YoStella: Build a Better Business - Inspiration for Improving Your Brand, Marketing & People

Each year on Fat Tuesday, New Orleans throws a “Stella and Stanley” party. This annual event honors local boy and world-famous author Tennessee Williams and his masterpiece, A Streetcar Named Desire.

The movie version is notorious for the scene where Stanley, Marlon Brando in a tight white vest, yells “Stella-a-a-a-a-!” up the tenement stairs to his wife. “Stella” might be the most repeated movie line ever and Brando never needed to act again except, he said, for the money. Like a legendary actor, businesses need to cultivate their craft: building an amazing brand, elevating creativity, and growing authentic connections.

At StellaPop, we believe every business has a masterpiece in them.

Contributors

Host

Mike OGrady

My wife thinks I'm in the can.

As StellaPop's principal mover and shaker, I get to make sh$t up for money, climb the zoo walls and poke the lions and tease out the inner drama queen even in the biggest man. Who could ask for more?

Yet, my life is onion or a burrito. Not sure; it must be lunchtime. Please allow me to introduce my selves: Man-child, Dad-Husband, ArmyBrat, Online Gamer @UnC**lwhip, Design Goon & Muscle, Basketball Shrink, Coffee Addict, Branding for Better Fiber, and Open to Amazing.

Seriously, the StellaPopsicle's strength lies in our badass, stone-cold collaborative culture. We leap small buildings in a single bound to solve and manage our clients' biggest challenges because we can. Oh, I think I'm supposed to say because we're - better together.

Don't forget to tip your waiter; I'm here all week.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelsogrady/

Co-host

Angie OGrady

As soon as my feet hit the floor in the morning, I'm running full speed, and that's the way I like it.

I spent 15 years as employee number one, the President and COO for Carr Workplaces, building it into a 30 location multi-million dollar business. Before Carr, I spent 14 years at HQ Global Workplaces, now known as Regus. I was coworking when coworking was executive suites, and now I'm leading the charge into 2025 as the industry innovates to a more flexible office concept.

In January 2015, I decided to join my husband, Mike, as a partner and thought leader on the business management consulting side. StellaPop's primary focus is assisting client CEO's in improving their people, operations, brand, and bottom line.

Co-host

Brian Wilson

I’m a type-lovin’, tuba-playin’ protagonist of fundamental design principles. From the beginning of my career, where print media still ruled the content war to the digital user experience trends that change weekly, I’ve been in the thick of it all. And for the past 17 years, I’ve helped elevate corporate identities through the power of good design.

Before joining the powerhouse StellaPop team in 2015, I was Deputy Art Director for Hanley Wood Media and later shifted to creative agency life at Hirshorn Zuckerman Design Group. Today, I enjoy the best of both worlds designing for companies that are in their infancy to mega-million dollar businesses looking to refresh their established brands. Having this spectrum of work enables me to view each client and every branding project through different lenses, further evolving their business and my craft.