From Fashion to Frozen Flavors with Alicia Liu, Founder and CEO of Lavender and Truffles

Description:In this episode, Lee is joined by Alicia Liu, Founder and CEO of Lavender and Truffles. Raised in the midst of art, food, and fashion, despite being encouraged to pursue business, it’s no surprise that she managed to incorporate all three in her career journey. Alicia joins us to discuss her varied career journey from her first job as a graphic designer to interning at fashion magazines, working at Prada, then Amazon, and ultimately founding Lavender and Truffles. Tune in hear Alicia’s advice and learn how her story weaves together her upbringing, experience, and passion to culminate in an inspiring, authentic business endeavor. Exclusive Deals from Our Sponsors:AWESOME CX by Transcom provides high touch, personalized customer experience services to consumer brands of any size! Email Lee at lee@stairwaytoceo.com to learn more about their award-winning services and Awesome Coffee Chats. Listeners get 20% off with Lavender and Truffles by using the code: LTFRIENDS20In This Episode You’ll Hear About:• [02:38] Alicia Liu’s family background and how her exposure to art, food, and fashion growing up informed her career decisions.• [07:37] Why entrepreneurship never occurred to her as a child and what her parents encouraged her to do.• [09:59] Alicia’s career journey from her first job as a graphic designer to interning at fashion magazines, working at Prada, then Amazon, and ultimately founding Lavender and Truffles.• [17:50] The two most pivotal figures in her career journey and how they inspired her to start her own business.• [23:37] Alicia’s experience at Amazon, what she learned about e-commerce and digital marketing, and how it prepared her for her current role as Founder and CEO.• [27:07] What inspired her to start her plant-based ice cream company, Lavender and Truffles, and how she incorporated her prior experience into the business.• [31:27] How she developed her unique flavors and launched the product in record time.• [36:35] Why she decided on the four-ounce portion size and how she landed on the name, Lavender and Truffles.• [40:10] The greatest challenges Alicia has faced on her CP journey thus far and her advice for others looking to pivot to a more fulfilling career path.• [47:55] Her greatest learning as an entrepreneur and advice for aspiring entrepreneurs.To Find Out More:Alicia LiuLavender and TrufflesLavender and Truffles on InstagramLee Greene on LinkedInStairway to CEOStairway to CEO on InstagramAwesome CX by TranscomQuotes:“[My parents] told me I had to go to business school, so I told them I was majoring in business and minoring in art, but I actually majored in art and minored in business.”  [0:06:50]“Instead of going to class for a semester, I actually went to work and I went to work in an ad agency in the art department.”  [0:12:45]“[Patrizio di Marco] took me under his wing, and I'll never forget it. There are two people in my whole career that have made a big pivotal impact and he was one of them.”  [0:18:40]“It came to a certain point where I was getting tired of the industry that I was in, and I wanted to switch to something els