Field Notes: Build a Personal Board of Advisors✏️

Ever since I first heard the idea of a “personal board of advisors,” from Scott Galloway, it’s changed the way that I cultivate relationships and ask for advice. This is a concept I think about quite often. We’ve all been told to find mentors, and mentors are great. But what’s even better is a whole damn board.

This personal “board” should be a hand-picked group of people who can guide you in different areas of your career, business, and life. Here’s the catch: Your board shouldn’t just be made up of people who think you’re amazing. You need a mix. Someone who challenges you, someone who’s two steps ahead of where you want to be, someone who can introduce you to the right rooms, and (yes) someone who will call you out when you’re playing small. Too many women seek out mentors who make them feel supported instead of ones who actually push them forward. The right “board” will force you to make decisions faster, think bigger, and stop second-guessing yourself.

CEOs have boards—you’re the CEO of your life, so why shouldn’t you have one too? x Sammi

Business, Economy & Culture🛍️📈💸

Slow Ventures Raises a $60 Million Seed Fund for Creators The $60 million fund is the first of its kind- it will focus on creators who've become authorities on niche areas, such as automotive or gardening, rather than on celebrities or athletes. They’re looking for the “people with the sort of DNA who'd be going into Y Combinator if they weren't doing this," says Slow investor Megan Lightcap. 💡📈 (axios)

Duolingo ‘Killed Off’ Its Mascot Duolingo’s owl mascot is dead. But even so, I have a strong feeling that Duo will magically rise from the ashes in a few weeks for another PR stunt. The company is known for their unconventional marketing moves (to say the least). To me, the most interesting part about this was the way that the rest of the business marketing world reacted. My favorite response was from the World Health Organization ❤️‍🩹 (nbc):

Coke’s $7 Billion Bet on Milk Hits Big, But Wall Street Wants More Coca-Cola’s $7 billion investment in dairy, particularly its Fairlife brand, has proven to be a major success, with sales surging thanks to consumer demand for high-protein, less sugar, and lactose-free milk products. 🐄🥤 When Coke crafted the deal, there were performance-based payouts baked in, and the initial estimates of these payouts were ~$320 million. Now, the payout will be closer to $6 billion. (bloomberg)

Netflix is Eyeing Video Podcasts As It Warms Up to Creator Content Netflix is exploring video podcasts to tap into the creator economy, following the footsteps of YouTube and Spotify. 🎧📹 This move signals a broader strategy to engage audiences beyond TV and films. (business insider)

Prenuvo Adds New Health Tests to Flagship Full-Body Scan, Raises $120 Million in Fresh Funding Prenuvo, known for its advanced full-body scans, is adding new health tests after securing fresh funding. 💰🔬 The expansion aims to make early disease detection more accessible. I recently covered the $260 million raise of Neko, which happens to be co-founded by the CEO of Spotify, that is operating in a similar space. (cnbc)

Why Energizer and Duracell Are Ditching Plastic Packaging Battery giants Energizer and Duracell are making a major sustainability shift by ditching plastic in favor of recyclable, paper-based packaging ♻️🌍. This move aligns with increasing consumer demand for eco-friendly products and helps reduce environmental waste from traditional plastic blister packs. (modern retail)

US Private School Tuition Nears $50,000 as Inflation Lifts Costs Private school tuition in the U.S. is skyrocketing, nearing $50,000 a year due to rising operational costs. 💸📚 Parents are feeling the pinch as elite education becomes even more expensive. (bloomberg)

How to Get Into — And Stay In — Sephora Breaking into Sephora’s shelves is tough, but staying there is even harder as the surge of indie brands and consumers' constant craving for novelty have tightened acceptance criteria while straining retailers' resources for support and growth 💄🔥 Brands must master supply chains efficiency, marketing, and customer engagement to succeed in beauty retail. (bof)

Allbirds Makes Zero-Carbon Shoe Available to the Public Allbirds finally launched their zero-carbon sneaker: the M0.0NSHOT Zero. This move is an attempt to bring Allbirds’ eco-friendly origins front and center. But in my humble opinion, they look like socks, so it’s a no for me.🌱👞 (retail dive)

Venus et Fleur Aims to Win Valentine's Day with New $5,000 Arrangement and Splashier Offerings Luxury floral brand Venus et Fleur is pulling out all the stops for Valentine’s Day 💖💐, offering a $5,000 bouquet alongside bold new designs. With extravagant arrangements and premium offerings, the brand aims to capture the hearts (and wallets) of luxury shoppers looking to make a grand romantic gesture. For Venus et Fleur, Valentine’s Day is the Super Bowl of sales .💐(modern retail)

