Our host Ren Akinci sat down with Tatyana Jones, Founder and CEO of DEFI Snacks, a multi-award-winning brand challenging the $27 billion chocolate category with high-protein, superfood-infused bites rooted in her Ukrainian heritage. A former Mars Wrigley brand manager, Tatyana, shares what it really takes to build a brand from scratch; navigating the risks of first-time founding, defining an identity in a crowded market, and staying true to a mission that gives back to women-owned businesses.

When Kate Isichei's children were diagnosed with Autism and ADHD, it didn't just change her family — it transformed her career. Now, as Founder of Where to Look Communications and as Neuroinclusion Navigator, Kate helps organizations rethink how they hire, communicate, and lead. In this episode of Great Minds: People & Culture, she joins Ren Akinci for a candid conversation about what companies are getting wrong and what small shifts can make a big difference for neurodivergent employees.

Kimberle Lau didn't set out to become a food founder, but a health crisis changed everything. From beauty executive to CEO of Bake Me Healthy, she built a women- and Asian-owned brand from the ground up while raising a family and navigating the unique hurdles that come with it. In this episode of Great Minds: People & Culture, she sits down with Ren Akinci to talk business, identity, and the lessons she's passing on to her kids.