Shelley Gupta is the Founder and CEO of BāKIT Box, a subscription-service baking company offering culturally diverse recipes through baking kits with pre-measured ingredients brimming with global flavors. Shelley conceived the idea during the pandemic after realizing a gap in baking options. She began experimenting with no-fuss baking ingredients while maintaining her corporate career in marketing. Today, BāKIT is available nationwide, creating delectable cultural baking experiences for households, with features in the Chicago Tribune, Bake Magazine, and CNET. In this episode... Do you have an ..read more

Shahira Marei is the Founder and CEO of The Dirty Cookie, a gourmet dessert company renowned for its one-of-a-kind cookie shot glasses. The concept was inspired by Shahira's favorite dessert — cookies and milk. Having worked as a project manager at Boeing, she admits she is not the Betty Crocker type. After witnessing poverty during a trip to her native Egypt, her father's words inspired her to create Shot for Education, a program supporting education-focused nonprofits that provides resources, tools, and access to education for children in underserved communities.  In 2021, Shahira opene ..read more

Heather K. Terry is the Co-founder and CEO of GoodSam Foods, a sugar-free, equitable, and B-certified chocolate company that partners with global farmers. Her first entrepreneurial venture was as the Founder and CEO of NibMor, an organic vegan chocolate company that she later sold. Heather has over 10 years of experience in the CPG industry, having held leadership positions at S.W. Basics and BeyondBrands. Heather's interest in natural foods developed after witnessing her father's struggle with terminal lymphoma. She is a thought leader on natural products, a CPG mentor, an angel investor, and ..read more

Ayeshah Abuelhiga is the Founder and CEO of the Mason Dixie Biscuit Company, a frozen biscuit brand committed to producing food made with fresh, clean, and natural ingredients. To fulfill her goal of transforming comfort food for the better, she left her corporate job to open a small restaurant. As an emerging food brand owner, Ayeshah has been named the Washington Business Journal’s Top 10 Innovator in 2017, voted a Top Millennial to Watch in 2014, and the Number 1 Food & Beverage Stunner by Industree DC. Prior to founding Mason Dixie, Ayeshah worked for major fine-dining restaurants and ..read more

Kara Goldin is the Founder of Hint Inc., a beverage company most known for Hint Water, an award-winning unsweetened water with hints of fruit. Kara has been named one of InStyle’s Badass 50, Fast Company’s Most Creative People in Business, Fortune’s Most Powerful Women Entrepreneurs, Fortune's Most Innovative Women in Food & Drink, and EY Entrepreneur of the Year for Northern California. She is an active speaker, writer, and host of her podcast, The Kara Goldin Show, where she interviews founders, entrepreneurs, and other disruptors across various industries. Kara is the author of the best ..read more

Stefanie Garcia Turner is the Founder and CEO of Tuyyo, a modern line of Latin-American foods and beverages consisting of real ingredients. Stefanie’s inspiration behind her brand is rooted in the foods she grew up with and her passion for natural foods. As a former forager for Whole Foods, Stefanie has worked with several emerging brands, learning both the good and the bad sides of food retail. In this episode… As a food consumer, have you ever wished or wanted to make changes to some of your favorite food products? Maybe you’re loyal to a certain brand, but you would prefer it to have health ..read more

Jordan Buckner is the Founder of Foodbevy, an online community offering resources to help food and beverage entrepreneurs scale their businesses. As a serial entrepreneur and startup advisor, Jordan is passionate about increasing the visibility of minority-owned and women-led businesses. His name appeared on Forbes list of 30 Under 30 food and beverage entrepreneurs in 2018.  Jordan graduated from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign with his master’s in business administration and architecture. In this episode… As a food lover, do you want to start a company in the food and bevera ..read more

Chinese native Lin Jiang is the Founder and CEO of Yishi Foods, an Asian-inspired breakfast food company based in Chicago. After moving to the United States, Lin began craving the porridge her mother used to prepare for her as a child. Wanting to bring flavors to the US she grew up loving, Lin set out to create a nutritious and functional breakfast option, making the morning ritual more enjoyable. Aside from being a full-time entrepreneur, Lin is completing her MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. She is the recipient of Chicago Booth’s C200 Women in Business Award. In ..read more

Andrew Vrbas is the Co-founder and CEO of Pacha Soap Co., a conscious capital company producing handcrafted, artisanal products that enhance well-being and captivate the senses. Andrew was inspired to start a purpose-driven organization when multimillion-dollar companies began donating proceeds of their profits to underdeveloped countries. Pacha Soap Co. headquarters is in Hastings, Nebraska, with more than 40 employees. The company distributes products in South America and East Africa. In this episode... Most mornings start with a hot shower. The routine is a privilege some Americans may take ..read more

Anthony Spina is the Co-founder and Co-CEO of System Seltzers, the first alcohol-by- volume system. Consumers can choose to purchase multipacks of eight, five, or zero ABV, giving buyers the choice to dial up or dial down over the course of an evening or week. Anthony is a veteran beverage brand executive who worked as a brand manager for Pabst Brewing Company, Mike’s Hard Lemonade, and White Claw before founding System Seltzers. Additionally, Anthony is the Founder of Three Degrees, a selective beverage branding company that includes beer, spirits, hard seltzer, and energy drinks.  In th ..read more