In this episode of The Entrepreneur’s Chair, host Elizabeth Davis sits down with Kirsten Maitland, co-founder of Rebel Cheese. With a career that spans the U.S. Navy, tech consulting at companies like Microsoft and Expedia, and now culinary entrepreneurship, Kirsten’s journey is anything but conventional, and entirely values-driven. Kirsten opens up about: – Leaving corporate tech to pursue her passion for food and animal welfare – The science, failure, and obsession behind crafting artisan vegan cheese – How Rebel Cheese launched with a line out the door—and never looked back – Balancing perfectionism with action (“Don’t wait for the perfect moment—just start”) – Lessons from Shark Tank, scaling to New York, and what’s next for the brand Whether you’re an aspiring founder, a foodie, or just love a good reinvention story, this conversation is packed with heart, hustle, and hard-earned wisdom.
