Stairway to CEO

Description:

Joining the show today is Hans Schrei, a passionate entrepreneur who is using his business to create safe spaces for the LGBTQIA+ community, one cookie at a time. Hans is the Founder and CEO of Wunderkeks, a company that not only sells unbelievably delicious cookies but sees every sweet treat as a pathway to the rituals that allow us to connect with one another. In our conversation, Hans reflects on his upbringing in Guatemala and the challenges of being queer in a conservative Catholic society before recounting his journey as an entrepreneur and the story of how Wunderkeks went from being sold at farmer’s markets to gaining massive online orders, practically overnight. Hans also shares some of the key lessons he’s learned from fundraising and leaves listeners with the one piece of advice he believes is imperative for founders to persevere and thrive.

Exclusive Deals from Our Sponsors:

• Give the gift of the world’s most beautiful spice rack and get 15% off by using the promo code STAIRWAY15 at www.evermill.com
• Get 20% off luxury fitness equipment that you won’t want to hide in your closet by using the promo code STAIRWAY20 at www.equiptmovement.com

In This Episode You’ll Hear About: 

• [02:46] Hans’s experiences of growing up in Guatemala, the challenges of being queer in a conservative Catholic society, and why he moved to Austin, Texas.
• [12:57] Why Hans was drawn to entrepreneurship from a young age and the satisfaction and difficulties of owning your own business.
• [17:14] Misconceptions that people have about entrepreneurship and the immense dedication, grit, and care it takes to persevere and succeed.
• [26:18] The founding story of Wunderkeks and the tweet that earned them 700 orders overnight (and 25,000 by the end of the month!)
• [29:55] How an Apple iOS privacy update helped Hans and his partner uncover their ‘why’.
• [32:17] Hans and his partner’s decision to be a proudly queer company, the homophobic backlash that followed, and the messages of encouragement they received.
• [36:02] How Wunderkeks embraced the idea of becoming a safe space for consumers and the privilege of always being in a space where you can be yourself.
• [41:35] Hans’s experience with fundraising, the importance of viewing your company from the investors’ perspective, and how they found a clear and successful strategy.
• [48:15] Separating yourself from the business and the importance of becoming more comfortable with other people getting involved in your company.
• [51:47] What’s next for Wunderkeks and Hans’s advice for young entrepreneurs today.

To Find Out More:

Wunderkeks

Hans Schrei on LinkedIn

Lee Greene on LinkedIn

Quotes: 

“[In a strict Catholic country] you spend a lot of time code switching which is so exhausting — you're asking yourself, ‘Am I passing?’ all the time.” — [0:04:12]

“I have a complicated relationship with my home country.” — [0:05:23]

“One thing that I really appreciate about my parents is that they never tried to make me into something that I was not.” — [0:06:44]

“[With being an entrepreneur] I'm still asking myself every so often, ‘Why the hell do I do this to myself?’ But for the most part, it is good. It's exciting.” — [0:15:53]

“Some people really fall in love with the idea of being an entrepreneur, and they ‘think I'm gonna be my own boss’, [but that is] the furthest [thing] from the truth.” — [0:17:23]

“Particularly in the food space, you can tell when someone is winging it. It's not gonna work. They're not gonna make it. You have to really be willing to walk through fire for what you're doing.” — [0:17:32]

“In my space, in our space, in the retail space, it's very easy to forget that what you're selling is a luxury product.” — [0:37:22]

“How the hell did this company crash? They raised $100 million. And it's because they didn't have a plan.” — [0:44:16]

“You need to learn to put yourself in the investors' shoes and say, ‘That is what they're looking at.’” — [0:46:45]

“Get a therapist if you're a founder, because it's super rough and the level of self-doubt is so big.” — [0:53:00]

Description:

Christopher Gallant joins the show today to share his story and childhood dreams of becoming a lawyer, studying at MIT, starting The Bronx Brewery, and becoming a CEO. Chris is the CEO of the incredible talent-led brand, Chamberlain Coffee and has many years of experience in the beverage industry. In this episode, Chris tells us all about his illustrious career in multiple massive beverage companies, his very own business, how imposter syndrome affects him, and much more! We delve into his particular leadership style before he tells us what it’s like to work with a celebrity and run a talent-led brand. Wrapping up, he shares some pearls of wisdom for aspiring entrepreneurs and CEOs!

