When Maya French and Dustin Baker became neighbors back in 2013, they had no idea they’d one day be co-founders, let alone build two beverage brands together.
But a shared interest in health, entrepreneurship, and the food space quickly sparked something bigger. After tossing around ideas—like juice bars and natural drinks—they eventually landed on Koia, one of the first plant-based protein drinks you could actually find in stores. That success would lead to their newest venture: HappyPop, a fizzy, mood-boosting energy drink made with ingredients designed to help people feel good without the crash.
They’ve been named to Forbes 30 Under 30, earned shelves in retailers like Whole Foods and Walmart, and launched HappyPop at Expo West last year—where it won Best New Product. Safe to say, they’ve learned a thing or two along the way.
We were lucky enough to host Maya and Dustin as our guest speakers for April’s Nobody Cares event—our monthly speaker series featuring unfiltered conversations about work, life, and what success really looks like. This time, we took things off-site to The Post clubhouse (brown leather couches included) and dove into everything from giving feedback to trusting your gut.
Here’s what stuck with us.
1. “It wasn’t a good cultural fit” = “My boss didn’t like me”
Let’s be real: a lot of workplace language can be vague, coded, or just plain unhelpful. Maya and Dustin spoke honestly about how phrases like “not a culture fit” are often used to mask a lack of directness.
The takeaway? Honesty matters, especially in a startup or small team. If something isn’t working, be clear. Sugarcoating feedback—or worse, avoiding it altogether—only leads to confusion. Creating a culture of transparency sets the tone for everything else (which leads us to our next takeaway).
2. Be specific with feedback—it helps people grow
Whether you’re managing a team or collaborating with a partner, feedback isn’t about pointing fingers. It’s about building better outcomes together.
Maya and Dustin emphasized that the best feedback is specific and actionable. Instead of vague comments like “this needs work,” point out exactly what could be improved and how. This not only gives someone something to work with, it also shows that you’re invested in their growth—not just pointing out flaws.
3. Good energy is magnetic
This one’s simple, but powerful: people want to work with good energy.
When you show up with authenticity, passion, and confidence in what you do, people notice. Maya and Dustin talked about the importance of putting out the energy you want to get back—because whether it’s investors, teammates, or customers, people are drawn to positivity and drive.
In their words: When someone sees something they admire in you, it sticks. And it often leads to opportunities you never planned for.
4. Stay open to chance encounters
The HappyPop story is a perfect example of this. Maya and Dustin met by chance as neighbors—but it was their openness to connecting, dreaming big, and saying yes to ideas that led to everything that followed.
From potential collaborators to once-in-a-lifetime opportunities, their advice is clear: stay open to the unexpected. You never know when a casual conversation could turn into your next big idea—or your next business partner.
It’s also a reminder to stay adaptable. Not every idea works the first time, and that’s okay. Koia didn’t happen overnight—it took a willingness to evolve, pivot, and keep building.
5. Believe in what you’re selling
This brings us to our final takeaway: You can’t fake conviction. The duo stressed how important it is to stand behind your product, not just with marketing or branding, but in how you talk about it, pitch it, and keep showing up for it—even when things get tough (adaptability is everything in this industry).
Their philosophy with both Koia and HappyPop has always been rooted in solving real problems and offering real value. From ingredient sourcing to shelf placement, they’re involved in every part of the process—and that belief in what they’re building comes through loud and clear.
Want more insights like this?
Keep an eye on our monthly Nobody Cares speaker series, where we bring founders, creators, and experts together for honest conversations about work and life that actually mean something.
