Willow Sprague & Jess Blakley, founders of BarBees, as seen on Shark Tank
On this episode of One Step Beyond, we are joined by Willow Sprague and Jessica Blakley, founders of BarBees. Aram, Willow & Jess discuss how saying “yes” to an idea led to the creation of BarBees. Their mobile bartending service was born from the gap they noticed in Nashville’s event industry. Willow shares that the need for trustworthy and personable bartending services at events in Nashville fueled their entrepreneurial spirit and solidified their business concept. Willow and Jess share about their waterfall of opportunities and the domino effect of small decisions leading to significant moments.
This conversation explores the importance of having partners and seeking mentors who share advice and help navigate uncertainty while sustaining and growing a business. Jess shares how their mentors provided accountability and guidance, helping them navigate challenges and report both successes and failures.
Willow and Jess share about their appearance on Shark Tank. Willow recounts how the opportunity required them to scrutinize their business and prepare extensively, leading to a successful pitch and an on-screen deal with guest shark Daniel Lubetzky. Jess and Willow reflect on how the process boosted their confidence and validated their business.
Post-Shark Tank, Jess and Willow note that the biggest change was internal, with their team feeling more empowered and confident. This shift in team dynamics and self-belief was invaluable, reinforcing their ability to tackle high-pressure situations and seize new opportunities. Aram emphasizes the importance of preparation and adaptability in different types of meetings. He likens the Shark Tank experience to the “Olympics of entrepreneurship,” a pinnacle event that tested their readiness and resilience resulting in profound personal and professional growth.
ON THIS EPISODE WE TALK ABOUT
- The importance of partners & mentors
- Visionary-pragmatist spectrum
- High value / high stakes meetings
- Their appearance on Shark Tank
Connect with Willow & Jessica:
GoBarbees.com
Willow Linkedin
Jess Linkedin
Connect with Aram:
Linkedin
Connect with Cadence Leadership & Communication:
Linkedin
Cadence Leadership