Let's stop doing 'business as usual' and instead use business as a tool for good.
Tesh Hearth is a serial entrepreneur and philanthropist - founding Raglan Food Co in her home kitchen in 2014, a brand that became market-leader in New Zealand for dairy-free yoghurt and also exports to Singapore & the Pacific. After a growth journey that included building a 1,500sqm yoghurt factory in Raglan to keep the company locally-based, Tesh navigated a successful partial exit to Pioneer Capital in 2020, taking on an active advisor role to Raglan Food Co's current CEO & Board.
Tesh went on to co-found Weave Cacao in 2023, the first-ever 100% Pacific grown & made couverture chocolate. The social enterprise is on a fast growth trajectory, providing the NZ market with a high quality, local, dairy-free choice that competes with big European couverture brands, while empowering the 2.5 million cacao farmers around the Pacific.
Committed to using business as a tool for positive change, Tesh has won several awards for her efforts in sustainability and product innovation, also becoming a finalist in the 2021 Women of Influence Awards. Under her leadership Raglan Food Co became B Corp certified, backing initiatives like the 1 Million Pieces project to encourage environmental stewardship.
Tesh is an Edmund Hillary Fellow and founding trustee of The Values Trust, which supports Climate, Creatures, and Children's literacy initiatives. She wears many hats, from operating Raglan Rural Retreats, sitting on the Boards of Daisy Lab and HUHA (Helping You Help Animals), and mentoring start-ups. Her blog led to a book deal with a US publishing company for The To-Be List, and she has published several children's books.
With a background in various industries and no formal schooling, Tesh’s path to success was untraditional but highly impactful. She inspires listeners to 'follow their curiosity' and make a difference.
Talking Points
How to Build a Multi-Million Dollar Business From Scratch
Tesh shows how it's possible to break the stereotypes, chart your own course & create a successful start-up with zero capital, no University degree, and in a remote, rural community. From starting Raglan Food Co in her home kitchen at 24 years old and growing it into New Zealand & Singapore's market-leader in dairy-free yoghurt, be inspired by this remarkable journey of creating a company with purpose beyond profit.
How to Build a Multi-Million Dollar Business From Scratch
Finding the 'Why' in Your Work
Tesh shares her unique philosophy on linking your values to your work, and how they can serve as a motivational force to help you push through the obstacles. Be inspired by her journey of creating a successful company and fulfilling a dream of using her funds & entrepreneurial mindset to start-up a charitable trust making a difference for Climate, Creatures, and Children's Literacy. Get practical tips on the small steps you can take right now to make your work & your life more meaningful, at whatever stage of the journey you're on.
Finding the 'Why' in Your Work
Video
The Raglan Coconut Yoghurt Story
It was an entertaining story about starting a small business that has become successful. ... keep reading New Zealand Bookkeepers Association Incorporated
It was a no-brainer to invite Tesh to speak at our inaugural Women of Waikato event in May 2018 so that she could share her inspirational journey in business with our audience of almost 100 people. The feedback I had from the audience was that they loved Tesh's infectious enthusiasm and her entrepreneurial spirit!
You totally made their day with the yoghurt! (they are from decile 1-3 schools and would not see this type of item in their weekly shop so it was a real novelty for them and a complete delight to have you there inspiring them!). I could tell from their questions, energy and enthusiasm after a full day and hearing you after dinner, they were ecstatic and motivated. Thank you soooooo much! We loved having you at our National Youth Advisory Group camp.
Thank you for sharing your story with us! We were a room full of rural, working women totally inspired by your passion and commitment to your truth of doing what's right for people and the planet. You glossed over the incredible success you have had with writing and business ventures, which shows your modest, humble style. You were so down-to-earth (pun intended!), engaging and entertaining and I will be forever grateful that you accepted our invitation to speak.
I first met Latesha through the Edmund Hillary Fellowship where she presented to one of our schools in the Young Enterprise Scheme (YES) programme, I was blown away by how talented this lady was and her inspirational approach to business. I just knew I had to get her to speak to our whole student body to share her empowering words, her entrepreneurial journey and most of all, to inspire. And inspire she did! Latesha is a true entrepreneur, her sustainable approach to business and her philosophy of doing better for people and our planet is truly admirable. It was an absolute honour to have Mrs Coconut speak at our Waikato/King Country YES regional finals.
Thank you for speaking at our Inspired Exporting event, you had a very refreshing, honest and engaging story to hear! We've had great feedback from our varied audience and everyone was quite inspired by how you've created a business based on passion and purpose. Thank you again!
Thank you so much for an awesome session yesterday. The group were really excited to see the role of a business influencing change in such a powerful way. We loved the sense of mutual exchange (compared to help me) and the wide ripple effects that you were creating with your intelligent, simple, home-grown approach (to quote one learner!). I know it is not simple, but the clarity of your vision, values and practical skills is such a great foundation. You have certainly inspired some more exploration from the group into social enterprise and the whole question of value, and values-based practice.
