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TLP490: Reinventing Candy and Culture with Katie Lefkowitz

The Leadership Podcast

Release Date: 12/17/2025

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Katie Lefkowitz is a neuroscience-trained entrepreneur and the founder and CEO of Harken Foods who's reinventing candy with gut health at its core.

In this episode, Katie reveals how her neuroscience background taught her to demand feedback systematically and observe behavior over words—skills that proved universal across consulting, scaling, and founding companies. She shares why she chose measured growth at Harken after experiencing Caulipower's explosive trajectory.

Katie explains how the "seven questions framework" helps teams navigate the market’s rapid shifts by keeping core values fixed while pivoting operational tactics. 

Discover practical approaches to data-driven decision-making, building authentic workplace culture, and leading through uncertainty without losing sight of core values.

 

Find The Leadership Podcast episode 490 on YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts!

Watch this Episode on YouTube | Katie Lefkowitz on Reinventing Candy and Culture

https://bit.ly/TLP-490

 

Key Takeaways

[03:03] Katie explains her neuroscience background taught her the scientific method, helping evaluate questions less emotionally and with reduced bias.

[04:05] Katie describes how all decisions need to be based in data, seeking feedback from every person on the Harken team.

[05:44] Katie shares Harken was created after a health scare related to colon cancer introduced her to food as medicine.

[07:25] Katie explains Caulipower grew as the fastest growing brand in all of CPG, but for Harken she wants to be more measured.

[09:03] Katie confirms the Caulipower success gave her confidence to go at it alone with Harken.

[09:48] Katie reflects on trying to be what she thought a leader looked like, being insecure about her age and gender.

[11:45] Katie explains there will always be some imposter syndrome, but having Harken within her control has helped relieve that feeling.

[13:20] Katie recalls a pitch where the first person said her product doesn't taste good, leaving her crying in the cab to the airport.

[15:25] Katie describes watching if people take a second bite during tastings because behavior tells more than words.

[16:36] Katie emphasizes listening more than talking as the key leadership lesson.

[17:29] Katie explains the company uses Southwest Airlines' seven questions framework where core values don't change but goals and focus do.

[19:05] Katie notes that running decisions through core values becomes second nature and prevents losing time on wrong priorities.

[20:18] Katie states at their early stage it's about hiring people who believe in what they're doing because culture is what happens when she's not in the room.

[21:44] Katie explains parents understand prioritization better because anything to get more time with their kid is of high value.

[23:40] Katie reflects that taking pauses to pick up her kid allows her to process things better and make better decisions.

[24:46] Katie advises knowing what motivates you—autonomy, mastery, purpose or status, wealth, power—and making decisions based on who you actually are.

[27:41] And remember... "If there is no struggle, there is no progress." – Frederick Douglass

 

Quotable Quotes

"If you're not telling me I'm doing something wrong or questioning what I'm doing, very frequently, I'm gonna have a problem with that because there's no way that I'm doing everything right."

"Listen more than you talk. You will always get a lot more from really hearing people than you're ever going to get from talking at them."

"When you're just yourself, it actually comes off much more authentic. And it's those relationships that you're holding yourself back from if you're not able to be your full self."

"Have confidence in yourself, own who you are. And it'll actually take you much further than trying to fit into some old mold."

"All decisions just need to be based in data and not necessarily, you know, stories."

"It's about keeping your core values and making sure that runs through every decision that you're making."

"My time is my most valuable resource, not only to myself personally, but to the company."

"Taking that pause actually allows me to process things much better. And having that breathing room, I think I just make better decisions."

"Know what motivates you... Not who you want people to think you are, but who you actually are."

 

Resources Mentioned