We were lucky to catch up with Haley Knaub recently and have shared our conversation below.
Haley, appreciate you joining us today. What do you think it takes to be successful?
I think success comes down to staying consistent and keeping focused on the long game. It’s not about overnight wins or quick fixes—it’s about showing up, day after day, even when things get hard. Growing Elevate has been a lot like cultivating mushrooms—it requires patience, care, and intention at every step.
Building something meaningful takes time and constant hard work. You have to be ready to put in the hours—sometimes 80+ a week—because lasting success doesn’t happen by chance. It’s earned through passion, effort, and determination.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
I’m Haley, the founder of Elevate Mushrooms and several other ventures. I got into this industry because I believe in helping people achieve their potential. Whether it’s through wellness, creativity, or transformation, people should be able to pursue their best life and have the health to do so. At Elevate, we create functional mushroom supplements that improve focus, relieve stress, and boost the immune system. What makes our products unique is that we use only 100% fruiting body mushrooms in our formulations, meaning you’re getting the best possible quality with no fillers.
Beyond just selling products, I want to shift the way we think about wellness. Part of this shift involves spreading awareness and information about functional mushrooms. Mushrooms have been used for health benefits for thousands of years, but we’re just now starting to scratch the surface of their true potential. Looking back at my life so far, I’m most proud of building brands that empower people to live healthier, more enjoyable lives while exploring natural ways to feel their best.
Any advice for managing a team?
I’ve always believed in being a leader rather than a boss. To me, that means creating an environment where the team feels heard, united, and valued. I prioritize open communication—whether that’s through check-ins or just making sure everyone feels comfortable sharing their ideas and concerns.
In addition to open communication, I always advise putting team members in the best position to succeed. It’s so important to tap into each individual’s skill set and passion and channel it into their work. When people have the tools to succeed while staying motivated, they go above and beyond and do their best work.
At the end of the day, I think morale comes down to two things: trust and purpose. If your team trusts each other and believes in a common goal, they’ll bring their best to the table every day.
Any thoughts, advice, or strategies you can share for fostering brand loyalty?
With Elevate, I believe in building a two-way relationship with our customers—it’s not just about us talking to them but also about us listening. We’re active on Instagram (@elevatemushrooms), where we share tips, recipes, and educational content about functional mushrooms. From comments, we gather feedback and love interacting with followers about how our products have impacted them or their loved ones.
We also send out regular newsletters packed with helpful information about how to use our products, success stories from real customers, and deeper dives into the benefits of specific mushrooms. By sharing customers’ stories, I’ve found this helps create a sense of community and shows we’re more invested in their wellness journeys than just their purchases.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.shopelevatemushrooms.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elevatemushrooms?igsh=bTd2enYxZWkwMXlh
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61561444177284
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/haleyknaub
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NebWE3hcFVw
Image Credits
Headshot by: Vivid Design Studios: Maya Tihtiyas Attean
Product photos by: Bon Vivants Creative: Julianna Deschenes