About Me
From a Prague Tea House
to 6,500 Stores Nationwide
The Story Behind the Brand
It started in Prague. I was studying abroad in college when my childhood best friend Dan Klein and I stumbled into a tiny Czech tea house. We ordered a cup of loose-leaf tea and something clicked — the aroma, the ritual, the way the ingredients unfolded in the water. Neither of us had been tea drinkers before that moment.
Back in Chicago, we couldn't find anything like it. Loose-leaf tea in the United States was expensive, intimidating, and completely inaccessible to everyday consumers. So we decided to fix that. In 2010, as college seniors at the University of Illinois Chicago, we founded Tiesta Tea with a simple mission: make loose-leaf tea understandable, accessible, and affordable.
We started by waking up at 1:30am every Saturday to brew and sell at farmers' markets. We knocked on an estimated 500 doors in 20 days to get our first retail placements. We pitched investors, managed a team, navigated supply chains, and built a brand from nothing. Over 14 years, Tiesta Tea grew to over $54 million in lifetime sales, a presence in 6,500+ stores including Costco and Target, four Inc. 5000 rankings, and recognition in Inc. Magazine's 30 Under 30 in 2018.
Along the way, I became obsessed with the craft of building — not just the product, but the brand, the website, the customer experience, and the business systems that make it all work. I taught myself web development, studied brand design, and became an early adopter of AI tools for business efficiency. I've applied all of it to Tiesta Tea and to the businesses I've helped since.
Today, I consult with small and mid-size businesses across industries — helping them build websites that convert, brands that resonate, strategies that scale, and AI integrations that save time and money. I bring the same founder's mindset to every engagement: direct, practical, and focused on results.
How I Work
My Core Principles
Hustle Over Theory
I started Tiesta Tea by waking up at 1:30am on Saturdays to sell at farmers' markets. I believe in doing the work, not just talking about it. My advice is grounded in real-world execution, not textbook frameworks.
Radical Transparency
I'll tell you what you need to hear. If your brand strategy has a flaw, your website is underperforming, or your business model needs rethinking — I'll say so. Honest feedback is the most valuable thing a consultant can offer.
Long-Term Thinking
Building Tiesta Tea took 14 years of consistent effort. I help clients think beyond the next quarter and build systems, brands, and strategies that compound over time.
Founder Empathy
I've lived the highs and lows of entrepreneurship firsthand. I know what it feels like to pitch investors, manage a team, and navigate uncertainty. That empathy shapes every conversation I have with clients.
Education
Academic Background
2010
B.S. Business Administration
University of Illinois Chicago (UIC)
Co-founded Tiesta Tea while still a senior
Beyond Business
The Person Behind the Work
Outside of consulting, I'm a die-hard Chicago sports fan — Bulls, Sox, and soccer. I'm a world traveler who believes that experiencing different cultures is one of the best forms of business education. That trip to Prague that started it all? It's a reminder that inspiration can come from anywhere.
I'm also a firm believer in giving back. I've mentored entrepreneurs at UIC's Summer Venture Accelerator and spoken at SCORE Chicago events, sharing the lessons I've learned the hard way so others don't have to.
When I take on a client, I'm not just delivering a service — I'm investing in your success. I bring the same energy, creativity, and relentlessness to your business that I brought to building Tiesta Tea.