15 questions with Maev’s founder & CEO Katie Spies
Plus an exclusive sneak preview into our next big drop you don’t want to miss.
You know her. You love her. We all owe her a big thanks for our dogs’ miraculous health glow-ups. And now with MaevWorld’s recent relaunch, it only makes sense to re-introduce Katie Spies to this space: new Austin transplant, mom to two dogs and one cat, and Maev’s founder & CEO.
Read on for her takes on work-from-home life, what’s keeping her dog George preoccupied these days, and some piping hot Maev tea we can’t believe she spilled.
Describe being a dog owner in five words.
Simultaneously youth giving and aging. That’s five words.
What’s one thing every dog owner should know?
Your dog’s measurements. The neck diameter, shoulder base, length from neck to tail, and chest diameter. Especially if you have a chesty dog.
At this point, most of Maev’s history has existed during COVID times. Are you pro work-from-home or back-to-office?
Currently, I’m on a dozen waitlists for a puppy, so working from home sounds really ideal for puppyhood. But from a work perspective, I’m dying to go back to the office and see everyone all the time and be in each other’s lives IRL, not just through a screen.
“I usually talk to five customers a week on the phone, and hearing what they like makes me really happy and excited to do more of it.”
What’s your working style like when you’re at home?
I’m an obsessive person, so when I’m in the groove I’m really in it - I love getting into those periods of deep work, where I hardly notice the chaos around me. My cat loves to intentionally knock over everything on my book case and the dogs spend their time flinging toys around, but when I’m in tune with something I’m working on, I just block it and those are the best ‘me’ times.
What’s the best part of your job?
Talking to customers who like what we make. I usually talk to five customers a week on the phone, and hearing what they like makes me really happy and excited to do more of it. Hearing what they don’t like does too, because that’s an easy to-do list for us.
Most challenging part of your job?
The hardest part is saying “no”, whether it’s to features to build, products to launch, or people we can’t hire. Whenever we do anything, we have to say no to nine out of ten options, because we’re a small business and can’t do everything all at once. I’m an impatient person and want to solve all these problems for people, but we have to choose one to start with. That’s the most frustrating part.
Do you listen to music while you work? What’s on repeat now?
I have three different music moods and they’re like three totally different people. One of them is David Bowie, Fleetwood Mac, Queen; great hits of the past that I’ve listened to thousands of times in a million different environments. A second is more modern — Kanye, Miley, Billie Eilish — the modern classics. And then I go through phases with podcasts like Dax Shepard and Chelsea Handler, but at 2x speed.
You recently moved to Austin. What inspired the move?
I was living in New York and knew I didn’t want to settle there long-term. Then during COVID, I got a 70 pound Doberman rescue who was 5 and very low energy. The picture of having a backyard and easy access to parks and hikes and the outdoors — I got a blip of that during COVID and realized I could just do it. Austin was that place, where we could build this company, where my dogs would thrive.
Since COVID and moving to Austin, describe your typical morning routine with George.
George, for the entirety of his life, has been a late sleeper. He’d typically rise close to 11 a.m. everyday. Unfortunately at some point in the last three months, that has completely flipped. Now he wakes up around 6:30/7 in the morning, and he makes sure that I do too.
We’re both real creatures of habit, so most mornings go like this: I come downstairs and we hang out for a couple minutes while I put water on the stove. Then we put on his gear and go outside for a little walk. We come back, I make coffee, feed him his breakfast, sit at a bar stool and check my phone. Once he’s finished, we go upstairs and he naps below my glass desk until close to 11 or 12 while I respond to emails, read the news, and we ease into our day.
“I wanted a dog in college and thought I must be the only person in their early twenties who did. But then I met other people who thought just like me.”
What’s the best thing you’ve ever done for George?
George has been pampered every day and I wouldn’t change a thing. At one point when George was a younger dog, I moved apartments so that I would be close to a dog beach. While apartment hunting, I thought those were normal priorities to have, but after moving in, people let me know that it was odd that George’s preferences came before my own.
It was amazing for him, and for me. He got to live my dream for a year. He wore sunblock every day and became great at recall with all of the off-leash time. He even conquered his fear of the ocean. And, I got amazing photos out of it.
You’d really do anything for George, huh.
I would, yes. I grew up in a very animal-friendly house. Whenever we were driving on the highway, I’d scan the side of the road for stray cats, just in case one needed rescuing. No matter where we were driving or how late we were, if a stray was spotted, we’d pull over and would bring home a new cat or dog to take care of. So, of course I wanted a dog in college and thought I must be the only person in their early twenties who wanted a 15-year commitment. In the dog park, I met other people just like me and realized just how normal it was.
What are three things you’re thinking about for him right now?
One, George is seven and starting to age. Part of me loves that he’s getting more wrinkly and old-man-ish. The other part is like, how can I do everything possible to keep him youthful and healthy?
Two, George recently got a Fi collar and I’m a very competitive person. He’s currently the 30th most active Italian greyhound in the country, so I’m constantly thinking of new ways to give him mental stimulation and drive up his rankings.
Three, we’re thinking about adopting another dog and I’m worried about giving George the attention he craves while building a relationship with a dog that will complement him.
Rapid round:
Something you want to get better at?
Golf.
Something you’re looking forward to.
Training a puppy. I really am.
Can you let us in on a little secret? Something that’s coming up for Maev.
Hm, let me think what secrets I can break. There’s a product that people have requested from day zero. It’s in the final stages of development and coming soon, and is going to help a lot of dogs with allergies. And that is a chicken formula*.
*Packed with lean sustainable protein, human grade and food safe, a chicken based raw food diet like no other.
