What began as a backyard lemonade stand has blossomed into a nationwide business and a conservation movement, thanks to the vision and determination of Mikaila Ulmer.
Ulmer is a rising senior at Emory University who is turning childhood adversity into purpose-driven impact.
Ulmer’s journey started at age four, when two unexpected bee stings could have sparked fear — but instead ignited fascination and a mission. With encouragement from her parents, she channeled her early interest in honeybees into Me & the Bees Lemonade, a bottled beverage brand that now stocks in hundreds of stores across the United States, including Whole Foods and Target.
“I learned how essential honeybees were to our food system and that they were in trouble,” Ulmer recalled in an interview featured by Emory Magazine.
That early realization propelled her from a simple lemonade stand sweetened with her great-grandmother’s recipe into national recognition and entrepreneurial success.
Purpose Beyond Profit
Me & the Bees Lemonade was more than a business for Ulmer — it was a platform for advocacy. In 2016, she founded the Healthy Hive Foundation to support bee conservation, focusing particularly on protecting vulnerable wild and native pollinators. Her mission stresses education, research, and habitat protection in a world where bee populations are under threat due to habitat loss and environmental pressures.
Ulmer’s story reached a wider audience when she appeared on ABC’s Shark Tank in 2015, securing a $60,000 investment that helped scale her product nationwide. Years later, her brand is sold in more than 600 retail outlets across the country — a testament to how passion, perseverance, and purpose can converge into a thriving enterprise.
Balancing Business and Academia
Now 20 and studying economics and quantitative sciences at Emory as a Woodruff Scholar, Ulmer applies her academic training to both her business and her broader career ambitions.
Her studies have deepened her understanding of market systems and reinforced her desire to support other minority-owned, mission-driven, youth-led businesses. She also participates in Emory’s Robson Fellowship at the Goizueta Business School, exploring public policy and social impact alongside seasoned mentors.
Ulmer credits her ability to juggle academics and entrepreneurship to diligent planning, support from her family team, and a focus on both short- and long-term goals. She often uses school breaks to immerse herself in business operations and even incorporates real-world company data into classroom projects — bridging theory and practice in compelling ways.
A Mantra for Change
Ulmer’s impact extends far beyond the lemonade industry. In 2016, she introduced President Barack Obama at the United State of Women Summit; in 2017, she was named one of Time Magazine’s 30 Most Influential Teens; and in 2025, she continues to inspire young entrepreneurs with her blend of creativity, mission, and leadership.
Her advice to others? “Dream like a kid, think like a CEO.” Ulmer believes that curiosity, community support, and purposeful action can unlock immense potential — not just for individual success, but for positive change in the world.
As she looks ahead to graduate school and a future in venture capital or impact investing, Ulmer plans to use her voice, experience, and resources to elevate the next generation of changemakers — proving that even small beginnings can create a big buzz.