Exclusive Deals from Our Sponsors:

• Give the gift of the world’s most beautiful spice rack and get 15% off by using the promo code STAIRWAY15 at www.evermill.com
• Get 20% off luxury fitness equipment that you won’t want to hide in your closet by using the promo code STAIRWAY20 at www.equiptmovement.com

In This Episode You’ll Hear About: 

• [03:43] Chris tells us about his childhood, his family, the sports he played, and what it was like growing up in Boston. 
• [12:08] When Chris knew he wanted to be an entrepreneur and the journey and challenges through drink companies to make it to his goal. 
• [16:33] What it was like to work at Red Bull, how they continuously grow, what Chris learned, and the challenges he faced there.
• [18:24] How he dove into non-alcoholic beverages through health, wellness, and kombucha. 
• [19:17] How Chris entered the coffee category, what the team was like when he joined Chamberlain Coffee, and why he’s moving them into retail. 
• [21:40] Where Chamberlain Coffee raises its funds from and the key to finding investors. 
• [26:58] Why imposter syndrome is very real and how Chris has grown personally and professionally as a leader based on his leadership style.
• [31:35] Chris tells us what it’s like to work with a celebrity, Emma Chamberlain, and why she created Chamberlain Coffee.  
• [36:30] The challenges Chris has had to overcome as the CEO of Chamberlain Coffee and why they decided to split equity and debt.
• [41:52] What people don’t know about being a CEO and what advice Chris would give to aspiring CEOs and entrepreneurs. 

To Find Out More:

Chamberlain Coffee

Christopher Gallant on LinkedIn

Lee Greene on LinkedIn

Quotes:

“[You should] find what you like and not be afraid to try new things.” — Christopher Gallant [0:06:32]

“I think it’s healthy to do lots of different things and to get different perspectives.” — Christopher Gallant [0:07:31]

“I realized I don’t really enjoy [software engineering,] I’m not very good at it, so maybe I should find something else to do. I met some really great people that I’m still friends with now but that path wasn’t for me.” — Christopher Gallant [0:09:11]

“I didn’t have enough of a worldview yet. I think that’s one of the challenges: I went to a regional university that had more of a regional view than a worldview. I really wanted to be with people that have been everywhere and have done everything.” — Christopher Gallant [0:09:41]

“A really big threat that I found at MIT and I hadn’t seen anywhere is this willingness to take risks and to do anything.” — Christopher Gallant [0:10:27]

“If we’re going to become a big company we need to be where people buy their coffee every week.” — Christopher Gallant [0:20:54]

“What are investors looking for? [You have to] make sure you’re finding an investor that’s looking for the same thing as you are. That alignment is key.” — Christopher Gallant [0:22:44]

“Getting [investors] that understand your industry is very important.” — Christopher Gallant [0:26:01]

“One of those things that you do as a leader is you challenge yourself. You put yourself in situations where you are forced to figure out how to do things.” — Christopher Gallant [0:28:45]

“One of the ways I’ve personally grown is I put myself in situations where I’m uncomfortable. – I’d like to think that over time, I’ve learned to think about people more.” — Christopher Gallant [0:29:05]

“If you think about people first, other things will fall into place.” — Christopher Gallant [0:29:38]

“Pay attention to your mental health. The enormity of starting a business is huge and it can be all-consuming. So pay attention to your mental health, find an outlet, and know when you’ve reached your limit.”  — Christopher Gallant [0:43:18]

In this episode, Lee is joined by the Co-Founder and CEO of Genius Juice, Alex Bayer, to share his entrepreneurship journey. Alex opens up about his struggles with social anxiety growing up, how his lifestyle supports him through personal challenges, and the sales ability his introspection has afforded him. We learn about the genesis of Genius Juice and the lessons Alex learned along the way, as well as his experience of pitching his business on Shark Tank. Tune in to discover how a life coach inspired a major shift in Alex’s trajectory and hear his astute advice for aspiring entrepreneurs!

