Zero Orders, Countless Rejections: How This Founder Went From Being Lost in Her Career to Closing a Deal on Shark Tank with Rosa Li, Founder of wildwonder

Rosa Li is the founder and CEO of wildwonder, a beverage brand
revolutionizing gut health with the world’s first prebiotic and
probiotic sparkling drink.


 


Growing up in Beijing, Rosa spent countless hours with her
grandmother, learning about the healing power of traditional
herbs and remedies. These early lessons in food as medicine
planted the seeds for Rosa’s passion for wellness. However, it
wasn’t until years later, while building a successful career in
finance, that she realized the importance of prioritizing her own
well-being. The high-pressure environment took a toll on her
health, and she struggled with gut issues and fatigue. Determined
to make a change, Rosa returned to her roots and began
experimenting with herbal remedies in her kitchen and that’s when
the first version wildwonder was born.  


In this episode, Rosa shares her inspiring journey—from growing
up in Beijing with her grandmother to navigating cultural shocks
after moving to Indiana at 12, which shaped her belief in
representation in business. She recounts her career transitions,
from finance and startups to launching Rosali Tea, which she
later pivoted to wildwonder. Rosa opens up about feeling lost in
her career, creating her first product in her kitchen, and how
COVID forced her to rethink her business after losing all
purchase orders—a challenge she calls a blessing in
disguise. She gives us a behind-the-scenes look at her Shark
Tank experience, why she initially turned them down, and how it
impacted her brand’s success, and so much more.


In this episode, we’ll talk to Rosa about:


* How perfectionism delays product launches. [03:07]


* Rosa’s upbringing in Beijing and her grandmother’s influence.
[05:24]


* How her culture impacted her personal identity. [08:00]


* Rosa’s career in finance and business school journey. [12:53]


* Career transitions can be challenging but rewarding. [18:15]


* Rosa’s struggles after business school and feeling “lost”.
[20:26]


* Launching Rosali Tea and going full-time. [22:15]


* From Rosali Tea to founding wildwonder. [25:42]


* Rosa’s first purchase order story and the challenges she faced.
[31:43]


* Persistence is key in overcoming rejection. [36:15]


* How COVID-19 reshaped business strategies. [40:48]


* Adapting to market changes is essential for survival. [45:00]


* Rosa’s Shark Tank experience. [46:12]


* The influence of packaging on consumer preferences. [47:39]


* How she sold out on Amazon. [49:45]


* Understanding your finances is key to building a sustainable,
successful business. [52:52]


This episode is brought to you by Beeya:


* If you or anyone you know have been struggling with hormonal
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to download the free guide to tackling hormonal imbalances and to
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* Plus, get $10 off your order by using promo code
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Follow Yasmin:


* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yasminknouri


* Website: https://www.behindherempire.com


Follow Rosa: 


* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drinkwildwonder


* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rosalisays


* Website: https://drinkwildwonder.com


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