In this episode of The Flexwork Podcast, we sit down with Yve-Car Momperousse, the dynamic founder and CEO of Creole Essence, the Haitian beauty brand that's reshaping the clean haircare and skincare space—one bottle of castor oil at a time.

Yve-Car shares her incredible journey, starting with a personal hair catastrophe in grad school that sent her searching for a product her mother swore by—Haitian black castor oil. That search sparked more than a beauty fix. It inspired a mission to reconnect with her heritage, build a brand rooted in ancestral knowledge, and generate real economic opportunity for women farmers in Haiti.

But as you’ll quickly learn, nothing about this journey was simple.

From teaching neighborhood kids at age 7 in Brooklyn to organizing $300K in earthquake relief efforts in Haiti, Yve-Car has always merged entrepreneurship with community impact. Her story is a raw, inspiring look at what it takes to build a business with purpose—from scratch. We get into the real startup grind, including bootstrapping the company, working out of her home garage to fulfill a 25,000-bottle Whole Foods order, and learning on the fly how to navigate supply chains, packaging, and distribution without industry connections or major capital.

What sets Creole Essence apart isn’t just what’s in the bottle—it’s what the brand stands for. Yve-Car breaks down the early days of building trust with local producers in Haiti, why she chose not to water down her brand’s identity, and how going against industry advice actually helped Creole Essence stand out in a saturated beauty market. Whether it was pushing past skepticism around the brand name, Creole Essence, or choosing to pitch on Shark Tank not as a “last resort” but as a bold move to secure working capital, her strategy has always been centered on authenticity and clarity of purpose.

We also unpack her decision to walk away from a promising career in higher education fundraising to build Creole Essence full time—and what she learned when millions in grant funding suddenly dried up. There’s a lot in here for entrepreneurs navigating uncertain terrain and looking for insights on when to pivot, when to stand firm, and how to keep going when the hype fades and the hard work remains.

Highlights from this episode include:

• The origin story of Creole Essence and how a single hair incident became a global business idea

• What it took to build an entirely new supply chain in Haiti from the ground up

• How she handled a $100K wholesale order she wasn’t prepared to fulfill

• Lessons on scaling, retail strategy, and why Whole Foods and Ulta became key to the brand’s growth

• The real story behind Creole Essence’s Shark Tank appearance and what happened afterward

• How cultural identity, science, and social entrepreneurship can thrive in one brand

Yve-Car also speaks candidly about walking the line between cultural preservation and business growth. She shares how her personal values have shaped every decision—from product formulation to marketing—and how that authenticity has helped Creole Essence become not just a beauty brand, but a movement.

If you’ve ever questioned whether there’s room in business for mission-driven models that honor culture, community, and quality, this episode is proof that there absolutely is.

To learn more about Creole Essence, visit creoleessence.com or find them in every Ulta Beauty and Whole Foodsnationwide.

Follow the journey of Yve-Car Momperousse on Instagram at @yvecar, and don’t forget to check out her stories—she’s known for keeping it real and unfiltered behind the scenes.

New episodes of The Flexwork Podcast drop regularly, featuring conversations with founders, creatives, and leaders building bold brands and redefining work on their own terms.

Subscribe, rate, and share if this episode moved you—and connect with us on our site or wherever you listen to podcasts. Your support helps us keep bringing these real, unfiltered stories to life.

Gigi Georgio never planned to go viral. A full-time high school teacher at a private Catholic school in South Jersey, Gigi spent her first real summer off exploring coffee shops, local businesses, and hidden gems across New Jersey. She started casually sharing her day-to-day on TikTok—no lofty goals, no pressure—just one post a day, focusing on quality over quantity. Within weeks, her videos were gaining traction, one even hitting 2 million views. Suddenly, what started as a way to pass the time turned into a growing platform—and a new identity as a local lifestyle creator.

In this episode of the Flexwork Podcast, we sit down with Gigi Georgio to unpack how she balances teaching seniors by day and content creating by night. We explore what it’s like building a personal brand rooted in community, consistency, and connection—all while staying true to your voice and values.

From her early career in criminal justice to discovering a passion for teaching religion, Gigi opens up about her nonlinear journey and how each chapter prepared her to show up on camera with authenticity. We get into what makes South Jersey culture so unique, how she approaches storytelling for social media, and why she believes there’s plenty of room at the table for new creators in a saturated space.

