Startup Stories: Q&A With Thrive Market Strategic Partnerships Manager Sylvia Hartley

Welcome to Startup Stories, a series that takes you behind the scenes to share what working at a startup is really like. Our mission at Thrive Market is simple: to make healthy living easy and affordable for everyone. But fulfilling our big dreams take a team of dedicated, inspiring, funny, and tenacious people who show up to work every day eager to make a difference.

Today we’re introducing you to our Strategic Partnerships Manager, Sylvia Hartley. She works with our amazing group of bloggers, influencers, and podcast personalities to help spread the word about Thrive Market! Read on for our interview.

Let’s start with the basics. Can you describe your role at Thrive Market?

I help manage all online partnerships, so whether you’re a niche blogger, Instagram personality, or media site, I work with you to introduce Thrive Market to your community in organic and authentic ways. I’m also a member of our Thrive Gives Task Force which helps ensure we’re having an impact with our one-for-one membership model and Spread the Health donation dollars.

Is there anything people misunderstand about your job, or something that might surprise members to learn about your work?

When Thrive Market was first starting out, co-founders Nick and Gunnar were rejected by all the top investors, so they turned to New York Times bestselling authors and influencers in the health and wellness space to help get the word out about the brand. This is why my role exists! Influencers are the backbone of our business and why we take so much time and effort to support them. I’m part of an entire team dedicated to serving everyone from podcast personalities to YouTuber’s.

What do you enjoy most about working with Thrive Market ambassadors?

The creativity! So many of our brands are excited to work with us and our influencer partners to develop really fun posts. It’s always great to see how people use Thrive Market’s products in their everyday lives and how they get inspiration for unexpected collaborations.

What does a typical day look like? Do you have any routines or rituals that help you feel your best? Or a favorite nibble to grab from the kitchen, perhaps?

Fun fact: my big sister works at Thrive Market, too! Seeing her every day makes work fun and feel a bit more balanced. We’re always finding time to chat on our way to the kitchen or to take a mental break between emails. (You can check out Thrive Market’s YouTube channel to see a bit of her work as our team’s video producer! Hi, Grace!)

What inspires you to live a healthy lifestyle? Is there something in particular that drew you to Thrive Market?

I grew up in Chicago, where we had a compost in our backyard and a garden that we picked from most nights for dinner. This simple, healthy lifestyle is rooted in my personal life and it’s something that I cherish. But even though this is how I was raised, I know that many families across the country see healthy eating as a hurdle and even a privilege. My goal is to try and change the conversations surrounding healthy eating so that more people see it as an option and have the courage to at least give our site and their local farmers’ markets a try. It’s surprisingly affordable, and we also help families through our Thrive Gives program if they need it!

When do you feel most successful or proud of your work?

When I’m in a new social setting and someone recognizes the Thrive Market name! At the end of the day, the goal of our partnerships team is to discover new communities and introduce them to our brand, so when someone new has already heard about us, it means we’re doing our job.

Give us a peek at what you eat during the day—breakfast, lunch, dinner, and a snack!

I start every day with coffee—black with a pinch of cinnamon, but no milk. For lunch, I typically eat a salad and then dinner is something I grab on-the-go after working out, or at a restaurant with friends. I wish I was a master chef, but I’m far from it! A girl can always dream…

What’s one thing you want others to know about Thrive Market, that they might not learn from ordering, reading the blog, or visiting the website?

Our company comes together weekly to catch up on everything from new product launches, highs and lows from the previous week, new employee introductions, and even member spotlights where we share feedback from customers who have reached out to us. It’s rare that companies stop and check in with their customers every day, but we do! So thank you for taking the time to share your lives with us, it means a lot.

Last but not least, what’s your favorite Thrive Market product and why?

Thrive Market Organic Vodka Sauce! I swear this sauce is magical and can make any pasta taste amazing.