Meet Maggie Ortlieb | Founder & CEO

We had the good fortune of connecting with Maggie Ortlieb and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Maggie, can you talk to us a bit about the social impact of your business?
At its core, VegOut is a mission-driven business. Our goal is to encourage people to adopt a more sustainable and plant-based lifestyle and to help them maintain that change. I believe that individuals and organizations have the power to create massive positive impact on many of the social issues we face today. We can flip the narrative on the environmental destruction that’s currently taking place, for example, by choosing to shop sustainable businesses. We can improve our mental and physical health and begin to repair our broken food system by changing what we put onto our plates. And this is where VegOut comes in. We connect consumers looking to make better food and lifestyle choices with businesses that have those choices to offer. Through our work, we choose to uplift women-owned, LGBTQ+-owned, and POC-owned businesses that share a similar mission. I truly believe that businesses should do what they can to make a difference.

Please tell us more about your business. We’d love to hear what sets you apart from others, what you are most proud of or excited about. How did you get to where you are today business-wise. Was it easy? If not, how did you overcome the challenges? What are the lessons you’ve learned along the way? What do you want the world to know about you or your brand and story? 
As mentioned earlier, VegOut is a mission driven company. We didn’t set out to be a small vegan publication that caters exclusively to a plant-based crowd. We’re here to change the world. As such, my goal isn’t to convert every person to veganism. Instead, it’s to let them know that VegOut is here for them, no matter where they are on their plant-based journey. I want to appeal to the mainstream, to provide an inclusive space where everyone feels welcome.

As for getting to where I am today business-wise, it’s been a mostly organic, slow build. I didn’t get an MBA, create a business plan, or raise funding. I just saw a need for something and then set out to meet that need using my marketing skills and passion for veganism. I’ve always been scrappy and savvy and am good at working with what I have. I started the company as a small blog and Instagram page and have grown it to where it is today—a recognized media brand with a nationwide print magazine, website with daily content, and social media presence with a following of over 220K.

I’ve gained so much insight on this journey, the most important being that human resources are key. Everyone likes to discuss numbers and the “bottom line,” but without a strong team, your company isn’t going to succeed. I’ve learned that in most cases, no one is just going to hand you something. There aren’t overnight successes, and building a successful brand takes years. It’s not for the faint of heart. It can be exhausting, and you have to love what you’re doing—otherwise, it’s not going to last. I’ve also learned (and unlearned) a lot about hustle culture, capitalism, and work-life balance. Not to sound all doom and gloom, but our society values overworking yourself to the point of compromising relationships and health. I’d love to see a future where we prioritize rest and physical and mental health over profit. As a small business, it’s tough to keep up with the big companies that have more resources and prioritize profits over people. Businesses have the power to create meaningful change—in both the workplace and in the world. Sometimes making decisions to maintain integrity and turning down money is difficult in the short term, but it’s worth it in the long term.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If I’m leading the tour, you know it’s going to be a food tour! Got to start the morning with lavender lattes at Alfred then hit a hiking trail (I like Los Liones and Temescal on the Westside). Next, we’ll stop by Sweetgreen for lunch. Then we’ll head to Melrose for a little stroll before mocktails and sushi at APB. Save some room, because we’ll be hitting Monty’s for some late-night bites in Echo Park after a little swan boat fun. Oh, and this is just day one! On day 2, it’s more sushi at West LA’s new all-vegan omakase restaurant, Kusaki, followed by plant-based ice cream at Van Leeuwen! What about days 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7? You’re going to have to follow @vegoutlosangeles for more spots to add to the itinerary.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My team. 100% my team. I wouldn’t be where I am today without them. It sounds cliche, but hear me out. My mom (who is my managing editor) has been with me from day one. The rest of the team came to me organically (we never put out a formal job listing) and joined for the mission, not the money. The majority of my team has been with me for years. Our turnover rate is low, and that’s because we truly care about each other and the work we’re doing. We treat each other with kindness and compassion, as human beings and not just as staff members cranking out content. And we make amazing things happen as a result. So, THANK YOU to my incredible team. They continue to inspire me every single day. They could all be working at much larger companies for bigger incomes, but they’re committed to this work and give it everything they’ve got.

Website: https://vegoutmag.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vegoutmagazine/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vegoutmag

Image Credits
Kimberly Tran