Career Path Of A Founder At Revival Roots And Revival Roots Nursery
Reed's career path began with childhood experiences in agriculture, influencing their Cornell University education in agricultural and life sciences. Post-college, a progression of internships—from a hands-on role at Roots Organic Farm where they "learned so much...practical knowledge," to corporate experiences at Dermalogica and Discovery Networks—culminated in starting their own company, Revival Roots, combining their passion for agriculture and business acumen gained through diverse professional experiences.
Agriculture, Entrepreneurship, Marketing, Horticulture, Hands-on Experience
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Reed Newman
CEO/Founder
Revival Roots & Revival Roots Nursery
Cornell University, Class of 2016
NA
Environmental & Related Sciences
Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing & Hunting
Entrepreneurship and Business Owner
Greek Life Member, LGBTQ
Video Highlights
1. Reed's career path highlights a blend of hands-on farm experience and corporate internships, showcasing diverse skills.
2. His early internship at Roots Organic Farm provided valuable practical knowledge of farming and customer interaction, which is a great example of how to combine theory with practice.
3. His internships at Dermalogica and Discovery Networks gave him exposure to corporate settings and marketing, demonstrating adaptability and a well-rounded skillset for future entrepreneurship.
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.
Absolutely. I grew up in Los Angeles, but my family had a place in the Santa Ynez Valley, near Central California, where we grew grapes and made wine. I spent a lot of my childhood up there, working in the fields.
I really fell in love with learning through my experiences in nature, whether that was farming, caring for the grapes, or driving tractors. I attended Cornell University in the School of Agriculture and Life Sciences. There, I wanted to take classes in plant science and plant genetics to learn the more scientific aspect of something I already knew through hands-on, practical knowledge.
During the summers after my freshman year, I interned at Roots Organic Farm in the Santa Ynez Valley. They grew various crops, specializing in different lettuces, and sold at local farmers' markets. I helped at those markets and delivered produce to restaurants.
My friends had more traditional internships that summer, but I wanted something less traditional and more hands-on. I recommend this approach because that first summer after freshman year isn't as serious; you don't need to build your resume right away. I learned so much that summer, including practical knowledge and how people interacted with the food they were buying.
The following year, I interned at Dermalogica, a skincare company in Carson, California. I was on their international marketing team, which was more of a corporate position. I enjoyed it because the company had a strong entrepreneurial vibe. It was cool to be in a traditional setting that also felt very entrepreneurial.
I learned the basics of marketing a brand, getting it in front of people, and drawing them in. The summer after that, I worked at Discovery Networks, which was also a more corporate, traditional internship in the entertainment space. It was helpful to learn how to act in a corporate setting and how to work with others to accomplish tasks.
I enjoyed it, but by the end of college, I recognized I wanted to start my own company. I wanted to move back to Los Angeles and do something in the agricultural or horticultural space. Each of those internships and opportunities helped me refine what I wanted to do after college.
Advizer Personal Links
revivalroots.com & revivalrootsnursery.com