Behind the Business with Michelle Toh

Joining us this week is Amina Belouizdad Porter, the CEO of PS, the first operator of private airport terminals for commercial flyers in the US. Its mission? To make you feel like you're flying private — even when you're not. This means even if you're flying — let's say, coach with Delta Airlines — you're getting valet service. Massages. Caviar and champagne. A chauffeur waiting to drive you to your plane. This is what PS, the company formerly known as Private Suite, sees as the future of luxury travel. And it's betting many more people will see it that way, too. In this episode… we actually go there — so you can see it for yourself. (Watch on YouTube — link below!) PS was first born in Los Angeles as a haven for paparazzi-weary celebrities — helping high-profile people avoid traipsing through the airport. Now, the company's expanded to Atlanta, with more terminals coming to Paris, Dallas and Miami. It was recently acquired by Groupe ADP, the operator of dozens of airports, including Paris-Charles de Gaulle. | 00:00 — Introduction | 02:19 — Amina's upbringing  | 04:36 — Getting called to become CEO for the first time — and how she felt she was 'designed in a lab' to build PS  | 05:14 — Taking inspiration from airports in Singapore, Dubai, Paris and London to offer a hospitality experience at the airport | 08:08 — The itch to become an entrepreneur  | 09:14 — How Amina's experience in the US after 9/11 and being from the 'Middle East' shaped her world view  | 13:05 — Amina's professional journey — her polyglot background, working in China, attending Wharton Business School, working in real estate | 16:43 — How PS got started  | 19:49 — A 'zero-tolerance' approach to error | 21:08 — Lobbying Congress for approval for years | 22:05 — The serious congestion + security problem the company is tackling | 25:13 — The typical PS customer  | 28:50 — The "once-in-a-career" moment Amina instantly recognized | 34:10 — Working with private equity + picking the right financial backers in a capital-intensive industry | 36:04 — What's next for PS after being acquired by the operator of Paris-CDG | 38:26 — The 'hardest part' of running the business | 39:10 — Company outlook: new PS locations and goal to be in every major US airport by 2030 | 40:58 — When tragedy strikes: How two life-changing losses shaped Amina's outlook on life and work | 47:08 — Audience question from young founder | 48:43 — Rapid-fire round  | About Behind the Business: Behind the Business is a video series and podcast hosted by Michelle Toh, CNN and Fortune alum, that explores the decisions and philosophies behind today's most influential leaders. Recorded in person across the US, the show is grounded in the belief that business is in fact personal, providing the backstories of founders, corporate leaders, investors and creators and how they push through to make the most of both work and life each day. What's the worst day you've faced at your company? How do you cope with crisis or rejection? Or what's a pinch-me moment you'll never forget? In each episode, guests get into it all. New episodes every Thursday.  | About Michelle Toh: Michelle Toh is an award-winning international journalist. She has covered some of the top stories in global business and tech, most recently as a reporter based in Hong Kong appearing across CNN's digital and television platforms. Before joining CNN, she was an associate editor of Fortune Magazine, and her reporting has appeared in The New York Times, TIME, USA Today, and the South China Morning Post.  | Subscribe on YouTube: https://bit.ly/YTBTB | Follow on Instagram: https://instagram.com/bymichelletoh  | Follow on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@behindthebusinessshow #BehindTheBusiness #Podcast #Leadership #FemaleCEO #LuxuryTravel

Vicky Nguyen was just eight months old when she fled Vietnam as a refugee. Today, she's an Emmy-winning journalist, anchor and Chief Consumer Investigative Correspondent for NBC News, now seen on the TODAY Show. Her experiences inspired her new book, "Boat Baby." She joins us this week to discuss: | 00:00 — Introduction  | 02:35 — Vicky's early life, escaping Vietnam  | 04:53 — Encountering pirates at sea  | 05:55 — Taking her first steps on the beach at a refugee camp  | 07:16 — Getting sponsored to the US by churches and a family in Oregon  | 09:50 — Lessons of resilience from her parents, who never complained or used the word "trauma"  | 10:31 — Growing up between cultures  | 11:50 — Early career lessons  | 14:41 — First internship at CNN and learning to speak up in the workplace | 19:42 — Investigative reporting highlights, including