In this episode, we feature Lauren Maillian, an entrepreneur, investor, marketing expert, author, and co-star on “Quit Your Day Job.” She discusses how she got her start in entrepreneurship—becoming “the youngest self-made winery owner in the country.” She also explains how she transitioned to the areas of strategic marketing and investing, followed by co-starring in the first season of Oxygen’s new hit show. Finally, Maillian talks about her bestselling book and shares advice for women on how to pave their own path to success.
Lauren Maillian is a former model turned serial entrepreneur. She is the founder and CEO of LMB Group, a strategic marketing and advisory company; is a founding partner at Gen Y Capital Partners, an early-stage venture firm focused on investments in mobile and consumer-facing technology-enabled companies; and is the author of the instant bestselling business memoir, The Path Redefined: Getting To the Top On Your Own Terms. Most recently, Maillian has brought her trademark personality and passion for entrepreneurship to television as co-star of the new startup-focused television docuseries “Quit Your Day Job” on Oxygen.
At age 19, Maillian co-founded a boutique winery that quickly became an internationally recognized award-winning wine brand, making her the youngest self-made winery owner in the country. She served as the chief operating officer of the company from inception through the brand’s acquisition in 2011.
Maillian is passionate about marrying marketing, branding, strategy, and technology. She is known to spearhead the development of communication concepts to help others build, inspire, engage and connect. Maillian is a marketer at heart, who loves to build brands and devise business development strategies with a concentration on the creation and implementation of innovative yet strategic plans that build brand identity and increase revenue. She is a detail-oriented strategist with a deep understanding of business operations, management, and formation across various industries. She has a unique ability to turn opportunities into inflection points that help companies gain the traction and market share they need. Maillian has a global perspective and a fresh, yet entrepreneurial, approach to implementation. She is excited by innovative and unique concepts, and has been known to seize rare opportunities and turn them into iconic experiences.
Maillian often speaks about entrepreneurship, female leadership, marketing, branding, business development, startups, and early-stage venture at various conferences. She has spoken at prestigious institutions including Harvard University, Columbia University, the S.C. Johnson School of Management at Cornell University, and the University of Virginia. She is a fierce supporter of entrepreneurship; she invests in numerous companies and serves on the advisory boards of Digital Undivided, a social enterprise that increases the active participation of urban communities—especially women—in the digital space; CoSign, a technology company that allows users to monetize social media and shareable content; and LIQS, a brand of pre-mixed single-serve cocktail shots. Maillian judges the Network For Teaching Entrepreneurship’s business plan competition and the incoming classes of Start Up Chile, an incubator program in support of entrepreneurship sponsored by the Chilean Government. She is an active adviser to several startups, including the Levo League and the Pipeline Angels.
Maillian’s work has been featured in national media outlets including Forbes, American Express OPEN Forum, Interactive ONE, Sirius XM Radio, 1010 WIN’s, HuffPost LIVE, AOL Build, Inc. Magazine, Mashable, UPTOWN Magazine, Jet Magazine, CNBC’s Nightly Business Report, MSNBC, FOX 5, CBS New York, Business Insider, Fast Company, and Black Enterprise. In 2011 she was recognized at the White House by the Kauffman Foundation as an Empact100 award recipient, an honor for the top 100 entrepreneurs under 30. In 2013, Essence Magazine named Maillian a “Shot Caller” to watch in business. In 2014, the New York Urban League’s Young Professionals awarded Maillian the honor of Philanthropist of the Year for her charitable involvement and dedication to giving back; in 2015 Kia Motors and UPTOWN Magazine honored Maillian as “Inspirationally Crafted” for her leadership and fearless entrepreneurial journey; and in 2015, Smart CEO Magazine named Maillian a Smart CEO Brava Award winner. In 2016, Walker’s Legacy named Maillian to their WL50Power list honoring women making strides in the business and philanthropic community.
Maillian is very involved in various philanthropic organizations that affect youth, poverty, education, and the arts. She serves on the advisory board of the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Multicultural Audience Development Initiative committee, as vice chair of the Apollo Theater Foundation Young Patrons Steering Committee, is on the The New York Urban League’s Development Committee, is a founding member of the Young Entrepreneur Council, and is a lifetime member of the Children’s Aid Society. Maillian has a Bachelor of Science, magna cum laude, in international trade and marketing from the the Fashion Institute of Technology. She is a single mother and currently resides in Manhattan, New York with her two children, Jayden and Chloe.