• Give the gift of the world’s most beautiful spice rack and get 15% off by using the promo code STAIRWAY15 at www.evermill.com
• Get 20% off luxury fitness equipment that you won’t want to hide in your closet by using the promo code STAIRWAY20 at www.equiptmovement.com

• [03:06] Alex Bayer’s experience of “parentpreneurship” as a new parent.
• [06:49] How Alex’s upbringing informed the way he works through personal challenges.
• [09:44] His early interests, aspirations, and forays into entrepreneurship. 
• [15:51] His unusual college job selling cellphone plans and where he went from there.
• [17:42] How he managed his social anxiety in sales roles; how his introspection aided him.
• [23:03] His shift to non-profit work, and ultimately the food and beverage industry.
• [29:22] The genesis of Genius Juice and what Alex learned about building a brand.
• [38:43] The Shark Tank reality.
• [42:55] Genius Juice’s current status and future endeavors.
• [44:44] Alex’s advice for aspiring entrepreneurs and those in the thick of building a business.

Genius Juice

Alex Bayer on LinkedIn

Genius Juice Crowdfunding Campaign

Lee Greene on LinkedIn

“The first three [or] four years of your life are so crucial. It actually locks in who you are for the rest of your life—your brain chemistry [and] your personality.” — Alex Bayer [0:08:18]

“Exercise, meditation, and yoga really help you to work through a lot of anxiety or challenges.” — Alex Bayer [0:09:07]

“If you eat the right things, the chemistry in your body [improves]. You feel better, you feel happier, [and] you feel more clarity.” — Alex Bayer [0:09:18]

“Growing up, I was always an entrepreneur. I used to buy and sell Star Wars figures on eBay.” — Alex Bayer [0:15:09]

“I’ve always thought against the grain and wanted to do things differently from others.” — Alex Bayer [0:16:34]

“The anxiety is always going to be there, no matter what. You can work on it with your lifestyle to limit it.” — Alex Bayer [0:18:20]

“Whenever you struggle or go through challenges, you learn about yourself but then you learn about others and how to connect better.” — Alex Bayer [0:20:17]

“Looking back, we learned so much but we did a lot of things wrong. It was just inefficient but you learn as you go.” — Alex Bayer [0:32:09]

“I’ve adjusted my energy levels in this business to not be frantically trying to do everything and really focusing on one thing at a time.” — Alex Bayer [0:33:32]

“Taking your time is the right way to do it in this business, to do it right.” — Alex Bayer [0:34:27]

“Less is more, in this business. You don’t have to take over the world. You don’t have to be everywhere. You don’t have to be in all the different stores. Just focus on the niche.” — Alex Bayer [0:35:54]

“You can do really well on Shark Tank but is that going to make your company successful? No. It’s going to help you get there. It’s really about the hustle, [the entrepreneur, and the product]. Those pieces of the puzzle help you to become a long-term successful brand.” — Alex Bayer [0:42:26]

“Have a really solid plan going into it. Take your time with it, don’t try to rush through things. You don’t have to get it done by tomorrow. Make sure to have a financial plan, as well. Make sure you have enough money to accomplish what you want to accomplish and also have an avenue for capital lined up.” — Alex Bayer [0:45:00]

Scout Brisson, the CEO of De Soi, sits down with Lee today to talk about her current leadership role and the unique journey she has had up to this point in her career. With some impactful lessons learned in corporate America, and a desire to head up something important, Scout made the leap into the world of startups, and soon after found herself working with De Soi's amazing co-founders, none other than Morgan McLachlan and Katy Perry! De Soi is now poised to become a market leader in non-alcoholic and sparkling drinks, and after hearing from Scout about their philosophy and brand identity, it's not hard to see why.

