Meet Basem Harb and Cyndi Smith | Co-founders of Fierce & Kind
We had the good fortune of connecting with Basem Harb and Cyndi Smith and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Basem and Cyndi, do you have a favorite quote or affirmation?
Our favorite quote comes from Maya Angelou, and we draw from it not only inspiration for our name but for our mission and intent – “Continue. Be loving and be strong. Be fierce and be kind. And don’t give in and don’t give up.”
We know there are risks every step of the way in this entrepreneurial journey, and we know that this industry is crowded, highly competitive and full of noise. We know that in addition to being loving and kind, we need to be fierce and strong. Every day, we wake up with that mantra – it’s our “ikigai.”
We love that our mission brings community around what we’re doing. Once we get past the noise of our own lives, we sense, we know, that we want to be a part of something bigger. Fierce & Kind allows us to do that, while simultaneously allowing every one of our investors, consumers, and supporters to be part of something bigger, too. That’s monumental!
Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Fierce & Kind was born out of two passions of ours: whiskey and a commitment to social impact. It’s hard to say which was the biggest driver because the vision for the company always encompassed both. The timing of the launch, however, was sparked by the impact mission. The pandemic reinforced the consequences of economic inequities and the urgency needed to address them. We wanted to invest our work lives and career experience into doing something that made a difference.
We don’t have a multi-million-dollar budget, we’re not an army of staff and brand ambassadors, and we don’t have huge sports sponsorships. There are some huge players in this industry and to chip away at their market share with better spirits and a mission that people want to hear about and be a part of, we work three times as hard. Every single day and night we’re producing, promoting, and evangelizing the Fierce & Kind brand and mission. For us, we’re motivated by the spirit of our team, the quality of our spirits and our purpose-driven mission of improving the human spirit.
Because of this, our gratitude and success has come from intently listening to our customers from the start. From our first small batch of bourbon to our more recent releases, we have kept consumer desires in mind.
Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
We are passionate about food and culture, and lucky for us San Diego offers an ever-growing list of spots to enjoy, so we have many recommendations! For a special lunch, a favorite of ours is the iconic Mister A’s – everything about it is elegant and enjoyable – amazing service, beautiful dishes, and the bird’s eye view of planes landing at the San Diego Airport. For seafood, The Fishery in Pacific Beach really sets the tone for a romantic dinner. As distillers, of course, we love a good bar. The Whiskey House has a great selection, and if you’re interested in discovering more locally distilled spirits alongside some of the best burgers in town, Key & Cleaver is a casual, must-visit spot. If you’re just looking for a good time, The Jazz Lounge on El Cajon hosts live music acts and talent from the local area.
Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
As optimists, we’re inspired by companies like Ben & Jerry’s that value their consumers, communities, and the environment. Supporting fair trade practices and consistently remaining outspoken on political and social issues, Ben & Jerry’s demonstrates how businesses of all sizes can drive positive change in the world and that profitability and purpose can go hand in hand.
We admire socially conscious brands like Ben & Jerry’s, and through our creation of The Fierce & Kind Equity Foundation, we look forward to being a leader in the spirits industry, recognized for making a positive impact in the world.
Website: https://fiercenkind.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fierce.kind/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/fiercenkind/
Image Credits
Fierce & Kind
Nominate Someone: ShoutoutSocal is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
