Events
Beyond the Launch: Scaling Brands for the Long Term with Julissa Prado, Founder & CEO of Rizos Curls
What does it really take to scale a beauty or personal care brand without losing trust, culture, or the community that made it successful in the first place? Join us for a live session with Julissa Prado, Founder and CEO of Rizos Curls, for a candid conversation designed for early-stage consumer founders, especially those building in beauty and personal care.
Date
Thursday, February 12, 2026, 4:00 PM EST
URL
Register NowRSVP HERE - REQUIRED TO ATTEND
What does it really take to scale a beauty or personal care brand without losing trust, culture, or the community that made it successful in the first place?
Join us for a live session with Julissa Prado, Founder and CEO of Rizos Curls, for a candid conversation designed for early-stage consumer founders, especially those building in beauty and personal care.
Rizos Curls is often referenced as a standout example of values-led, community-driven growth. Built from Julissa’s own lived experience and a deep understanding of an underserved customer, the brand scaled by prioritizing education, trust, and representation long before those became industry buzzwords.
In this conversation, we’ll explore:
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What founders should focus on when evolving from scrappy startup to scaled brand
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When to bootstrap vs when to fundraise
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How to build a beauty brand with your community, not just market to it
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The realities of scaling through the “messy middle” without overextending or diluting your values
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Navigating DTC and retail growth while staying close to your customer
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Lessons from building in a crowded category
This session is especially relevant for founders thinking about long-term brand building. This is for those founders who are balancing growth, capital decisions, retail expansion, and staying true to the customer who got them here.
ABOUT THE GUEST
Julissa Prado is the Founder and CEO of Rizos Curls, a curly haircare brand known for its loyal community, inclusive approach, and strong omnichannel presence. What began as a solution to Julissa’s own unmet haircare needs grew into a nationally recognized beauty brand rooted in education, authenticity, and representation.
As a founder, Julissa has remained deeply hands-on across brand vision, product development, community engagement, and leadership, guiding Rizos Curls through growth while maintaining the values that define the brand. Her journey is frequently cited as a blueprint for building beauty brands that last by leading with trust, not hype.
Jan
20
Inside the Buyer’s Mind: Building for Retail Success with Nordstrom’s Denise Junell Johnson
Tuesday, January 20, 2026, 1:30 PM EST
Join us for a live interview with Denise Junell Johnson, Vice President and Divisional Merchandise Manager for Handbags, Jewelry & Watches at Nordstrom, as she shares insider insights from two decades shaping some of the most coveted categories in retail.
Feb
19
[FOM] Founder Vision In-Focus with Robyn Ward
Thursday, February 19, 2026, 1:00 PM EST
The strongest consumer brands aren’t just built on great products — they’re built on founders with clarity. In this masterclass, Robyn Ward will guide you through the foundational inner architecture every early-stage founder needs to scale with intention: a defined vision, aligned values, and a grounded understanding of your role as the leader of the company.
Feb
24
[FOM] The Data Behind Desire: Building KPIs That Drive Growth with Sapna Shah
Tuesday, February 24, 2026, 1:30 PM EST
Successful consumer founders know how to read the signals that matter (and ignore the ones that don't). In this session, investor and retail expert Sapna Shah will help you cut through the noise of early data and build the KPI foundation that reveals what your customers want, and what will drive your sustainable growth.
Mar
12
[FOM] Financial Foundations: Pricing, Margins & Inventory Management with Erica Moore
Thursday, March 12, 2026, 2:30 PM EDT
Behind every scalable consumer brand is a founder who understands their numbers. In this masterclass, finance leader Erica Moore will help you build the financial systems and confidence required to manage cash, price for profitability, and plan inventory to support real, sustainable growth.
Mar
19
[FOM] Growth & Distribution: Go-To-Market Strategy with Reshma Chattaram Chamberlin
Thursday, March 19, 2026, 2:00 PM EDT
Scaling a consumer brand requires more than demand — it requires a smart, intentional approach to distribution. In this session, Summersalt Co-Founder Reshma Chamberlin will teach you what it truly takes to enter retail, scale omnichannel, and build a Go-to-Market strategy that drives long-term success.