• Give the gift of the world’s most beautiful spice rack and get 15% off by using the promo code STAIRWAY15 at www.evermill.com
• Get 20% off luxury fitness equipment that you won’t want to hide in your closet by using the promo code STAIRWAY20 at www.equiptmovement.com

• [02:58] Scout's current home in LA and her early years on the East Coast.
• [08:08] Taking to leadership from a young age and Scout's path to discovering her entrepreneurial spirit.
• [15:37] Unpacking the pressure that Scout felt during her college years and the decision that she made to stop pursuing medicine.
• [20:34] Scout's excitement about working at M13 after McKinsey.
• [23:17] Advice from Scout about building a founding team at a startup!
• [25:55] Her biggest strengths and weaknesses; problem-solving, organization, and more.
• [29:05] Scout's next career steps after M13.
• [31:58] Tracing the birth of De Soi and how Scout connected with the founders.
• [35:17] Stepping into the role of CEO at De Soi and the conversations around this time.
• [41:10] Working with Katy Perry; Scout talks about the star's amazing energy and the values she brings to the table.
• [43:17] The future of De Soi and plans for the next year.
• [45:05] Scout explains exactly what apéritif means, and talks about some of their flavors and ingredients. 
• [49:02] Fundraising and investor conversations; Scout's experiences recently.
• [51:58] Scout's final advice for aspiring CEOs about self-belief.

De Soi

Scout Brisson

Lee Greene

“I wanted to be a dog breeder; that should be my fun fact.” — Scout Brisson [0:11:58]

“I really liked science, I loved my classes that I took in high school; biology, and chemistry. I wasn't exactly sure how that would come together for me.” — Scout Brisson [0:12:26]

“You've got to drop the perfectionism, and the over-precision.” — Scout Brisson [0:18:15]

“I am an extroverted problem-solver.” — Scout Brisson [0:26:00]

“It was all just a whirlwind of learning something new for the first time, every day.” — Scout Brisson [0:30:59]

“We were able to get scrappy solutions in place and launch the business, and we were off to the races after that.” — Scout Brisson [0:34:30]

“That's the beauty and challenge of startups, you look back two weeks and you think how much has changed in that period of time.” — Scout Brisson [0:35:35]

“It's me and the board, and we are figuring out the strategy alongside the management team, and working with the team every day to execute on that.” — Scout Brisson [0:38:39]

“We are all working really hard, so how do we make sure people aren't getting burnt out?” — Scout Brisson [0:39:14]

“I had managed people before, but not a team at this size.” — Scout Brisson [0:39:35]

Today, Lee is joined by Bill Moses, an influential leader, proven innovator, and inspiring mentor in the beverage industry. Bill is the Founder and CEO of Flying Embers, an alcoholic beverage brand that offers delicious, sugar-free, vegan, and certified organic canned cocktails, including flavored mojitos, hard kombucha, and hard seltzers. In this episode, Bill shares his lifelong love for napping and outlines how he started his career on Wall Street before navigating his first startup exit at just 32 years old, which ultimately led him to Ojai, California, where his popular beverage brand, KeVita, was born. Tuning in, you’ll learn how Bill sold KeVita to PepsiCo for $220 million in 2016, the story behind the name Flying Embers, and how a near-death experience with COVID in 2020 changed Bill’s perspective and enabled him to reestablish his business for success, plus so much more!

