
Bigelow CEO talks tea, culture and success in putting ‘others before self’
February 12, 2025
February 12, 2025
As the leader of the No. 1 tea-producing company in the United States, Bigelow joined School of Business Dean Holly Raider and an audience of students, faculty and guests to share expertise and insights into building a successful company culture. The key ingredient, she believes, is steeped in “putting others before self.”
“We're very good about never doing anything that would be negative for the consumer perspective, from a quality perspective, from an employee perspective, from a community perspective,” said Bigelow. “A lot of our growth is based on that continuity and the culture that I wanted which was ‘others before self.’”
Under her leadership, Bigelow Tea became the top specialty tea company in 2002 and was named the country’s No. 1 overall tea company in 2020.
“It's really about doing ‘the right thing’ every single day, which means never compromising on quality. And I think that just really starts to resonate,” said Bigelow. “We’re not even the No. 1 specialty tea, we’re the No. 1 tea company … from a little town in Connecticut, run by a woman, 100% family owned. How can we even possibly be competing with these really large companies?”
During his opening remarks, Mostafa Analoui, director for the M&T Bank Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, called Bigelow a visionary leader who has "exemplified the principle of strategic leadership, adaptability and innovation. All qualities that are more critical than ever in today's external world.” The event was sponsored by the School of Business and the M&T Bank Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship.
Before assuming the role of CEO, Bigelow spent over 20 years in all areas of the company that her grandmother founded in 1945. The makers of “Constant Comment,” Bigelow Tea remains a 100% family-owned business and employs 450 people, producing over a billion tea bags annually in the U.S. Recently, the company was certified by the Women's Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) as a woman-owned and operated small business in the United States.
“I do think in a family business you have the opportunity to truly understand your impact on the culture and doing the right thing every day,” said Bigelow. “A family business can be very painful, but done well and with love, I think you have an opportunity to create a really good space, a fair space, a kind space, a driving space, a never compromising, never settling space.”
During the conversation, Bigelow spoke about leadership and the qualities she looks for in developing a team. One of the most important, she notes, is the ability to “lift the room” by striving to make everyone around you better, whether in business or your personal life.
“The term that I use is lift the room. I want people who put others before self,” said Bigelow. “I know that the ones who are going to be successful in our culture are not only knowledgeable but also thinking about the other person. They don’t step on anybody to get ahead. They want to be part of something and then work to make it better for everybody.”
As she guided the discussion, Dean Raider touched on the personal bond consumers can create with a product such as tea, product that touches lives in meaningful ways.
“My theory is that everybody, whether they are directly a tea drinker or they know someone who is a tea drinker, there is a personal connection to a product like tea that is playing a role in our daily rituals and in our life events,” said Dean Raider. “And you develop an emotional connection to that product.”
It’s a special connection, agreed Bigelow, and one of the many reasons her company remains steadfast to their commitment to produce an affordable, high-quality product for their consumers.
“There is this connection that is so heartwarming. When my grandmother got into the business 80 years ago, I don’t know if she knew what she was doing per se,” said Bigelow. “I know she didn't think we had good tea in the United States, but I don't know if she ever knew the emotional connection the product would provide to the consumer. I think there is something pretty special about being in the tea business.”
Bigelow also took questions from the audience with Quinnipiac Alaina McCarvill ’25 was the first to step up to the microphone. But it wasn’t to ask a question. McCarvill wanted to express her appreciation directly to the CEO for her summer internship at the Bigelow Tea.
“I don’t really have a question, just a statement. I was actually a finance intern this summer at Bigelow. And when she talks about the culture being 100% genuine, it’s true. So much of the staff have been there almost their whole lives, and they never want to leave,” said McCarvill. “And I had a great experience this summer, like genuinely, and I just want to say thank you.”
In a moment that seemed to underscore all that the CEO had been saying about creating a people-first culture, Bigelow could hardly contain her delight when she recognized McCarvill, and she quickly rushed to greet her with a hug after the event concluded.
“It’s really about creating a sense of belonging, that's very important to me,” said Bigelow. “We're all role models, from the minute you wake up, you are role modeling to the people next to you, whether it’s your roommate or the person getting groceries. You are role modeling behavior that you want to see in the world.”
Bigelow spoke candidly about her experiences as a CEO who also happens to be a woman and the consequences of impending tariffs in driving the costs of goods in the U.S. She also spoke about the challenges of running a family-owned business, the power of mentorship and offered advice on how we can all help to create a culture where people feel valued, beyond monetary compensation.
“I tell my team we make 2.3 billion cups of joy. In all the daily struggles that come our way, I tell them, don’t lose sight of what we do,” said Bigelow, before leaving the audience with one final thought. “I hope you know that each and every one of you can make a difference every single day. It's just recognizing the power you have to make the world a better place. No matter who you are or what you do, remember, you really do matter.”
Quinnipiac Today is your source for what's happening throughout #BobcatNation. Sign up for our weekly email newsletter to be among the first to know about news, events and members of our Bobcat family who are making a positive difference in our world.
Sign Up Now