Behind the Business with Michelle Toh

This week, Away CEO Jessica Schinazi takes us behind one of the most recognizable names in travel — and what it takes to keep building when the market moves faster than ever.
In this conversation, we dive into:

00:00: Introduction

02:04: From Brazil and France to building a life in New York

02:41: How family dynamics shaped Jessica’s leadership style

03:16: Leadership lessons from Dyson, Amazon and LVMH

06:09: Away’s brand strategy and competitive advantage

08:48: Joining Away at a pivotal moment

11:11: How Away navigated previous leadership challenges and COVID

14:18: Jessica’s approach to fostering a positive company culture

16:17: First priorities as CEO: Why Jessica spent her first year visiting every Away store and factory before putting her strategy in place

19:07 Ad

20:06: Where Away sees opportunity in the market

21:05: Away’s social media and lifestyle marketing strategy

23:32: How brands can navigate copycats and dupes

26:09 Ad

27:31: How Away navigates challenges in a volatile business landscape

29:08: How Away, a poster child of the DTC boom, is expanding into retail and wholesale

32:22: Finding the balance between DTC and wholesale

33:58: Away’s brand partnership strategy

36:48: How Away is rethinking its products around different travelers' pain points — including with a new so-called “closet on wheels”

38:13: Away’s expansion into softside luggage and new categories

41:33: Away’s international growth and localization strategy

45:05: How Away is approaching AI for business and travel

47:28: How Jessica balances daily priorities for sustainable growth

49:30: Jessica's response to potential IPO plans

50:08: Jessica’s 10-year vision for Away

52:17: Audience question

53:46: Rapid-fire round

This episode is brought to you by our show sponsors:

• QUO: Try QUO for free PLUS get 20% off your first 6 months at https://www.quo.com/BTB
• MasterClass: Get at least 15% off any annual membership at https://www.masterclass.com/BTB

🚀 Season 2 of Behind the Business is here, featuring the leaders of brands including Airbnb, Rivian, NYSE, Canva, Samsung, Poppi, Peloton, Revolve, Lucid Motors, PHLUR, The Points Guy and Away. New episodes Thursdays.

👇🏼 *SUBSCRIBE + FOLLOW:*
YouTube: https://bit.ly/YTBTB
Apple Podcasts: http://bit.ly/3IFGuIA
Spotify: https://bit.ly/SpotiBTB
Amazon Music: http://bit.ly/4pPZZPp

🎙️ About Behind the Business

Behind the Business is a Webby Award-winning, thoughtfully produced video podcast grounded in the belief that business is in fact personal. This is not a fawning interview show. We pair deep research with thorough interviews — asking the real questions and avoiding fluff, while keeping it fun! What’s the toughest day you’ve ever had at work? How did you get started when you practically had no money? Or how do you mentally prep for a big event? In each episode, guests get into it all. Each episode also connects guests with young founders who send in a question. New episodes Thursdays.

About Michelle Toh
Michelle is an award-winning international journalist, most recently a longtime reporter at CNN. She's covered top stories in global business, including the chip and trade wars, world-leading IPOs, the corporate response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Europe's energy crisis and China's property problems. Previously, she was with FORTUNE. She has reported for The New York Times, TIME and South China Morning Post.

Instagram: / bymichelletoh

TikTok: / behindthebusinessshow

#ceo #leadership #management #consumerbrands #brandstory #strategy #corporatestrategy #commercialstrategy #travelindustry #lugggage #vc #scaling #womeninbusiness #femaleleadership #business #businesspodcast #away
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This week’s guest is Peloton CEO & President Peter Stern. He takes us inside the company’s push to reinvent itself after its post-pandemic struggles — including its latest move into gyms.

Peloton became one of the biggest winners in business during the pandemic, but as consumers returned to gyms and life moved on, the company faced a very different reality.

Stern, a former Apple executive who helped create Apple Fitness+, calls the Peloton job a “dream” opportunity.

In his first year as CEO, Stern has set out to “refound” Peloton around a broader connected wellness ecosystem spanning fitness, mental wellbeing, sleep and recovery.

Plus, Stern shares how he manages Wall Street pressure, the “25” system he uses to help his team sift through priorities, the “one-touch” rule that keeps his inbox from piling up, and where he ultimately wants to take Peloton.

