# Advice Line: "Strategy Sessions"

- Show: [How I Built This](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this)
- Published: 2026-08-06
- Length: 45m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2026-08-06-advice-line-strategy-sessions

## Summary

Guy Raz hosts an Advice Line episode featuring three callers seeking strategic advice from former guests Jeffrey Hollender of Seventh Generation, Sarah LaFleur of MM LaFleur, and Shazi Visram of Happy Family. Tony DeRosa of Hearsay Brewing and Theater asks whether to bring on equity partners or hire employees to manage his complex brewery, theater, and workshop business. Monica Sony of Tres London seeks marketing strategies for her premium, British-made children's clothing brand, focusing on building brand heat without a large budget. Sandy Dineger of Brain Buffs discusses pricing strategies for his adaptive test prep platform, debating how to balance a low-cost direct-to-teacher model with high-value district contracts.

## Chapters

- [0:01](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2026-08-06-advice-line-strategy-sessions#t=1) Introduction and Sponsor Reads
- [4:58](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2026-08-06-advice-line-strategy-sessions#t=298) Tony DeRosa and Hearsay Brewing and Theater
- [22:40](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2026-08-06-advice-line-strategy-sessions#t=1360) Monica Sony and Tres London
- [39:03](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2026-08-06-advice-line-strategy-sessions#t=2343) Sandy Dineger and Brain Buffs
- [53:13](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2026-08-06-advice-line-strategy-sessions#t=3193) Conclusion and Credits

## Topics

- [Leadership, teams & culture](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/leadership-and-culture)
- [Marketing & brand](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/marketing-and-brand)
- [Pricing, margins & unit economics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pricing-and-unit-economics)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Engine (other)
- Sofia (other)
- Framer (tool)
- Anthropic (company)
- Claude (product)
- Seventh Generation (company)
- Hearsay Brewing and Theater (company)
- MM LaFleur (company)
- Tres London (company)
- Happy Family (company)
- Brain Buffs (company)
- Second City (company)
- NetSuite (company)
- Gusto (company)
- Function (company)
- Mobile (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [#232 - 2026 Brand Resolutions](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2026-01-20-232-2026-brand-resolutions) (The Startup CPG Podcast)
- [130: Embarrassment, Then Relief](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/thoroughly-considered/2026-01-09-130-embarrassment-then-relief) (Thoroughly Considered)
- [078: Selling Products Direct to End-Users via Shopify](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2021-06-02-078-selling-products-direct-to-end-users-via-shopify) (Product Startup)
- [#186 - Bootstrap Heroes: Bumpin Blends, Lentiful and Drink Wholesome](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2025-03-11-186-bootstrap-heroes-bumpin-blends-lentiful-and-drink-wholesome) (The Startup CPG Podcast)
- [086: Marketing Fundamentals for Consumer Product Startups](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2021-07-28-086-marketing-fundamentals-for-consumer-product-startups) (Product Startup)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2026-08-06-advice-line-strategy-sessions. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to How I Built This.