Steve Schwartz, founder and CEO of Art of Tea, has a knack for blending ingredients and a desire to make an impact on the world. It’s a good thing he developed this talent because he didn’t graduate from college and didn’t know any entrepreneurs before starting his company.
“After learning from experts in the field and becoming a master tea blender, Steve started a business to share his passion and teach the craft to others. He has trained tea sommeliers at Caesars Palace and worked as a chef and Restaurant owner Wolfgang Puck’s staff provides training on premium tea experiences.
“Our mission is really to impact as many lives as possible through tea,” Steve said.
Art of Tea just celebrated its 20th anniversary, and over the years it has created custom teas for high-profile clients like the White House and Slack. How Steve combined purpose with great people to build a thriving company
Finding purpose after tragedy
Steve’s journey into the tea industry was sparked by personal tragedy and a search for meaning. After his mother battled cancer and subsequently passed away, he sought a holistic approach to health and ultimately discovered his passion for tea. “I’m fascinated by how things that grow in the ground have so much power and potential,” he says.
present honestly
Starting with minimal resources is not an easy process. Steve spent his early years hand-packing tea and relied on credit cards to fund the business. Although he had limited business experience, he found that being himself not only earned him sales, but also gained valuable advice from others. “I try to be as real and vulnerable as possible,” Steve said. “People are starting to gravitate.”
Self-Education Leadership and Business
Steve said he had no one in his circle to turn to for advice on starting a business, so he started downloading audiobooks from thought leaders and listening to them while driving. “I literally turned my iPod into a university.”
This pursuit of mentorship and “wise council” later helped him find production partners and employees.
Build a business rooted in connection
Steve attributes much of his success to the connections he made along the way. Whether through chance meetings or intentional networks, these relationships are crucial. Steve said, “If I’m the smartest guy in the room, that’s a problem, right?”
No matter where he was or who he was with, his openness to learning always kept Steve moving forward. For example, he once met someone on a plane who had connections to Chinese growers. This connection later opened the door to additional sources of tea ingredients.
To learn more about Steve’s collaborative and mentoring approach, listen to the full interview Shopify Masters.
