Welcome to TeaPod…where the worlds of entrepreneurship and tea culture blend into a unique podcast experience. Co-hosted by dynamic entrepreneurs and CEOs, Martika Brianne Jones and Brian Alvarez-Bailey, TeaPod is your weekly invitation to join us at the intersection of business innovation and casual conversation.
In this Episode:
- Introduction and Check-in: A lively start with hosts Martika Brianne Jones and Brian Alvarez-Bailey, reflecting on their journey to the third episode.
- Special Guest: Welcoming April Caldwell, the CEO of Faven, for a candid and insightful discussion.
- Today’s Tea Choices:
- April Caldwell’s Choice: Peach Apricot Tea.
- Martika’s Choice: Tropical Coco, with hints of mango.
- Brian’s Choice: THEY DIDN’T GET TO MINE!!!!
- Journey to Entrepreneurship: April shares her transition from a dental laboratory technician in the Air Force to starting Faven.
- The Birth of Faven: Discovering how April’s personal experiences led to creating a unique marketplace for retail space.
- Challenges and Triumphs in Pitching: April and Martika discuss their experiences in pitch competitions and overcoming public speaking nerves.
- The Importance of Team Building: Insights into the challenges of finding passionate team members for a startup.
- Coping with Performance Anxiety: Martika opens up about her background as a musician and dealing with performance anxiety.
- Entrepreneurial Growth and Learning: Reflections on growth, adapting to change, and becoming comfortable with being uncomfortable.
- April’s Advice on Feedback and Decision Making: How to discern and utilize feedback effectively for business development.
- Trademark Triumphs: April shares her success story of acquiring the ‘Faven’ handle on Instagram.
- Closing Thoughts: A discussion on the importance of good legal representation for startups and final words from the hosts.
