Sarah Kowal

Summary

From working auctions at the age of 10 to pitching to Howard Schultz in front of thousands of Starbucks shareholders, my journey as an entrepreneur has been anything but conventional. Growing up as the daughter of an entrepreneur, I learned early that work could be more than just earning a paycheck—it could be a refuge, a place of achievement, and a path to self-discovery. This lesson became my lifeline when, as a teenager, I was diagnosed with clinical depression. My high school guidance counselor doubted I'd even make it to college. After discovering Tony Robbins and embracing goal-setting as my north star, I not only graduated college but went on to excel in every sales and management position I touched. From transforming underperforming retail stores to generating $2M in annual sales in a position I created, I consistently proved that the "impossible" was merely a starting point. However, life had other plans. In 2010, I unexpectedly found myself brokea$$ and homeless. And inspired. What followed was a master class in resilience and innovation. I transformed my initial dream of a coffee shop into WeatherVane Creamery. This Wisconsin-themed deli caught the attention of the American Cheese Society for its innovative approach to dairy retail. Through sheer determination and tenacity, I rallied 70 financial backers, generated major press coverage, and, yes, pitched to Howard Schultz himself. This experience taught me something crucial: while goal-setting and achievement had gotten me far, there was a deeper lesson about balance and authentic success waiting to be learned. Today, I run two thriving businesses that embody everything I've learned about roll-up-your-sleeves results. Through Project Biz Lab, I mentor entrepreneurs to work smarter, not harder, while InSIGHTful Low Vision allows me to practice what I preach. My journey from that 10-year-old writing out auction tickets to a multi-passionate entrepreneur hasn't just been about business success—it's been about discovering that true achievement comes from helping others win while maintaining your balance and authenticity. At the end of the day, all those achievements taught me one thing: the real magic happens when you stop trying to prove yourself and just be you.