Two entrepreneurs on friendship, support, and staying open to new connections.

When we talk on Dear Nina about making friends as adults, I often focus on hobbies, neighborhoods, volunteer opportunities, or the activities we do outside of work. But work is one of the most common ways adults meet new people, and it's something I probably don't talk about enough.

This week, I'm joined by Mara Smith, founder of Inspiro Tequila, and Kim Oster-Holstein, co-founder of Twisted Alchemy. Both women launched successful beverage companies as second (or third!) careers, and both found themselves navigating the challenges of entrepreneurship at the same time.

What I love about their story is that they easily could have stayed acquaintances. Instead, they built a genuine friendship based on shared values, mutual support, and a belief that collaboration creates more opportunities than competition.

In our conversation, we discuss how they met through industry events, why entrepreneurship can be surprisingly lonely, and how staying open to new friendships at all points in life can enrich both your professional and personal worlds. Whether you're a founder, work in a traditional office, or are simply looking for new ways to connect with people, this episode is a reminder that meaningful friendships can begin in unexpected places.

 

LINKS MENTIONED: 

• Kim's company, Twisted Alchemy
• Mara's Company, Inspiro Tequila
• Another helpful episode on making friends through work, but with another angle is #191 with guest, Lindsay Pinchuk, "The Case For Work Friends and Where to Find Them"
• Tickets for Dear Nina Live in Minneapolis on July 29th!

MEET KIM & MARA:

Kim Oster-Holstein is a respected leader in the food and beverage industry with over 29 years of experience driving innovation and growth. As Co-Founder and President of Twisted Alchemy, she has transformed the hospitality and home mixology markets with award-winning, 100% Whole30 Approved, cold-pressed juices distributed nationwide. Under her leadership, the company partners with prestigious brands such as Ritz-Carlton, Disney, Marriott, and Nobu, serving more than 10,000 hospitality accounts and major grocery retailers such as Whole Foods, Sprouts Farmers Markets and Albertsons. Previously, she founded and led Kim & Scott’s Gourmet Pretzels to multimillion-dollar success before its acquisition by J&J Snack Foods Corp. in 2012. A TEDx speaker, award-winning entrepreneur, and Northwestern University alumna, Kim is widely recognized for her visionary leadership, industry influence, and commitment to developing future leaders.

Mara Smith, the founder of Inspiro Tequila, is a former attorney, corporate strategist and stay-at-home mom. Mara practiced law at a large Chicago law firm before joining the corporate strategy team at a Fortune 500 Company. After her twins were born prematurely, Mara made the difficult decision to leave her corporate career to stay home. She never stopped thinking about what was next. Mara always envisioned running her own company and in 2020 she set out on her journey to create a new tequila brand. 

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Special thank you, as always, to my assistant producer, Rebekah Jacobs!