Career Path Of A Founder And Visionary At To Be Honest Beverage Company
Michelle's career journey began with "community manager" work at Cal Poly's gender equity center, transitioning through roles in after-school programs, sales at MINDBODY Online, and fitness instruction. This diverse experience, culminating in personal health changes and the creation of "a non-alcoholic, hemp infused spirit alternative," led to founding To Be Honest Beverage Company.
Community Engagement, Entrepreneurship, Marketing & Sales, Health & Wellness, Transitioning Careers
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Michelle Houston
Founder & Visionary
To Be Honest Beverage Company
California Polytechnic State University
None
Philosophy
Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG)
Business Strategy
Pell Grant Recipient, Worked 20+ Hours in School, Transfer Student
Video Highlights
1. Michelle's diverse experiences in college, including community management, event planning, and fundraising for nonprofits, provided a strong foundation for her career.
2. Her career path demonstrates a progression from working with children to sales and marketing, showcasing adaptability and skill development.
3. Michelle's entrepreneurial journey, transitioning from health coaching to founding her own non-alcoholic beverage company, highlights her passion and ability to create opportunities based on personal experiences.
Transcript
Could you walk me through your career path, starting with your experiences in college? Please include any internships or jobs you had before your current role.
Yeah, actually, when I was at Cal Poly in college, I worked on campus in the gender equity center and a program we called Safer. I spent a lot of time there as a student as a community manager and event planner.
I hosted workshops and donation events to raise money and funds for local nonprofits and organizations that supported women. I also dealt with sexual assault resources and similar issues. That's kind of where I started in college.
Then, I moved through a few different career paths. Some involved working with kids in after-school programs and planning activities for day and summer camps. I also worked in sales for a local company, MINDBODY Online, a big software-as-a-service company in the health and fitness realm.
I did sales for them for a while before moving into marketing and event planning. That's where I started digging into public relations, building community connections, and fostering relationships for marketing and sales events. Again, this was from a nonprofit organization perspective, supporting their programs.
Prior to my current role, I moved into fitness and health. I was an instructor for a long time, teaching yoga, barre, and functional fitness, and I also did personal training and health coaching. That transitioned me into the online and digital space, where I started my own business creating products and programs around those services.
Two and a half years ago, I stopped drinking alcohol. That transitioned me into our current business, To Be Honest Beverage Company, which is a non-alcoholic, hemp-infused spirit alternative. That led into the business ownership and role I have now as a business owner, founder, and visionary.