Co-Founder and CEO, Happy + Hale
Name: Tyler Helikson
Summers as a Camper: 0
Years as a Staff Member/Positions held: 1 summer, 2005, Camp IV – Athletics
Current Profession and Title: Co-Founder and CEO, Happy + Hale
Can you tell us a little about Happy + Hale?
We started Happy + Hale selling juice on a corner on a tricycle and I was on a golf cart delivering salads off a website we built. Now, ten years later, we have opened locations across the Triangle and are planning two more locations later this year offering fast and healthy options. Moving the company forward, I want to enter communities and have a positive impact on team members who work for us and community members who eat with us.
What advice do you have for young people who are looking to be their own boss through entrepreneurship?
Pick something you’re good at, something you’d do for free and are passionate about. Ideally, you can monetize that. Become a student of leadership, you can’t create a company and great teams without a great leader. Whether that’s through reading or mentorship, defining yourself as a leader and growing that skillset is a key to future success.
I’m an optimistic and positive leader and I try to keep the morale of my team as high as possible. I lead by example and equip others with tools that will make them better both professionally and personally. It’s important to let people make mistakes and get their hands dirty. That said, I’m always one call away and very supportive of my team. I give people latitude for successes and failures and then coach as we go.
What kind of people do you look for when growing your team?
Maybe most important, curiosity. People who are curious about how things work, how the world works and what their role is are going to have a lot of success. That spirit of never-ending growth gives me the most to work with as a leader to help them grow. I also look for people who are optimistic, enthusiastic and emotionally intelligent. Especially in hospitality it’s so important for them to be able to anticipate guests needs and be detailed oriented.
What is your greatest professional accomplishment?
Building Happy + Hale into a company that has a soul and cares about people is top of the list. It has changed lives, both team members and customers. The positive nature of the space and healing nature of the food is something I’m really proud of.
What have you taken with you from Camp?
Writing a letter to the parents of each of the campers in my cabin every Friday is something I think about a lot. That process taught me about how to be fully present for those kids. Now I think about that from a leadership perspective. It trained me to think about how I give feedback because of how strenuous exercise was.
What three words best describe you? Passionate, optimistic, leader
Desired travel location: I’m spending some time in Barcelona, Spain and Lisbon, Portugal. I feel like Spain is my soul country. I also want to go to South Africa and Japan.
What profession other than your own would you like to try? I’d love to travel, eat and meet people through a TV show.
Do you have any book or podcast recommendations for us?
Modern Wisdom Podcast with Christopher Williamson
Stillness is the Key by Ryan Holiday is a great read on stoicism
Favorite food: Sashimi/Crudo
