Rihanna & Fenty: The Power of a Personal Brand in Business, Leadership, and Building Trust

August 8, 2025Nina KovnerPodcast

    In this episode of BUILDING & BREAKING, we take a closer look at Rihanna, not just as an artist, but as a personal brand that has redefined what it means to lead, serve, and build businesses that matter.

    We explore how Rihanna’s brand began with a purpose, to challenge the lack of representation in beauty and culture, and how that clarity shaped everything from Fenty Beauty to Savage X Fenty. This isn’t about celebrity. It’s about service, trust, and an emotional, human connection.

    You’ll also hear why I’ve decided to transition Passion Squared to a personal brand after 13 years (spoiler: I’ve resisted this for a long time), and why personal brands, when built in service to others, are becoming more powerful than ever in today’s trust economy.

    In this episode

    • The difference between personal and business brands and why both are built around who you serve
    • A breakdown of Rihanna vs. Fenty using Nina’s brand story framework
    • How to leverage your personal brand to grow your business brand
    • What the Red Lobster CEO and ELF’s Twitch strategy have to do with personal brands and leadership
    • Why your brand is not what you do, it’s how people feel when they experience your brand

    Whether you’re a hairstylist, salon owner, creative, or a pro beauty brand exec, this episode will help you rethink how your personal brand can impact your business.

    Thank you so much for listening and sharing this episode with your business besties.

    Southwest Airlines: What Happens When You Abandon What Made Your Brand Different

    July 31, 2025Nina KovnerPodcast

    In this episode of BUILDING & BREAKING, we take a closer look at how Southwest Airlines went from beloved to broken by abandoning the very promises that made them different.

    Southwest wasn’t built by analysts. It was built by Herb Kelleher, a rebellious, people-first founder who believed business and air travel could be joyful, human, and accessible.

    From the single aircraft model to the “bags fly free” benefit to the heart in their logo, everything they did reflected clarity, consistency, and care.

    But over time, the brand lost its edge. Systems aged. Culture shifted. The Southwest key differentiators disappeared. And with them, so did the trust, and also, their customers.

    In This Episode

    • How simplicity creates consistency, efficiency, and builds trust
    • How real culture is built through everyday decisions, not contrived mission statements on a wall
    • What happens when you remove the things that differentiate your brand
    • How brand identity is meant to help tell your brand story
    • How beloved brands break, not all at once, but decision by decision

    Whether you’re a salon owner, hairstylist, or beauty brand leader, this is a reminder: Your brand is a promise. And every decision either keeps it or breaks it.

      If you are a salon owner, educator, coach, or independent stylist seeking more clarity and simplifying your decision making, click here to learn more about Creating Your Awesome Brand, a complete course for beauty professionals.

      Thank you so much for listening and sharing this episode with your business besties!

      Madison Reed: Filling the Gap Between Box Color and Balayage with Clarity of Brand Story and Market Position

      July 24, 2025Nina KovnerPodcast

      In this episode of BUILDING & BREAKING, we take a closer look at how Madison Reed filled the gap between drugstore box color and major salon transformations by knowing exactly who they serve, what those clients value, and how to deliver consistency at scale. Madison Reed isn’t stealing your clients. They’re speaking directly to the consumer who values the solutions they offer.

      We explore how their simple, focused menu and product offering, Limitless Pro+ membership, and multi-channel strategy reflect a crystal-clear brand story, and why some clients will always prioritize simplicity, frequency, and comfort over complexity and transformation.

      We also examine the deeper lessons behind trust, market position, and the pandemic-era controversy around at-home color kits, because sometimes what looks like competition is an invitation to find more brand clarity, staying focused on what your clients need, and always keeping lifetime client and customer value in mind when making decisions.

      In This Episode

      • The price pyramid and Madison Reed’s middle-market position
      • Why some consumers seek simplicity, not transformation
      • The Limitless Pro+ membership and brand story alignment
      • What the salon industry can learn from pandemic color kits
      • Why losing a client isn’t always a failure, and how it is an opportunity to seek deeper understanding and clarity
      • The OPI TikTok moment and what it can teach us

      Because when your brand story is clear, you create a connection. And when you meet your clients where they are, you build trust that lasts far beyond a box or tube of color or one visit to the salon.

      If you are a salon owner, educator, coach, or independent stylist seeking more clarity and simplifying your decision making, click here to learn more about Creating Your Awesome Brand, a complete course for beauty professionals.

      Thank you so much for listening and sharing this episode with your business besties!

      e.l.f. Cosmetics: Low Price, High Value, and The Possible White Space in Pro Beauty

      July 22, 2025Nina KovnerPodcast

      In this episode of BUILDING & BREAKING, we’re diving into the brand story of e.l.f. Cosmetics, the brand proving that low price doesn’t have to mean low value.

      From launching $1 products in 2004 to becoming one of beauty’s fastest-growing brands, e.l.f. shows how clarity of brand story and market position drives trust, connection, and growth, even at the lowest price points.

      In This Episode

      • Why value, and “best”, are always in the eye of the beholder
      • How e.l.f. balances fun, creativity, and consistency without confusing their audience
      • The difference between price and perceived value, and why it matters more than ever
      • How brand story and market position shape pricing strategy for all businesses and brands, including salon owners, hairstylists, and professional beauty brands
      • The power of social listening and e.l.f.’s viral moment with Sailing with Phoenix

      Because in beauty and business, it’s never just about price. It’s about who your brand is for, what your brand stands for, and the story you’re telling.

      If you are a salon owner, educator, coach, or independent stylist seeking more clarity and simplifying your decision making, click here to learn more about Creating Your Awesome Brand, a complete course for beauty professionals.

      Thank you so much for listening and sharing this episode with your business besties!

      The Fundamentals of Brand Story and Building Trust From Costco to Taylor Swift (and Beyond)

      July 10, 2025Nina KovnerPodcast

      In this 10th episode of BUILDING & BREAKING, we’re recapping the first nine episodes by connecting the dots between Costco, Starbucks, In-N-Out, Taylor Swift, Aveda, Olaplex, Trader Joe’s, Drybar, and Target.

      From warehouse giants to pop icons, these brands might look different, but the fundamentals that build or break trust are universal.

      In this special recap episode, we’re unpacking a few of the biggest lessons that keep showing up across every brand story, and how they apply directly to salon owners, hairstylists, and pro beauty brands who want to build something that lasts.

      Because brand trust isn’t built on hype, it’s built on fundamentals: clarity, consistency, simplicity, knowing your people, and creating unforgettable experiences.

      If you’re a salon owner, independent stylist, educator, or beauty brand leader, this episode will help you spot where you’re strong and where you might need a brand tune-up.

      In This Episode

      • Why consistency builds lifetime loyalty, from $1.50 hot dogs to blowout bars
      •  How clarity of brand story keeps brands from drifting off course
      • Why simplicity is a power move for salons, stylists, and brands alike
      • How unforgettable experiences turn clients into loyal fans
      • The power of knowing exactly who your brand serves (and who it doesn’t)

      Whether you’re running a billion-dollar brand or a local hair salon, the fundamentals don’t change.

      If you are a salon owner, educator, coach, or independent stylist seeking more clarity and simplifying your decision making, click here to learn more about Creating Your Awesome Brand, a complete course for beauty professionals.

      Thank you so much for listening and sharing this episode with your business besties!