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Young and Profiting with Hala Taha
Emma Hernan: How to Build Real Wealth & Scale a Business Beyond Reality TV | Entrepreneurship | E375
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A
Hello my young and profiters. I know most of us, if not all, have been in a situation where you open up your closet and you suddenly feel like you've got nothing to wear. That stress is real, especially if I've got a big speaking engagement or a major event and I need an outfit that makes me feel confident and great about myself. That's why I love Revolve. It's my go to for every occasion. From weddings to work events to going out at night. I I always wear revolve with over 1200 brands and 100,000 styles. They've got everything from elevated basics to statement pieces. Plus they drop new arrivals daily and the curated edits make finding outfits easy and fun. Whether it's a weekend away, a big night out, or just a little style refresh, your dream wardrobe is just one click away. Head to Revolve.com profiting shop my edit and take 15% off your first order with code profiting fast two day shipping, easy returns. Sometimes I do overnight delivery when I need an outfit. In a pinch, it's literally the only place you need to shop from. That's Revolve.com profiting to get my favorites and get 15% off your first order with code profiting offer ends November 9th. So happy shopping.
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I want people to get mailbox money, buy a home, get a good rate on it, and then get a renter. Renters are going to be paying your mortgage. Maybe you have a little extra, maybe you don't, but then eventually the home's going to be paid off.
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A
Emma Hernan is a self made multimillionaire, luxury real estate expert and the CEO of her own food company, MLA and company. You may know her from the Netflix hit show Selling Sunset. But behind all the glam is a fierce entrepreneur who has built everything on her own with no safety net, no partners, no outside investors.
- [01:43]
B
People now know my backstory. They know that I created everything on my own. So I do have a different level of respect now. Going into meetings.
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A
How has that show changed your life?
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B
There's definitely pros and cons with the show. So business wise I think it's you.
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A
Launched a frozen food company. It's called MLA and Company. So if somebody wanted to launch their own CPG brand, what would be the steps that they should take?
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B
Hopefully it's something that they've really worked on for quite some time. Once you have the ingredients down, then it's time to do you feel like.
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A
You'D be as successful if you weren't as pretty?
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B
Honestly, I've actually been thinking about it a lot lately and I think for me.
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A
Young and Profiters welcome back to another episode and today I have the pleasure of featuring an all around boss lady dominating in business, TV and beyond. Emma Hernan is a self made multimillionaire, luxury real estate expert and the CEO of her own food company and MLA and company. She's also soon to be launching a new food company coast to coast. You may know her from the Netflix hit show Selling Sunset. But beyond the glam and that pretty face is a fierce entrepreneur who built everything on her own with no safety net, no partners and no outside investors. Just pure hustle, sharp instincts and the courage to bet on herself. Today's conversation dives into how Emma built her multimillion dollar empire from humble beginnings, navigating gender bias, embracing her femininity and empowering women through smart, purpose driven entrepreneurship. And if you're new to this podcast, before you go listen to the episode, go ahead and tap that follow or subscribe button so you never miss an episode. Emma, welcome to Young and Profiting Podcast.
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B
Thank you so much for having me.
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A
I'm so excited to talk to another girl boss today. I feel like there's so much to unpack with you. So I was doing my research about you and I found out that you grew up with pretty humble beginnings. Your dad was a firefighter, your mom was a stay at home mom. So talk to us about your childhood and your aspirations and your thoughts around money and things like that when you were growing up.
- [04:05]
B
I grew up. My father was a firefighter and my mom was a stay at home mom. And super humble beginnings and super family oriented which I think is so, so, so, so important to where I'm at today. But I kind of always had this determination about me. I loved working, I loved making money even at a really young age. So as soon as I could babysit, I made little cards and I was dropping them off at everyone's houses that had kids. I also love kids, so I wanted to save and I ended up nannying at a really young age for a family that the husband went to Harvard and he was investing. And so that's when I was like, you know, what if I start saving all of my money, all of my babysitting money, all of my modeling money. I also started working at an ice cream shop when I was not legal yet to work. So we have my parents had to sign this waiver but I loved working and that's where everything started. I just remember I wanted to give back to my Family. And I wanted to be able to create a life that no one had really had on either side of my family yet. And that was where my ambition came from.
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A
You started investing in stocks when I think you were just 16 years old? When I was 16, I was buying makeup and focused on clothes. And I was a hustler as well. But I was not thinking about investing yet. What inspired you to start investing at such a young age?
- [05:24]
B
I think, again, it was that determination to give back to my family. When I say that my family means everything to me, that was what was important to me. And I remember one of the first summers that I saved a lot of my babysitting money, ice cream money, and everything else. I remember stacking all of my money and putting it into piles, and I remember putting the biggest pile for my parents. Then my nana and my papa and my brother got the smallest one because he wasn't super nice to me, but I still gave him a pile. And I just remember this is all for Christmas and spoiling them at Christmas, and that became something that was so fulfilling to me. And I was like, I want to be crazy successful so that I can give back to everyone that I care about. And it was just something that was really important to me. Also, for me, it was stability. And stability for me was something that was very, very important. And I never wanted to see my family struggle ever again. My mom had a situation when she was younger where they lost everything, and I remember her telling me about that, and it broke my heart. And picturing my mom when she was 15 and 16 and losing everything really drove me to want to succeed not only for my family, but my future family as well.
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A
So I also learned that you did have some entrepreneurs in your family. Your grandfather, I think, owned a seafood company, and you actually helped save the family business. So tell us about that and how that maybe inspired you later on to start your own food product company.
