Ep 331 | Allison McNamara

Written By Yasmin Nouri

How Losing Her Dream Career & Identity Helped This Founder Find Her True Purpose and Build a Skincare Empire

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Allison McNamara is the founder of MARA, a skincare brand known for its luxurious, algae-infused formulas.

Before founding MARA in 2018, Allison had an impressive career as a journalist, producer, and TV host. A trip to Turkey in 2015 reignited her passion for skincare, inspiring her to create a brand rooted in marine-powered ingredients. When the idea hit her, Allison started working on MARA as a side project while balancing her full-time job in media. With no outside investors and no formal background in product development, she took a leap of faith, spending years researching and collaborating with labs to create the perfect formulas. Her dedication paid off—today, MARA is a cult-favorite beauty brand, celebrated by celebrities and skincare enthusiasts for its clean, effective products.

In this week’s episode, Allison shares her journey from journalist to beauty entrepreneur, opening up about the challenges of self-funding a brand and the power of storytelling in building a business. Allison dives into how she started the business as a side project, how she chose to focus on her first product, and the many mistakes and learnings she had along the way. She also talks about the impact of celebrities like Chrissy Teigen and Hailey Bieber, how the products got into their hands, and why building relationships with influencers has been key to brand visibility. Allison emphasizes how listening to her community has helped refine her products and drive innovation. She also gets real about imposter syndrome and how learning to trust herself and be her own biggest cheerleader has been key to her success.

Show Notes:

  • The importance of storytelling in branding and marketing. [07:49]

  • Transitioning careers can be a gradual process. [11:50]

  • Tara’s early product development process. [18:34]

  • The significance of understanding the market and consumer needs. [23:24]

  • Experience in a corporate environment can be beneficial for entrepreneurs. [25:28]

  • Allison’s early mistakes in product development. [27:55]

  • Success often comes from a combination of timing, preparation, and perseverance. [34:00]

  • Celebrity impact: Chrissy Teigen and Hailey Bieber. [37:58]

  • Building relationships with influencers is key to brand visibility. [42:10]

  • Staying self-funded allows for creative control and strategic growth. [46:07]

  • Imposter syndrome is common, even among successful entrepreneurs. [51:12]

  • Education and practice build confidence in business. [53:07]

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Ep 330 | Dr. Yvonne Burkart