Finding Balance: From Wall Street to Granola CEO - The Inspiring Journey of Beverly Karns

When thinking of balance, the first thing that comes to mind is a daily routine. In these routines, people make time for school, work, self-care, friends, leisure–and the list goes on and on. With so many options of what to do, and where time will be valuably spent, balance can be a challenge especially if pursuing many different things. From working on Wall Street to now CEO of Tempo Granola, Beverly Karns, Finance Lecturer at the Leeds School of Business at the University of Colorado Boulder (CU Boulder), always seeks to balance her life. Whether she’s being active, giving back to the community, making delicious granola, or spending time with her kids, she knows how important it is to find this synergy, and “relish the opportunity of today”.

Beverly Graduated from Iowa State University with her Bachelor's in Business Administration and soon after graduated from NYU’s Stern School of Business with her master's. Her success in business school led her to the opportunity to work on Wall Street striking up deals in investment banking and private equity. After over twelve years of Wall Street, Beverly’s focus shifted to adding the balance of a family on top of everything she already did. Enticed by the mountains of Colorado and the atmosphere that Denver offers, she knew that Colorado would be a great place for her kids to grow up, so she and her husband transitioned from living in the Big Apple to the Rocky Mountains. 

From Homemade Snack to Rocky Mountain Sensation

Beverly now has active kids that are always on the go, and she makes it a point to make sure everyone is fed with nutritious, wholesome ingredients. One effective way to do this efficiently and deliciously was through Beverly’s trusty granola recipe. 

Beverly first started making her granola for her family, and her kids brought it to school every day. No matter how much granola she packed, the bag would always come home empty. Soon, Beverly learned that her kids were sharing the granola at school, and parents started calling to ask where she got it from. She gave them the recipe but no one seemed to be able to replicate it. Friends, family, and strangers were all reaching for the opportunity to get their hands on her granola clusters, so Beverly packaged it up and Tempo Granola was born. First starting in coffee shops and farmers markets, Tempo Granola is now lining up to be placed in all of the King Soopers in the Rocky Mountain area. 

Healthy Eating for the Whole Family

Tempo Granola offers Chocolate Cashew Granola, Cranberry Pecan Granola, and Apricot Coconut Granola. These three flavor varieties help get people through the day, with some reviews mentioning how it is “nice to know that I'm not eating junk and enjoying healthy wholesome ingredients.” Putting good ingredients into your body and encouraging others to do the same is at the heart of Tempo Granola. Their granola is certified gluten-free, dairy-free, soy-free, and non-GMO. Beverly says

“There’s a whole science behind what is actually good for our bodies. Being conscious of not only putting in good ingredients but being conscious of what these ingredients are actually doing for our bodies is really important”

No matter the day, Tempo is all about “moving to the beat of your own”. They are here to serve your snacking and breakfast needs while providing the nutrients your body deserves. 

Socially Conscious Entrepreneurship

Giving back to the community is one of the driving forces behind Tempo Granola. One specifically pressing issue that Beverly holds close to her heart is the financing gap for female-funded companies. Forty-two percent of all businesses in the United States are owned by women, and loans to women receive only four percent of all commercial loan dollars. Beverly knows that investing in women-owned companies is not only the right thing to do but a smart thing to do. Her goal is to close this financing gap. Beverly says that she is super careful with her manufacturers, and when possible, will always choose to work with someone who is minority-owned, or women-owned. 

“The most important thing in my world is to give back wherever you can. Some people give back through time, some people give back through money, some people give back through ideas, whatever your idea of giving back to help the next group of people, you should do.” 

Advice

Beverly Karns is eager to share the advice that she has learned on her life journey thus far. The first is to say yes to everything. 

“Ask everyone you know for a meeting. Ask everyone you know how they got where they are now. Ask everyone you know if they have any advice for you. You will be surprised at where the best advice will come from. Be open to everything.” 

The second piece of advice she has is to ask questions. From high-profile meetings on Wall Street to teaching CU students in the classroom, Beverly says one similarity is that you will look smarter if you ask questions.

“Ask questions and be a sponge is the best piece of advice I can give anyone”. 

The last piece of advice she has is to find the tempo of your life—the beat of your own making you uniquely you! This is what Tempo Granola is all about—the connection between people and finding your way. Reviews rave that the granola is the “best granola I’ve ever had [and] even better that it’s made locally”. No matter what, Tempo Granola can help you find the balance that you strive for, and help you “relish the opportunity of today”. Make sure to head to Tempo Granola's website and find the best flavor to fit your own tempo!