Trinity Mouzon Wofford on Entrepreneurship, Wellness, and Life with Ground Up
At Ground Up, we believe that empowering women is not just the mission behind our apprenticeship program. It is a value we see reflected in the community around us. The She's Empowered series spotlights women who are building purposeful careers, creating work that matters, and inspiring others along the way. This month we are sitting down with Trinity Mouzon Wofford, co-founder and CEO of Golde!
Tell us a little about you!
My name is Trinity Mouzon Wofford and I'm the Co-Founder and CEO of Golde, a superfood health and beauty brand. Right now, I live in my hometown in Upstate NY with my fiancé (and business partner!)
What do you do for work? Tell us about your professional journey.
Four years ago, I started a superfood business with my high-school sweetheart. I was looking at my own experiences as a consumer in wellness and feeling really caught between the "crunchy granola" stuff I'd grown up with, and this next wave of offerings that felt so prestige and totally out of reach. I was actually pre-med in college and had full intentions of pursuing a career in medicine with a focus on holistic health. When that didn't feel like a fit, I worked in marketing at a startup in NYC while dreaming of building a brand that made wellness easy and fun. When we got started, it was just Issey and I figuring everything out while still at our full-time jobs! It was a lot of learning, but we had so much fun with it.
How do you stay motivated?
I always come back to my "why" and make sure I'm staying in tune with that — you never want to lose sight of what made you want to start in the first place! That will push you through the tough times.
Do you have any advice for someone who is interesting in starting a business?
Be honest with yourself about what you're looking to achieve and what your goals are. There are so many different ways to start a biz — from a casual side hustle to an all-consuming startup. Getting a sense of where you want to be will help you the build the right way around your aspirations.
What are your favorite ways to #spreadgood in your community?
I love connecting with aspiring entrepreneurs whenever I can. I think it's really important to pay it forward to those who are just beginning their journeys.
Who is one person that inspires you and why?
Right now I'm feeling super inspired by my partner, Issey, actually! He is such a force of calm and positivity — there's no way I could be on this crazy journey without him. Forever grateful and always trying to channel a little more of that in my disposition.
How do you work to stay centered and practice self-care in your busy day-to-day reality?
Time outside does a lot of good. Last year we moved out of Brooklyn to spend time upstate, and having that access to nature is really powerful.
What do you like to do for fun, when you aren't working?
I love to get lost in a good book, or get my hands dirty in the garden.
What are some of your favorite recipes with Ground Up?
I'm honestly loving our Cacao Turmeric latte collab straight out of the jar, but it's also amazing as a topping for yogurt with a bit of honey or maple syrup drizzled over!
Inspired by Trinity's story? At Ground Up, we are surrounded by women building something meaningful every day. Learn more about the women in our apprenticeship program and the mission behind every jar.