In this conversation, we discuss:

00:00: Introduction
01:24: Peter's career journey and early ambitions
02:45: Lessons from McKinsey and Time Warner Cable
03:55: What Apple taught Peter about subscription businesses
05:58: Lessons from leaving Apple for Ford
09:00: Why Peter chose to take on this challenge — and reaction from friends and family
11:06: Why Peter personally called Peloton’s recruiter to pitch himself
13:44: The "biggest misunderstanding" about Peloton
15:18: Ad
16:34: Strength classes, Pilates and breathwork: Building an overall wellness ecosystem
18:06: “Refounding” the company
20:21: Peloton IQ: What Peloton is really trying to solve with AI
23:06: Balancing Peloton’s hardware and subscription businesses
25:43: Why Peloton is expanding from homes into commercial gyms
29:11: Partnering with hotels32:03: The rise of GLP-1 and why Peter thinks it could actually be good news for the fitness industry
33:53: Peloton’s international expansion strategy
36:06: Balancing Wall Street expectations with long-term growth
38:21: Peter’s long-term vision
40:01: The “25” system that forces the company to prioritize

42:29: Overhauling its entire product lineup and launching four new products in 10 months
42:59: Audience question

45:03: The “one-touch” rule Peter uses to manage his inbox
44:12: Rapid-fire round

This episode is brought to you by Long Angle: https://www.longangle.com/business

🚀 Season 2 of Behind the Business is here, featuring the leaders of brands including Airbnb, Rivian, NYSE, Canva, Samsung, Poppi, Peloton, Revolve, Lucid Motors, PHLUR, The Points Guy and Away. New episodes Thursdays.

👇🏼 SUBSCRIBE + FOLLOW:

YouTube: https://bit.ly/YTBTB

Apple Podcasts: http://bit.ly/3IFGuIA

Spotify: https://bit.ly/SpotiBTB

Amazon Music: http://bit.ly/4pPZZPp

🎙️About Behind the BusinessBehind the Business is a Webby Award-winning, thoughtfully produced video podcast grounded in the belief that business is in fact personal. This is not a fawning interview show. We pair deep research with thorough interviews — asking the real questions and avoiding fluff, while keeping it fun! What’s the toughest day you’ve ever had at work? How did you get started when you practically had no money? Or how do you mentally prep for a big event? In each episode, guests get into it all. Each episode also connects guests with young founders who send in a question. New episodes Thursdays.About Michelle TohMichelle is an award-winning international journalist, most recently a longtime reporter at CNN. She's covered top stories in global business, including the chip and trade wars, world-leading IPOs, the corporate response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Europe's energy crisis and China's property problems. Previously, she was with FORTUNE. She has reported for The New York Times, TIME and South China Morning Post.

Find her on Instagram: / bymichelletoh

TikTok: / behindthebusinessshow

#ceo #leadership #management #consumerbrands #brandstory #strategy #corporatestrategy #commercialstrategy #fitnessindustry #wellnessindustry #software #hardware #exercise #siliconvalley #vc #scaling #turnaround #business #businesspodcast
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Joining us this week is Cameron Adams, co-founder and Chief Product Officer of Canva — the company that has simplified online design and become one of the world’s fastest-growing tech platforms.

What began in 2013 has grown into Australia’s most valuable private tech company, valued at as much as $40 billion and backed by investors including former Disney CEO Bob Iger.

Canva has transformed how people create everything from presentations and social posts to party invitations — taking a once-gatekept industry and making design accessible to more than 265 million people each month. The company has crossed billions of dollars in annual revenue and is now doubling down on AI as it enters its next phase of growth.

In this conversation, we dive into:

00:00: Introduction
01:30: From law school to design and entrepreneurship
07:28: Cameron’s early entrepreneurial instincts
03:10: Choosing passion over a traditional career path
04:17: What Google Wave taught Cameron about product development
07:00: Story of building Fluent and its failure
08:52: The connections that brought Canva’s co-founders together
09:46: Why Cameron initially turned down the opportunity to join Canva
12:17: Cameron’s accident hours before Canva’s launch
14:51: How Canva scaled to more than 265 million monthly users
16:52: How Canva built a truly localized global product
18:12: Ad
20:11: When should founders trust their intuition over user and investor feedback?
22:34: Why Canva scrapped its social networking features
23:04: How luck and timing shaped Canva’s success
24:18: Fundraising lessons for startup founders
26:37: How Cameron went from a shy kid to a confident public speaker
27:51: Canva’s strategy for competing with Adobe and Microsoft
29:14: How Canva built and maintains its global user community
31:27: The company’s biggest product shift with Canva AI 2.0
34:50: The challenges of building Canva AI 2.0
36:22: Has AI-powered design overcome its early limitations?
37:36: AI Boom vs. early innings
39:26: Will AI replace entry-level creative roles?
41:17: Cameron Adams on Canva’s IPO plans
42:03: Cameron’s approach to philanthropy and the Giving Pledge
45:08: Cameron’s long-term vision for Canva
46:11: Audience question
47:33: Rapid-fire round

Note: This episode was recorded in April 2026.

