At first glance, Layla Lisiewski and Erika Badan seem to come from very different worlds.
One built a nationwide network connecting local families and communities. The other helped lead one of the most recognizable media brands in America. Yet despite their different paths, both women arrived at the same conclusion: in a world flooded with information, trust has become the most valuable currency of all.
That shared belief ultimately brought them together to launch Mule Media, a venture focused on helping brands, communities, and audiences connect in more meaningful ways.
For Lisiewski, the journey began after leaving a successful career in private wealth management at Merrill Lynch. While pregnant with her first child and preparing for a promotion, she realized something was missing.
“I enjoyed the work, but it wasn't my mission,” she recalls.
After moving back to her hometown of Greenwich, she experienced a challenge many parents know well: finding trusted local resources and meaningful connections. The solution became The Local Moms Network, which has since grown into a trusted platform serving families in more than 100 communities across the country.
For Badan, the path looked very different.
She began her career as an intern and receptionist at Fidelity Investments before building experience at companies including Microsoft, Yahoo!, AOL, and ultimately Barstool Sports, where she spent nearly a decade helping transform the company into a media powerhouse.
Along the way, she developed a fascination with audience behavior, culture building, and understanding what makes people genuinely care about something.
“I've spent my career trying to understand how communities form and what makes people want to belong,” she says.
That question remains central to both women's work today.
In an era dominated by algorithms, social platforms, artificial intelligence, and endless content, they believe the most successful brands are often the most human.
“People aren't looking to be provoked,” says Badan. “They want to be seen, supported, and helped.”
Lisiewski sees the same pattern through The Local Moms Network.
“In a world where people are constantly being asked to click, react, and consume, attention is earned by consistently showing up with information and recommendations that are genuinely useful,” she says.
While technology continues to evolve, both founders believe the fundamentals remain surprisingly unchanged.
Listening.
Providing value.
Showing up consistently.
Creating opportunities for connection.
“The technology keeps changing, but the fundamentals don't,” says Lisiewski. “People want to feel understood, supported, and connected to something bigger than themselves.”
That philosophy extends beyond media and into business.
Both women believe many companies spend too much time chasing visibility and not enough time building relationships. The brands that create lasting loyalty are the ones that serve their communities first.
“Brands that wait for people to come to them will struggle,” says Badan. “Communities need to be fed. You have to be part of them and contribute to them.”
As media continues to evolve, both are seeing another interesting trend emerge: a renewed appreciation for local connection.
From community events and neighborhood recommendations to small business discovery and in-person gatherings, people are increasingly seeking experiences that feel relevant to their everyday lives.
“People still live real lives in real places,” says Lisiewski. “They're raising families, building businesses, and making decisions rooted in where they are.”
That belief is what makes their partnership so compelling.
Together, Lisiewski and Badan represent two different perspectives on the same idea: meaningful connection still matters.
In a world increasingly shaped by automation, they believe authenticity will become even more valuable.
Trust.
Community.
Relationships.
These aren't old-fashioned concepts. They're the foundation of what comes next.
And for both women, the future isn't about reaching everyone.
It's about creating something people genuinely trust.
"If you can create trust, foster connection, and make people feel more connected to their community, you build something much more valuable than clicks."