Name: Rachel Drori
Job Title and Description: Founder of Daily Harvest
College Name/Major: University of Pennsylvania, Political Science
Website: Daily-Harvest.com
Twitter Handle: @dlyharvest
Instagram Handle: @daily_harvest
What does your current job entail? Is there such a thing as a typical day?
Rachel Drori: Ultimately the biggest part of my job is removing obstacles so my team can do what they do best. And no two days look the same and that’s what I love about what I do. I might start my day negotiating a contract, have lunch with an investor and then close out with flavor testing a new recipe.
What is the best part of your job?
RD: Working with my team is definitely the best part of my job. I absolutely love the people with whom I’ve been able to build Daily Harvest. I started the business as a team of one with a big vision, packing up ingredients in a commercial kitchen with my two hands and delivering smoothies in my car. As the business scaled, I surrounded myself with people who were equally passionate but has skills and know how I lacked. I have learned so much from my incredible team and owe our growth to each and every one of them.
What was your first entry-level job in your field and how did you get it?
RD: My first job was as a Marketing Coordinator at Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts. I knew my senior year I wanted to learn marketing and I wanted to learn it from the best. I did some thinking and decided that Four Seasons was a customer-centric brand like no other so that was the company I wanted to work for. I scoured the Penn alumni directory until I found someone who worked there and then sent a cold email. And then another. I heard back in about a week, made my case, and the next thing I knew I was in their office interviewing.
What words of wisdom (well-known quotes, an anecdote from your boss) do you find most valuable?
RD: One of my former bosses always reminded me ask for forgiveness instead of permission. This is something that always stuck with me and as I build out my own team, it’s a mantra I try to encourage. This attitude removes the fear of making a mistake that can stifle true innovation.
What is one mistake you made along the way and what did you learn from it?
RD: Not trusting my voice. This is a mistake I made more than once before really learning to follow my compass in a corporate setting. Early in my career there were a few times where I had true conviction on something but went the way of team inertia or forfeited to someone more senior assuming they knew better than I did. The results from these occasions were always lackluster and the journey unmotivating. I later learned that constructive dialogue and not being afraid to “upset the applecart” always leads to a better outcome.
What has been the most surreal moment of your career thus far?
RD: The first time I saw a Daily Harvest box being unloaded from a FedEx truck on a random corner in NYC I knew we had created something big. It was a surreal moment that showed our penetration in the market and meant so much more than numbers on a spreadsheet. I still get watery eyes every time I see one.
What do you look for when considering hiring someone?
RD: The first things I look for are passion and culture fit. As a small team, it’s crucial that everybody believe in the mission and also that everyone meshes well – we work really hard and sometimes unpredictably…and spend more time together than we spend with almost anyone else in our lives. We don’t want people who just see their work as a job.
What advice would you give to a 20-something with similar aspirations?
RD: Don’t be afraid to “saddle up” and take chances. When given an opportunity, always raise your hand and learn as much as you can. Follow your passions, have conviction and don’t be afraid of being an outlier.
What’s the one thing that’s stood out to you the most in a resume?
RD: I always look for something that jumps off the page and gives life to a resume. Obviously, hard skills are incredibly important, but I also like seeing the individual shine through on paper. Clown school, travel to Rwanda, chocoholic… let your quirkiness shine through! These points make great ice breakers in an interview and show a bit about the person beyond the rows of bullet points.
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