• Give the gift of the world’s most beautiful spice rack and get 15% off by using the promo code STAIRWAY15 at www.evermill.com
• Get 20% off luxury fitness equipment that you won’t want to hide in your closet by using the promo code STAIRWAY20 at www.equiptmovement.com 

• [03:37] Where Bill was “born and manufactured” and developed his appreciation for nature.
• [05:36] How his propensity for dreaming helped him nurture the patterns and thought processes that enabled him to become an entrepreneur.
• [08:15] The near-death experience that changed Bill’s perspective on life and business.
• [13:20] Bill’s journey from Wall Street to CPG founder (which includes two startup exits).
• [23:56] Why unyielding faith and commitment are crucial when faced with challenges 
• [26:26] How the old cliché, “when the going gets tough, the tough get going” rings true.
• [34:24] Tips for first-time founders on how to remain open-minded and pivot as necessary.
• [36:30] Why Bill believes that there is no room for arrogance or stubbornness.
• [41:13] Facts about fundraising: the role that experience plays and how to foster confidence.
• [44:03] The story of how Bill came up with the name, Flying Embers.

Flying Embers

Bill Moses on LinkedIn

Lee Greene on LinkedIn

“I always wanted to get into dream space. Maybe part of being an entrepreneur over the years, maybe that dream space is where I nurtured some of the patterns and thought processes that enabled me to do what I'm doing today.” — [0:06:09]

“I have a cold plunge. I get in my 45-degree plunge three, four times a week for four minutes or so. I got to tell you, the norepinephrine release out of that—talk about an amazing reset! Those are some of the things I do to keep myself balanced, and refreshed, and invigorated, and driving 7x24, which is what it takes to compete in building a brand.” — [0:11:52]

“There's something I love about building a company, and creating a culture, and watching people actually put liquid to lips, and have it be something that you created or crafted. That's really cool, but the grind of building and breaking through with a new brand is really hard.” — [0:17:59]

“Coming out of COVID, I really had to rethink things. I think the business suffered a bit because I wasn’t really sure, [after] having a near-death experience, that I wanted to jump back in.” — [0:18:21]

“When you're driving a brand and you're growing a brand, there's no time for idle thought.” — [0:20:15]

“Every company that is meant to win is a team of destiny.” — [0:24:02]

“When the going gets tough, the tough get going—you know what I mean; that cliché. That's a key piece to any entrepreneur’s success across any industry.” — [0:26:37]

“Sometimes, some of the best-conceived plans require pivots, adaptations, and alterations based on the learning, the market, target market, psychographic, demographic, usage, and occasion. All these things are very fluid in the early years, and sometimes, even as trends change. In food and beverage, they change quickly. Know that—whatever you believe today—you need to have an open enough platform to alter and innovate, to meet consumer preferences in the future.” — [0:35:30]

I would say to any entrepreneur out there, if you're taking meetings with folks that have done it and made it in the past and you have a weak spot, make sure you close that gap. And if you can't close the gap soon enough that in that meeting you have someone present that could address that topic or that particular function, corporate function in order so that you don't look ill prepared.  — [0:37:50]

“In today's world of TikTok and Instagram, etcetera, you’ve got to be a storyteller. You’ve got to tell stories about your brand that's relevant to your audience and the usage occasion.” — [0:40:12]

Today, Lee is joined by Blake Sorensen, the Founder and CEO of Blake's Seed Based. Blake talked about what it was like growing up in Minneapolis, how we got rejected from the NFL, why he originally launched his company as Blake’s Nut Free, and the three-month process he took to launch a successful Kickstarter campaign. He shares how he reformulated and rebranded the business, how launching a crispy treat saved the company, and so much more!

• Give the gift of the world’s most beautiful spice rack and get 15% off by using the promo code STAIRWAY15 at www.evermill.com
• Get 20% off luxury fitness equipment that you won’t want to hide in your closet by using the promo code STAIRWAY20 at www.equiptmovement.com

