Conversations

Although Mark Ramadan’s father owned a business with his brothers, Ramadan originally envisioned a less entrepreneurial career path for himself. His first job after college was at consulting giant McKinsey and Company, but it was an unexpected idea involving ketchup that drew him into entrepreneurship.Ramadan, along with the college roommate who became his co-founder, noticed that the condiment industry lacked options. So, they got to work in their Brown University dorm room formulating a ketchup recipe that did not use corn syrup and had lower levels of sugar and salt than the major brands.That was in 2008. While both founders worked full-time after college, they continued to build their condiment business, known as Sir Kensington's, on the side until it fully launched in 2010.“We tested our ketchup at tasting parties while we were in college, then worked on the packaging and marketing for two years before we launched the company,” Ramadan said.The Sir Kensington's line of condiments garnered enough praise and sales that it was eventually acquired in 2017 by Unilever. After Sir Kensington's, Ramadan served as CEO of Hu, an award-winning, healthier chocolate and snack food company, which was recently acquired by Mondelez.Ramadan sat down with David Cameron, City National Bank’s EVP of Personal & Business Banking, for a conversation about disrupting an industry, mission-driven businesses and life lessons for entrepreneurs.

Monique and Melvin Rodriguez are the dynamic duo behind Mielle Organics, a hair care and beauty brand that produces natural products that promote healthy hair. Their entrepreneurial journey has been driven by Monique's passion for beauty and desire for healthier hair solutions. Formerly a registered nurse, Monique transitioned to the haircare industry after a change in her professional perspective on life and fulfillment. She started sharing her journey on social media, experimenting in her kitchen to craft products for her natural hair. The outcome of that creativity would prove to be pivotal for the couple.Today, Mielle is one of the fastest-growing hair care brands in the multicultural space and, as of 2023, a subsidiary of Procter & Gamble. Monique and Melvin recently joined Nicole Auyang, City National Bank’s head of community banking, for a conversation about the success of their company, their partnerships and the importance of mentoring.

Janett Liriano is known as a transformational CEO. But her business acumen stems from an unexpected place: her time in the theater department at New York City's famed LaGuardia High School of Music and Art and the Performing Arts.Liriano and her sister Erika co-founded Inaru, a premium chocolate company that operates on a profit-sharing model with cacao farmers in the Dominican Republic. But the chocolate startup isn't her first entrepreneurial endeavor.She recently joined City National Bank's David Cameron, EVP of Personal & Business Banking, for a conversation about her mission to improve the chocolate industry in the Dominican Republic and her collaborative approach to business.

Some entrepreneurs start with a product they think will wow the world, but Damian Bazadona's entrepreneurship journey was inspired by his passion for live entertainment. Bazadona, founder and president of the Situation Group, a conglomerate of experiential digital marketing and advertising companies, started his business in 2001 because of his belief that the power of Broadway, live sports, arts and education could be enhanced by the growing field of digital marketing.After more than two decades, Bazadona's firm has grown to represent brands as diverse as the Metropolitan Opera, Meals on Wheels and Major League Soccer.Bazadona recently joined City National Bank's EVP of Entertainment Banking, JaHan Wang, for a conversation about his passion for live entertainment and technology, and how he combined those interests into a thriving digital marketing firm.

Sean Cercone, founder and CEO of Broadway Licensing Global, understands the powerful reach of theater through performances in thousands of professional, regional, community and high school productions in the U.S. and around the world.He's created, produced and distributed countless plays and musicals, including 40 Tony Award winners and 49 Pulitzer Prize winners in 90 countries.Cercone, who was named to Crain's Business Top 40 Under 40 list, recently joined JaHan Wang, City National Bank's EVP of Entertainment Banking, for a conversation about his licensing business, starting a live streaming platform for theater productions, and the joy of working with creative people.