Check out Cameron's own new podcast, Prompted: https://promptedpodcast.com/

This episode is brought to you by our show sponsors:

Quince: Get free
shipping on your order and 365-day returns at https://www.quince.com/BTB |

QUO: Try QUO for free PLUS get 20% off your first 6 months at
https://www.quo.com/BTB

🚀 Season 2 of Behind the Business is here, featuring the leaders of brands including Airbnb, Rivian, NYSE, Canva, Samsung, Poppi, Peloton, Revolve, Lucid Motors, PHLUR, The Points Guy and Away. New episodes Thursdays.

👇🏼 SUBSCRIBE + FOLLOW:
YouTube: https://bit.ly/YTBTB
Apple Podcasts: http://bit.ly/3IFGuIA
Spotify: https://bit.ly/SpotiBTB
Amazon Music: http://bit.ly/4pPZZPp

🎙️About Behind the Business

Behind the Business is a Webby Award-winning, thoughtfully produced video podcast grounded in the belief that business is in fact personal. This is not a fawning interview show. We pair deep research with thorough interviews — asking the real questions and avoiding fluff, while keeping it fun! What’s the toughest day you’ve ever had at work? How did you get started when you practically had no money? Or how do you mentally prep for a big event? In each episode, guests get into it all. Each episode also connects guests with young founders who send in a question. New episodes Thursdays.

About Michelle Toh
Michelle is an award-winning international journalist, most recently a longtime reporter at CNN. She's covered top stories in global business, including the chip and trade wars, world-leading IPOs, the corporate response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Europe's energy crisis and China's property problems. Previously, she was with FORTUNE. She has reported for The New York Times, TIME and South China Morning Post.

Find her on Instagram: / bymichelletoh
TikTok: / behindthebusinessshow

#Leadership #Entrepreneur #Founder #Design #Unicorn #Scaling #Growth #Startup #Technology #Tech #Australia #EntrepreneurialJourney
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Joining us this week is The Points Guy founder Brian Kelly.

He turned what started as a personal blog while working at Morgan
Stanley into one of the world’s leading travel media platforms — shaping
how millions of consumers spend, earn and think about travel.

In our special new segment, “3 Pressing Questions,” Brian weighs in on
hot topics shaping travel today, and explains how he built a top creator
business that sold for tens of millions of dollars.

From why flights feel so expensive right now, to how industry shifts
could affect your wallet, to common mistakes to avoid when booking a
trip, Brian breaks down what’s worth paying for today.

In this conversation, we dive into:

00:00: Introduction
01:28: Starting The Points Guy as a side hustle
05:57: Why the points game isn't dead
06:38: How points really drive US airlines
11:28: How to get started in the points game
16:38: Selling The Points Guy
18:22: Advice to other entrepreneurs on building a brand
23:24: Stepping down as CEO and being honest about your own strengths
24:27: When should we expect airfares to come down, if at all?
25:22: Industry consolidation — outlook for United, American, Delta, Spirit and JetBlue
26:36: 'Debundling' of airline prices and how carriers are working to 'maximize every single square centimeter on the plane'
29:16: With current volatility, should we be booking all our flights ahead now?
30:30: Creating a 'couch' in economy: Brian's take on airlines' new cabin concepts
33:12: 5-star hotels, cruises and yachts: Where Brian sees the best value in luxury travel right now
35:10: Tips and tricks to make the most of your trip
38:31: Brian's biggest travel recommendation this summer
39:53: How US airlines compare to those abroad
42:04: How Brian's son Cooper became the youngest person to ever visit all 7 continents
45:07: Long-term view: Brian's end game
47:01: Rapid-fire round

🚀 Season 2 of Behind the Business is here, featuring the leaders of
brands including Airbnb, Rivian, NYSE, Canva, Samsung, Poppi, Peloton,
Revolve, Lucid Motors, PHLUR, The Points Guy and Away. New episodes
Thursdays.

