The Mentor Files

Learn what makes the perfect pitch when raising capital, how to create your best team, and what Jesse has learned from her work in venture capital.

"Sometimes you're betting on a founder with a two or three person team, and sometimes you're betting on a sole founder. It's really about the people, so I try to get to know them however I possibly can." - Jesse Draper.

Learn more about this episode of The Mentor Files with Monica Royer at www.monicaandandy.blog/62

Listen in to learn how retail is being reinvented, how to maximize your retail experience, and what Dan looks for in a startup.

"Retail is truly going to be omnichannel, and that's because the consumer has become omnichannel." - Dan Wenhold.

Learn more about this episode of The Mentor Files with Monica Royer at www.monicaandandy.blog/64

Join host Monica Royer as she dives into the unique dynamics of entrepreneurship within a marriage with Rob Royer, her husband and fellow entrepreneur, to discuss the rollercoaster ride of building businesses, supporting each other through peaks and valleys, and the lessons learned along the way. The two discuss:
- Rob's Entrepreneurial Journey: Rob shares his experience of founding and running a direct-to-consumer furniture business and the lessons he learned from its eventual sale. He talks about his current venture and how his past experiences are shaping his approach.
- The Entrepreneurial Family: Monica and Rob explore the benefits and challenges of both spouses being entrepreneurs. They discuss the importance of having a support system and how their individual experiences have influenced their relationship and understanding of each other's professional lives.
- Overcoming Setbacks: Rob opens up about being pushed out of his role at Interior Define and how he navigated the difficult transition period. He emphasizes the value of resilience and the opportunity to rebuild and apply past learnings to new endeavors.
- Work-Life Balance: The couple touches on their contrasting work styles and how they've managed to find balance while co-officing during COVID-19. They also reflect on the sacrifices made, such as time with friends, to prioritize their businesses and family.
- Future Aspirations: Rob expresses his desire to pursue more design-oriented and artistic projects under the umbrella of his current company, emphasizing the importance of creative voices in business decisions.
- Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs: Rob offers insights for those considering starting their own business, highlighting the importance of aligning with the right people and staying true to one's values.
Resources:
- Monica + Andy: https://monicaandandy.com/
- Follow Rob on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robroyer/
Stay tuned for more episodes of The Mentor Files, where we uncover the story behind the story with some of the most insightful leaders in various industries. Subscribe, rate, and review to help us share these conversations with the world.

For the first episode, I’m interviewing one of my favorite humans on earth: My brother Andy Dunn. The offspring of an immigrant mother who bucked tradition to marry our dad (he is not Indian, like our mother), we grew up feeling different from the other kids. This difference was our common bond and it made us that much closer.

Andy founded Bonobos in 2007 with the goal of providing men with better fitting pants. In the past ten years, the brand has grown to become a premier destination for men’s clothing. Along the way, Andy and his team have revolutionized the modern retail industry by providing a digital-first shopping experience. Not surprisingly, a lot of other brands have taken notice and followed suit (no pun intended).

Andy was a true pioneer in digital and his advice and guidance have been instrumental in Monica + Andy's growth. Listen in to this first episode for some great advice from Andy, including what five qualities to look for in employees as you’re building your team, and whether there really is such a thing as an expert (and if you should hire them).

“The thing that you think the world wants from you is not actually what the world wants from you - what the world wants from you is to do very difficult work of creating something that can exist and thrive and prosper.” - Andy Dunn

Learn more about this episode of The Mentor Files with Monica Royer at www.MonicaandAndy.com/01

Learn how Daniella Yacobovsky carefully selected her team, got more out of her education than most, and why she thinks BaubleBar has become so successful.

"A lot of times the challenges that could test a friendship really are different than the challenges you'll face as business partners." - Daniella Yacobovsky.

Learn more about this episode of The Mentor Files with Monica Royer at www.monicaandandy.blog/69