Water-Safe Beauty: The Hidden Pollution in Skincare with Maria Wodzinska

Maria Wodzinska, co-founder of Stoic Beauty, shares how she went from theater to skincare which led her to create a brand with her mother, Dr. Jolanta Wodzinska Ph.D., focused on protecting water resources. She explains the hidden problem of pollution in the beauty industry, how most consumers aren't aware of the impact their skincare has on waterways, and why Stoic Beauty is committed to making a difference. Maria also talks about the challenges of building a mission-driven business, leveraging risk, and the importance of staying true to a bigger vision while navigating the pressures of growth.Chapters00:00:00 – Why Going It Alone Is a Bad Idea00:01:26 – Meet Maria Wodzinska and Stoic Beauty00:02:34 – From Garage Sales to CEO: Maria’s Entrepreneurial Roots00:06:29 – How Theater Skills Shaped a Beauty Brand00:10:58 – The Hard Lessons of Building Stoic Beauty00:14:10 – The Untold Story of Water-Safe Skincare00:19:50 – Overcoming Setbacks with Strategic Risk-Taking00:25:21 – Building a Business with Purpose, Not Just Profit00:34:50 – Unlocking Somatic Awareness for Better Leadership00:35:07 – How Somatic Practices Transform Business00:36:20 – The Power of Voice and Breath in Leadership00:37:34 – Leading with Vulnerability: Why It’s a Game-Changer00:39:26 – How to Build a Team That Thrives00:41:59 – The Challenges of Hiring the Right People00:44:27 – How to Spot and Cultivate Talent in Your Team00:46:24 – Taking Big Risks: What Every Founder Needs to Know00:55:51 – Winning Awards and Owning Your Success01:01:05 – Stoic Beauty’s Vision for the Future01:03:36 – Maria’s Advice to Fellow Founders01:05:37 – Final Thoughts and Where to Find Stoic Beauty=Links and ResourcesMaria on LinkedInStoic BeautyAggie on LinkedInAB Creative Aggie on Instagram5 Days to Growing Your Iconic Beauty Brand (and Having Your Most Profitable Holiday Season Ever) Thanks so much for joining us this week. Want to subscribe to Beauty and the Brand? Have some feedback you’d like to share? Connect with us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube to leave us a review!