S14 E3 Kosterina Founder Katina Mountanos on Scaling an Olive Oil & Wellness Brand

FOMO Sapiens with Patrick J. McGinnis

What if the bottles in your pantry could tell the story of your heritage and your health? In this episode of FOMO Sapiens, Patrick McGinnis sits down with Katina Mountanos, founder of Kosterina, to explore what it takes to move from corporate finance and retail roles into leading a mission-driven wellness brand. Raised between Greece and the U.S., Katina’s passion for early-harvest, high-polyphenol extra virgin olive oil began in her childhood in Southern Greece, where she tasted first-press oils full of flavor and health. Disappointed by what she found in the states, she committed to bringing that “real stuff” to American tables. She reveals the behind-the-scenes challenges in quality control, packaging, and marketing in the saturated olive oil and wellness space. She also shares her strategy for balancing direct-to-consumer education and major retail partnerships like Whole Foods and Target. Whether you’re into health, food, lifestyle brands, or entrepreneurship, this episode offers insights on purpose, pivoting, and bringing heritage into every bottle.

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