Education
Oh my friends this is a good one. Are you ready to be inspired and then jump off this podcast and get to work? Well get out your notebooks because this one is packed with amazing info. I actually interviewed Alexis Schulze, Co-founder and Chief Visionary officer of Nekter Juice Bar, in January with hopes to have her interview go live before Jake was born. Obviously it’s august and that didn’t happen so don’t be surprised if you hear me chat about pregnancy and mention the time of year- no i’m not crazy i’m just a solopreneur haha. Alexis and I get into the weeds of the mindset of growing a business. She shares that being vulnerable, true to yourself, and doing self work is at the utmost importance of scaling your business. She also mentions that as women we must get more comfortable with being in the CEO seat and leaning into our assertive and directness. Raise your hand if you can relate to this? I mean how often are women deemed bitchy if they have any type of emotion that isn’t related to “nice” and polite? Most women feel they need to behave a certain way, that we must make sure to not make waves or keep the masses happy. Here’s the thing tho- if you are an entrepreneur or a business owner with employees and you're living in a NICE world in order to make other people comfortable you’re not being authentic to yourself which in turn actually doesn’t help those around you grow. It’s kind of like when your significant other lies to you because they didn’t want to hurt you but in turn it only makes it worse. Learning how to communicate accurately as a business owner may be uncomfortable but it is absolutely vital to get your needs met and to be working from congruence. As you can imagine I was stoked to interview Alexis. Not only am I a huge fan of all of Nekter’s goodness (the pink flamingo smoothie w/ almond butter) is my all time fav but I also just so admire what alexis has done in her career. Alexis is still extremely involved with all the creations and recipes. She leads the award-winning company’s research and development efforts, creating menu items to nourish America’s increasing appetite for plant-based, functional, and nutrient-rich foods that support various lifestyles and diet preferences. A certified health coach with a passion for integrative nutrition, Alexis has been at the forefront of developing accessible and healthier for you fast-casual alternatives. With over 20 years of experience working with children in both preschool and elementary school settings and holding a Bachelor’s Degree in Child and Adolescent Development, Alexis combined her education, expertise, and passion into a children’s book, Sneaky Spinach, with plans to author more. Alexis is a well-known face of the brand, often participating in speaking engagements and social media narrated videos on the power of nutrition and plant-based health. Alexis is also the founder of Sojourn Foundation, a nonprofit connecting people through mission-driven trips that focus on working with children in developing countries in an effort to shift perspective, encourage personal growth, and positively contribute as global citizens. Alexis is available to speak on nonprofit creation and leadership, philosophy of philanthropy, and global cultural competence.