In this episode, we cover:

• The turning point that took Gigi from casual posts to full-blown content strategy

• Why TikTok still holds the most power for creators looking to grow fast

• The unexpected emotional toll of social work and why she left that path

• Building a niche around coffee, storytelling, and local exploration

• How Gigi handles brand collaborations, small business ethics, and free vs. paid content

• The role her husband Pat plays as her “camera guy” and biggest supporter

• What she’s learned from experimenting with Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok

• Why she started hosting networking events for local creators—and what it’s unlocked for her

• How she plans to grow her presence across other states and even pitch hotels for travel content

• What’s next for her growing platform, and how she’s thinking about full-time influencing in 2026

Gigi also dives into the importance of not overthinking when you're starting out. Whether you're stuck on picking the perfect Instagram handle or hesitant to launch your first post, she breaks down why taking action is more powerful than waiting for everything to be polished.

Her top advice for anyone starting their content journey? Stay consistent. Don’t chase trends. Focus on what you actually love, and your people will find you.

Key takeaways:

• Stay authentic, especially when algorithms shift

• Build a content rhythm that fits your lifestyle—not one that burns you out

• Use your niche to grow, but don’t be afraid to evolve beyond it

• Community is everything—find your circle, online and offline

• Don’t overlook storytelling. It’s your strongest asset in a crowded space

Whether you're a podcaster, content creator, or just curious about what it takes to build a lifestyle brand from scratch, this episode is full of honest insights and practical gems. Gigi’s story is a reminder that it’s possible to build something meaningful without having it all figured out first.

Enjoyed this episode? Here’s how to stay connected:

• Follow Gigi Georgio on TikTok and Instagram: @its.gigigeorgio

• Want to collaborate or feature on the show? Reach out at flexworkpodcast@gmail.com

• Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and leave a review—it helps us bring you more conversations like this

• For studio bookings, production packages, or content day rentals, visit www.flexworkstudios.com

Whether you’re sipping your third espresso of the day or brainstorming your next great idea, we’re glad you’re here. Thanks for listening to The Flexwork Podcast. See you next time.

In this episode of The Flexwork Podcast, hosted by Ludwig Araujo, we sit down with George Ianuzzi, the Country Manager of Koel Colors USA, for a deep, fascinating look into the science, psychology, and innovation behind color across industries. From automotive paints to cosmetics, food dyes to product packaging, George’s 30+ year journey through pigments and product development is anything but black and white.

George’s story begins far from the lab, with a background in music and the record industry. But his curiosity—and eventually his obsession—with the hidden mechanics of color pulled him into a world where chemistry, creativity, and commerce collide. Now, as a seasoned expert in effect pigments, color trends, and brand collaboration, George is the bridge between the artistic and the scientific.

In this conversation, we explore how color trends originate, how they scale, and how long it really takes for a pigment to land in your favorite lipstick—or on the paint job of a 2026 Lexus. George breaks down how cosmetics often lead color trends that ripple into other markets like automotive and home decor. He also shares how innovation in black pigments has transformed over the past decade, and what his patented Quantum Black pigment could mean for the future of both aesthetics and function.

We also unpack the misconceptions around color psychology. While marketers love tying emotion to colors—like red for urgency or blue for trust—George offers a much more nuanced, and evidence-based perspective that may surprise creative professionals and designers alike.

Highlights include:

• The unexpected rise of nail polish as a testing ground for color trends

• Why automotive color development takes 5–7 years—and what that means for staying on trend

• The difference between bio-based pigments and synthetic dyes, and why the food industry is struggling to keep up

• Behind-the-scenes of working with global giants like L’Oréal, Procter & Gamble, and Lexus

• How George's team uses blacklight technology and quantum physics to create pigments with functional and aesthetic purpose

• What it takes to create a “color of the year” and who really drives those decisions—Pantone or producers?

George also talks about the rigorous regulations around colorants in different regions—from cosmetics in South Korea to food dyes in the U.S.—and how navigating this evolving legal landscape has become one of the biggest challenges for innovation.

And then there’s the marketing gold: George shares the story behind the redesign of Herbal Essences shampoo, how his team helped reimagine its brand through color, and how it ties into Procter & Gamble’s "First Moment of Truth" philosophy.

Whether you’re in marketing, product design, food science, cosmetics, or just someone who’s curious about the unseen forces that shape our perception of products, this episode will change the way you see the world around you.

Want more from this conversation or have questions about color strategy, branding, or product design?
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For studio bookings, production services, or to learn more about Flexwork Studios, visit flexworkstudios.com.