• [1:31] More about Blake’s Seed Based, created due to a deathly nut allergy, and realizing the need for safe snack options. Blake created Blake's seed-based as a way to provide gluten-free and allergy-friendly snacks that everyone can enjoy.
• [3:10] What it was like growing up in Minneapolis as the youngest of four brothers with dreams of being a pro athlete in the NFL
• [7:40] How he learned to recover from the small identity crisis of no longer being able to reach his dream of being in the NFL, and focusing on new dreams
• [10:15] How he learned what entrepreneurship was by working at a startup, and it encouraged him to go to business school
• [12:20] The moment he knew he needed to start Blake’s Seed Based and how it all started due to a social entrepreneurship class he was taking
• [17:20] How he went about launching a Kickstarter campaign, raising $20,000 on the first day, and the three-month process it took to get there
• [31:00] What some of the most challenging moments have been, and how creating new products saved the company
• [34:00] What he’s learned in being a leader and how to manage a team
• [37:00] What’s next for the company, with new products and more expansion into retail, and the final advice he has for other entrepreneurs

https://www.blakesseedbased.com/

“Setting goals and being very regimented was a blessing in disguise.”

“My biggest takeaway was if I don't really have passion for that space I'm not gonna do as best a job as I could.”

“It was a light bulb moment for me.”

“The next three months were essentially putting together every different concoction, having classmates try it out, bringing bins to people, and just trying to put together something that tasted good, was free of nuts and the other major allergens and, and that it was something people liked.”

“I didn't start the company to make a buck, it was really solving my own need and realizing that other people also had this problem.”

“We aim to solve your snack need for every occasion.”

“A lot of the great ideas for me happen when I'm not in the workday, it's when I'd be on a walk or doing something totally different where things would kind of pop in my head.”

“The biggest unlock ast a leader is bringing on the right people and giving them leeway and letting them do their thing.”

“You have to have the passion for the product.”

“If you have that idea just take that next step. I was shocked by how many people are willing to help you out. Reach out on LinkedIn, reaching out to friends, getting feedback, and just sharing ideas with people in your network have been super powerful for our story.”

Joining the show today is MaryRuth Ghiyam, the Founder and CEO of MaryRuth’s Organics. MaryRuth talks about her childhood growing up in New Jersey to tragically losing both her father and brother, which inspired her to shift career paths, leading to the creation of her business and a book called Liquids Till Lunch. She shares how she went from being in debt to scaling her business without any outside funding in just seven years. She also shares some great insights on building a highly profitable business and why patience and time blocking are keys to success.

• Give the gift of the world’s most beautiful spice rack and get 15% off by using the promo code STAIRWAY15 at www.evermill.com
• Get 20% off luxury fitness equipment that you won’t want to hide in your closet by using the promo code STAIRWAY20 at www.equiptmovement.com

• (1:06) MaryRuth’s Organics is a rapidly scaling vitamins, minerals, and supplements brand offering high-quality, organic, and vegan nutritional supplements to benefit the entire family.
• (3:10) What it was like growing up in New Jersey, and why she’s always liked being a part of teams
• (11:20) The different jobs she held from working in real estate to becoming a nutritional coach, which led to the creation of her business and a book called Liquids Till Lunch. 
• (13:00) How she went from being in $700,000 in debt to scaling her business to over $100M in revenue without any outside funding in just seven years. 
• (20:37) Her advice on how to take care of people and be profitable at the same time
• (28:00) How to know when you should start making new products, and how to keep the business growing
• (32:00) Why she believes so strongly in time blocking, and why it’s a key to success 
• (45:00) What’s next for MaryRuth Organics, and the final advice MaryRuth has for aspiring entrepreneurs

https://www.maryruthorganics.com/

“I’ve always liked being a part of teams. It's fun to have a coach and to work together with people to try to achieve something difficult and to be on a routine and have structure.”

“When I started this company, I wanted to make sure we were profitable from the very first day.”

“Profit is a good thing for your company.”

“Ebitda or profit comes from all of these very small choices that you make when how you're gonna run the organization.”

“It is possible to take care of people and be profitable all at the same time.”

“If you yourself believe this is the right thing and if you can afford it and not have to borrow money or whatever else, then you should do it.”

“Be patient and put in the real work on a daily basis.”

“You want to be involved, not checked out.”

“Move forward every day, which is just these small, micro things, and that is why our company still exists.”

