Kari Warberg Block, CEO & Founder - EarthKind®

Kari Warberg Block, an unlikely disruptor, challenged an industry that by its very nature is toxic. As the Founder & CEO of EarthKind®, Kari discovered that 98% of pest control solutions sold were poison & kill methods – so she set out to invent a better solution: plant-based pest control powered by nature. Kari was the first to develop, manufacture, and commercialize poison-free rodent and insect repellents for farm and home use, with a mission to build a purpose led company to create change through business. Her efforts have helped decrease consumer reliance on poison & kill based methods from 98% to 88% nationwide. Once a mom on food stamps, Kari started EarthKind® with nothing more than a package of garden seeds and a vision, and has built it into the 7-figure company it is today. 

With her first book, Gathering Around the Table: A Story of Purpose-Driven Change through Business, published in March 2021, Kari has achieved a lot, including nationwide product distribution, carbon neutrality, ingredient and supply-chain transparency, the invention of the first CPG bioplastic, and has helped lower consumer reliance on toxic pest-control methods by 10%. Selected as an Ernst & Young “Entrepreneurial Winning Women,” Kari has advised the SBA, Congress and the White House on policy that impacts women in business, receiving the 2019 GMDC Retail Champions of Change award for her role as an inspirational industry leader. She has been featured in CNBC, the New York Times, Huffington Post and Forbes.

 Show Notes

Gathering Around the Table: A Story of Purpose-Driven Change through Business by Kari Warberg Block

Through authentic storytelling, Kari shows how tackling and overcoming challenges helped her find clarity around her purpose, her integrity, and how far she was willing to go to make a difference in the world that didn't easily want to be changed. This book shows the importance of value-based decision-making as the foundation of conscious leadership, and demonstrates how navigating obstacles from a place of personal beliefs and strong morals can lead to businesses-and lives-filled with prosperous financial growth, greater social impact, and deep personal fulfillment.

EarthKind - this is the company Kari founded where you can learn about their Earth and pest-friendly products, find a retailer, and more.

Behind the Scenes