Five Questions With: Sheena Brady, Founder & CEO, of Tease Wellness

Sheena Brady’s path to entrepreneurship began in the fast-paced world of luxury hospitality, where she built a career as a wine sommelier and service leader with dreams of owning her own restaurant. But the long hours, relentless pressure, and reliance on caffeine eventually caught up with her, exacerbating anxiety, insomnia, and burnout. Determined to keep growing without sacrificing her well-being, she started exploring new ways to take care of herself — and that’s when she discovered the power of tea.

Drawn in by both its functional benefits and soothing rituals, Sheena began experimenting with blends to help with energy, focus, digestion, and sleep. What started as a personal wellness solution soon evolved into a professional calling. She became a certified tea sommelier and founded Tease, a company rooted in the idea that ambition and self-care can coexist.

We asked Sheena five questions about redefining success, leading with transparency, and cultivating daily rituals that support a sustainable and meaningful life.

1. Driven by your personal wellness journey, you moved from a high-pressure luxury hospitality career to establish Tease. In what ways did your previous experiences inform your philosophy on integrating ambition and self-care?

Working in luxury hospitality taught me how to deliver elevated, meaningful experiences, but it also exposed me to the burnout that comes from constantly pushing without taking a pause. That contrast became the foundation for Tease. I realized that ambition and self-care shouldn’t be at odds. At Tease, we’ve built a brand around the belief that success can be sustainable and that small, daily rituals can be powerful anchors in a busy life.

2. Building a business while managing anxiety and physical challenges takes resilience. What strategies or mindset shifts have helped you stay grounded through the ups and downs?

Two things have really helped me: radical self-compassion and getting comfortable with asking for help. I used to think resilience meant pushing through alone. Now, I see it as the ability to pause, recalibrate, and surround myself with people who uplift and challenge me. I also try to lead from a place of transparency, sharing struggles, instead of hiding them. It builds trust and reminds others (and myself) that being human is part of being a leader.

3. What role does community and sharing knowledge play in your mission with Tease, especially when it comes to empowering others to live their ultimate lives?

Community is everything. Through Tease and our Founders Fund initiative, we aim to create spaces where people, especially women founders, feel seen, supported, and equipped. Sharing knowledge, resources, and real conversations around the highs and lows of life and business is a huge part of how we empower others to move forward with confidence and without isolation.

4. As a certified tea sommelier, how do you balance the science and functionality of tea with the traditions and rituals that make it special?

It’s all about honoring both purpose and pleasure. At Tease, we develop blends that are rooted in science using ingredients shown to support sleep, focus, energy, digestion, and more — but we also prioritize how tea makes you feel. From the scent to the steep to the first sip, it’s an invitation to slow down and reconnect. That balance between intention and indulgence is at the heart of what we do.

5. Looking ahead, what inspires you most about the future of wellness and the impact you hope Tease can have?

I’m most inspired by how inclusive and expansive wellness is becoming. There’s a growing shift away from perfectionism and performative routines, and toward accessible, intuitive care that meets people where they are. I hope Tease can be a trusted part of that evolution helping people build meaningful rituals and reminding them that small daily choices can lead to big transformations.