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E96: Disrupting Toxic Industries: The Entrepreneurial Journey of Kari, Founder of EarthKind
Manage episode 362514100 series 3269577
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Kari Warberg Block is the Founder & CEO of EarthKind®, a purpose-led company that offers plant-based pest control solutions. She invented poison-free rodent and insect repellents and has helped decrease consumer reliance on poison & kill-based methods by 10%. Kari has achieved nationwide product distribution, carbon neutrality, ingredient and supply-chain transparency, and has advised the SBA, Congress, and the White House on policy that impacts women in business. Kari Warberg Block shares her personal journey and the events that led her to start her current business, a non-toxic pest control company. Despite facing challenges with education and a life-changing accident, she eventually pursued her dream of becoming an entrepreneur and now runs her own business. She found inspiration for her current venture after experiencing a problem with rodents on her farm and not finding a non-toxic and humane solution. This led her to invent a patented product that is still in use today, and she now runs the number one brand in America in her industry.
Throughout the interview, Kari highlights the importance of resilience, imagination, and determination in pursuing one's dreams. She also emphasizes the importance of focusing on what you don't know and asking questions, reaching out for help, and overcoming the fear of the unknown. Kari had to sell her possessions to fund her project and overcome her shyness and introversion. Despite facing numerous challenges in the early years of the business, including financial difficulties and leadership mistakes, Kari has found success by putting the business first and focusing on customer needs while crowdsourcing ideas from employees.
Some powerful takeaways from today’s episode:
A near-death experience can lead to a search for purpose, and it's important to focus on what you don't know that you need to know.
Overcoming shyness and introversion is possible when you make it about your vision. Asking questions and reaching out for help can help to overcome the fear of the unknown.
The internet has made starting a business more accessible, but starting a business can require personal sacrifices, such as selling possessions to fund projects.
Finding solutions by crowdsourcing ideas from employees and focusing on customer needs can help overcome challenges in the early years of the business, including financial difficulties and leadership mistakes.
Being a steward of the brand and driven by faith and the desire to bring joy to everything one does can help to create a successful and meaningful business.
Links:
EarthKind website:
Link to her book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1950466205/ref=cm_sw_r_em_api_glt_i_A83TGQ2ZK24NGY9C3Y3J
Kari Warberg Block’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kariwarbergblock/
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