Ep. 12: From Showtime Contestant to The Maverick Founder - Brian Gabriel Corella

What if a problem you experienced on national television became the beginning of your business? In Episode 12 of Beyond the Hustle, I sit down with Brian Gabriel Corella, creative professional, entrepreneur, and founder of The Maverick, a Filipino men's grooming brand built around one simple idea: Confidence Through Hair. But The Maverick didn't start with a business plan. It started with a problem. Before becoming an entrepreneur, Brian was a creative professional and freelancer. He also became a contestant on It's Showtime, one of the Philippines' most popular noontime shows. Being in front of the cameras meant looking your best. But Brian couldn't find a hair styling product that gave him the look and hold he wanted. So instead of simply looking for another product... He decided to make one. That simple problem eventually led to experimentation, product development, branding, and the birth of The Maverick. What started with a personal need became a business, and Brian's creative background became an important part of building a brand that speaks to men's grooming, confidence, individuality, and self-expression. In this episode, we talk about: • Brian's journey from creative professional and freelancer to entrepreneur • How becoming an It's Showtime contestant led to the hair problem that started The Maverick • Why he decided to create his own hair styling product • How a personal problem can become a business opportunity • The early days of building The Maverick • How creativity, design, and branding can become a competitive advantage in e-commerce • The transition from working for clients to building something of your own • What freelancers need to understand before making the leap into entrepreneurship • Why a great product needs more than just good packaging • Building a brand around identity, emotion, and community • The meaning behind The Maverick's “Confidence Through Hair” philosophy • The realities of running an e-commerce and consumer brand • Lessons Brian learned from growing The Maverick • And what creatives can learn from turning their skills and experiences into a business Brian's story is a reminder that entrepreneurship doesn't always begin with a business idea. Sometimes, it begins with a problem. Sometimes it's simply: “Why can't I find something that actually works?” And sometimes, instead of waiting for someone else to solve it, you decide to solve it yourself. A creative professional became a product builder. A freelancer became an entrepreneur. And a simple hair problem became the beginning of The Maverick. If you're a freelancer, creative professional, designer, content creator, entrepreneur, e-commerce founder, or someone thinking about turning your skills into something of your own, this episode is for you. Because sometimes, the next opportunity isn't something you find. It's something you build. Connect with Brian & The Maverick The Maverick Philippines: www.themaverick.ph Connect With Us Show your support by liking, sharing, and subscribing! We'd love to hear your biggest takeaway from this conversation in the comments. Follow me: @shansebastianty For inquiries and guesting requests: podcast@shansebastian.com Visit: www.shansebastian.com/podcast #BrianGabrielCorella #TheMaverick #BeyondTheHustle #ItsShowtime #Entrepreneurship #Freelancing #CreativeEntrepreneur #Ecommerce #MensGrooming #FilipinoEntrepreneur #BrandBuilding #CreativeBusiness