From Adversity to Innovation: A Resilient Entrepreneur’s Vision for Health and Wellness
Lilié Biskopsdotter is a name synonymous with resilience and innovation in the health and wellness industry. As the founder and CEO of Kibushi.se, a Swedish brand dedicated to improving the health of people, animals, and nature through the use of Effective Microorganisms, Lilié has been on a remarkable journey since establishing her company in 2019. This year, her pioneering work was recognized when she won the Most Innovative Pet Health Solutions CEO 2024 award from EU Business News, a testament to her visionary leadership and the impact of Kibushi’s products on the market.
Kibushi.se is renowned for its unique animal collars and bracelets that enhance blood circulation and repel ticks, products that have gained the trust and daily usage of several prominent Swedish celebrities. Despite this success, Lilié’s path has been fraught with challenges. Her entrepreneurial spirit was first tested when she owned and operated a popular café, which expanded into a mansion during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the economic turmoil of 2022 forced her into bankruptcy, marking a low point in her journey. Nevertheless, she rose from the financial wreckage, channeling her determination and experience into the establishment of Kibushi.se.
Lilié’s entrepreneurial journey is a compelling narrative of perseverance and passion. Having faced the stark realities of financial crisis, she knows the demands of balancing business with personal life, especially as a mother. Her resilience and commitment have not only led to personal growth but have also paved the way for Kibushi.se to thrive and expand rapidly. With her eyes set on global expansion and an unwavering belief in her mission, Lilié continues to drive Kibushi forward, proving that dedication and innovation can turn adversity into a catalyst for success.
Triumphs and Trials: An Entrepreneurial Odyssey
Congratulations on winning the Most Innovative Pet Health Solutions CEO 2024 award! How has this recognition impacted your business and personal journey? Thank you. More people and companies have opened their eyes to the products, which has resulted in increased sales and even more publicity, invitations to fairs and events, etc. For me personally, it’s a sign that I’m on the right track and that Kibushi is solving a problem that exists, and it gives me the strength to keep going on days when I feel overwhelmed.
Can you tell us more about Kibushi.se and how Effective Microorganisms are central to your products? What inspired you to focus on this particular niche? I started Kibushi in 2019 because I saw what a great product it is and what opportunities there are to develop the product while the demand for non-toxic health products was high during and after the pandemic. Our signature product is Natural Pearls, produced by Japanese professor Dr. Teruo Higa. Dr. Higa, a Master of Health and Nutrition with The Beijing DeTao Masters Academy (DTMA), is also the founder of EMRO (EM Research Organization) in Japan and has worked with EM for over 40 years. This technology is now available in 100 countries.
What are Kibushi Natural Pearls? Natural Pearls are Japanese Kibushi clay yeast together with Effective Microorganisms and then fired at a temperature of 1300°C. The firing process gives the pearls a long-lasting effect of EM®. The properties of the natural pearls positively impact all materials and environments they come into contact with, especially water. With Kibushi Natural Pearls, you can increase blood circulation, repel ticks, keep bouquets fresh longer, increase the durability of fruits and vegetables, and improve the water quality for you and your animals.
I immediately saw an opportunity to be the first with a product that can help both people, animals, and nature achieve better health and that consists of 100% natural substances. Having a strong team behind it (EMRO) with over 40 years of research and studies made me not hesitate for a second. Kibushi is everything I stand for and love. Being able to improve everyone’s health and make the world a better place, while expressing my creativity in photography, developing, manufacturing, and designing products, working with animals and plants, and producing content for social media and the website, is a dream come true.
Navigating Challenges and Embracing Success
You’ve experienced both success and challenges in your entrepreneurial journey, from bankruptcy to winning awards. How have these experiences shaped your leadership style and the way you approach business decisions today? I don’t regret any decisions I made in my business journey. I believe you have to go through something that totally destroys you to grow and become a better version of yourself. In 2022, I lost everything. From living in a mansion and running a café with a shop, large concerts, and events, I had to put the company into bankruptcy due to increased food, electricity, and petrol prices, as well as an unreasonably high rent. I saw people closest to me turn their backs on me while going through a divorce after 17 years and had nowhere to live. I moved five times in six months with two small children, a dog, and cats and was totally exhausted. But instead of giving up and feeling sorry for myself, I saw an opportunity to prioritize Kibushi and started an e-commerce business. For about six months, I focused on myself, took several courses on e-commerce, leadership, and sustainability, started calling around and booking meetings, stood at fairs and markets, and slowly started to bring in clients.
I learned the hard way and now listen more to my intuition. If something feels wrong, it is wrong. I used to rely on others, but today I am much more careful with whom I work. I look more at what a person performs than what they say. I don’t take advice from people who haven’t run a business. It doesn’t matter if it’s my best friend or a family member. Never listen to a person who doesn’t have the same ambitions as you. To succeed, you need to say goodbye or no to people you like and clear out friends who take more energy than they give. I have become much more confident in myself and better at making decisions. I know what I want, what is best for me and my company, and make better financial decisions. There will always be people who have opinions about you, no matter what you do, so stop caring what others think and say about you. A very good quote I have taken to heart is: “A millionaire won’t judge you for starting a business, a bodybuilder wouldn’t judge you for working out, a professional athlete won’t judge you for playing a sport. It’s always those people who are going nowhere who want to judge you for trying to do something with your life.” Nothing can stop me anymore. I know where I am going, and I will get there.
Future Vision and Unique Offerings
What are your future plans for Kibushi.se? Are there new products or markets you are looking to explore? In the competitive landscape of health and wellness products, what do you think sets Kibushi.se apart from other brands? The plan is to expand worldwide, and there are many new products coming. Our product is completely unique when it comes to health products. There is no one like us. Most other products out there contain perfumes, toxins, and dyes, which to me is unbelievable. Many health products out there make your health worse and also make you addicted. Our products consist of 100% natural substances and can be used by both children, adults, animals, and plants without side effects. The effect of our products also lasts for ten years!
The fact that a ceramic bead can purify your drinking water, increase blood circulation, repel pests such as ticks, and increase the shelf life of fruits and vegetables is completely unique. Our products are beautiful too. Combining my spiritual side in the products makes them even more unique. I have taken my knowledge of stones and crystals, as well as my master’s degree in Reiki healing, and created bracelets that are good for your physical and mental health.
Balancing Business and Personal Life
Your journey includes overcoming bankruptcy and significant financial challenges. How did you find the resilience to bounce back and start anew with Kibushi.se? You mentioned sacrificing personal income to reinvest in the company. How do you manage the balance between work and personal life, especially with your dedication to your business? Being an entrepreneur is a lifestyle and a mindset that you are born with. Not everyone has what it takes to run a business, just as not everyone can become a doctor or world artist. Running a business is about overcoming adversity, finding solutions to problems, putting yourself last in all situations, not complaining, and having the ability to pat yourself on the back because you will be very lonely. You also need to be a little quirky and dare to make big decisions based on your intuition. The reward is the few times something goes well, and it gives you the strength to continue. If you don’t have that mindset, it won’t work. You can’t be naive and think everything will work right away and everyone will love what you do. You also need to have ice in your stomach and dare to take a chance. Everything can change in a day! I read somewhere that Coca-Cola sold 25 bottles in the first year; look where they are today. I knew that if I bet everything I had, I could also lose everything, which I did. But what’s wonderful is that you can rebuild and learn from your mistakes. It just takes a little longer, and you have to work twice as hard and believe in what you’re doing and your product. But if you have the will and the work ethic, it will work. My mistakes are my biggest lessons, and after bankruptcy, you know what to do and what not to do.
How I built a new company while bankrupt