Dear Wholegrain Wisdom Community,
What if being called "unemployable" was actually the universe's way of redirecting you toward your true path? Teresa Budetta discovered this when a consulting partner rejected her for asking too many questions and challenging too many situations.
Today, Teresa is the founder of Avea Life, a science-based longevity company, and a serial entrepreneur who previously exited Foodspring to Mars for millions. Her journey from university panic attacks to spiritual entrepreneurship offers a refreshing perspective on building companies while staying true to inner wisdom.
Teresa combines rigorous science with spiritual practices, using everything from Vipassana meditation to astrology for business decisions. She's developed what she calls the "UFO perspective" for reframing problems and moved from vision-driven goals to asking herself daily: "Do I love what I'm doing today?"
Her story challenges the hustle culture narrative while proving that spiritual founders aren't less ambitious, they're just differently ambitious.
Key Highlights from Our Conversation:
The "Unemployable" Label That Changed Everything
A consulting partner once told Teresa she was unemployable because consulting companies need people who are "coachable" rather than challenging. "Since I ask a lot of questions, I challenge a lot of situations, she thought that for me, working in a company was not the best," Teresa recalls. This rejection led her to Berlin's startup scene, where questioning everything became her superpower. The lesson: What others see as a flaw might be your greatest entrepreneurial asset.
Transforming Panic Attacks Without Medication
At 21, Teresa experienced severe panic attacks during university. After a year of traditional therapy showed no results, she began questioning: "This cannot only be it." A Buddhist friend mysteriously approached her saying she "felt an energy" and invited Teresa to a prayer group. This opened doors to meditation, yoga teacher training, and Vipassana retreats. Teresa learned she's "not her thoughts" and developed tools that work beyond the therapy room.
The UFO Perspective for Startup Problems
Teresa's most powerful reframing tool involves imagining a UFO on Mars looking down at Earth. "Among all these six billion people, he finds me and gives his perspective on what is happening," she explains. When facing investor conflicts, the UFO reminds her: "There are people dying in Palestine. I really don't give a damn about your startup problem." This cosmic perspective prevents ego catastrophizing while keeping real challenges in proportion.
From Vision-Driven to Joy-Driven Daily Work
An astrologer advised Teresa to stop obsessing over big visions because she would sacrifice daily happiness for future goals. Now she wakes up asking: "Do I love what I'm doing today? Do I love with whom I'm doing it?" This shift doesn't eliminate difficult tasks, but ensures joy remains accessible. "You cannot keep up your smile if you're suffering for 10 hours," Teresa notes. Finding daily outlets for creativity and connection becomes non-negotiable.
Why Walls Are Actually Spiritual Opportunities
Currently navigating investor challenges with Avea Life, Teresa views obstacles through a spiritual lens. "All the walls, they're really there because there is a profound lesson that I have to learn in my spiritual and personal development path," she explains. Using Vedic astrology, she recognizes her current Ketu transit as teaching detachment from identity. This perspective transforms pain into growth opportunities.
Spiritual Entrepreneurs Aren't Less Ambitious
When asked if spirituality reduces ambition, Teresa clarifies: "We are differently ambitious." Her drive comes from creating impact, building beloved communities, and doing meaningful work rather than making investors rich. "Success is really to be happy every day," she states. This internal motivation creates sustainable energy that external validation cannot provide. The fire burns from within, making it impossible to extinguish.
My Personal Reflections:
Dear WGW community, this is a one-of-a-kind conversation, and it’s rapidly marking a new upgrade to the type of interviews we will have on this platform. The more I talk with like-minded Founders around the world, the more I realize the missing link between ambitious entrepreneurs and the deep inner work that needs to happen for us if we want to become the dreamt version of our success. Today with Teresa we start touching on some of these links, and I cannot wait to share more details about what’s to come for Wholegrain Wisdom 😊 Stay tuned!