“Every Day I Wondered, Am I Really Doing This?”—Erica Tuggle on Facing the Fear of Entrepreneurship

Send us Fan MailCut The Tie Podcast with Erica TuggleWhat happens when you walk away from the corporate track to build something that truly matters? In this episode of Cut The Tie, host Thomas Helfrich sits down with Erica Tuggle, Harvard MBA and former Coca-Cola executive turned founder and CEO of Livin.Erica shares her journey of cutting ties with a prestigious corporate identity to launch a mission-driven company that helps busy families and professionals eat healthier, live better, and reclaim their time. From redefining success on her own terms to balancing entrepreneurship with family life, Erica’s story is one of courage, conviction, and building a business that creates impact on both sides—customers and chefs.About Erica TuggleErica Tuggle is the founder and CEO of Livin, a food-tech company that empowers local chefs to provide in-home meal prep services for busy professionals and families. Prior to entrepreneurship, Erica built a distinguished career in consumer packaged goods, starting at General Mills and later leading innovation and strategy roles at Coca-Cola, including initiatives on Honest Tea and Coke’s global food strategy. A Harvard Business School graduate, Erica now leverages her corporate experience to create healthier homes, support culinary entrepreneurs, and build a scalable business model with purpose at its core.In this episode, Thomas and Erica discuss:Cutting ties with corporate identity Why leaving behind big company prestige was the biggest step toward finding fulfillment.Building a mission-driven food business How Livin helps busy professionals and families eat healthier while supporting local chefs.Facing fear and redefining success The mental shift required to walk away from security and create a new definition of purpose.Impact on family and community How entrepreneurship has reshaped her family life and created new opportunities for chefs in Atlanta.Key Takeaways:Identity isn’t your title Walking away from corporate prestige opens the door to real alignment and fulfillment.Fear is a tie worth cutting Growth starts when you push through uncertainty and bet on yourself.Entrepreneurship is impact Success isn’t just financial—it’s about family, health, and creating opportunities for others.Support systems matter Having a strong network, spouse, and faith can make the hardest leap possible.Just try it Stop overthinking and start testing—Google Sheets and grit are enough to begin.Connect with Erica Tuggle:💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erica-tuggle-mba/🌐 Website: https://www.chooselivin.com📱 Call/Text: 404-917-0203Connect with Thomas Helfrich:🐦 Twitter: https://twitter.com/thelfrich📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/cutthetie💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomashelfich🌐 Website: https://www.cutthetie.com📧 Email: [email protected]🚀 https://www.instantlyrelevant.comSupport the showhttps://www.youtube.com/@cutthetie