Feb 16 2023
Mikaila Ulmer: How to Bee Fearless & Bee You with Me & the Bees' Teen Founder & CEO!
Welcome to the Season 1, Episode 1 of Smart As A Cookie: The Podcast, presented by USA Girl Scouts Overseas in partnership with Pop Singer/Songwriter Kristina Lachaga! It's time to meet Mikaila Ulmer: Teen Entrepreneur, Bee Ambassador, Philanthropist and Author!
Mikaila Ulmer is founder and CEO of Me & the Bees Lemonade. When she was just four years old, Mikaila was stung by two bees in the same week. Her parents encouraged her to do some research on the bees rather than being upset with them. Upon discovering the important role that bees play in our ecosystem, Mikaila was determined to help them. Using her Great Granny Helen's flaxseed honey lemonade recipe, Mikaila launched her business from her home in Austin, Texas in 2009.
Landing a deal with Daymond John on the show Shark Tank was just the beginning of Me & the Bees' many business successes. Today, the award-winning lemonade is buzzing off the shelves of over 5300+ stores across the United States, including Publix Super Market, Target, H-E-B, Whole Foods Market, Earth Fare, The Fresh Market, Kroger, and more.
Mikaila has shared her story with Good Morning America, NBC News, ABC 20/20, The Real, Forbes and TIME among others, and has been invited to speak on social entrepreneurship at prestigious gatherings including the White House and the United State of Women Summit, where she introduced President Barack Obama.
In our interview, you'll learn how to make a compelling pitch, how to talk to and meet new customers, tips for attracting new customers, how to turn a "no" into a "yes", ways to create a positive and great experience at your Cookie Booth, tips for having great people skills, and how to represent yourself and the Girl Scouts organization professionally at your Cookie Booth. Plus, how to let your personality shine and tips for calming your nerves when you're pitching your product (think: Girl Scout Cookies!).
Mikaila even shared some amazing and inspiring business tips from her new book, Bee Fearless: Dream Like a Kid! Mikaila released her book in August of 2020 and she wants to inspire YOU through Bee Fearless. Mikaila says, "I wrote this book to share my journey of starting Me & the Bees, teach entrepreneurship, and empower you to Bee Fearless." Order your copy of Bee Fearless HERE!
Mikaila is also all about social entrepreneurship (when you start a business to do good in the world!). In 2018, Mikaila launched her Healthy Hive Foundation where 10% of the net profits from the sale of her lemonade goes to saving our honey bees. She is on a mission to save the bees with her nonprofit where she teaches about the bees and does workshops, researches about the bees and pollinators, and does fun projects to actively protect bees and pollinators (like starting beehives and creating bee-friendly land with flowers and pollinator-friendly plants!).
Learn more about the Healthy Hive Foundation and what you can do to help.
Follow @mikailasbees and @healthyhivefdn on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube, and shop Me & the Bees Lemonade online and in-store HERE!
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Host: @KristinaLachaga
Website: www.USAGSO.org, www.KristinaLachaga.com