👇🏼 SUBSCRIBE + FOLLOW:
YouTube: https://bit.ly/YTBTB
Apple Podcasts: http://bit.ly/3IFGuIA
Spotify: https://bit.ly/SpotiBTB
Amazon Music: http://bit.ly/4pPZZPp

🎙️About Behind the Business

Behind the Business is a Webby Award-winning, thoughtfully produced
video podcast grounded in the belief that business is in fact personal.
This is not a fawning interview show. We pair deep research with
thorough interviews — asking the real questions and avoiding fluff,
while keeping it fun! What’s the toughest day you’ve ever had at work?
How do you mentally prep for a big event? Or what’s a pinch-me moment
you’ll never forget? In each episode, guests get into it all. Each
episode also connects guests with audience members who send in a
question. New episodes every Thursday.

About Michelle Toh
Michelle is an award-winning international journalist, most recently a
longtime reporter at CNN. She's covered top stories in global business,
including the chip and trade wars, world-leading IPOs, the corporate
response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Europe's energy crisis and
China's property problems. Previously, she was with FORTUNE. She has
reported for The New York Times, TIME and South China Morning Post.

Find her on Instagram: / bymichelletoh
TikTok: / behindthebusinessshow

#Travel #Blogger #Entrepreneur #Startup #Founder #CEO #Leadership #CareerStory #CreatorEconomy #BusinessPodcast
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Joining us this week is Poppi co-founder Allison Ellsworth, who takes us behind the rise of one of America's fastest-growing beverage brands — from a kitchen counter experiment to a nearly $2 billion acquisition by PepsiCo.

In this conversation, we dive into:

00:00 Introduction
01:15: Growing up in a household of entrepreneurs, gaining confidence as a dancer and working cleaning bathrooms
03:28: Starting Poppi inside Allison's kitchen
05:11: The trial-and-error process
06:26: Allison's previous life working in oil and gas
07:31: Starting to sell at farmer's markets and being discovered by Whole Foods
08:49: Going all in— the truth behind the "overnight success,” including at one point almost losing their home and selling both cars
12:44: Product breakthrough after Allison's co-founder husband snuck sugar in
15:04: Pitching on "Shark Tank" while nine months pregnant
23:16: The rebranding and relaunch as Poppi
29:39: "Embarrassment is the most under-explored emotion when it comes to success"
30:45: The "black ops" budget/ playbook that helped Poppi stand out in one of the world's most competitive industries
33:05: Why Poppi gave equity to employees, advisors and ambassadors like Alix Earle — and how it actually fueled the company's growth
36:59: The rise of prebiotic sodas and competition like Olipop
40:55: Landing the PepsiCo deal — a landmark sale that underscored the rise of challenger brands in consumer goods
43:43: The emotional reality of handing over the company she and her husband built
44:15: What's next for Allison
47:36: Audience question
48:57: Rapid-fire round

🚀 Season 2 of Behind the Business is here, featuring the leaders of brands including Airbnb, Rivian, NYSE, Canva, Samsung, Poppi, Peloton, Revolve, Lucid Motors, PHLUR, The Points Guy and Away. New episodes Thursdays.

👇🏼 SUBSCRIBE + FOLLOW:
YouTube: https://bit.ly/YTBTB
Apple Podcasts: http://bit.ly/3IFGuIA
Spotify: https://bit.ly/SpotiBTB
Amazon Music: http://bit.ly/4pPZZPp

🎙️About Behind the Business

Behind the Business is a Webby Award-winning, thoughtfully produced video podcast grounded in the belief that business is in fact personal. This is not a fawning interview show. We pair deep research with thorough interviews — asking the real questions and avoiding fluff, while keeping it fun! What’s the toughest day you’ve ever had at work? How do you mentally prep for a big event? Or what’s a pinch-me moment you’ll never forget? In each episode, guests get into it all. Each episode also connects guests with young founders/ CEOs who send in a question. New episodes every Thursday.

About Michelle Toh
Michelle is an award-winning international journalist, most recently a longtime reporter at CNN. She's covered top stories in global business, including the chip and trade wars, world-leading IPOs, the corporate response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Europe's energy crisis and China's property problems. Previously, she was with FORTUNE. She has reported for The New York Times, TIME and South China Morning Post.

Find her on Instagram: / bymichelletoh
TikTok: / behindthebusinessshow

#Poppi #PepsiCo #Acquisition #Entrepreneur #Startup #Founder #CEO #Leadership #CareerStory #WomeninBusiness #FemaleFounder #BusinessPodcast
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices