E319- Karen Post: When Values Become the Brand
In this episode of Back2Basics, Leticia Latino sits down with serial entrepreneur and branding expert Karen Post to explore what it really means to reinvent yourself. From launching a successful PR firm at 22 without following a traditional path, to losing everything in a failed startup and finding the courage to begin again, Karen shares candid lessons on resilience, failure, and trusting your instincts. The conversation dives into the power of pivoting into your true sweet spot, investing unapologetically in yourself, and redefining what a brand really is—not a logo, but what people think, feel, and expect when you show up. Karen also shares the story behind her latest venture, the American Prosperity Pillow, blending entrepreneurship, patriotism, and purpose. This episode is a must-listen for anyone navigating change and building a life and career with intention.
Learn more about Karen and buy your prosperity pillow at:
https://www.americanprosperitypillow.com/
https://www.tiktok.com/@americanprosperitypillow
https://www.linkedin.com/in/homefrosting/
Show Notes:
🧒 [1:50 Entrepreneurial roots: Karen shares her unconventional start.
🚀 [5:55] Growing that PR agency to 30 people over 20 years of success.
💥 [7:27] Investing in a failed startup, losing her savings, and hitting a painful low point.
❤️ [9:33] How a move for love led to founding a home staging company.
🎯 [11:11] The courage to pivot.
🇺🇸 [12:33] Birth of the American prosperity pillow: A 100% Made-in-USA product
🤝 [17:41] How the Prosperity Pillow project ties patriotism, quality manufacturing, and donations.
📖 [24:12] The fearlessness of youth, the power of momentum, and reframing your story.
⚖️ [29:05] The critical difference between what you're good at and what you're meant to do.
🎤 [33:39] Building a speaking & writing career.
💡 [39:00] Investing in yourself: how to choose the right programs.
🏷️ 43:05] Your brand is not your logo, it's what people think, feel, and expect.
❤️ [44:46] What makes Karen tick: family, her late father's memory, and her husband's partnership.
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About
All below remains accurate. However, for the next 12 months, I'm leading a very exciting project as my firm has earned the license to produce a collection of American Prosperity Pillows with America 250(TM). This a dream come true! I'm such a patriot and entrepreneur that provides an opportunity on a national stage and to give back to Veteran groups who are helping Vets learn about entrepreneurship.
My passion is home decor, interior design, and creating beautiful homes that my clients love to live in or sell. I lead a Tampa-based interior design, e-commerce store, and firm called Home Frosting. In April, I opened a retail concept that is a Fine Pillow and Book Bar. I started my career in visual merchandising, owned an ad agency, and consulted and addressed global companies. I spent over three decades as an international branding expert.
I currently contribute to The Tampa Bay Times, Bay Magazine on luxury lifestyle and home decor. My work has been on HGTV, Daytime TV, Fox, and in Realtor.com. I'm a twice-published author of two business books for McGraw Hill and AMACOM. Today, I spend my time in Tampa growing my design firm. However, as I was "born to be a business branding expert", I still love educating audiences on business, branding, and design topics.
