While Freya and Natasha are no longer working together (Freya is now the president of Tea Drops), the Coolhaus co-founders have a new shared project - parenting! After welcoming their new arrival in April, Natasha takes us through how they make it work full time in life and love.
Natasha wears the 2 carat solitaire studs in pink, Freya wears the 2 carat solitaire studs in blue. Meet all our perfect pairs here.
HOW DID YOU TWO MEET?
We met through a mutual friend that I studied in Italy with and Freya knew from college -- she invited us to her birthday party to reconnect. I actually split my pants on the way into the party, but decided to go for it anyway. Freya did not arrive until nearly 3am (oh, to be 25!) but I stuck around, and luckily met the woman that seriously changed my life in unimaginable and awesome ways. By the second time we hung out, we were talking ice cream business -- I had told her about the artisanal and architecturally-inspired ice cream sammies I had been making. So, essentially, the relationship and business all started at once.
HOW HAVE YOU FOUND WORKING TOGETHER THROUGH THE QUARANTINE?
Freya and I, in our day-to-day careers, do not work together. I am CEO of Coolhaus, and she is President of a really cool tea company called Tea Drops. That being said, we both give each other a lot of insight and ideas about the respective businesses… especially Freya for Coolhaus, as she is co-founder of the company. She’s even holding down our social media while we are hiring a new person for the role. I love being at home and hearing the trials and tribulations of her work, because it reminds me of starting the business together (I do not think the feeling is mutual for her, though!).
Even though the pandemic created an incredibly challenging strain on the economy, it has come with its unique challenges -- Coolhaus was born out of the recession and because of it, we are both very adaptable and willing to take business evolution and pivots in our stride. I also happen to believe that often the business is better for it.
DID STARTING OFF AS A DUO CONTRIBUTE TO YOUR CONFIDENCE TO TAKE COOLHAUS FROM SIDE-HUSTLE TO FULL TIME?
Definitely. Although I was making the ice cream sammies on my own, if I had not met Freya -- who had the business (ops + finance) wherewithal to complement my skill set (sales, brand, marketing) -- there would be no Coolhaus as we know it today! She also had much more hospitality experience. We had an aligned vision with different skill sets, a great set-up for founders. Also, sometimes you just need that partner, someone to lean on, to know you can move forward.
THEY’RE HERE! THE 2CT STUDS
WHEN IT COMES TO DECISION MAKING, IS ONE OF YOU MORE LIKELY TO TAKE THE LEAD?
I often am the one bringing tough conversations to the forefront, but Freya lights a fire under me behind the scenes...
DO YOUR REGULAR WORKDAY DAILY ROUTINES/HOURS DIFFER FROM EACH OTHER?
No, which is why it’s challenging to parent and work full-time in quarantine! However, we are both still on maternity leave (we welcomed Baby Nico into the world on 4/17!), so that has been incredible to focus on the kids and being together as a family.
HOW DO YOU DRAW THE LINE BETWEEN WORK HOURS AND SOCIAL HOURS? DO THEY TEND TO BLEND?
They do tend to blend, especially these days… however, I am a little more into the boundaries of putting down our phones, etc. during non-business hours.
Want to keep the inspiration coming? Meet our other Perfect Pairs with Q&A’s from the co-founders of The Home Edit and Coco & Breezy, then shop the new 2ct solitaire studs here!