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B
My grandfather was an amazing chef. I think that's where I get my cooking skills from. It skipped a generation because my mom didn't get those cooking skills. But my mom is an amazing entrepreneur now. So I will say that my grandfather left my mom and her sisters the company. And then I think what you don't realize is when you inherit a company, what comes along with that? You don't just inherit, oh, he's an amazing chef, and everything like that. Okay, well, there's employees, there's materials that needs to be bought, there's equipment, there's payroll, and there's all these things that My mom, who was a stay at home mom at the time, this was like throwing her into this den and had to figure it out. And so that's when, you know, I was, I believe, 16 when I first. She was like, oh, can I borrow money for payroll? And I was like, yeah, of course, of course you can. And at that time the company really needed it. And I think that's why people nowadays, they raise money and they do that for all the startups. But back in the day, I mean, my mom didn't know how to go get a bank loan or anything along those lines, nor did they think that they would qualify. So it was one of those things that was a no brainer and you know, if she needed me, I was there. And now the company is thriving. We're in stores across the US So it made a huge difference. Me and my mom are partners together now. We bought a huge manufacturing facility together. We're buying another one and we're continuing to grow. And it's amazing doing business with not only my mom, but she's my best friend as well.
- [08:25]
A
You actually became the first millionaire in your family. So walk us through how that felt when you saw that million dollars in your bank account. What were the thoughts that went through your head and what did you do?
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B
I will say that was one of the pinch me moments that I had always dreamed of and I knew that that was my goal. At one point I was like, is this even possible? And then of course when it happened and I thought it hit the account and I was looking at the account and trust me, my account was on refresh. I was like, I'm trying to deposit everything in there just so that I could see that. And it was such an amazing moment. And I think an even more special moment for me was when I sat up my grandmother's house and obviously no one on my father's side or mother's side had a million dollars at any point. And I remember telling my grandmother and you know, I didn't ever want to brag or we were very private about those type of things. And I kind of whispered to her, even though no one was around, I was like, nana, you know I'm a millionaire, right? She just couldn't believe it. And when I say my grandmother was my best friend in the world, she was the most important person to me. I love her so much. And she just couldn't believe it. And she was more excited, I think, than my parents because my parents probably knew that I was capable of doing it. They knew I'M so determined I'm going to do it. But my grandmother, for her, she grew up in the Great Depression. So when I told her that, I felt like she was almost going to cry. And I'll never forget that moment. And that, for me, was one of the reasons why I worked so hard in life.
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A
And I'm sure your grandma also just was so proud because you're a woman. And, oh, for sure, wasn't normal for her to witness a young woman being so successful. So what advice do you have to other young women who want to become entrepreneurs? Given your journey, believe in yourself.
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B
And I know it sounds like, oh, okay, but it really is so true. I knew what I wanted and I was determined to get it. And trust me, there was obstacles and there was moments that I felt so defeated, but I really did truly believe. And I manifested that I was going to become a millionaire and I was going to be worth millions of dollars and I was going to work hard to do it, and it didn't matter what got in my way. And I really do believe. And the sooner that you start, too, I think that's another piece of advice, because I think it's easy to procrastinate, and especially we're scared. The fear of failure, I think, is the biggest obstacle that a lot of people that are driven and want to be entrepreneurs, they face is they're scared to fail. And I call it the fear of failure. But you have to. And entrepreneurs, they fail so, so many times. And I wish that more people, instead of looking at it like, oh, my goodness, this is a failure. This is just pushing you into a different direction. So starting sooner and believing in yourself.
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A
I totally agree. I know for myself, I actually became an entrepreneur. One of the reasons is because I was working at Disney. I look really young, and I felt like I wasn't getting promoted as fast as other guys that were actually younger than me. And I felt like everybody would treat me like an intern. And I felt like I couldn't be myself because I'm very girly and that I was judged for dressing up and looking girly. But then I went online and started being an entrepreneur, and that ended up being an advantage. So talk to us about your experience. By the way, guys, if you guys are listening on audio, Emma's like, drop dead gorgeous. So talk to us about your experience in the working world and if you were ever not taken seriously and how you overcame that, trust me, she is.
- [11:49]
B
Looking gorgeous as well. So let me tell you that honestly, I love, love, love, love that you Brought this up because this is something that I not only struggled with, but people told me, I think you need to dress differently if you want to go to this meeting or why do you post this? If you have all this business, why are you posting this online? And it's like, well, I'm going to do what I want to do. And that doesn't change who I am. I'm extremely successful entrepreneur, and I like getting dressed up and going to a meeting. I like feeling good about myself. And to be honest with you, I think however you feel the best, if you feel more motivated when you're wearing whatever it is, a pink blazer and a pink pencil skirt, if that makes you feel better and you walk into the meeting with confidence, then walk in like that. And that's something that so many people actually ask me about. And I love giving them advice because they think that they have to dim down their outfit or whatever it may be. And I'm like, no. If anything, own it more. Walk in with more confidence. You're going to be remembered for sure. So that's definitely something that I'm super passionate about. I mean, of course, you have to be appropriate, for sure, But I think that if it's your personality and it's your style or. And whatever it may be, I think it's better to be true to yourself with anything. And I think that will show with business, too. People want to do business with people that are genuine.
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A
Totally. Now I have another story I'm sure you can relate to. So me and my boyfriend went to ACL this weekend, and we got cabana seats. We both are entrepreneurs. We both had the same lawyers who gifted us the tickets. So we go as two entrepreneurs. And when I get there, everyone just assumes I'm his girlfriend.
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B
Oh, I have dealt with yes, yes, yes.
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A
And so at first I was like, damn, this is so annoying. Everyone's asking him what he does. Nobody's asking me. In these situations, how do you deal with it where you still have confidence and push through those moments?