Today, Lee is joined by Tero Isokauppila, the Founder and CEO of  Four Sigmatic. In this episode, Tero talks about his first business attempts that failed, how he began a women's clothing line in Vietnam and progressed to online marketing for a tech company in Switzerland until he realized how coffee and mushrooms were underutilized. He shares how having a vision and mission helped him find a purpose in life, which is to help people elevate their health and wellness, and how this sparked the idea of starting Four Sigmatic.

• Give the gift of the world’s most beautiful spice rack and get 15% off by using the promo code STAIRWAY15 at www.evermill.com
• Get 20% off luxury fitness equipment that you won’t want to hide in your closet by using the promo code STAIRWAY20 at www.equiptmovement.com

• (01:05) - More about Four Sigmatic, creating crash-free coffee, almost unbelievable plant protein, and other elevated essentials using rigorously tested mushrooms to deliver mental and physical benefits in a safe, authentic, and delicious way. 
• (07:13) - Tero talks about his older engineer brother and the characteristics that set them apart from one another
• (08:53) - He shares the inspiration behind his move to the United States as well as his feelings regarding his time spent learning at Cornell
• (12:08) - How to find your mission and understand its significance
• (18:45) - He shares the beginning phases of Four Sigmatic and the source of its inspiration
• (23:22) - What he thinks is the key to maintaining a healthy balance between having fun and being preoccupied when starting a business
• (28:14) - He shares the advantages of working with a remote team, as well as the strategies for leading such a team
• (34:48) - The original concepts that contributed to Four Sigmatic's success
• (40:21) - Why he values the innate desire to lead, create, and construct, and why he thinks that doing this will make it easier for beginners to handle business challenges
• (42:08) - What he believes the significance of a natural drive skillset in contrast to a leadership skill set is and how that can be acquired through training
• (46:55) - Tero’s advice for entrepreneurs and what’s next for Four Sigmatic

https://us.foursigmatic.com/

“Planning is essential, but plans are useless.”

The more you advance in your career, the more you realize that beliefs and personality traits limit you or help you.”

“But maybe, more importantly, being yourself in that journey is pretty important and vulnerability to admit your flaws, but then not be too harsh on yourself about those.”

“As you achieve product-market fit, initial traction in one way or the other, you build enough skills, it becomes more about beliefs and personal traits that are very much the backbone of leadership."

“There's what I describe as the shadow is something about you that you think is true, but you don't want it to be true.”

“Every person has a part of us that we think we are, but we don't want to be.”

“I think the cool thing about coffee is that it's a bitter drink that people enjoy.”

“It’s great when you finally have consumers who buy products and are happy, but there's something about that. It's almost like your firstborn child or something like the Marvel. You have no clue what you're doing, but there's a Marvel period that made it exciting.”

Emily Griffith joins the show today to talk about her journey to becoming the Founder and CEO of Lil Bucks. Emily and Lee talk about her struggles with ADHD and feelings of shame, how she hired a burnout coach to help her get back on track, and how she fell in love with buckwheat while living in Sydney, Australia.

• Give the gift of the world’s most beautiful spice rack and get 15% off by using the promo code STAIRWAY15 at www.evermill.com
• Get 20% off luxury fitness equipment that you won’t want to hide in your closet by using the promo code STAIRWAY20 at www.equiptmovement.com

• (1:30) More about Lil Bucks, a sprouted buckwheat brand that offers a healthier alternative to granola and snacking with their grain-free superfood clusters and sprouted buckwheat crunch that you can enjoy on top of your smoothies, yogurt, oatmeal, or even in your salad.
• (4:00) More about Emily and what it was like for her growing up as the oldest of four, with parents in the corporate world but having the entrepreneurial spirit from a young age
• (7:30) What she wanted to be when she grew up, and the path she took to start following her dreams, leading her to study marketing and graphic design
• (8:30) How she got a scholarship to go a semester abroad, why she chose Sydney, Australia, and why she chose to move post college
• (10:40) The steps she took when she was diagnosed with ADHD, and how she navigates it while being an entrepreneur
• (19:15) How she discovered sprouted buckwheat while she was enjoying a smoothie bowl at Bondi Beach in Australia 
• (23:18) More about Lil Bucks flavors and varieties of snacks and granola
• (27:00) Lil Bucks retail strategy, and how they’ve started to sell into retailers 
• (37:15) What’s next for Lil Bucks with new retailers and moving their supply over to regenerative, organic, and certified ingredients 

