Building a Business on Integrity: Lessons from Dip’s Founder Kate Assaraf

🎧 Listen to the full episode here: Building a Business Based on Integrity featuring Kate Assaraf

The Entrepreneurial Juggle

Starting a business is never simple, especially when you’re wearing multiple hats at once. For Kate Assaraf, founder of Dip, entrepreneurship has meant juggling motherhood, sales calls, late nights, and early mornings. She describes her early days as a cycle of waking up before her kids, diving into work, slipping into “mom mode,” then returning to work again.

That rinse and repeat rhythm is familiar to many parents turned founders. As Kate puts it,

“You can’t create more hours in the day unless you take them from somewhere else — for me, that was sleep.”

Integrity at the Core

The podcast dove into what it really means to build a business on integrity. For Kate, it’s about treating customers with respect and intelligence, never dumbing things down. She refuses to see customers as “10-year-olds,” instead speaking to them honestly and that authenticity resonates.

Integrity also shows up in the way Dip was built. Instead of chasing quick shortcuts, Kate invested in real connections, traveling across the country to talk directly with customers and retailers.

“The doing is the thing that sets us apart,” she explains.

The Power of Support Systems

No founder succeeds in a vacuum and Kate is quick to point out the role of her support system. Her husband, a beauty packaging designer, brought skills that complemented her vision. Together, they pulled all nighters, handling design, graphics, and packaging in the brand’s early days.

Eventually, Kate faced one of her biggest teachable moments: when her first manufacturer went bankrupt. Instead of folding, she chose the harder path — building her own factory in North Carolina. Today, that decision has given her not just independence but also the ability to grow a team, reward employees, and build something lasting.

What are Great Lessons for Entrepreneurs?

Kate’s story offers powerful takeaways for anyone starting a business:

• Wake up earlier than your excuses. The early grind is like having a newborn — demanding, exhausting, but worth it.

• Bank on yourself. Don’t be afraid to take the harder, riskier path if it means owning your future.

• Find your complement. Every entrepreneur needs people with different strengths, whether that’s a partner, mentor, or team.

• Put customers first. Speak to them with honesty and intelligence — respect goes further than any ad campaign.

• No shortcuts. Real growth comes from showing up, doing the work, and building relationships.

Why Dip Stands Out

From its quirky name (yes, it reads “dip” even when flipped 180°) to its eco-minded mission, Dip isn’t just another beauty brand. It’s a company built with integrity, grit, and respect for people and the planet.

As Kate puts it:

“Don’t expect to get everything done during the day. Your alarm clock is your best friend.”

That commitment — to work hard, stay honest, and keep going — is what sets Dip apart in an industry often focused on quick wins.

Check out Dip here to see how integrity shapes everything we do. You can also visit our store locator to shop dip local and support your community!