Today we’d like to introduce you to Andrew Buerger

Hi Andrew, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.

My journey has been shaped by challenges that I’ve turned into opportunities for growth, both personally and professionally. It started with a personal tragedy—my sister was diagnosed with breast cancer, which led me to found Jodi’s Climb for Hope**. This nonprofit has since raised over a million dollars for breast cancer and multiple sclerosis research. I expanded the mission after my wife, Jennifer, was diagnosed with MS, and the organization now supports both causes through symbolic mountain climbs that reflect the resilience needed to face these battles.

During one of these fundraising expeditions in Iceland, I discovered skyr, an Icelandic yogurt that inspired me to create B’More Organic, the first organic protein drink with no added sugar in the U.S. It became one of the fastest-growing natural brands, and we were recognized by Inc. magazine for our growth.

Today, I’m the Chief Strategy Officer for Taharka Brothers Ice Cream a mission-driven company in Baltimore that focuses on social change through its business. Along the way, I’ve become a TEDx speaker, author, and passionate advocate for resilience, using my mountaineering adventures as a metaphor for tackling life’s peaks and valleys.

All of this has allowed me to grow as an entrepreneur, speaker, and advocate, helping others overcome adversity and find purpose, just as I have through my own experiences.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?

LOL. It’s safe to say the road hasn’t exactly been smooth—more like a winding, pothole-filled detour through a construction zone with no GPS signal. But, that’s ok. As the Stoic philosopher taught me “It’s fortunate that has happened to me.” I’ve learned that if you want to build grit, you need to get comfortable being uncomfortable.

When my sister was diagnosed with breast cancer, I didn’t know what to do with the grief, so I thought, “Why not start climbing mountains and raising money?” You know, as one does. Turns out, the mountains were the easy part—the real uphill battle was navigating the logistics of running a nonprofit and getting people to climb with you. I lost count of how many times I thought, “Why am I doing this again?” Usually halfway up a peak, out of breath, and regretting my life choices.

Then, just when I thought I had enough on my plate, my wife was diagnosed with MS. That’s when I decided to double down on Jodi’s Climb for Hope because why not take on more challenges when you’re already drowning? It was tough, but nothing builds character like juggling a nonprofit, a growing family, and learning more about autoimmune diseases than I ever wanted to.

Starting B’More Organic felt like a great idea—until I realized the natural food business is basically a survival game where most new products are eaten alive. There were days when I thought the product would never get off the ground and other days when I was like, “Who needs sleep? Launching a startup is basically a 24/7 adventure sport, right?”

In short, the road’s been far from smooth, but if you can’t laugh at the bumps, what can you do? When descending a mountain on a 17-hour day, I’ve learned to keep putting one foot in front of the other until I’m safe back at base camp.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?

In addition to advising CPG brands, I’m a motivational speaker who helps teams and organizations learn how to overcome obstacles by building mental resilience. Drawing from both my business and personal experiences—whether it’s climbing mountains or founding companies—I teach people how to push through adversity and thrive in challenging environments.

I’ve recently added coaching services focused on maintaining wellness throughout life. I can teach the wellness practices I’ve researched and applied to keep myself strong, both mentally and physically, even as I continue climbing mountains at 60 years old, with no plans to stop—despite my family history, where many relatives didn’t live past 58. Bad genetics didn’t stop me, and I’m still climbing strong.

My goal is to empower others to embrace discomfort, stay healthy, and grow from life’s obstacles, becoming stronger, more focused, and capable of achieving their goals.

How do you think about luck?

Look, I’m lucky to have been born in the most prosperous, powerful country on earth and in the 20th century to a family of privilege. Sure, life threw some serious curveballs—my mother died when I was just 1, my father when I was 31, and my sister, who was also my best friend, passed away when I was 44. Then, five months after our wedding, my wife was diagnosed with MS. But despite all of that, I consider myself a lucky man.

Just like Lou Gehrig, who famously declared himself “the luckiest man on the face of the earth” during his farewell speech, I strive to maintain a similar perspective. Despite battling ALS, a debilitating disease that would ultimately take his life, Gehrig focused on the love and support from his teammates, family, and fans. Those hardships have not only clarified my life’s mission—helping take a bite out of disease so that other families can live more fulfilling lives—but they’ve also given me grit. I’m lucky to have a purpose that gets me out of bed every single day, and that drive has motivated me to create both a successful business and a nonprofit. That determination to make a difference, despite the tough breaks, is a form of luck that I’ll never take for granted.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.AndrewBuerger.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/buergerandrew/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a4zBhPq6URA&list=RDCMUCsT0YIqwnpJCM-mx7-gSA4Q&start_radio=1&rv=a4zBhPq6URA&t=196