https://lovelilbucks.com/

“I honestly can’t think of anything else that would make more sense for me, given what I'm good at and how I operate, entrepreneurship just makes sense.”

“In entrepreneurship, it’s important to know what you're good at, what you're not good at, what triggers you, what lights you up, what really stresses you out, and building your tasks and days around with those things in mind.”

“It’s all about building systems and mindfulness in your life to take care of yourself”

“You have to be okay with uncertainty.”

“I feel like I was like born on the planet to bring buckwheat to the people.”

“If you see these random super food seeds on the shelf and you don't know what to do with them, it's collecting dust.”

“In retail, you have a maximum of two or three seconds to catch someone and convince them they should buy your product.”

“You have to be the advocate for your own brand or company always.”

“Know when to ask for help, and allow yourself breaks and grace cause it is a very imperfect road. And I don't think it's ever perfect.”

Sharing their story today is Steven Eisen, the Founder and CEO, of both the functional beverage brand Elements and the charity bracelet brand Lokai. Steven and Lee talked about how he sold wooden pens in high school, and how his grandfather's diagnosis with Alzheimer's disease inspired him to create Lokai when he was just 19 years old. He shares why the top of Mount Everest might not be as beautiful as we all think, and what it's like running two businesses at once. 

• Give the gift of the world’s most beautiful spice rack and get 15% off by using the promo code STAIRWAY15 at www.evermill.com
• Get 20% off luxury fitness equipment that you won’t want to hide in your closet by using the promo code STAIRWAY20 at www.equiptmovement.com

• (2:36) What it was like growing up in the Boston area being a super competitive person and having the entrepreneurial spirit from an early age
• (4:30) How seeing his dad be an entrepreneur made him have the same drive and desire to make money of his own
• (6:30) How he came up with the idea for Lokai when he was in college, after his grandfather's diagnosis with Alzheimer's disease
• (15:00) The highs and lows he’s experienced in building Lokai, and what it’s taught him about business
• (24:00) How and when he decided to start Elements, and how he continues to run both companies at the same time
• (27:00) How he feels about raising capital, and why he believes if you don’t have to, you shouldn’t
• (32:35) How he navigates running both companies at the same time, and his advice for other entrepreneurs who want to do the same
• (37:30) What being a CEO means to him and what it entails
• (41:00) What’s next for Elements and Lokai, and how they plan to navigate different skews for Lokai
• (43:20) The final advice he has for other inspiring entrepreneurs looking to build their own brand

lokai.com and elementsdrinks.com

Podcast15 will grant listeners 15% off any orders on lokai.com or elementsdrinks.com

“Anything that I could do to make money as a kid, I would try to do”

“I view the game of business and making money as a score.”

“I think a key to being a successful entrepreneur is a very high level of self-confidence.”

“If you just keep going, you're that much closer to the next yes.”

“I believe you really learn to become a leader as you experience and learn more.”

“The cornerstone of any company is the product.”

“You gotta lead with your mission and what you're doing and have a long-term approach to why you're doing it.”

“I've always valued building a strong foundational business that makes a profit.”

“It takes hard work to master something.”

“You go through it and you realize that in every business there are highs and lows. It's about staying level-headed and continuing to push to the next.”

“If you don't fully believe in yourself, don't start, because it's going to be an absolute grind. If you don't have that self-confidence and aren’t obsessed with what you're doing and why you're doing it, you'll stop too quickly before you see success.”

“Make sure you're starting your company for the right reason, not the wrong.”