An Ankle Monitor? No, That’s My Apple Watch. Apple Watches are increasingly mistaken for ankle monitors, sparking hilarious encounters. 😂🔗 As a growing number of consumers are repositioning their watches for comfier fitness tracking, the trend highlights how wearable tech is evolving—and sometimes confusing. (nyt)

How Brunello Cucinelli Got Into the Wine Business Luxury fashion designer Brunello Cucinelli is expanding beyond cashmere into fine wine. 🏰🍇 His Italian heritage and craftsmanship are now reflected in high-end vineyard offerings rooted in ‘higher purpose. (bof)  

Taco Bell Launches Las Vegas-Themed Wedding Package with Elvis Impersonator and Hot Sauce Bouquet for $777 Taco Bell is heating up wedding season with a $777 Las Vegas wedding package 🌮🔥. The all-inclusive deal features a ceremony at the brand’s Vegas Cantina, an Elvis impersonator officiant, custom merchandise, and a bouquet made of Taco Bell hot sauce packets! 🌶️💒 It’s a bold marketing move tapping into both brand loyalty and the growing trend of unconventional weddings. (people)

Adobe’s Sora-Rivaling AI Video Generator is Now Available for Everyone Adobe has unveiled its answer to OpenAI’s Sora—an AI-powered video generator. 🤖🎬 The tool promises to revolutionize content creation with ultra-realistic visuals (the verge)

Temu Overhauls Supply Chain After Tariffs, Risking Price Hikes E-commerce giant Temu is restructuring its supply chain in response to new tariffs, which could lead to higher prices. 📈💰 Budget-friendly online shopping just got trickier. (bloomberg)

Coach, Ralph Lauren Hit the Right Price for Affordable Luxury Coach and Ralph Lauren have mastered the balance between luxury and affordability. 💎💵 By strategically pricing their products, they’re attracting aspirational shoppers looking for premium quality without breaking the bank. Coach’s revenue was up 10% year over year last quarter. (wsj)

Concept of the Week: The Pratfall Effect 🧠

The pratfall effect is a psychological phenomenon that describes how people may perceive someone as more likable after they make a mistake. This effect is more likely to occur when the person is already considered competent. 

A great example of the Pratfall Effect in action is KFC’s 2018 chicken shortage crisis in the UK. When supply chain issues left hundreds of restaurants without chicken, instead of making excuses, KFC owned up to the blunder with humor. They ran a bold ad featuring an empty bucket with the brand’s letters rearranged to “FCK”, apologizing in a lighthearted yet sincere way.

This approach turned a PR disaster into a marketing win—customers appreciated the honesty, and the playful response helped maintain brand loyalty while reinforcing KFC’s personality.

Venture Capital, Innovation & Entrepreneurship💰🌍💼

Olipop Valued at $1.85 Billion in $50 Million Funding Round The trendy soda brand Olipop is now valued at $1.85 billion after securing a fresh $50 million investment. 🍹💰 The gut-friendly soda company continues to thrive as demand for health-conscious beverages skyrockets. (bloomberg)

🎀Inside the Very Pink, Very Lucrative Phenomenon of LoveShackFancy The ultra-feminine brand LoveShackFancy has built a booming lifestyle empire, selling everything from frilly dresses to home decor. 💕💰 With a devoted fanbase and a signature aesthetic, it's turning nostalgia into big business. (wsj)

As GLP-1s Boom, Dietician Startups Berry Street, Fay each Nab $50M Rounds As GLP-1 weight-loss drugs gain popularity, Berry Street and Fay have each raised $50 million to offer nutrition support for users. 🥗💊 With demand for holistic weight management rising, these startups are carving out a lucrative niche. (tech crunch)

Resources/Links 🌶️🧥

The Best Super Bowl Ads of 2025 This year’s Super Bowl ads brought a mix of nostalgia, humor, and star power. 📺🔥 From celebrity-packed cameos to bold brand storytelling, these were the standout campaigns that stole the show.

DuoLingo handbook 📗✍️ - a fascinating look behind the scenes at how they’ve been able to scale and grow their business,

How to Answer “Walk Me Through Your Resume” One of the most common interview questions can make or break your chances. 🤝💼 HBR breaks down how to craft a compelling, concise response that highlights your strengths and career journey.(hbr)

Meco app 📰💻️ Meco is changing the way we consume newsletters, offering a clutter-free reading experience. ✉️📖 Designed for deep dives, it helps users stay informed without inbox overload.

Buffer Buffer remains a go-to for businesses and creators managing social media. 📅📲 With new features and a user-friendly interface, it’s helpful for content planning.

WE'RE NOT REALLY STRANGERS Couples Edition Card Game - 150 Conversation Cards for Couples, Adults, & Teens ♥️ A fun way to get to know your partner better.

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