Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in food and beverage but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Liliana Orozco, Founder and CEO of Pachamama Fermented Foods, located in Austin, TX, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
I provide gut-nourishing food with our product line of fermented plant-based dips. We have a variety of fermented hummus flavors and a fermented bean dip. We aim to add depth to the diet with gut food that is elevated! From the flavor to the texture and the digestive support, our dips serve as an option for those that desire to increase or maintain their health and wellness through better-for-you options. Overall, our customers love that they are easier to digest, and finally have found a dip they can enjoy without all the bloating and gas.
Tell us about yourself
I have a son, his name is Everest, and he is now nine years old. When he was six weeks old, he had a spontaneous brain hemorrhage. His blood was not clotting due to a deficiency in vitamin K. This incident led to a lot of research about vitamin K. The conclusion to our research all pointed to the gut microbiome. What we also realized was that our gut health had been tremendously compromised for our entire life span, and this is the case for most Americans. Vitamin K2 is produced in the gut if the gut is healthy. We discovered that one of the best ways to boost gut health and immune function is through fermented foods. I changed my diet immediately and began learning how to ferment all sorts of different things.
Fast forward to November 2021, I finally decided to do something with my knowledge and passion for creative food. I chose hummus because people love hummus, and this hasn't been done in retail yet. It's something fun, new, and different. Each day I am motivated by the idea that I have always talked to my children about following their hearts and that they are capable of doing whatever they want in life. I am motivated to be a role model for them, showing them that heart, hard work, and persistence will take them where they want to go.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
My biggest accomplishment is the fact that I took an idea and a concept and showed up in all the small steps to get it into retail. Once, the idea was overwhelming to imagine getting that far, and now I get to look back and see how I have continuously shown up for myself, despite the days that felt like it was an uphill battle. I was able to breathe so much passion into this business that others have come around me to support it toward its highest vision.
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
There are two things that I have found to be the most challenging in this journey. First is the ability to turn off business mode, to trust that I can just let go and surrender and shift toward self-care or intentional time with my children and that the business will be fine. The second part that is challenging is learning to speak for the needs of the business. As the one who is leading it all and attempting to lead others, it is crucial that I have clarity about what is needed and how to speak up for those needs. I get to practice leading this way, which has helped bridge a deeper sense of self-trust.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Make sure your heart is 100% in it. This is crucial for the moments when anyone may feel like they want to give up. If your heart is all in, and the commitment is there, it will be the fuel to those moments.
- Pay attention to the timing. Timing is key in all of it. Listen to your intuition on when things need to happen, and don't get caught up in what others say. You will know when the right time for action and execution will be.
- Get plugged into the community. I can't stress enough how much connecting to people has been a game-changer for my process. Building genuine connections, really investing in people, and allowing them to gravitate toward you and how to support along the way.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://pachamamafermentedfoods.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pachamama_fermented_foods/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/liliana-orozco-3b32261a2/
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
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