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B
I love that you told this story, because I think that we don't talk about this enough. And this happens all the time, almost every single time. If I go out to eat, I remember going out to eat with my ex, and we would go out a lot, and it's like, first of all, I made the reservation. I'm gonna pick up the meal. And they're like, oh, thank you, Mr. Blah, blah, blah. And I'm like, okay, I'm giving you the credit card. I'm booking this Even vacations. I remember booking this crazy, amazing, luxurious. I love a vacation. I work hard, but I also vacation hard. And that's why I work so hard, too. And I remember we kept going out and they kept handing him the check and being like, thank you, mister. And I was thinking in my head, not only did I book the hotel, got us this most amazing suite and everything else. I'm picking all of this up, and they're not even acknowledging me. They're just assuming I'm the girlfriend. I remember one time I did grab the check, and I'll be like, oh, I'm taking care of it. And sometimes it's okay to do that and assert a little bit of dominance. And for me, I was like, I wanted to prove a point also, too. I do feel like a lot of times people are judged off their appearance and is that right? No. But people will do it no matter what. So I think that's fine for me, what I learned is that I'm really good about waiting now for my turn to talk, whether it's in a meeting or whether we're out and about, whatever it may be. And then as soon as somebody hears my story and what I do, it's like, oh, wow, wait a minute. And then it's almost like I'm underestimated. And you know what? I'll take it.
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A
Yeah, sometimes it's better to be underestimated. And I don't think you would trade looking any different. Do you feel like pretty privilege is a thing and that? Do you feel like you'd be as successful if you weren't as prepared? Pretty honestly.
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B
That's so funny that you say that, because I've actually been seeing a lot about pretty privilege online, and I think it's a new term, and I think it's very interesting. And I've actually been thinking about it a lot lately, just the different opportunities that I've either had or not had. And I think for me, I've actually thought about it. Yes, there are a lot of pros, but then there were a lot of cons where I was laughed out of meetings and women didn't want to meet with me based off of how I looked.
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A
So true.
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B
But then there's certain men that probably did want to meet with me. Maybe not because I was the top agent, or maybe not because I had the biggest food company at the time, but maybe just to take the meeting, so. But then there was some women that wouldn't give me the opportunity. And it's sad because you would think women would want to support women, but instead it was a situation where like, nope, I don't want to meet with her. She looks like, why is she dressing like that?
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A
I totally agree. There's pros and cons with it.
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B
Yes. But nowadays, I will say I'm super into female empowerment and all that. And I will say women now are much more receptive to supporting another woman. As opposed to 15 years ago. When I first started in business, it was really difficult. I will say women were just not the same that they are now. And I do think that there is a movement, and I hope that it continues. I know that I love supporting women. I would literally do anything. If someone came up to me and said, I want to start whatever company they're passionate about, a jewelry company, I will be googling how to help them. So I think that there's a movement and it's about supporting other women, and I hope that that continues.
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A
I also think that sometimes it's not even about looks per se. It's about how well put together you are. So, like, if you do your makeup, if you do your hair, or if you dress nice, if you wear clean shoes, nice shoes, all those things matter and people will judge you. And so I feel like it's a pro in that way. But to your point, it's hard to get mentors and women to take you under your wing and stuff when you look a certain way, for sure.
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B
And I will say I dealt with that a little bit more before the show. I think that now people that they do recognize me with the show. So I do think this is a privilege for myself that I have learned, which is I did join the show. People now know my backstory. They know that, you know, I didn't date some guy with money. I didn't come from a super wealthy family. I created everything on my own. So I do have a different level of respect now going into meetings. So I will say the show did create that advantage for me, which I am grateful for because we have to put our private lives out there for the world to see and judge. So at least, you know, it's nice for people to see who I really am and that I worked really hard to get here.
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A
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B
And.
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A
And I'm already eyeing a tropical beach vacation in the winter. I hate being cold through it all. Booking my stays on Airbnb has made my travel experiences so much easier, thanks to amazing hosts who made each stay feel like home. All of these travel plans make me think about my own place. Just sitting idle while I'm away. Why let it go unused? With Airbnb, you can host your home and give your guests a great experience without having to manage everything yourself. Airbnb's co host network lets you partner with a vetted local co host who manages it all, setting up your place, handling bookings, guest communication, and even taking care of last minute requests. That way, while you're busy traveling, your space is still running smoothly and earning extra income. Find yourself a co host@airbnb.com host now. Let me ask you a personal question. Cause you were just mentioning that you went on vacation and you were picking up the check and you went to dinner and you were picking up the check. So how do you think about love these days? Do you want a man that makes as much money as you? And how do you stay in your femininity if you're often the one paying for things? And how do you think about that now?
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B
So I've been in a relationship where obviously I paid for majority of the things that we did and travel and food and things along those lines. And I've also been in a relationship where he was taking care of dinners and it was nice. But then you have to find that balance. And I think that balance is hard where they feel masculine, you feel girly and everything else. But at the same time, I'm still a woman, I still work hard, so I want to be respected and things like that. So that's definitely something that I think any relationship that I'm in or going to be in is going to be a struggle for sure. And I try and navigate it as best I can, but I mean, I've definitely had guys tell me that I emasculate them. Oh no. And then yeah, for sure. And I mean, I'm totally fine with it. I feel like that's their issues. But yeah, it's something that I definitely try and navigate as best I can. But that's a difficult one. I just think dating is difficult and especially when you're a successful woman. I think it just adds a level of difficulty, which it shouldn't, but it does.
- [23:15]
A
Well, I think we're the first generation of women that actually have money. And we're the first generation that's actually dealing with this. And so we've all these stereotypes from the past that everyone's still clinging on to. Also, age difference. My boyfriend now is five years younger than me, you know, and I think that's going to be the norm.
