How This Founder Escaped Corporate Life & Conquered Her Fear of Starting a Business with Kim Malek, Co-Founder of Salt & Straw

Kim Malek is the Co-Founder & CEO of Salt & Straw, an ice
cream company that produces and offers unique ice cream flavors
made by hand with local ingredients.


Kim had always wanted to open an ice cream shop, and in 2011
after years in corporate jobs at companies like Starbucks, took a
major leap of faith — Kim cashed out her 401(k), sold her house,
maxed out her credit cards, and organized a garage sale, all to
fund their first location of Salt & Straw, where she would
imagine flavors rarely seen in ice cream at that time.


Their opening values were centered around connecting with their
community, and working with local farmers, artisans, and
craftsmen to source the best ingredients. More than a decade
later, Kim has grown Salt & Straw to a hugely successful
business with incredible celebrity investors like Dwayne "The
Rock" Johnson and many famous chef collaborators.


In our interview together, Kim shares how she pursued her dreams
despite living most of her life in fear, and how her first job
out of college at a small company called “Starbucks” played a
significant role in shaping her career path along with key
learnings she had working alongside Howard Schultz, the former
CEO. We also talk about how Kim overcame her fears and
insecurities of launching her “dream business” despite knowing
nothing about ice cream, how she funded her business in its early
days, how she dealt with criticism from the many investors who
said she had a horrible idea, and so much more.


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


* How Kim has managed to pursue her dreams without letting fear
hold her back. [03:00]


* How Kim let go of perfectionism to make space for more
important things. [08:07]


* Kim’s first job at Starbucks and what she learned from Howard
Schultz. [10:09]


* The common threads amongst all the jobs she’s had in multiple
industries. [13:59]


* Kim tells us about the business plan she created in 1996 and
how fear stopped her. [18:56]


* How working for someone builds confidence and skills to start
your own business. [23:08]


* Kim shares some advice for women who feel too intimidated to
ask for help. [25:13]


* The catalyst for taking a leap and starting her business, Salt
and Straw. [29:45]


* Kim tells us about her business partner and his knowledge of
ice cream. [32:59]


* Trying to get the business off the ground and the finances
involved. [35:52]


* The importance of defending your idea as an entrepreneur.
[40:06]


* Kim’s intention to make her store an experience and earn every
cent she makes. [43:00]


* How they continue to harness a sense of community and their
values as they grow. [45:09]


* When Kim realized she had to raise money and how she got
celebrities behind her. [47:20]


* The importance of having good relationships with your
investors. [50:27]


* The mistakes Kim thinks some people make when starting/running
their businesses. [53:31]


* What innovation is to Kim and what she’s currently working on.
[56:50]


Follow Kim:


* Website: https://saltandstraw.com/


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


Follow Yasmin:


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


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


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