Tash Talks TV
Tash Talks TV brings you inside the minds of female brand founders and the leaders of the UK’s fastest-growing e-commerce tech companies.
Hosted by Tash Courtenay-Smith – serial entrepreneur, investor, NED and fractional Head of Growth – each episode dives into the strategies, challenges, and breakthroughs that have shaped the futures of some of the UK's leading founders.
Whether you’re a founder, investor, tech lover or you just love hearing the growth stories behind top brands, this is the podcast for you.
Tash Talks TV
Maria Hatzistefanis: I got fired from banking. So I built a beauty empire.
In this episode of Tash Talks TV, Tash sits down with Maria Hatzistefanis, the founder of Rodial, one of the UK’s most iconic beauty brands.
Maria shares her remarkable journey – from studying literature in Greece to working in banking, getting fired, and ultimately launching a global beauty empire from her backroom at home.
Maria opens up about:
- The moment she realised she had to create her own career path
- How she built Rodial from scratch, knocking on store doors to secure her first retail deal
- Navigating recessions, the rise of e-commerce, and the challenges of running a brand without external investment
- Why she wrote How to Be an Overnight Success—and the reality behind long-term brand building
- Her boldest marketing risks—including launching “Snake Serum” and working with Kylie Jenner
This episode is packed with honest insights, business lessons, and entrepreneurial wisdom.
Whether you’re starting your own brand or just love an inspiring success story, this one’s not to be missed!