- [23:34]
B
I actually totally agree with that. And it's so funny that you say that, because I was just watching something online talking about how younger men are dating a little bit older women, and it's actually the perfect recipe for a healthy relationship. The men are actually maturing faster now when they're dating someone, and then they respect them more and all of these things. My best friend, actually, she's dating someone that's a lot younger than her now, too. And I'm just like, oh, my God, everyone's doing it. And it seems to be working really, really well.
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A
Yeah, I agree. I feel like it's a. It's a new world, Emma.
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B
Yeah, exactly. I love it.
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A
So you launched an empanada company, a frozen food company. It's called MLA & Co, and you used your family's recipes. So talk to us about the origin story of you launching this product. You also mentioned that you do vertical integration. You've got your own manufacturing company. So walk us through how you launched it and why you built it the way that you did.
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B
So I started working in the food industry when I was extremely young. I was doing demos. I don't know if you know what that is, but when you go to a supermarket and people are handing out food, I started doing that when I was like 12 years old. Of course, with my parents. I also love to cook. So it was right around Covid, and I was like, this is a great time to start a company. And I had grown up in the industry. I would place all the orders for my family's company as we were growing and just super involved. And so I knew I wanted to start my own company. And that's when I started Emily and Company. And I partnered with Beyond Meat. And that was huge at the time because vegan was skyrocketing. And as you watch, Beyond Stock. That's right when I got in. So it was really great for me because, first of all, it was great because I had connections to all of the buyers. I would call all the buyers that I had been dealing with for years, Whereas most people, when they start a company, they have to hire a broker and they don't know how to get in and things like that. And I skipped that step because I Had all these prior relationships, which is amazing. And then on top of that, now I have the Beyond Meat name. So I got to piggyback off of their marketing, off of their branding and things like that. And so I actually got onto QVC right away and that I actually didn't get on with my empanadas. I eventually did get out with my empanadas, but I launched the first time with a keto cauliflower crab cake, which I still have. It's absolutely amazing. And it was my grandfather's recipe, but we took out the breadcrumbs and we put cauliflower in for a healthy twist. So when I started my company, basically it was comfort food, but with a healthy twist. And that was something that I was really passionate about. Just creating healthier meals for the frozen market. And when I QVC with that, I had a great connection that I was able to do that. And then I had Beyond Meat and getting in stores, Costco and everything like that was huge. And on top of that, having the manufacturing facility. So what people don't realize is they assume I just have this empanada company, but actually I own this manufacturing facility where we co pack for hundreds of brands.
- [26:38]
A
Wow.
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B
We're one of the largest manufacturers on the east coast. And I think that people don't realize that. And obviously on the show I came on and they wanted me to do my empanadas and serve them. So it's kind of like a little bit of, oh, I'm in her empanadas. But really it's a huge facility where we make so many different items. And I launched a new company. It's called coast to Coast. And that is really my baby. And that's what's going to go to the next level. I just got into my absolute dream account, which I can't wait to announce. And I make everything. I make shrimp spring rolls, I make crab cakes. You name it, we make it. And I think that that was one of the things too, a lot of people don't understand. They assume, oh, I just make these empanadas. And they have no idea. I've been in the industry my whole life. I didn't jump on a show and create this. I had all of this prior to the show. And I think that that's an important thing to note.
- [27:33]
A
Totally. Because somebody would just assume that maybe you're just the face of the brand and that you didn't have anything to do with the operations. So you've got this manufacturing company and you're basically a B2B business behind the scenes. So you've got this front facing brand and then you work with other companies and you help them copack explain to people what that is who are not in the food industry.
- [27:54]
B
So numerous other companies come to us. For instance Ming Sai, he's a famous celebrity chef. We used to manufacture his Ming's bangs. So basically someone comes up with a recipe, we also manufacture for another company that was like a pizza company. And basically they come to us because we have the facility. So when you're co packing for somebody, you are doing their items and then they're selling them under their name. But we are the facility that mass produces them. We're doing the boxing, we're doing everything. And I think that people don't actually realize what goes into it. I mean the co packer is so important and a lot of companies spend specifically startups fail because they don't have.
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A
A good co packer and it's such an advantage. I was thinking about it the other day that the best type of entrepreneur is an entrepreneur that sells something that they already do for themselves. So basically you figured out how to co pack your own stuff and then you started selling that as a service and I just feel like that is so genius. So talk to us about why that is such an advantage.
- [28:54]
B
It's huge. It's so, so, so important for me. I bought my manufacturing facility before I started my company and I love that I did it that way. I didn't come up with Emily and co and then try and go figure out a co packer. Obviously I was in the industry my whole life but my mother and I, we decided, okay, we're spending all this money, we're leasing the facility even though still we are capable of co packing. We're like, why don't we buy our own facilities? So I ended up buying my own manufacturing facility. Everyone started coming to us for us to manufacture for them. So now we have this extra income on top of any brand that we own. Now we get all this extra income with brands coming to us. And so it was a no brainer and it was something that, I mean I'm so grateful that I did it that way because it was such a smart business move and it's such an advantage when it comes to for instance my dream company that I just got all of my product into or four of my items. We decided that we want to do my new brand coast to coast but we want to do items that I technically don't have in my packaging. But we do at the facility. So because I own a manufacturing facility, all I have to do is reach out to the boxing company, put the new logo on, change the items on it, and then now we have four new items that it would take a lot of other startups and people that didn't own their co packing facility a lot longer because they're not making the products already, whereas I'm already making the products. We can just swap boxes. If you told me your favorite meal was chicken parm, I could do a chicken parm rangoon for you tomorrow and have it shipped out, whereas most people wouldn't be able to do that. But I own the facility.
- [30:34]
A
That's awesome. Okay, so consumer packaged goods can be not only food, it can be beauty, it can be shampoo, beauty, wellness, all that kind of stuff. So if somebody wanted to launch their own CPG brand, what would be the first couple of steps that they should take?
- [30:52]
B
Well, I'm assuming that it's something that they're passionate about. Hopefully first something that they've created, whether it's the ingredients, say it is a shampoo, hopefully it's something that they've really worked on for quite some time. And then once you have the ingredients down, then it's time to go meet with a co packer. And that's when it's really, really important to find a solid co packer because this will change the way that the company goes. But when you go to the co packer you have to mass produce and sometimes not only if food recipes will change, but if, say you are doing a perfume or say you are doing a shampoo or conditioner or whatever it may be. When you mass produce something, things change. They're not quite as flavorful, they're not quite the same. And I think that you really have to do R and D when it comes to launching a product, especially at that scale. And definitely finding a solid co packer is super important. Then once you find that co packer, which is usually a difficult process, I also too highly recommend having a partner in on it. I've done a lot of my things and everything I've done on my own. However, I think it's really nice when you have someone that can support you. So finding a mentor. I would really highly recommend for anyone out there that starting a company and that's why when people come up to me when it's on the street or in a restaurant or in a bathroom, I do always give them advice no matter what, because it is important to hear those things. And finding A mentor and getting all those things that. And then once you have that and coming up with a business plan. So finding a co packer, coming up with a business plan, potentially finding a mentor or partner, I think is really just helpful for your mental health. And mental health is so important for CEOs and entrepreneurs out there. And once you launch, if you're really passionate about it, you can become your own marketing. And I think that that's something that we should be so grateful for nowadays. Back in the day, that wasn't the case. Now with social media, we can market every single thing that we have by going online, whether it's doing TikToks, whether it's posting about it on Instagram because it will get picked up. And if it's something that's a really great product, trust me, people will want it. And word of mouth gets out there.
- [33:02]
A
Yeah, distribution now with social media is basically free, but isn't it also important to try to get on shelves? And can you speak to us about how you actually get into mainstream grocery stores and things like that?
- [33:15]
B
That is so important. I mean, that's the goal with any product. And I think once you have the product down and you're capable of manufacturing it to a level where you can go in stores, because the worst thing is you don't ever want to go in and meet with a buyer. They want the product, they put in the po and then you can't fulfill it because they will not put in another po. So I think that that's something that's really important to note. But once you're capable of fulfilling the order and you have everything down, basically, for the food industry, it's about getting in with the buyers. And sometimes you have connections and if you don't, you have to get a broker, which is totally fine. And the brokers usually have connections. For me, I actually, a lot of times, and I do think this is something that I want to share is I have reached out, I've gone on LinkedIn and this is how I actually just got into my massive account that I'm super excited about. There's nothing that will hold me back from anything. If I want something, I will achieve it. And I think that I want other entrepreneurs and CEOs out there to know. I went on to LinkedIn, I googled buyers at this store and I just started messaging. Hey, hey, hey. I would love to ship you some products and then your product will speak for itself. So if you can get in contact and however you want to get in contact, I Think that really just hard work will get you there. It really will.
- [34:29]
A
Thank you so much for sharing your story. It's awesome that you've built this food empire, but you have so many different income streams. You do food, you do real estate, you do tv. Talk to us about the importance of diversifying your income, if that's important to you, and how you actually got started in real estate and what you do in real estate today.
- [34:48]
B
100%. I think that diversifying your portfolio is probably one of the most important things that you can do for anyone out there, specifically women. You do not want to put all your eggs in one basket. For me, it's been the best blessing that I could have done. You know, I got into investing, I got into real estate, I got into the food industry. I'm obviously now on the show, and then I get different social media things and things like that. And it's really good because for me, I think that with any industry, if you have all of your eggs in one basket, if one thing goes wrong, you feel like your whole world is crumbling, where it's like, okay, for me, okay, I didn't end up selling that house, but, oh, my God, I just got this amazing order from Pavilion, so it's going to be okay. I'm going to work hard on this, but it doesn't completely defeat you. So that's more of a mental thing for people that want to diversify. But from a business standpoint, you want to have income where you can be traveling and you're just getting mailbox money. And that's what I want for all these women out there and anyone here listening is, I want people to get mailbox money. I want them to buy a home, I want them to get a good rate on it, get all of that and then get a renter, and then eventually the house will be paid off. The renters are going to be paying your mortgage for you. If you get a mortgage, which you probably will get a mortgage, renters are going to be paying your mortgage. Maybe you have a little extra, maybe you don't, but then eventually the home is going to be paid off. So in 10, 20 years, you're continuing to get this money. And I just think it's so, so, so important to whether it's an investment in the stock market or whatever it may be, I really think that to be diversified is the key to success.
- [36:32]
A
Yap, gang. I've been running my own business for almost six years now. And back when I was just getting started, I thought brand identity was just Your logos, your colors, or your social media presence. But once I actually got into it, I realized it's also the stuff that nobody sees. The operating agreements which are so important, the compliance docs, the boring but important things that keeps your business legit and legal. That's why I always recommend Northwest Registered Agent. They've helped me and they've been doing this for almost 30 years. They're the biggest registered agent and LLC service in the entire country. With Northwest, you get more more privacy, more guidance, and more free tools. I'm talking thousands of guides, legal forms, step by step. Resources all in one place. Northwest Registered Agent makes entrepreneurship a breeze. It makes starting and protecting your business way easier. Trust me, you don't want to do it alone. Don't wait. Protect your privacy, build your brand and get your complete business identity in just 10 clicks and 10 minutes. Visit northwestregisteredagent.com yapfree and start building something amazing. Get more with Northwest registered agent@northwestregisteredagent.com yapfree the link is in our show. Notes Yap Gang what is one thing that every successful modern business needs? Rock solid Internet, of course. And you know, I get it. Yap Media runs fully remote. I've got 60 employees all around the world. So if the Internet cuts out for me, I can't talk to any of them and everything stops. And I know every business owner listening in can relate because staying connected is everything these days. We've got to stay connected to clients and employees. It's not optional. It's the lifeline of any modern business. And that's why I love telling you about brands that actually help you win, like Spectrum Business. They don't just give you Internet. They set you up with everything that your business could need. Internet, advanced WI fi, phone, TV and mobile services, all designed to fit within your budget. And they've got a killer deal right now. You can get free business Internet forever when you add four mobile lines. Think about that. Free Internet forever with no contracts and no added fees. That means more money in your pocket to grow your business and less time stressing about connectivity. Visit spectrum.com freeforlife to learn how you can get business Internet free forever. Restrictions apply. Services not available in all areas. A lot of millennials especially feel like they don't know if they want to buy a home anymore. They feel like they can afford it. They feel like it's better to just rent and maybe invest in other things. Do you feel like real estate's a really good place to put your money?
- [39:05]
B
A Hundred percent. Real estate is always going to go up, even if there's ups and downs for the short run, which of course there's going to be with interest rates and everything else. But real estate is a solid, solid investment, and so I couldn't recommend it more. I wish that I bought every single house that I've ever looked at, because where they're at now is crazy. Again, another piece of advice that I would give is the sooner that you get going, the sooner that you start, the better. And what I also tell people, especially with real estate, is, okay, maybe you're not ready to get into that property because the mortgage is a little high. Put a renter in there, let them pay it so you're ready two, three years, then you're ready to move in. That's totally fine. Let them pay your mortgage till you're ready to move in, and then you have this asset. And if you waited to buy for an extra three years, well, the property's gone up, so then you're going to pay more. So I definitely really highly recommend getting in as soon as possible, and you're not going to regret it. You really, truly want, for sure.
- [40:06]
A
That's really smart. So you've been on selling Sunset for several seasons now. I think you guys are going on season nine coming up, which is season nine. That's really. How has that show changed your life? How have you changed the way that you approach business, friendships, even your own authenticity?
- [40:27]
B
The show definitely was something that I really had no idea what I was jumping into, if I'm being honest. I had no idea how big the show was. I had no idea that, oh, okay, I'm actually losing my private life. And for me, it's been one of those things where family has been so important. Being able to go back to Boston, being able to just, again, my humble beginnings and just being able to stay down to earth. You know, I haven't changed who I am. I'm still the same goofy, nerdy Emma who loves family and rescuing animals and things like that. But it's also, you know, open doors for me in a sense where, oh, okay, people respect me more because they're not judging me off my looks. They're now judging me off of, okay, they've seen me on the show. She's an amazing entrepreneur who's been really independently successful. So now I'm getting an opportunity that I probably or maybe wouldn't have gotten before. So it's open doors in that sense. And then, you know, in another sense, sometimes it's Difficult when the world is seeing you and judging you and navigating through relationships, whether it's friendships or your significant other. That's been something where I've tried to navigate through and that can be a struggle. So there's definitely pros and cons with the show. Business wise. I think it's been great, for sure. I think that the branding that you get from the show and things like that, and I think having a company prior to joining the show also was another level of respect that I ended up getting from a lot of people. But yeah, I mean, having your life out there when people are judging and things like that, it can be tough. So you have to have thick skin, for sure.
- [42:01]
A
I learned that you actually spent more on your glam the first couple of years and you lost money participating in the show, which is just so interesting to think about because people think you're getting paid all this money to be on a show, but really it's mostly the exposure. Right. So talk to us about that for sure.
- [42:18]
B
And I think that people don't realize that and they assume, oh my God, anyone on a reality TV show or any show, they are just rolling in the dough. And I think people really don't realize the expense that comes with it, how much you're actually paid per episode or per season. And every network does it different. But you have to go out there and you have to hustle. And if you're going to go onto the show and put your private life out there for the world to see and judge, well, you better have a really good business background and something else that you're trying to push to make it worth it. Because you can't just go onto the show and expect that your life is going to change for the better. You have to have a business plan. And for me, I had my food company, I had all these other things that I was investing in, so it made sense. But I know so many people out there that have been on reality TV shows and are on reality TV shows and they're really struggling. And people don't realize that. And it actually breaks my heart, and I want to bring more awareness to this, is that people assume because they're on a TV show, they're living this luxurious, rich and famous life. But really, at the end of the day, we're all people. And if you don't have that solid business background or you don't have something else, a lot of people don't have what the average person in America or wherever our shows worldwide, what they picture and I think that we really need to bring a little bit of awareness to that, that we should probably have a business that we have in mind that we're going to push or something like that.
- [43:45]
A
Yeah, totally. So I had a stint in reality TV show back in the day. I actually almost had a show on mtv and I was the lead. I was president of called the Sorority of Hip Hop. And I had a really popular blog when I was younger. I was like 25 years old. We were so broke. And MTV put us in this kind of like a real world house. And they built us like an office and a studio. And the way that they made it seem is like we had made it, but in reality, we were broke and they were paying us like $3,000 an episode, you know?
- [44:16]
B
Exactly. No. Oh, my God. Well, see, I love that story. And that's closer to what is actually reality of what people think from what they see online. And it's like, you know, people watch these shows and then even think about the Bachelor or even like our show, you know. Yeah. We're showing these luxurious homes, but not every agent is going home to a home that looks like that, you know, And I think that people don't understand that.
- [44:42]
A
Yeah. So how do you manage your focus? Because as an entrepreneur, focus is so important. But you're pulled in all these directions, right? You're investing. I think you're investing in either other people's companies, even as an angel investor. Then you also have your own products, and you have this B2B company. Then you're doing real estate, and you're doing TV and even modeling. How are you maintaining focus? And is focus important to you?
- [45:05]
B
Focus is so, so, so important. I would be lying if I said that I'm always perfectly focused, because I'm definitely not always perfectly focused by any means. I think it's hard, and I think it's about finding a balance. And I try as hard as I can, and I try and manage. I will say that this is important. Certain times there's going to be, whether it's real estate or whether it's my food company, something is going to require more attention than the other. And I think that you really need to listen to which company or which investment needs you more and put more of your time and energy into that. But focus is key, for sure. And focus is something that I do think that I am really good at. It's something I've been determined my whole life. I'm a hard worker. I write in my notebook all the time. And I think that that's actually like a nerdy little trait of mine that actually has really helped with business. I write down all my goals and that helps me strategize what I want to do and where I want to invest my money and things along those lines. But focus is key, for sure, and balance. And I think we all struggle a little bit with finding the perfect balance. But it is so, so, so important.
- [46:14]
A
How do you feel about content creation and do you dedicate specific time to create content or do you think about that much or how do you handle it?
- [46:23]
B
For me, I think that I could probably work harder when it comes to being a little bit better on social media, posting a little bit more. Also, too, I think that even with my TikTok or with my Instagram, is being able to talk like I'm talking to you now. I think that people would appreciate that more. A lot of times I'm running to a meeting or I'm running to a showing, so I'm like, oh, I'm in the car, let me just take a quick little selfie and post meetings as opposed to talking about what I'm doing. And I think that that is important. So I will say that's something that I need to work on. So you reminded me I'm going to write that down after this, that that's something that I need to work on. Because also, too, even this conversation that you and I are having, anyone listening is going to be motivated to go out there, start whatever business they're starting or work harder at this or X or Y or Z. And I think that that's so important. So I do need to be a little bit better when it comes to being a content creator and focusing on my socials a bit, because I do think it helps people out there. I think it helps everyone. I think it would help me. I think it would help everyone.
- [47:27]
A
And I think it goes back to time and focus. And you are a real entrepreneur, and it's very hard for real entrepreneurs to actually make the time to create content. As somebody who's really good at that, I think is Bethenny Frankel. I feel like she's so good at just coming on, doing the thing, being so authentic and raw, and people are just so drawn to that right now. People just want the real you, you know?
- [47:52]
B
Exactly. And I will say that's something that I openly need to work harder on, is showing more of the real me. And I've rescued 10 animals that run around my house all day long. And the average person on my social Media doesn't know that, but just being a little bit more real with my audience and showing them. I'm not always fully glammed when I'm walking into houses. I've actually crawled into a basement in a hat and sweatpants to make sure everything was working. So I think showing more moments like that, being more relatable, for sure. And Bethany Frankel does an amazing job. I think she's an amazing person. Amazing woman.
- [48:28]
A
Let's talk about where you're investing your money these days. We talked about how you were an angel investor. You're investing in stocks and things like that. What industries are you bullish on and what are you investing in these days?
- [48:42]
B
Real estate, always. I will always continue to invest in real estate. The market, obviously with interest rates right now is a little bit tougher. So you kind of have to navigate through that and figure out what's going to be the best investment, whether it's commercial, whether it's residential. For me right now I'm super focused on my food company, especially getting into this new big store. I can't say what it is yet or else I would say it. Trust me, I'm dying to say it. I cannot say it yet or else I would. But really focusing on that because that is my baby. And then I'm definitely investing in the AI space. So I started, I probably started two years ago in that, but I have a lot of friends in that industry and so I think that it is the future. So finding the right, whether it's an app or finding something that you see potential in now, startups are really risky. So I actually wouldn't recommend that to the average person out there to go invest in startups because especially if someone has their life savings, I am not going to tell them to go, do not go invest 20,000 or 10,000 or whatever it is into a startup because it's very, very risky. But for me, I have my stock portfolio, I have my real estate portfolio, I have my food company. So I am able to be a little riskier. And I think that that is something that is good.
- [49:58]
A
So I know that investing in startups is really risky and I actually think that's really great advice that you're giving people. Even I, you know, my company is on Track to make $10 million this year and I'm only investing in my own company. That's the only company that I invest in. Because to your point, it feels so risky. People ask me all the time and I'm like, I don't think I'm at that level, yet to be giving somebody else 50 grand or a hundred grand for their business. Lots of entrepreneurs tuning in are trying to raise money right now. So what do you look for in a founder that you're going to invest in?
- [50:30]
B
When I'm going to invest in any company, a the product has to speak to me for sure, and it has to be something that I believe in or I would use in my daily life. But the most important thing for me is actually the founder, because I believe when you invest in a company, you are investing in the founder. And so whether it's something that they're super passionate about or they're super intelligent and you know in your heart, no matter what, even if the product was maybe an 8 on a scale from 1 to 10, you have an amazing founder. They have marketing hacks or whatever it may be, they're going to make it work. They are determined and they have a hustle like no other. And a lot of times that I've invested in companies that have done really well, I invested in the founder. And I think that if you're really passionate about something and you come into that meeting, you come in with your pitch deck and you're meeting with somebody that you want to invest in your company, it will show, it will show your passion and it's going to come off. And I think that that's something that I always tell people when they're thinking about investing in something. Because I get decks all the time. So so many decks come through my email and on my desk and everything else. And I really look for a super, super passionate entrepreneur. CEO, founder on top of the product has to be something that I believe in, but right up there with the product, it honestly is the founder.
