45 min
Finding Your Tribe and Celebrating Success with Kristen Del Dosso Orange County Business Success
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- Careers
In this episode, Chris talks with Kristen Del Dosso, owner of KDD Nutraceuticals. Since launching her business mid-pandemic, Kristen has created a family of products aimed at helping others overcome nausea and enjoy life to the fullest.
In one year, Kristen’s mother was diagnosed with cancer, her father had hip replacement surgery, and the stress of her corporate job had Kristen’s doctor worried she’d have a stroke at any moment. With a new understanding of life’s fragility, Kristen decided it was time for a change. She had two big goals on her bucket list: leave her professional track and hike Mount Whitney. Eventually, Kristen found herself achieving both simultaneously – earning an MBA while training to hike the infamous peak.
Unfortunately, Kristen’s twenty-hour hike was derailed by motion sickness and the sugar-filled protein bars in her back pocket only made things worse. The top of her mountain didn’t look at all like she’d imagined or trained so hard for. Inspired by her plight and the entrepreneurship courses at UC Irvine, Kristen began the process of launching an all-natural, anti-nausea chew with the support of her classmates, friends, and family.
Chris and Kristen discuss building a personal brand, finding a support system, and the one crucial step rising entrepreneurs, small businesses, and large corporations always forget.
“Even though I keep seeing the money go out, I keep getting these positive testimonials back. That is honestly what’s fueling me to keep on going. It’s not a, ‘I want to create a company,’ it’s, ‘I have to create a company because my chews help people feel better.’” ~ Kristen Del Dosso
Main takeaways
Analyzing the economic cost of leaving your day job for entrepreneurship can feel agonizing. Instead, break larger goals into smaller chunks and work backward.
Find a support system that’s like-minded, on a similar trajectory, and wants to see you succeed. They will help you celebrate wins and learn from missteps along the way.
As an entrepreneur, creating a personal brand is just as important as building your business brand. Even your personal social media accounts are a reflection of your business.
You should feel valued and cherished in your professional life. If you don’t, find someplace that will appreciate your unique skill set.
Don’t dip your toes into entrepreneurship. Jump in head-first, ideally backed by a strong support system.
Links
Kristen on LinkedIn
KDD Nutraceuticals
KDD Nutraceuticals on Instagram
UCI Paul Merage School of Business
The Six-Pack of Peaks Challenge
I-Corps
UCI Beall Applied Innovation
UCI New Venture Competition
1 Million Cups
1 Million Cups Irvine
Microsoft Excel
Connect with Chris
Chris Struckhoff website
Connect with Chris on LinkedIn
Follow Chris on Twitter
Subscribe and stay in touch
Apple Podcasts
Spotify
Google Podcasts
In this episode, Chris talks with Kristen Del Dosso, owner of KDD Nutraceuticals. Since launching her business mid-pandemic, Kristen has created a family of products aimed at helping others overcome nausea and enjoy life to the fullest.
In one year, Kristen’s mother was diagnosed with cancer, her father had hip replacement surgery, and the stress of her corporate job had Kristen’s doctor worried she’d have a stroke at any moment. With a new understanding of life’s fragility, Kristen decided it was time for a change. She had two big goals on her bucket list: leave her professional track and hike Mount Whitney. Eventually, Kristen found herself achieving both simultaneously – earning an MBA while training to hike the infamous peak.
Unfortunately, Kristen’s twenty-hour hike was derailed by motion sickness and the sugar-filled protein bars in her back pocket only made things worse. The top of her mountain didn’t look at all like she’d imagined or trained so hard for. Inspired by her plight and the entrepreneurship courses at UC Irvine, Kristen began the process of launching an all-natural, anti-nausea chew with the support of her classmates, friends, and family.
Chris and Kristen discuss building a personal brand, finding a support system, and the one crucial step rising entrepreneurs, small businesses, and large corporations always forget.
“Even though I keep seeing the money go out, I keep getting these positive testimonials back. That is honestly what’s fueling me to keep on going. It’s not a, ‘I want to create a company,’ it’s, ‘I have to create a company because my chews help people feel better.’” ~ Kristen Del Dosso
Main takeaways
Analyzing the economic cost of leaving your day job for entrepreneurship can feel agonizing. Instead, break larger goals into smaller chunks and work backward.
Find a support system that’s like-minded, on a similar trajectory, and wants to see you succeed. They will help you celebrate wins and learn from missteps along the way.
As an entrepreneur, creating a personal brand is just as important as building your business brand. Even your personal social media accounts are a reflection of your business.
You should feel valued and cherished in your professional life. If you don’t, find someplace that will appreciate your unique skill set.
Don’t dip your toes into entrepreneurship. Jump in head-first, ideally backed by a strong support system.
Links
Kristen on LinkedIn
KDD Nutraceuticals
KDD Nutraceuticals on Instagram
UCI Paul Merage School of Business
The Six-Pack of Peaks Challenge
I-Corps
UCI Beall Applied Innovation
UCI New Venture Competition
1 Million Cups
1 Million Cups Irvine
Microsoft Excel
Connect with Chris
Chris Struckhoff website
Connect with Chris on LinkedIn
Follow Chris on Twitter
Subscribe and stay in touch
Apple Podcasts
Spotify
Google Podcasts
45 min