Combine Clear Vision with Practical Execution: Interview with Vanessa Dew, Co-Founder of Health-Ade Kombucha

I recently went one-on-one with Vanessa Dew, co-founder of Health-Ade Kombucha.

Adam: Thanks again for taking the time to share your advice. First things first, though, I am sure readers would love to learn more about you. ​How did you get here? ​What experiences, failures, setbacks, or challenges have been most instrumental to your growth?

Vanessa: My path wasn't linear - it felt mostly like a roller coaster with plenty of twists. I was always the "perfect daughter/model minority" living up to others' expectations and achieving the most I could in whatever I pursued. I knew I wanted to leave corporate America, and pivoting during business school to bet on myself and leap into entrepreneurship was transformative in my journey. Co-founding and building a 9-figure beverage brand challenged me in every way imaginable and consumed every ounce of my physical and mental capacity. I learned the most, hurt the most, and celebrated the highest highs—nothing prepares you for those moments as a founder. Exiting this business after selling to private equity was probably one of the best days of my life. Beyond the financial reward, I felt freedom from this beverage business I loved but had given too much of myself to maintain a healthy relationship with. Now that I've gone through the healing process after a year-plus post-exit, I'm renewed, eager to give back, and ready to move the needle. Gone are the days of hustling just to grind—this is the era where I'm deliberate about where I direct my energy and intentionally living to experience this multi-faceted life we have.

Adam: How did you come up with your business idea? What advice do you have for others on how to come up with great ideas?

Vanessa: Every business I've touched started with identifying a problem. Whether it was Health-Ade Kombucha to aid gut health or Aline Foundation, a philanthropy focused on the ever-present crisis in women's wellness, everything stems from a problem that needed solving. My advice to others seeking great ideas is to clearly define the problem first. Being able to distill your thinking down to a precise problem statement will help in crafting the solution and ultimately prove better product-market fit.

Adam: How did you know your business idea was worth pursuing? What advice do you have on how to best test a business idea?

Vanessa: With Health-Ade Kombucha, we initially sold at farmers' markets. Those direct sales put us face-to-face with customers, giving us immediate feedback during product trials. Getting consumer feedback is vital to understanding both product evolution and fit. Without our "10,000 hours" selling at farmers' markets, we would have been disconnected from the consumer experience and taste profile of our product. My advice is to get out there—without live trials and feedback, your product will only exist in the mind of its creator.

Adam: What are the key steps you have taken to grow your business? What advice do you have for others on how to take their businesses to the next level?

Vanessa: In my new ventures (and previously with Health-Ade), I've taken several key steps to accelerate growth. First, be a sponge. Whatever industry you're in, whoever the market leaders are, learn from them relentlessly. Read everything, listen to industry podcasts, and schedule calls with leaders of brands you admire. Those who respond offer invaluable insights on how they tackled problems similar to yours. Second, surround yourself with good people. When I knew nothing about starting a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, I partnered with an impact advisor well-versed in the intersection of venture capital and nonprofit work. Lastly, know where you want to go—not just a specific KPI for a campaign, but what that next level actually looks like. Illustrate it, describe it in detail, because the only way to get there is to create a plan that levels up your business in all the ways necessary to make that vision reality.

Adam: What are your best sales and marketing tips?

Vanessa: First, be authentic. Everyone can spot a snake oil salesman from a mile away (unless that's genuinely your vibe, then lean into it wholeheartedly). I'm all about being yourself throughout the process—that shines a million times brighter than any spreadsheet or sales aid ever will. Second, be useful, educational, or helpful to the group you're selling to. The best brands genuinely help their consumers; that help can take many forms, but it's infinitely easier to sell something when you provide actual value. Lastly, follow up! I cannot tell you how many people simply don't do it. Details matter and responsiveness matters—doing that consistently isn't just a great life trait but crucial in building relationships and closing deals.

Adam: In your experience, what are the defining qualities of an effective leader? How can leaders and aspiring leaders take their leadership skills to the next level?

Vanessa: Effective leaders combine clear vision with practical execution. They create environments where truth can be spoken without fear, and they model the accountability they expect from others. To elevate your leadership, develop self-awareness about your impact on others, and cultivate the ability to have difficult conversations with compassion. Leadership growth happens at the edge of your comfort zone—seek feedback, especially about your blind spots, and be willing to evolve your approach as your responsibilities change.

Adam: What is your best advice on building, leading, and managing teams?

Vanessa: First, if you're joining a new team or have been disconnected from your team for a while, clear your calendar and shadow them for a day. Not from a judgment standpoint, but to learn and observe—and make it clear this is so you can understand their needs. Then, identify the key people on the team, whether they're the "rainmakers" or those with influence, and learn how they operate and how you can support them to help create or evolve the culture you envision. Also, be in the trenches with them. Everyone resents the leader sitting in an ivory tower. Ask what the team needs to be successful—resources, support, and clear career paths are often what employees need to tackle the next milestone with confidence.

Adam: What are your three best tips applicable to entrepreneurs, executives, and civic leaders? What is the single best piece of advice you have ever received?

Vanessa: "The answer is always no unless you ask" and "Now that I know better, I do better" are quotes that have profoundly shaped my approach. I've gathered countless learnings and insights throughout my entrepreneurial journey, which I'm excited to share in my newsletter, The Slow Brew. It's an intersection of business insights, personal learnings, musings, and self-love for multihyphenate women navigating their own paths.

Adam: Is there anything else you would like to share?

Vanessa: At this stage of life, I'm all about great people and cool projects. Having weathered the hustle-grind startup phase, I'm eager to pay it forward for the next generation of founders, particularly women. I'm an advisor to several CPG brands and started the Aline Foundation specifically to support women entrepreneurs on their journeys.


Adam Mendler is an entrepreneur, writer, speaker, educator, and nationally recognized authority on leadership. Adam is the creator and host of the business and leadership podcast Thirty Minute Mentors, where he goes one-on-one with America's most successful people - Fortune 500 CEOs, founders of household name companies, Hall of Fame and Olympic gold medal-winning athletes, political and military leaders - for intimate half-hour conversations each week. A top leadership speaker, Adam draws upon his insights building and leading businesses and interviewing hundreds of America's top leaders as a top keynote speaker to businesses, universities, and non-profit organizations. Adam has written extensively on leadership and related topics, having authored over 70 articles published in major media outlets including Forbes, Inc. and HuffPost, and has conducted more than 500 one on one interviews with America’s top leaders through his collective media projects. Adam teaches graduate-level courses on leadership at UCLA and is an advisor to numerous companies and leaders. A Los Angeles native, Adam is a lifelong Angels fan and an avid backgammon player.

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