Calling all small business warriors who feel chained to their business! Do you run your business or does your business run you? You’ve poured your blood, sweat and tears into it and it is time to set yourself free. I’m Bobby Mascia – owner of a wealth management firm, family office, manufacturing business, 18 store Dunkin Franchise, and de facto business coach. My goal? To liberate your business— whether it be operationally, prep for a sale, a legacy handover, or self-management. The roadmap to this freedom is something we will uncover together in Business Unchained.” Join me as I learn about fellow entrepreneurs, dissecting their past, present, and future.
About Dr. Jenny Woo
Dr. Jenny Woo is an educator, entrepreneur, and founder/CEO of Mind Brain Emotion, a company incubated at Harvard Innovation Labs that helps children and adults build emotional intelligence, critical thinking, and communication skills. With a Ph.D. in cognitive science and a master’s from Harvard, she has worked in human capital consulting at Deloitte, talent strategy at Cisco, and career coaching at UC Berkeley.
She is the creator of award-winning card games, including 52 Essential Conversations and 52 Essential Coping Skills, used in 50+ countries. Her work has been featured in CNBC, Forbes, FORTUNE, Fast Company, and more.
As a mother of three, Dr. Woo is passionate about helping families and professionals navigate modern challenges, build resilience, and create meaningful connections.
Reference Links:
Mind Brain Emotion Social Media
Dr. Jenny Woo Social Media
Episode Highlights:
What if the key to raising successful, resilient children isn’t about perfect grades or packed schedules—but something far more profound? In a world dominated by social media, academic pressure, and emotional recessions, how do we ensure our kids grow up with the emotional intelligence to thrive?
In this episode of Business Unchained, host Bobby Mascia sits down with Dr. Jenny Woo to discuss her journey from corporate consulting to creating tools that help families and workplaces develop essential human skills.
[07:54] ”When I say village, it doesn’t have to be a lot of people, but you really need that relationship. It could be a partner, a friend, a mentor to just help you stay on track and keep going.” — Dr. Jenny Woo
[09:46] ”We are experiencing an emotional recession. We don’t quite know how to talk to each other anymore.” — Dr. Jenny Woo
Dr. Woo explains how her company creates tools like conversation cards to help families and workplaces build emotional intelligence.
At its core, Dr. Woo’s story is about the power of emotional intelligence, resilience, and the belief that success isn’t just about academic or professional achievements—it’s about building meaningful connections and leading a balanced, fulfilling life.
In this episode:
About Joey Cioffi
Joey Cioffi is the founder and CEO of Salad House, a fast-casual health-focused franchise brand known for its fresh chopped salads, made to order proteins and its Create-Your-Own salad option. Coming from a family rooted in the restaurant industry, Joey expanded beyond the traditional deli business into fast-casual dining. Through perseverance, calculated risk-taking, and relentless drive, he transformed Salad House into a scalable franchise. His journey—from working in his family’s deli to overcoming financial hardships—demonstrates resilience and vision for national expansion.
Outside of work, Joey values family, faith, and fostering a team culture that promotes growth and opportunity. His leadership combines business acumen with heart, creating a company where employees can build meaningful careers.
Reference Links:
Joey Cioffi’s Social Media
Salad House Social Media
Episode Highlights:
Building a business from the ground up is never easy, and Joey Cioffi knows that better than most. In this episode of Business Unchained, we sit down with the founder of Salad House to talk about the realities of entrepreneurship, the complexities of running a family business, and the bold risks required to turn a vision into reality.
Joey shares how his immigrant parents’ relentless work ethic shaped his entrepreneurial spirit and his early career in finance—a path that never truly felt like home. Then came the turning point: a seemingly ordinary red light where inspiration struck, setting him on a course to create Salad House.
[03:35] “My passion, my driver, is always thinking about my parents coming over here at 18 years old, 11 days at sea, not knowing the language, coming here thinking the streets are paved with gold, and New York is not paved with gold.”—Joey Cioffi
[05:27] “At 2am. . .my father would get the phone call, go downstairs, make the pie, get in his car, and deliver it. Oh my God, that was the mindset. He was just so hungry for success.”—Joey Cioffi
Success didn’t come overnight. Joey details the emotional, financial, and strategic challenges of scaling his brand—facing near financial collapse, learning when to pivot, and navigating the struggles of expansion.
[24:37] “I was failing my family and my kids, and I loved them with every ounce of my being. I wanted to set the bar of a lifestyle and providing, and never ever get below that.”—Joey Cioffi
Joey has always ensured that success never comes at the cost of his loved ones. He’s also learned the hard way that not every idea is meant to succeed—and that knowing when to push forward and when to walk away is a skill every entrepreneur must master.
Entrepreneurship can be isolating, and surrounding himself with the right people—and trusting his instincts—has helped Joey push through even the toughest times.
Perhaps the most rewarding lesson of all is that success isn’t just about personal achievement—it’s about creating opportunities for others. Through franchising, Joey has helped aspiring entrepreneurs build something of their own, turning Salad House into more than just a brand, but a platform for others to thrive.
[47:27] “My father always said, ‘Don’t sit under the tree waiting for the apple to fall—climb up and get it.’ That’s how I live my life.”—Joey Cioffi
At its core, Joey’s story is a testament to resilience and adaptability—the two things every entrepreneur needs to succeed. His journey proves that big dreams require big risks, but with the right mindset and determination, anything is possible. Let’s dive in!
