Zebra Resilience: Alison Mountford, Ends+Stems

“[E]nabling others to take action for a more sustainable future is baked into every step we take, every decision we make.”

This month, we're discussing "resilience" with the Zebra community. We grabbed some thoughts on the topic from San Francisco Zebra community member Alison Mountford of Ends+Stems.

First, let's hear about the Zebra that you’re building.

Ends+Stems is a meal planning platform that helps busy home cooks reduce their food waste, effortlessly! Thousands of people have told us that "Deciding what to cook" stresses them out most when thinking about dinner, but we have to stop food waste to take action again climate change and feed the world's growing population.

We make it easy for families to follow our meal plans and recipes which were specifically written to reduce waste. That makes us a Zebra because enabling others to take action for a more sustainable future is baked into every step we take, every decision we make. And, the business is 100% bootstrapped and customer funded.

What does resiliency mean to you, specifically as a Zebra?

Often, looking inward and remembering why I founded this company. Remembering to stay on my own journey, which sometimes moves more slowly since I'm mission-based, a parent to young kids, and bootstrapping. It means leaning on my strong community of users and supporters who really get what we're doing and want to be part of the solution.

What helps you to stay resilient?

My kids keep me grounded. It’s either because I want to help save the planet for their future or because they're so much work. Whatever the case, I have no choice but to think about them.

Also, remembering that I have choices and life is hard, we're all just doing our best. I also try to take some time to enjoy friends or a hobby (like reading or knitting) and get some perspective.

Interested in learning more about this Zebra company?

Visit endsandstems.com.