- [51:51]
A
Yeah. You're investing in that person. You are on my show with two questions. The first one is what is one actionable piece of advice you can give our young and profits so they can become more profitable tomorrow?
- [52:05]
B
Do it today. If you are struggling with when you should start, do it today. Make a step in the right direction. Whether it's calling somebody, whether it's starting a business plan, whether it's writing in your notebook and coming up with a business plan or ideas, do something today that's a step in the right direction.
- [52:22]
A
Yeah, I love that. It's so true. A lot of people are just so stuck. They don't make any moves. They just want to keep learning and learning and learning and you've got to just execute at some point.
- [52:32]
B
Exactly. And you said, what should I do? For tomorrow. And my point is we'll do it today. And I think that that's a great piece of advice for someone. Okay, well, what should you do for tomorrow? Do it today. Take one step in the right direction. Whether it's writing down in your notebook like me and writing down your goals or how you can execute something. So that's my little piece of advice.
- [52:52]
A
And what is your secret to profiting in life? And this can go beyond business and financial, but what is your secret to profiting in life?
- [53:00]
B
I think being genuine and a kind hearted person is the most important thing. And I think that we're in a world where sometimes there's a lot of competition and sometimes we forget that there's other people out there that are struggling and things like that. And I think one thing for me that I've always stayed true to myself is I've always been super family oriented. I've always put other people first. And I know it sounds cheesy and whatever else, but I really do believe that having a kind heart. I believe in karma. I believe that if you're a good person, good things happen to you. I strongly believe that. And I also want that message to go out there. So I want the young men and women that are listening to this right now to think about that when they're out and about during their day. Being a good person will reward you not only in relationships and friendships, but also in business. And I really believe that. I think that I am as successful as I am today because I always chose the route of being a good person and doing the right thing. And even when maybe it would have been more beneficial to be a little bit more cutthroat or cut someone out of a deal, and that was never me. And so that is definitely something that's super important to me, my message and anyone that wants me to be their mentor.
- [54:15]
A
That is such good advice. In the short term, you might be able to make more money or whatever when you skip over relationships, but when you actually lean into relationships and value them over anything, I feel like in the long run you always do better as an entrepreneur. So I totally align to that 100%.
- [54:32]
B
And helping other people too. Whereas maybe you're not going to get anything from it. Maybe if you're helping someone start their own business, you know, you don't have a piece of the business, but they will remember that and you're just doing a good deed. And I love to do that also. It brings me so much joy. I feel like everyone has a different love language and giving back is mine. So I think it's a huge piece of success for myself. So I think it would be a big piece of success for anyone out there that really wants to be an entrepreneur, a CEO and founder.
- [54:59]
A
Love that. Emma. You did such a great job today. Where can everybody learn more about you and everything that you do?
- [55:05]
B
You can go to any of my socials. You can also check out my website emmahernan.com and definitely going to be doing a lot more with speaking engagements and things like that. So I would love to anyone listening now to hopefully come meet me. I'll be in New York in November and Boston right after that and I'm really excited and can't wait to meet everyone out there listening.
- [55:28]
A
Amazing. Thank you so much for joining us on Young and Profiting Podcast.
- [55:32]
B
Thank you so much for having me.
- [55:38]
A
Yeah fam. I am so incredibly grateful for Emma for opening up and sharing so much wisdom on the podcast. Her path from humble beginnings to becoming the first millionaire in her family is so inspirational and is such a powerful testament to what determination and grit can accomplish. I'm especially inspired by how she turned ambition into action, not just to build wealth, but to give back to the people she loves the most. Emma is truly a role model for all women. Her story proves that you don't need privilege or fancy degrees to create financial freedom. You need to start early, believe in yourself, and refuse to let fear paralyze you. Here are the strategies that stood out to me the most from this conversation. First, when we talked about investing, she told us to invest immediately, even if it feels early. Emma started putting away babysitting money at 16, and that early start compounded into becoming a millionaire. But don't fret if you're no longer a teenager. Now is better than never. Whether it's your own stock, real estate, or your own business, time is your greatest asset. Start today. Don't wait until you feel ready. Begin today. Next, reframe failure as redirection. Emma emphasized that fear of failure stops more entrepreneurs than actual failure ever could. When something doesn't work out, it's not defeat, it's course correction, pushing you towards what will work. Every setback contains a lesson, so learn from it. Pivot and keep on moving. Finally, diversify your income streams. Don't put everything in one basket. Emma built multiple revenue sources. Manufacturing, her own product lines, real estate, television, all our different investments. And this approach creates financial stability as well as mental peace. If one area struggles, the other can carry you forward. That's not just smart business. It's survival strategy for the long game. And here's another tactical gem to leave you with. Emma landed major retail accounts by going straight to LinkedIn, finding buyers and reaching out directly. No broker, no gatekeeper, just hustle and belief in her product. She didn't let anybody stop stop her from achieving her goals. She went straight to the source. Sometimes the shortcut is simply being bold enough to ask. Thank you so much for listening to this episode of Young and Profiting. If you listen, learned and profited from this conversation with the amazing Emma Hernan, share it with somebody who needs that push to take action. And if you enjoyed the show, we'd be so grateful if you dropped us a five star review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Castbox, or wherever you tune into the show. Your support helps us reach more aspiring entrepreneurs. If you want to watch this episode, all of our episodes are uploaded to YouTube, so search young and Profiting. You'll find all of our content there. You can also connect with me on Instagram at Yapwithhala or LinkedIn. Just search for my name, Hala Taha. I'm not hard to miss on that platform. Huge thanks to my incredible YAP production team. I couldn't do this without you. This is your host, Hala Taha, AKA the Podcast Princess signing off.
- [58:37]
B
Sa.