series for women who love connecting, networking, and learning from each other over the most important meal of the week...BRUNCH!

We're solving the problem of making adult friendships while doing cool stuff in the Hudson Vally, NY.

Visit our website for updates on events, recipes, brunch spots, product reviews, and more or say hi on Instagram!

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/womenwhobrunch
Website: https://womenwhobrunch.com

Meet Jamie:

Jamie's Farm is an award-winning granola company based in New York, crafting creative flavors baked with thoughtfully sourced ingredients. I initially started the business in college as a passion project in 2017, then turned it into a full-time business. Prior to that, I worked in the hospitality industry interning at a 3 Michelin star restaurant as a high school student. I've always enjoyed cooking and bringing people together at the table, and found that granola was a great way to connect with more people through food.

What You'll Learn In This Episode:

• Jamie's growth journey and building the company from a hobby to full-time business.
• What she learned out of her experience in a Michelin star restaurant out of high school.
• Working as a solopreneur and how she's bootstrapped the business. 
• How she approaches partnerships with some of granola flavors like Dona and Truffleist.
• Creative culinary process in creating new flavors or sourcing ingredients.
• Defining what success means and how she's balancing work and life, and taking care of herself.
• Small Batch Club!

Website: https://www.jamies-farm.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jamiesfarmnewyork

About Us - Women Who Brunch:

Women Who Brunch is a community for women who love connecting, networking, and learning from each other over the most important meal of the week...BRUNCH!

Visit our website for updates on events, recipes, brunch spots, product reviews and more or say hi on Instagram!

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/womenwhobrunch
Website: https://womenwhobrunch.com