Making a Difference and a Profit: Inside Talitha Coffee’s Mission-Driven Business

PodcastLeadership

Nov 4

Episode 897: Show Notes

I’m so thrilled to interview two guests who are not only making waves in the coffee industry but also making a profound difference in the fight against human trafficking. Jenny Barber is the co-founder of Talitha Coffee Roasters, and her vision is to use the coffee industry as a platform to provide survivors with jobs, training, housing, healthcare, and counseling. Joining her is Mark Becklund, Vice President of Product and Growth at Talitha Coffee Roasters, who plays a key role in ensuring that every cup of coffee tastes great and contributes to the company’s true mission and goal. Without any further ado, let’s get into their story.

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Turning a Personal Experience into a Mission-Driven Business

Taking what you have and what you know and turning it into something that truly makes a difference is the inspiration behind Talitha Coffee. Jenny became aware of the issue of trafficking from a very young age and she experienced exploitation throughout her childhood and adolescence. Finding freedom in her own life, she felt compelled to bring hope to others.

Having worked in the anti-trafficking world for more than 14 years, she witnessed survivors going through support programs only to find themselves back in the same institutions later down the line. Jenny wanted to provide a more constructive solution. Founding a coffee shop with her husband in the San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles, her goal was to create employment opportunities for survivors. Then, she decided to scale. That’s when Mark came on board.

How to be Highly Profitable and Hugely Impactful

Mark Becklund is a long-time friend of Talitha Coffee’s CEO, Mike Glanz, and he jumped at the opportunity to join a mission-driven company after years of working in tech. But instead of operating as a not-for-profit organization, Talitha Coffee is a business. Why? Because through business, it’s able to reach more people. That’s why Mike was brought in; to bring in his expertise on growing a business from very small to very large, amplifying its impact along the way.

Everything the team does comes from a mindset of collaboration, from providing employment opportunities to victims of trafficking to coffee training and survivor care. In the network of care there are experts bringing support in the form of therapy, housing, reunification with children, and more. But it doesn’t end there. Talitha Coffee collaborates and partners with organizations to make a global impact.

Participating in the Story and Scale of Talitha Coffee Roasters

Mark believes that good product development is really just good storytelling. How do you tell the story of how your product will impact your customer’s lives? The team could have picked anything, but it happened to be coffee, which is perfect for storytelling. It is, by nature, conversational, and that is how people come to resonate with the mission behind the product. Helping people feel that they are a part of the impact that is being made is huge.

That’s one of the reasons that Jenny wants to create a replicable model so that other people can make an impact across the United States. But scaling comes with its own challenges and there have been true growing pains along the way. She says that keeping the purpose behind the business at the forefront has made each one so much easier to navigate.

Creating ‘Talitha’ to Center the Story of Survivors

Jenny leads with her own story and championing other survivors is close to her heart. One of the most humbling and exciting moments for her is when her story gives hope to others. ‘Talitha’ is a persona that was created as an aspirational survivor – centering the story of survivors. Rather than the hurt, the focus is on support and success on the other side.

In a sea of coffee subscriptions, why choose Talitha? Mark believes in sharing the facts: unless they can prove it, they would never say it. Talitha Coffee is built on the idea that it is important for people to understand the real stories behind the numbers. As they market the product, they’re extending an invitation to be a part of what they do.

Prioritizing Your Life to Make a Difference

All it takes is a single catalyst. Despite what she went through, Jenny has gone on to achieve and experience incredible things. She has been able to break generational patterns: her six kids will never know the same experiences that she did. This all happened because one person made a difference in her life. Every single win is worth celebrating because every life is so valuable.

Jenny’s advice to others who want to make an impact through business is this: take what you bring to the table already and start there. There is so much need in the world, and it is very easy to want to fix every problem, but every yes you give must be intentional. She also stresses that you can start small and that collaboration with those who are already in the space is a necessity.

Start your coffee subscription with Talitha Coffee today and help make a difference!

Quote This

“As I really found freedom in my own life, I just really wanted to bring others hope as well.”

— Jenny Barber

Highlights

Turning a Personal Experience into a Mission-Driven Business [0:02:59]
How to be Highly Profitable and Hugely Impactful [0:07:31]
Participating in the Story and Scale of Talitha Coffee Roasters [0:15:02]
Creating ‘Talitha’ to Center the Story of Survivors [0:27:14]
Prioritizing Your Life to Make a Difference [0:38:50]

OUR GUESTS:

Jenny Barber

Co-founder, Talitha Coffee Roasters | LinkedIn

Mark Becklund

VP of Product and Growth, Talitha Coffee Roasters | LinkedIn

Talitha Coffee | Instagram | Facebook

Talitha Coffee Roasters is on a mission that extends beyond providing high-quality coffee. Its team, led by co-founder Jenny Barber, is deeply invested in supporting survivors of trafficking through its work and community engagement. As a survivor-led and survivor-supporting organization, Talitha Coffee Roasters is committed to offering practical assistance and emotional support to those on their path to recovery.