Building a Brand for Modern Environmentalism with Gen E Founder: Kristen Kammerer

Show Notes: In this podcast episode, the host interviews Kristen Kammerer, founder of Gen E, about her transition from brand marketing in the beauty industry to creating a platform dedicated to modern environmentalism and climate change fundraising. Kristen discusses her entrepreneurial background, the challenges of starting Gen E, and the importance of networking and immersing oneself in one's passion to become an expert. They explore the difficulties of career pivoting, the value of curiosity and risk-taking, and the struggle with self-promotion versus privacy. Kristen concludes with advice on being gentle with oneself as an entrepreneur, highlighting the episode's focus on passion-driven entrepreneurship and personal growth. About Kristen Kammerer: Kristen Kammerer is the Founder and CEO of Generation Environment ("Gen E"), a modern environmental brand democratizing philanthropy to fund climate solutions. Kristen previously held various senior marketing roles driving brand strategy and data analytics for global consumer brands. She also founded Remedy Tea, an award winning tea bar, and earned an MBA from Columbia Business School. Timestamps: The Entrepreneurial Journey (00:00:05) Kristen's transition from corporate to entrepreneurship, her previous business ventures, and her motivation for starting Gen E. Frustration with the Beauty Industry (00:02:16) Kristen's disillusionment with the beauty industry's environmental impact and her decision to pivot to fighting climate change through Gen E. Founding Gen E (00:05:47) The genesis of Gen E, its mission of modern environmentalism, and integrating philanthropy seamlessly into everyday consumer behavior. Gen E's Operational Model (00:10:09) Explaining how Gen E works, the opt-in model, and the approach to micro-philanthropy for the planet. Brand Building and Marketing (00:11:31) The importance of branding for Gen E, leveraging Kristen's marketing background, and making environmentalism accessible and appealing to consumers. Navigating Challenges in Marketing (00:18:48) The ongoing journey of marketing Gen E, the fast-paced nature of marketing, and the unique challenges of promoting a social impact brand. Community Support and Collaboration (00:21:25) The value of networking, community support, and collaboration among entrepreneurs, and the emotional aspects of the entrepreneurial journey. The importance of passion in entrepreneurship (00:23:41) Kristen emphasizes the importance of being passionate about your entrepreneurial pursuit and immersing yourself in the subject matter. Breaking free from feeling pigeonholed (00:25:05) The discussion touches on feeling pigeonholed in a career and the philosophy that anyone can learn and pivot, emphasizing the power of curiosity and the willingness to take risks. Challenges of self-promotion and personal branding (00:28:08) Kristen discusses the challenge of self-promotion and finding a balance in personal branding, reflecting on the need to maintain authenticity while navigating the demands of marketing. The continuous adventure of entrepreneurship (00:34:15) The conversation highlights the mindset of entrepreneurship as a continuous journey, emphasizing the importance of enjoying the process and finding happiness in the daily pursuit of goals. This podcast is produced by the team at Dillie: a marketing agency with a niche focus on beauty and personal care brands https://dilliecreative.com/