Making Connections in Business—Even if You Don’t Start With Any

Steve Schwartz, the founder and CEO of Art of Tea, has a knack for blending ingredients and a desire to make an impact in the world. It’s a good thing he cultivated this gift, since he didn’t graduate college or know any entrepreneurs before launching his company. 

“After learning from experts in the field and becoming a master tea blender, Steve started a business to share his passion and pass on the craft to others. He’s trained tea sommeliers at Caesars Palace, as well as chef and restaurateur Wolfgang Puck’s staff on an elevated tea experience.

“Our mission really is to impact as many lives as we can through tea," Steve says.

Art of Tea just celebrated its 20th anniversary, and through the years, it has created bespoke teas for prestigious clients like the White House and Slack. Here’s how Steve combined purpose and good people to build a thriving company

Finding purpose after tragedy

Steve’s journey into the tea business was sparked by personal tragedy and a quest for meaning. After his mother’s battle with cancer and subsequent passing, he sought a holistic approach to health and eventually discovered his passion for tea. “I was enamored by how something that could be grown in the ground could have such power and potential behind it,” he says.

 

Presenting with honesty

Starting with minimal resources, the journey wasn’t easy. Steve’s early days involved packing teas by hand and relying on credit cards to fund the business. Despite his limited experience in business, he found being himself earned him both sales and valuable advice from others. “I showed up as authentically and as vulnerable as possible,” Steve says. “And people started to lean in.”

Educating himself on leadership and business

Steve says he didn’t have anyone in his immediate circle he could turn to for advice about starting a business, so he started downloading audiobooks from thought leaders and listening to them while he drove around. “I literally turned my iPod … into a university.”

This mindset to pursue mentorship and “wise council” later helped him find production partners and employees.

Building a business rooted in connection

Steve attributes much of his success to the connections he made along the way. Whether through serendipitous meetings or intentional networking, these relationships have been pivotal. Steve says, “If I’m the smartest person in the room, there’s something wrong, right?”

His openness to learning, regardless of where he was or who he was with, has always kept Steve moving forward. For example, one time he met someone on a flight who had connections with growers in China. This connection later helped open the door to an additional source for tea ingredients.

To learn more about Steve’s approach to partnerships and mentorships, listen to the full interview on Shopify Masters.