probing conditions for bus drivers and food safety  | 26:16 — Reflecting on mistakes and a story about a "hot intern"  | 28:52 — Focus on avoiding comparison or jealousy in a brutally competitive industry  | 32:50 — The pressure and joys of working in live TV + setting herself up for success behind the scenes  | 34:10 — Knowing your worth and negotiating with confidence  | 35:57 — Pay transparency: The surprising moment her colleague pulled out their contract to help her advocate for herself  | 37:28 — Turning down a dream job at a top network  | 40:00 — Coming to redefine personal success  | 41:55 — Covering anti-Asian hate during Covid  | 43:53 — Writing the book, "Boat Baby," and opening up about her personal life  | 45:44 — Vicky's long-term vision  | 47:42 — Representation in media and reflections on the "American dream"  | 49:45 — Audience question from a young journalist  | 52:26 — Rapid-fire round  | About Behind the Business: Behind the Business is a video series and podcast hosted by Michelle Toh, CNN and Fortune alum, that explores the decisions and philosophies behind today's most influential leaders. Recorded in person across the US, the show is grounded in the belief that business is in fact personal, providing the backstories of founders, corporate leaders, investors and creators and how they push through to make the most of both work and life each day. What's the worst day you've faced at your company? How do you cope with crisis or rejection? Or what's a pinch-me moment you'll never forget? In each episode, guests get into it all. New episodes every Thursday.  | About Michelle Toh: Michelle Toh is an award-winning international journalist. She has covered some of the top stories in global business and tech, most recently as a reporter based in Hong Kong appearing across CNN's digital and television platforms. Before joining CNN, she was an associate editor of Fortune Magazine, and her reporting has appeared in The New York Times, TIME, USA Today, and the South China Morning Post.  | Subscribe on YouTube: https://bit.ly/YTBTB | Follow on Instagram: https://instagram.com/bymichelletoh  | Follow on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@behindthebusinessshow #BehindTheBusiness #Podcast #Leadership #WomeninMedia #ImmigrantStories #AAPI | Many thanks to our fantastic partner for this season of Behind the Business: Factor! Use code BTB50OFF to get 50% OFF your first Factor box plus free breakfast for 1 year at http://factormeals.com/btb50off

Joining us this week is Adam Park, CEO and managing director of Factor US — one of the fastest-growing names in health and nutrition that bills itself as the No. 1 ready-to-eat meal company in America. You might have seen them around delivering meals to people's doors that emphasize high-protein, veggie-forward, low-calorie or even GLP-1 supportive options, making it easier to eat clean at home.  Since being acquired in 2020 by one of Europe's best-known consumer brands, HelloFresh, Factor has grown more than 20 times, fending off fierce competition to capture about 75% of the US market. Adam is the former CEO of HelloFresh UK and a former partner at Boston Consulting Group. Outside of work, he's also a passionate endurance athlete who's completed ultramarathons and expeditions all over the world.  In this conversation, we get into: | 00:00 – Introduction  | 02:38 – Early life from South Korea to the UK  | 04:11 – Lessons from moving between cultures  | 04:11 – Growing up in South Korea during economic boom  | 05:04 – Adam's takeaways from watching his mother run a business | 07:47 – Lessons in grit and perseverance  | 08:11 – Consulting at BCG  | 09:55 – Transition to HelloFresh and Factor  | 14:01 – Scaling HelloFresh UK  | 15:08 – Opening new factories overnight, problem-solving, all-nighters  | 16:36 – Becoming CEO of Factor US: initial mandate and growth opportunity  | 19:10 – How the company has scaled so quickly: leveraging HelloFresh efficiencies  | 20:24 – Unique operational model: fresh meals, large variety, complex fulfillment  | 24:01 – The company's subscription model and focus on enticing repeat customers  | 26:09 – Factor's "bold bet" on its biggest menu expansion yet  | 28:15 – Industry competition  | 30:29 – Consumer trends: GLP-1, healthier treats, treating food as medicine  | 33:55 – Company roadmap and best-sellers  | 34:26 – Tackling the stress of meal planning  | 35:45 – Tapping into the convenience factor  | 36:44 – Eating Factor every day  | 37:26 – Diving into supplements  | 39:17 – Using food as fuel in Adam's endurance athlete journey  | 41:38 – Adam's toughest day as a leader  | 43:25 – Goal to reduce