Episode #31: Carly Stein
Carly Stein, founder and CEO of Beekeeper's Naturals, is a savvy and inspiring entrepreneur. She is a beekeeper herself who developed an innovative bee-made nutraceutical product line that provides effective, natural solutions to everyday modern health issues. Her passion for the power of the bees originated from a personal medical issue she faced while traveling in Italy. After discovering the incredible healing properties of bee propolis while abroad, she set out on a mission to share the wonders from the hive and educate people on the integral role the bees play in our ecosystem. It wasn't long until she swapped her 16 hour days on the trading floor to head up Beekeeper's Naturals full time. Carly is dedicated to using her company as a platform to raise awareness and funding for the bee cause through partnerships with cutting edge institutions and non-profits, while also promoting sustainable practices and pesticide-free beekeeping. Before founding Beekeeper's Naturals, Carly worked as an Analyst at Goldman Sachs in their Securities division and spent time working at the William J. Clinton Foundation.
“I’d never had that full healing experience, and so it was pretty remarkable.”
Before discovering bee products, Carly Stein was the person who was always sick. If some bug was going around, she would undoubtedly get it. That all changed when she discovered magical products like propolis, royal jelly, bee pollen, and honey. She also developed a fascination with bees and beekeeping, and soon she was mixing her own elixirs, making gifts for friends, and doing laser-focused research about the science behind the holistic benefits. On today’s episode, Carly and I talk about what led her to found Beekeeper’s Naturals, why education about bees is such an important part of her company’s mission, and how her own health has improved since she began integrating bee products into her everyday routine. As she puts it, there’s no pocket, purse, or glove compartment of hers that doesn’t have a container of propolis in it!
“I had all this external positive reinforcement, but I felt so disconnected. And I really felt like I was living a lie.”
Here are some of the things Carly and I chatted about:
The reaction she would get when she took antibiotics, which made propolis a game-changer
Why she was skeptical of natural products, but also very eager to find products that worked
The way that bees protect their hive using propolis, and how that translates to holistic use
Falling in love with bee products, and her surprise at how potent yet well-tolerated they were
Once back home, her search to find a beekeeper whose products would be pesticide-free
Why it wasn’t a surprise to her that she quickly became fascinated with all things bee-related
How her genuine curiosity and fascination helped her build an authentic business
Working in finance straight out of college, and feeling like she was missing purpose
The dilemma of leaving a job that looked great on the surface, but why it was the right move
How she developed a loyal customer base for her products before her company was official
The way that Beekeeper’s Naturals educates customers — not just about products, but bees too
Her commitment to making products accessible while also practicing sustainable beekeeping
How she uses bee products to support her health, from managing anxiety to boosting immunity
What has been the most rewarding part of her journey with Beekeeper’s Naturals (so far)
“We really want to empower people from all walks of life to better understand their health.”
Support for this episode comes from Beekeeper’s Naturals. Beekeeper’s Naturals makes health-boosting superfoods from the hive. With products like propolis, royal jelly, and bee pollen, Beekeeper’s Naturals line will bring you endurance, immunity, productivity, and calm. It’s the best of science and nature combined. Plus, they are committed to saving the bees! Click here to try Beekeeper’s Naturals for yourself and use code VISIBLE at checkout for 10% off.