Turning Adversity into Innovation with Rebel Cheese's Kirsten Maitland

In this inspiring episode of the Super U Podcast, Kirsten Maitland shares her remarkable journey from a difficult childhood in England to becoming the co-founder and CEO of Rebel Cheese — one of Time Magazine's Best Innovations of 2025. Kirsten opens up about growing up in foster care, joining the U.S. Navy at 16, building a successful career in tech consulting, and ultimately leaving it all behind to pursue a mission-driven business with her husband. She takes listeners behind the scenes of their unforgettable Shark Tank experience, including the intense pitch preparation, the emotional rollercoaster of filming, and what it was really like landing a deal with Mark Cuban. The conversation also dives into entrepreneurship during COVID, scaling an e-commerce business from scratch, the future of AI and search, and why 74% of Rebel Cheese customers aren't even vegan. This episode is packed with lessons on resilience, innovation, leadership, and betting on yourself when everyone else says it won't work. Five-time #1 Bestselling Author and Motivational Speaker Erik Qualman has performed in over 60 countries and reached over 60 million people this past decade. He was voted the 2nd Most Likable Author in the World behind the Harry Potter series. Have Erik speak at your conference: eq@equalman.com Motivational Speaker | Erik Qualman has inspired audiences at FedEx, Chase, ADP, Huawei, Starbucks, Godiva, FBI, Google, and many more on Focus and Digital Leadership.