food waste  | 46:53 – Mid and long-term vision for Factor  | 47:42 – Audience question  | 50:03 – Rapid-fire round  Disclosure: Factor is a partner of Behind the Business, and this is a branded conversation. We're grateful for their support this season. | About Behind the Business: Behind the Business is a video series and podcast hosted by Michelle Toh, CNN and Fortune alum, that explores the decisions and philosophies behind today's most influential leaders. Recorded in person across the US, the show is grounded in the belief that business is in fact personal, providing the backstories of founders, corporate leaders, investors and creators and how they push through to make the most of both work and life each day. What's the worst day you've faced at your company? How do you cope with crisis or rejection? Or what's a pinch-me moment you'll never forget? In each episode, guests get into it all. New episodes every Thursday.  | About Michelle Toh: Michelle Toh is an award-winning international journalist. She has covered some of the top stories in global business and tech, most recently as a reporter based in Hong Kong appearing across CNN's digital and television platforms. Before joining CNN, she was an associate editor of Fortune Magazine, and her reporting has appeared in The New York Times, TIME, USA Today, and the South China Morning Post.  | Subscribe on YouTube: https://bit.ly/YTBTB | Follow on Instagram: https://instagram.com/bymichelletoh  | Follow on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@behindthebusinessshow  #BehindTheBusiness #Podcast #BusinessLeadership 

Our latest guest is Justin Wang, who, back in 2017, decided that the way we drink water could use an upgrade. Justin left a successful corporate career to tackle an everyday problem all of us face at some point: icky water bottles. He is the co-founder & CEO of LARQ, the company behind the world's first self-cleaning water bottle that it says can eliminate up to 99.9% of harmful bacteria and is meant to ensure you're not worrying about how clean the water is when you're traveling.  What started as a crowdfunded product quickly turned into a multinational brand, earning a spot on Shark Tank, where he walked in with the highest valuation seen in the show's history, and most recently, being acquired by BRITA.  Prior to LARQ, Justin served as president of FOREO, the beauty tech company, and earlier as an investor with L Catterton, one of the world's top PE firms. In this interview, we get into:  | 00:00:00 — Introduction | 00:01:27 — Early beginnings that shaped Justin's resilience | 00:03:45 — Working with people who share your vision | 00:05:16 — Tackling 100 investor conversations to close their Series A back in the day | 00:06:04 — How a cabinet full of dusty bottles sparked the concept | 00:11:21 — What it really takes to launch and 10x a Kickstarter campaign | 00:16:35 — How to make it in a hardware business | 00:18:30 — Existential crisis during COVID | 00:23:52 — What it's really like to pitch on Shark Tank — and tips for fellow entrepreneur | 00:28:52 — Breaking into dream stores, from MoMA to Target to Apple | 00:29:35 — Knowing when your startup is truly ready for retail | 00:34:39 — Manoeuvring tariffs and supply chain chaos | 00:37:36 — Justin's best day: the rush when your Kickstarter campaign goes through the roof | 00:38:36 — Leaving behind the so-called "golden handcuffs" to build something new | 00:45:54 — How a cold email led to LARQ's acquisition by BRITA | 00:47:59 — Long-term vision | 00:49:04 — Where LARQ is headed next | 00:49:57 — Competition: BRITA vs. BRITA | 00:55:20 — Audience question + advice for founders on having conviction, not chasing an exit | 00:57:45 — Rapid-fire round About Behind the Business: Behind the Business is a video series and podcast hosted by Michelle Toh, CNN and Fortune alum, that explores the decisions and philosophies behind today's most influential leaders. Recorded in person across the US, the show is grounded in the belief that business is in fact personal, providing the backstories of founders, corporate leaders, investors and creators and how they push through to make the most of both work and life each day. What's the worst day you've faced at your company? How do you cope with crisis or rejection? Or what's a pinch-me moment you'll never forget? In each episode, guests get into it all. New episodes every Thursday.  About Michelle Toh: Michelle Toh is an award-winning international journalist. She has covered some of the top stories in global business and tech, most recently as a reporter based in Hong Kong appearing across CNN's digital and television platforms. Before joining CNN, she was an associate editor of Fortune Magazine, and her reporting has appeared in The New York Times, TIME, USA Today, and the South China Morning Post.  | Subscribe on YouTube: https://bit.ly/YTBTB | Follow on Instagram: https://instagram.com/bymichelletoh  | Follow on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@behindthebusinessshow  #BehindTheBusiness #Podcast #BusinessLeadership #Entrepreneurship

