Maria Cebrian shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Good morning Maria, it’s such a great way to kick off the day – I think our readers will love hearing your stories, experiences and about how you think about life and work. Let’s jump right in? What’s more important to you—intelligence, energy, or integrity?
For me, integrity is the most important. Intelligence and energy are valuable, but without integrity they can easily be misdirected. Integrity is what keeps me grounded in my mission, even when the path is difficult. Building Terraseed hasn’t just been about creating supplements — it’s been about staying true to a vision of making nutrition accessible for vegans while protecting the planet. There have been easier, faster, or cheaper ways to do things, but integrity is what pushes me to make choices that align with my values. In the long run, I believe integrity is what builds real trust — with customers, with partners, and with myself.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Maria Cebrian, and I’m the founder of Terraseed, a supplement company on a mission to take better care of both people and the planet. We create high-quality, plant-based multivitamins designed specifically to meet the nutritional needs of vegans, using sustainably sourced ingredients with no negative impact on the environment. On top of that, we’ve set a new standard for packaging in the supplement industry by delivering our products in fully compostable, environmentally responsible materials instead of plastic bottles that end up in landfills.
What makes Terraseed special is that it was born from both a personal passion for veganism and a commitment to challenging the status quo. I wanted to build a brand that didn’t force people to choose between their health and their values — because I believe you can have both. Right now, we’re working on expanding our product line to continue serving the vegan community and to lead the way toward a supplement industry that truly respects the planet.
Okay, so here’s a deep one: What part of you has served its purpose and must now be released?
Losing my mom at a very young age and growing up with a father who struggled with alcoholism shaped me in ways I’m still uncovering. It forced me to be strong, to fight hard, and to build resilience just to move forward in life. But as I got older, I realized that true strength doesn’t come from being unshakable — it comes from allowing vulnerability in. Vulnerability has taught me humility, curiosity, and the ability to keep learning and evolving as a human being.
This perspective has deeply influenced how I approach entrepreneurship. I’ve developed a human-first, human-centered way of building companies where listening, empathy, and openness matter as much as strategy and execution. At the end of the day, I see business as being less about products and profits and more about people — and that’s what continues to inspire me.
What did suffering teach you that success never could?
Suffering has taught me things that success never could. Success is often celebrated as the ultimate goal, but in reality it can be a distraction — sometimes it numbs your fears and papers over your wounds without ever healing them. It rarely forces you to confront yourself in the way that suffering does.
Failure, pain, and hardship are the true teachers. They strip away the illusions, push you to evolve, and make you grow in ways comfort never will. For me, the most valuable lessons have always come from the difficult moments — they taught me resilience, empathy, and the importance of staying open to learning.
The paradox is that as entrepreneurs we’re expected to always project strength and success. There’s very little space to show vulnerability, pain, or the fractures we carry. But it’s in those cracks where the real wisdom resides. Suffering doesn’t just shape you as a human being — it makes you a more grounded, more conscious leader.
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. Whose ideas do you rely on most that aren’t your own?
Honestly, all of them. I’m constantly learning from others. None of us really create in isolation — every idea we have is shaped by the voices, experiences, and wisdom we’ve absorbed along the way. I take in what resonates, filter it through my own lens, and then reshape it into something new that can keep evolving.
I find that process fascinating, and it’s why I try to keep my ears and mind open all the time. Whether it’s from mentors, peers, books, or even a random conversation with a stranger, there’s always something valuable to learn. My work and my companies are really a collective construction of many ideas, not just my own.
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. What false labels are you still carrying?
As entrepreneurs, we’re often given labels like strong, resilient, smart, creative, powerful, or innovative. And while those can sometimes be true, the reality is that we’re human beings just trying to figure it out, like everyone else.
For many, entrepreneurship is about chasing the image of the successful businessperson. For me, it’s something different — it’s a deep personal journey, one that transforms you and pushes you toward self-awareness and growth like nothing else can. To walk that path honestly, I’ve had to strip away some of the glossy labels and embrace others that feel far more real: uncertain, fragile, and imperfect.
But alongside those come qualities that I believe matter more — learner, adaptable, flexible, compassionate, and above all, human.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://terraseed.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/terraseed_/?hl=en
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maria-cebrian-fernandez/
