Kimberly Jung is one. “[I realized] business is a sustainable way to lay a foundation for peace,” explains Jung. s LISTEN TO THE PODCAST. Kim is the Co-Founder and CEO of Rumi Spice, a for-profit social enterprise importing saffron from Afghan farmers. Instructor email(s): jungk@mit.edu . (Photo: Kim Jung/Rumi Spice) “Our … Brief bio of instructor(s) (optional): Kimberly Jung is the former CEO and a co-founder of Rumi Spice. The vehicle for that prosperity is saffron, an expensive spice that grows well in the Afghan climate. member companies through a live video conference with Kim Jung, CEO of Rumi Spice, in Afghanistan. Co-Founder and CEO, Rumi Spice. : Kimberly Jung . Congratulations Emily for this outstanding accomplishment! Rumi Spice helps stimulate the local economy and give women greater freedom by providing them with job opportunities and a way to earn direct wages. Required fields are marked *. Kimberly Jung builds and leads teams from the ground up. "- Mary Oliver, 2020 Northwestern Mutual Veterans’ Day Keynote Speaker. As veteran entrepreneurs, we are proud to support amazing # vetrepreneurs like Emily Miller and Kim Jung of Rumi Spice! By giving farmers access to markets and an alternative to growing opium, Rumi Spice hopes to lay a … Kim Jung, a U.S. Army veteran, founded Rumi Spice to connect artisanal, high-quality saffron from rural Afghan farmers to you, and to help spur agricultural development and sustainable business in Afghanistan.. Kim later appeared on Shark Tank and secured a $250,000 investment for 15% equity in Rumi Spice with Mark Cuban. CEO Kim Jung and COO Emily Miller are featured on the cover of Vetrepreneur, the official magazine of the National Veteran-Owned Business Associtaion (NaVOBA). Have a big dream, but also do your homework, cross all your T's, and be prepared to change. That’s because the three co-founders of Rumi Spice, a company that sources one of the most prized spices in the world—Saffron—have spent so much time in the region. Much less costly. Joining us are the other two founders, Keith Alaniz in … The women help harvest the crops and work in the facilities to dry and clean the saffron. Leaders create value by finding creative ways to work together. Saffron is an alternative to poppy farming, which is one of the primary sources of income for the Taliban, not to mention the source of raw material behind the global opium trade. Kim Jung – Rumi Spice Kimberly Jung is a woman of many skills. A US veteran, Harvard grad, and now at MIT, Jung helped Afghan women start and operate a global spice business. Join a community service project that helps veterans in Boston and helps close the civilian - military divide in Harvard University. Founded by army veterans turned entrepreneurs, Rumi Spice provides saffron to US consumers sourced directly from Afghan farmers. Jung, a graduate of West Point and Harvard Business School, will provide a look at Rumi Spice's saffron harvesting operation in Kabul. “ After hearing of Kim’s and how she started Rumi Spice, I invited Kim as one of the keynotes at our regional veteran entrepreneurial conference. No waste. On this episode of the Breakdown, our guests are Kim Jung Co-founder & CEO of Rumi Spice and Carson Goodale, Founder of FanFood. Jung will also discuss their efforts to provide employment opportunities for Afghan women We must see the world as what it can and will be. While serving in the US Army, Kim was an engineer officer who led a route clearance platoon in the Wardak and Ghazni provinces of Afghanistan in 2010-2011. As a female engagement team member of a provincial reconstruction team, she helped to empower Afghan village women. We went there looking to provide stability and peace. We talked about startup funding and growing your business. Kimberly Jung is a woman of many skills. "What will you do with your one wild and precious life? Rumi Spice is a for-profit social enterprise that imports saffron from Afghan farmers and cooperatives. 4,289 Views. Rumi Spice is a company that evolved from a conversation between a curious U.S. Army veteran and an Afghan farmer at a local market. To start something new is to bare open your soul, wallet, and future. Delivered to you. Jung continues to travel to Afghanistan to be introduced to other farmers, who find out about Rumi Spice through word of mouth. We came back with the purpose of put EP 25: Startup Funding and Scaling with Kim Jung and Carson Goodale. Rumi Spices co-founders Emily Miller, Kim Jung, and Keith Alaniz are all combat veterans who did tours in Afghanistan. Kim stole the show with her authentic style, transparency and stories of innovation and grit. Although unusual and perhaps slightly odd at first, Emily, Kim, and Keith, are 3 veterans and founders of Rumi Spice, a company that found a way to capitalize on the spice market while simultaneously helping saffron farmers in Afghanistan. Kimberly Jung. “Selling homegrown saffron is a lot to be proud of,” said Jung. They inspire and align incentives. For Kim Jung, Emily Miller and Keith Alaniz, the region is close to heart. 51 likes. We're talking to Kimberly Jung, co founder of Rumi Spice. Who in the world are we? Leading the Conversation on Social Change, Global Social Entrepreneurship Competition. But with a proposal of $250,000 for 5% stake in the company, will the sharks see this as a sweet deal, or will they be left with a sour taste in their … Being in Afghanistan was our moment of serendipity as entrepreneurs. Veterans Impact Day, Cambridge, Massachusetts. Rumi Spice offers “the world’s finest saffron,” which adds a burst of flavor to any dish. ancestry.com “You can’t force someone to change. Rumi cofounder Kim Jung believes connecting Afghan farmers with the global market is key to unlocking the economic potential of Afghanistan. Kim is an alumna of the United States Military Academy, Harvard Business School, and is currently a graduate student in Mechanical Engineering at MIT. Rumi Spice appeared on “Shark Tank” seeking a $250,000 investment for five percent equity. What followed was a mission to cultivate peace in Afghanistan through exporting the world's highest quality saffron direct from Afghan farmers for multiple benefits.