This week, we're joined by Touchland co-founder & CEO Andrea Lisbona, who turned an overlooked essential into a brand with $100 million in annual sales. Now, her company is being acquired for up to a whopping $880 million. From rebuilding after a "rock-bottom moment" to landing in Sephora and Ulta, Lisbona shares how she made people want to use hand sanitizer. With a cult following and expansion into all kinds of personal care products, Touchland now says one of its items sells roughly every two seconds.  In this interview, we get into:  | 00:00 — Introduction | 05:00 — Growing up in an entrepreneurial family and early influences in Spain | 09:10 — Coming up with the idea for Touchland | 11:40 - Financial crisis and deciding to help family rebuild | 14:00 — Lessons from Apple, Dyson and Nespresso — applying inspiration across industries | 15:50 — Moving to America and deciding to go all in on the US market | 19:00 — Financing the business and finding first investors | 21:40 — Finding success on Kickstarter and sharing crowdfunding tips | 23:15 — Designing the product | 25:10 — Why Touchland doesn't see itself as a direct competitor to Purell or Dettol | 27:34 — Strategic positioning in retail | 28:01 — Pitching Sephora and Ulta | 29:50 — Gaining traction as personal gifts | 32:14 — Disciplined approach to growth | 32:45 — Reaching $100M in annual sales | 33:30 —  Managing the pressure of always looking to what's next | 36:00 — Running a lean team of 13 full-time employees and working to scale efficiently | 38:30 — Team culture and hiring philosophy | 40:46 — Building a waitlist of nearly 35,000 customers | 41:20 — Post-Covid growth — revenue jump from ~$16M in 2022 to over $100M in 2024 | 42:00 — Supply chain crisis that left it without product for a year | 43:37 — Rebuilding from scratch after a "rock-bottom moment" | 46:00 — Pushing back on the misconception that Touchland only took off because of Covid | 46:58 — Partnerships with Disney, Blackpink, and Sanrio/Hello Kitty | 48:42 — Celebrity shoutouts and social strategy | 50:00 — Dealing with copycats | 52:00 — Hardest moments of the journey: overcoming judgment and skepticism | 53:20 — Company roadmap and new product launches | 53:50 — Social media listening and always reading all the comments | 55:00 — International plans — Canada & Middle East expansions | 56:00 – Long-term vision: building a legacy brand  | 57:03 – Working with her husband, a Touchland co-founder | 58:15 — Audience question and advice to entrepreneurs on retail expansion | 01:01:22 – Rapid-fire round: stress management, sleep, mental prep and lessons learned Note: This interview was recorded before the announcement of Touchland's sale to Church & Dwight for up to $880 million. 🎙️ About Behind the Business: Behind the Business is a video series and podcast hosted by Michelle Toh, CNN and Fortune alum, that explores the decisions and philosophies behind today's most influential leaders. Recorded in person across the US, the show is grounded in the belief that business is in fact personal, providing the backstories of founders, corporate leaders, investors and creators and how they push through to make the most of both work and life each day. What's the worst day you've faced at your company? How do you cope with crisis or rejection? Or what's a pinch-me moment you'll never forget? In each episode, guests get into it all. New episodes every Thursday.  About Michelle Toh: Michelle Toh is an award-winning international journalist. She has covered some of the top stories in global business and tech, most recently as a reporter based in Hong Kong appearing across CNN's digital and television platforms. Before joining CNN, she was an associate editor of Fortune Magazine, and her reporting has appeared in The New York Times, TIME, USA Today, and the South China Morning Post. Follow for episode clips and updates:Instagram: https://instagram.com/bymichelletoh  TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@behindthebusinessshow SUBSCRIBE + FOLLOW: - YouTube: https://bit.ly/YTBTB - Apple Podcasts: http://bit.ly/3IFGuIA - Spotify: https://bit.ly/SpotiBTB - Amazon Music: http://bit.ly/4pPZZPp #BehindTheBusiness #Podcast #BusinessLeadership #Entrepreneurship