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Maureen Mwangi is the Founder and CEO of Startward Consulting, a growth firm for product brands, and the Host of The Product Entrepreneur Podcast. Maureen is a storied brand growth strategist who has worked with some of America's most lovable brands like L'Oreal, Dove, Lay's, and Chobani. She is the Creator of Big Brand Academy and the Product Profit Lab, where she shares her expertise with product-based entrepreneurs.
Maureen's zone of genius is a rare ability to connect with the market and turn real data into brand growth strategies that drive multimillion-dollar growth. She also gives back through her nonprofit organization, the Taji Foundation, which supports boys in Kenya to get the education they need to lift their families out of poverty and build generational wealth.
Maureen Mwangi's background and how she got started in brand management
The projects Maureen worked on at Nielsen and what she learned from them
Maureen talks about the challenges she faced entering the CPG industry and explains how she handled the entrepreneurial itch while working in the corporate world
What Maureen learned from working with Chobani and how she helps emerging brands handle distribution for optimal growth
Maureen's thoughts on the growth of e-commerce and the future of emerging brands
How changing consumer behavior affects brand building
Are there more opportunities for emerging brands now than there were five years ago?
Maureen talks about building a team, the brands she wants to work with, and her future plans
Maureen's advice to fellow entrepreneurs and her reasons for starting the Taji Foundation
Where to learn more about Maureen and her businesses
At a young age, Maureen Mwangi found out that the secret to her parent's successful business was their good reputation, well-made products, and trustworthy brand. While others in the industry were taking shortcuts, her parents focused on building a great reputation. This gave them a lot of financial freedom, success, and access to more opportunities.
Over the years, changes in consumer behavior have meant that people are more deliberate about what they buy and consume. They want to support businesses that are authentic, credible, and in it for more than the money. As a result, brand and reputation management has become essential.
In this episode of the NexxtLevel Brands Podcast, Steve Cleere is joined by Maureen Mwangi, the Founder and CEO of Startward Consulting, to talk about building a reputable and credible CPG brand. Maureen explains how her parents influenced her career in brand management, talks about the challenges of joining the CPG industry, and explains how she helps emerging brands handle distribution. Stay tuned.
Maureen Mwangi's email: [email protected]
"Expanding Your Marketing Team with Beyond Broth" with Grace Ventura and Sarah Bird
Grace's Goodness Organics (formerly Beyond Broth)
Our podcast today is sponsored by Kitchen2Shelf, the educational arm of NexxtLevel Brands. Kitchen-2-Shelf provides online and in-person courses and workshops for CPG entrepreneurs at any stage of growth.
Whether you're an early-stage startup, a local growing business, or if you want to just expand your distribution to a national level, Kitchen-2-Shelf can help you learn what you need to know to grow.
Visit their website to get access to some free tools that can help you understand where your business stands.
Contact them today to find out how they can help you grow your brand and expand your business to reach its full potential.
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