We were lucky to catch up with Ellen Brazelton recently and have shared our conversation below.

Ellen, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today. So, let’s start with a hypothetical – what would you change about the educational system?

I’ve always had a love for science, so selecting Biology as my major at Tuskegee University was a no-brainer. All the career paths I heard about were lab work in industry or remaining in academia. Neither option sounded too appealing so I went on to pursue graduate studies at Iowa State University, thinking more options would become available with a Master’s degree. Academia was pushed even more so. I felt I was at a crossroads; change what I’ve always wanted to do or be complacent in a career path that didn’t particularly fulfill me.

The job titles I would go on to fill included research scientist, data analyst, project manager, regulatory specialist, and upgrades specialist. It was shopping around for my perfect fit that I realized entrepreneurship is what suited me best.

Showcasing more career paths and interests would benefit today’s students. Being a professor is not for everyone. I am proof that there are plenty of jobs out there for those with technical backgrounds who don’t want to teach or solely do lab work.

Ellen, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

Buzzed Bull Creamery uses liquid nitrogen to flash freeze fresh ingredients into ice creams and milkshakes. Everything is made to order and customizable., including vegan options. We also have the ability to add alcohol! The nitrogen creates a small particle size that makes the ice cream extremely smooth and creamy.

This concept appealed to me because liquid nitrogen creates a lot of smoke, so every ice cream feels like a mini science experiment! My background is in biology and genetics. I wanted a way to combine my passion for science with a fun experience for people of all ages. Buzzed Bull allows me to have fun serving my community while making a lasting impact.

I am most proud of the many people I’ve been able to bring together, all for the love of ice cream. My staff is multi-generational and multi-cultural, and so is my clientele. There have been times where small kids are as fascinated by the process as the grandparents who brought them into the store. I aim to educate all on the benefits of liquid nitrogen ice cream, and emphasize how science is used in all of our daily lives.

Do you have any insights you can share related to maintaining high team morale?

It was my goal to be the manager that I always wanted to have. Someone that is capable, understanding, kind hearted, and hard working. I responded to staff issues in the way that I would have liked to have been addressed, if the roles were reversed. I believe this was a fatal flaw. I am not my own employee, I was not the one in the midst of an issue/problem, another person with their own idea of what a manager should be was. I realized after losing one of my most valuable team members that I needed to shift my approach. I asked myself why they couldn’t see how much I was putting into solving every problem? Didn’t they see how hard I worked, how understanding I was? Didn’t they acknowledge all of the extemporaneous things I had going on that may hinder my response time? But those were not the right questions. I should have been asking what the ideal traits they looked for in a leader were, what their problem solving methods were. It was not up to them to work around my schedule. Their concerns were real to them in that moment, and I failed to realize how it affected morale and made them feel unheard and under valued. In my mind, their issue could be solved after I picked up my son from school, or whatever my excuse was that day. My advice to others is to recognize how your team communicates, and take their issues seriously, even if they seem minor to you. As a business owner, we put out fires all day. But to employees, that one fire you left burning could be the difference between retaining well qualified members and they may not forgive you for it, no matter how good your intentions were.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

One thing I took for granted was my own personal story. I thought to be a business owner I needed to look/dress/talk a certain way. I thought would need a large corporation behind me, but the story of the Black scientist who makes ice cream with liquid nitrogen is much more memorable! Little girls come in and tell me they saw me on the news, with my natural hair that looks just like theirs, and realize they too could do great things. People genuinely see themselves in me. They can relate to my southern upbringing or my family life. When I wear a Tuskegee hoodie, more people take the time to ask about where I went to college and what my background is. Most people are shocked that I’m the owner and that I’m humble. They see me in store, dressed down in a T shirt and sweats, working hard, and I think I earn their respect more for just being me! People are actually intrigued to learn more about the scientist who makes ice cream in a cool way. They’ve told me that they’d rather come spend money at my store than others where they have no idea who owns it, or what their background is. Being personable makes a difference for small businesses. And it helps that I have a great product to stand behind too :)

Contact Info:

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ellen.tisdale
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ellenbrazelton