HOMETOWN HEROES: TRINITY MOUZON WOFFORD, FOUNDER OF GOLDE

From radiance-boosting tonic blends to superfood-based face masks, Trinity Mouzon Wofford is all about creating products that’ll make you feel good. We met up with the founder of Golde (and one of the newest members of our Hometown Heroes Collective) to talk about what wellness means to her, how she runs a growing business and more. Prepare for a healthy dose of inspiration.

Tell us about how Golde began.
Golde was inspired by my own personal experience as a consumer. I was feeling a bit caught between the old-school “crunchy granola” wellness and the ultra-luxe, inaccessible stuff that was coming out in response to it. In 2017, I teamed up with my longtime partner, Issey, to build a brand that made superfoods more approachable, inclusive and fun. We started out with a really bootstrapped setup—we mixed every bag of product by hand! Gradually word started to spread, and it quickly swelled into both a community and a business.

What does “wellness” mean to you, personally?
At Golde, we talk about the idea that “being well should feel good.” Health doesn’t need to be something you struggle to achieve every single day. Wellness is about building daily practices that help you feel like your best self, whether that’s a morning workout or going out for ice cream with a friend. When you look at it that way, it becomes really intuitive and less about trying to check a box so you can label yourself as “healthy.”

How does a typical day play out for you?
I’m an early riser for sure—depending on the day I’ll wake up between 5 and 6am. Once I’m up, I like to start the day with some sort of movement. If I don’t have a lot of time, it’s a yoga video at home on my living room floor. If I do, I head to SESSION in Williamsburg for an incredible circuit training workout. I’m not particularly athletic, but I love what a little movement does not just for my body but for my mind. I work from home, so I jump right into emails and meetings afterward. Some days we’re really focused on fun stuff like product design and development, and others we’re knee-deep in logistical challenges with our warehouse or manufacturer.

Because I start early, I try to wrap up by 5pm—a rarity in NYC! Post-work, I go for a long walk around Brooklyn to unwind. On the way back home I like to grab fresh bread from our local bakery to have with dinner. Following that, I usually catch up on some TV or reading before bedtime.

What keeps you motivated when you’re feeling tapped out?
It can be hard to stay 100 percent motivated when you’re constantly getting a new challenge hurled at you. I think taking breaks and allowing time away from work is huge, and it’s not something that we take seriously enough. The hustle culture is great, but it’s important to remember that it’s okay to take a moment to pause.

Any other advice for others looking to start a business they’re passionate about?
Connect with as many entrepreneurs as you can. You’ll learn from their experience and gain valuable mentor relationships as you build your business. Also, remember that this is your journey—there are infinite pathways to entrepreneurship, you just have to find the one that works for you.

Thanks, Trinity. Meet more of our Hometown Heroes and shop their goods right here.