In this episode of Be Anomalous, Cici Stefanova shares her journey from growing up in Scotland to building a brand that landed in Sephora — and how the very insecurities she once tried to hide became her greatest strength.We talk about identity, feeling different, learning in public, and the quiet confidence that comes from building anyway — even when you don’t feel ready.This isn’t a highlight reel.It’s a conversation about turning self-doubt into clarity, curiosity into momentum, and difference into power.If you’ve ever felt like you didn’t quite fit — and wondered if that disqualified you — this episode will challenge that belief.What You’ll Learn • How Cici’s upbringing shaped her perspective and resilience • Why insecurity can sharpen intuition instead of weakening it • What it really takes to go from idea to Sephora • How to build confidence after you start, not before • Why being different is often an advantage🎧 New episodes every Monday and Thursday.Subscribe for honest conversations with founders, creatives, and cultural disruptors building outside the lines.Be bold. Be real. Be anomalous.

In this episode of Be Anomalous, Charlotte Trecartin— founder and CEO of CharCharms — joins me to share the real story of how she built one of the fastest-growing accessory brands in the country without funding, connections, or a roadmap.

Charlotte didn’t wait for permission. At 20 years old, during the height of the pandemic, she followed a tiny spark — a simple frustration with a hair tie and a water bottle — and turned it into an eight-figure brand now sold in Target, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Urban Outfitters, and more.

We talk about what most people don’t see: the two years she hand-made every product by herself, the discipline behind posting cringe-worthy TikToks until something hit, the emotional cost of building publicly, and the mindset it takes to act before you have certainty.

Charlotte breaks down the reality of scaling fast, being first to market in a category that didn’t exist yet, navigating early retail deals, managing money while bootstrapping, and learning how to lead a team while still becoming the person her company needs.

If you’ve ever had an idea you couldn’t shake — or felt underestimated because of your age, background, or lack of credentials — this episode will give you the push you’ve been waiting for.

This is a masterclass in audacity, momentum, and trusting yourself in the moments that matter.

Why I Started Be Anomalous — and 10 Lessons That Changed My Year

In this raw and reflective solo episode, I take you behind the creation of Be Anomalous — why it exists, who it’s for, and how it became a home for people building their lives outside the lines.

I share the real story behind living in the in-between: between cultures, between expectations, between who I was told to be and who I actually am. And how that experience led me to create a space for others who also feel different, ambitious, and deeply human.

I also break down the purpose behind each part of the Be Anomalous ecosystem — Off Script, Under the Hood, Skin Deep, and The Debrief — and how each one is designed to support you as you grow in your identity, your work, and your sense of self.

And since we’re heading into a new year, I’m sharing 10 lessons I learned from guests, books, and my own life that genuinely helped me evolve. They may sound simple, but they work — and they might be exactly what you need to hear right now.

If you’ve ever felt like you don’t fit a mold… if you’ve felt misunderstood, underestimated, or like your path doesn’t look like anyone else’s… this episode is for you.

Mitali Saxena went from being an engineer in a male-dominated industry to launching two fashion-tech companies rooted in something the industry rarely talks about: real women and real bodies. No filters. No fluff. Just smart tech, thoughtful design, and a deep “why” centered on empowerment.

In this episode, we talk about what it actually takes to leave the safe path, build from scratch, and stay soft while doing hard things. Mitali shares the unfiltered truth about fundraising as a woman in tech, what she got wrong about her first customers, and why operations (not aesthetics) almost broke her.

We discuss burnout, mindfulness, and what it means to lead with empathy, especially when the world rewards hustle over healing.

This isn’t just a founder story. It’s a reminder that your difference is your power, and you don’t need anyone’s permission to start where you are.

In this episode of Be Anomalous, Angela Ubias, beauty industry veteran and co-founder of Common Heir, joins me to talk about building with conviction, navigating identity in an industry built on perfection, and redefining what leadership looks like when you lead with values over validation.

Angela has spent over a decade behind the scenes helping shape some of the most influential beauty brands — including Native — before launching Common Heir in 2020, a clean, sustainable skincare brand that went on to be acquired by Flamingo Estate. Now, she’s the founder of Halo Haus, an agency helping purpose-driven founders build brands that actually mean something.

In this conversation, we explore what it means to stay grounded while growing fast — the realities of fundraising as a woman of color and queer founder, the lessons she learned from selling her company, and the power of leading with kindness in an industry obsessed with perfection.

If you’ve ever felt like the outsider in the room — and still chose to show up anyway — this episode is for you.

At nineteen, Troy Alexander’s life took a sharp turn: a fight landed him in prison. Two years later, he walked out changed — disciplined, faithful, and determined to rebuild from the inside out.

In this raw and revealing conversation, Troy shares how prison became the greatest pause of his life, how he learned to face himself through the mirror technique, and why he still wakes up at 4:30 a.m. to sit in the dark, pray, and write his goals as if they’ve already happened.

We talk about masculinity, vulnerability, purpose, and the mindset that turned pain into power — and how that journey led to the creation of T3603, a brand redefining what it means for men to care for themselves and lead with integrity.

If you’ve ever felt like you’re starting over, this episode reminds you that rock bottom can be the foundation for greatness.

Be bold. Be real. Be anomalous.

Nicole Harvey didn’t wait for the perfect moment to start. While working full-time in tech and traveling nonstop, she built EmpowHer — a global community where women connect through honest conversations about money, health, leadership, and purpose.

In this episode, we talk about what it really takes to build something meaningful while balancing a career, why she’s chosen to stay self-funded, and how she’s redefining success on her own terms.

If you’ve ever wondered how to grow your dream without giving up your stability — or how to keep showing up for yourself when life is full — this episode is for you.

Kara Brothers, former President of Starface, joins Be Anomalous for an unfiltered conversation about leadership, identity, and the power of finding your place when you don’t quite fit the mold.

Before leading one of the most creative, culture-defining beauty brands of our time, Kara spent years at Google, where self-doubt, misalignment, and corporate politics left her questioning her abilities and her worth. She opens up about what it felt like almost to lose her confidence — and how that experience became the foundation for her next chapter.

Kara shares how she rebuilt herself from the inside out — learning to trust her intuition, create her own lane, and lead with empathy, not ego. She talks about the realities of motherhood and ambition, the pressure to be everything to everyone, and how she finally learned to slow down without losing her edge.

We dive into:

• How self-doubt can be the doorway to self-awareness

• Rebuilding confidence after failure and misalignment

• What modern leadership looks like when you lead with honesty

• Balancing motherhood, ambition, and identity

• Why slowing down can actually move you forward

• The freedom that comes with redefining success on your own terms

Kara’s story is a masterclass in resilience and reinvention, a reminder that sometimes the most powerful thing you can do is keep showing up, even when you’re not sure where it’s all leading.

Because, as Kara says, “Life is one big experiment.”

If you’re chasing an ambition, trying to figure out what makes you happy, or just learning to trust yourself again — this episode will remind you that your difference isn’t your weakness.

It’s your direction.