Christina Paganelli shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Hi Christina, thank you so much for taking time out of your busy day to share your story, experiences and insights with our readers. Let’s jump right in with an interesting one: What are you chasing, and what would happen if you stopped?
I’m forever chasing a dream — one that evolves as I do. For me, the pursuit is not just professional, it’s deeply personal. As the founder of Drinkme®, I’m driven by a mission to make whole food-based nutrition more accessible and impactful. That vision has pulled me forward through every obstacle. Even when the goalpost seems to shift — and it often does in entrepreneurship — I find that I’m better off failing while chasing it than stopping altogether.
If I stopped, it would feel like silencing a vital part of myself. Drinkme® was born not from trend, but from necessity — my own health challenges and a desire to create a clean, plant-powered solution that others could rely on. Every formulation, every strategic decision is rooted in that original purpose. Chasing this dream has become the structure around which I build my resilience. It’s how I stay thriving — mentally, physically, and professionally.
Letting go of the chase would mean letting go of the impact I believe I can have. And so, even as the path shifts, I keep going — because the work itself is what sustains me.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Christina Paganelli, and I’m the founder of Drinkme®, a plant-based beverage company rooted in healing, simplicity, and science-backed nutrition. I started this journey nearly two decades ago, not as a business decision, but as a personal one. After facing health challenges and realizing how hard it was to find truly clean, functional food that supported healing, I set out to create what I couldn’t find.
What began as a deeply personal solution evolved into a brand that now serves people from all walks of life — from busy parents to wellness seekers to individuals recovering from illness. At Drinkme®, we specialize in whole food nutrition, blending superfoods like kale with carefully chosen fruits and ingredients, always prioritizing transparency, sustainability, and nutritional integrity.
What makes us unique isn’t just what’s inside the bottle — it’s the why. Every product is made with purpose. We use proprietary processing that retains nutrients without chemicals or preservatives, and we’re proud to be part of a movement toward food that nourishes, rather than depletes.
Right now, we’re working on expanding access through new retail partnerships and international channels — but my focus remains the same: to create something real, helpful, and enduring in an industry that too often chases quick wins over long-term impact.
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. What part of you has served its purpose and must now be released?
I’ve always put the needs of others before my own — and as a leader, I’ve seen that as part of my responsibility. I’ve built my business with deep social awareness, constantly considering the ripple effects of every decision, from sourcing to pricing. But over time, I’ve realized that my commitment to people and planet has sometimes come at the cost of our own sustainability.
For example, pricing decisions that should support growth and resilience have often skewed too far toward accessibility, with less regard for margins or long-term viability. I haven’t always found the right balance between mission and practicality. What I’m learning now is that in order to truly serve — and to keep serving — I need to let go of the instinct to sacrifice the business for the sake of the bigger picture.
I’m learning to trust that we can honor our values while also strengthening our position in the food supply chain. It’s not about abandoning purpose, but evolving it — to include the wellbeing of the business itself as part of the impact equation.
What did suffering teach you that success never could?
Suffering has taught me something success never could: perspective. Every living being experiences struggle — it’s woven into the fabric of life. In nature, suffering drives adaptation, and I’ve come to see that the same applies to entrepreneurship. It’s not something to escape, but something to learn from. For me, that learning has taken the form of perseverance — an ability to keep going when the path is unclear, unstable, or lonely.
One of the most difficult lessons was learning how to resist comparison. It’s incredibly hard not to measure yourself against competitors — especially in an industry where visibility and growth are often equated with value. But over time, I realized that most businesses, even those that seem wildly successful, are quietly battling the same issues. I had to learn to put the blinders on and focus on my own mission, vision, and values. That shift didn’t come easily, but it changed everything.
I’ve also learned that sometimes the healthiest choice I can make is to delegate — especially in situations charged with emotion or competition. Creating a bit of distance helps preserve clarity and keeps our decisions aligned with long-term goals.
As for success, I’ve rewritten its definition many times. Each version has been valid. The highest standard might be building something of lasting worth and seeing it flourish — and while I haven’t fully arrived there yet, I’m still building. And if the lowest common denominator is simply surviving, staying true to our values, and continuing to deliver to our customers — that’s a kind of success too.
In the end, suffering shaped not just how I lead, but how I define achievement. I couldn’t have found that clarity without it.
I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. Is the public version of you the real you?
Yes — it’s the most authentic version of me. I recently Googled myself and was surprised to see how accurately the public story reflects who I am. Reading through past accomplishments, awards, and accolades was humbling — not because I forgot what I’ve done, but because it reminded me how long I’ve stayed committed to this journey.
What you see publicly isn’t a polished persona — it’s me, just with a little editing. My work, my story, and my brand are all rooted in personal experience and purpose. The public version is real — maybe just with better lighting.
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: Could you give everything your best, even if no one ever praised you for it?
I’m a creative, risk-taking, fun-spirited human who puts others first — and I’ve always approached my work with passion and intention. I’m the definition of an entrepreneur in the truest sense: someone who shows up day after day, doing whatever it takes to deliver a finished product that’s not only well-crafted but full of heart.
Striving to do my best isn’t something I turn on and off — it’s just who I am. That drive shows up in both my personal and professional life, whether or not anyone is watching.
The interesting thing about business is that it often unfolds without praise. Some might say the transaction — delivering a product in exchange for currency — is the reward. But what about the invisible work? The labor, the sacrifices, the care behind the scenes? That’s where the true entrepreneurial spirit has to shine — in the quiet effort that no one sees but that defines everything.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://drinkmebeverages.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chrissy_gypsy/
