Meet Shadi Atassi | Co-founder

We had the good fortune of connecting with Shadi Atassi and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Shadi, can you talk to us a bit about the social impact of your business?
I believe Milonga Yerba Mate was created for the purpose of helping others understand something so culturally unique like yerba mate. When you get something as timeless as that, and you mix it with something as beneficial and truly powerful as CBD, you get a mix like no other. Milonga is not your average yerba mate or tea brand, because it combines the old with the new. It combines the traditional with the modern and strengthens the bond with the people around you, and with yourself. With everything going on in the world right now, we truly believe that the products we offer help keep you grounded and focused on the task at hand without feeling overwhelmed or unmotivated. Both the benefits of organic yerba mate & the benefits of CBD make you feel alert and focused while still maintaining the inner peace needed to go about one’s day.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
The uniqueness of Milonga comes with our story & background as well. I am currently a professional soccer player that is living & playing in Spain. Like most soccer players and athletes know, a lot of the profession requires resting, being at home and taking care of your body. In these “free” moments when I was away from the training grounds is where I most had the time to grow the vision, image, identity and principles of Milonga. Growing up in an Argentine household, both soccer and mate were always present, but it wasn’t until I had moved away from home that I, along with my dad, indulged into thinking about creating something like Milonga. We want the world to know that we are a brand & company that is very transparent and willing to help in any way possible. We feel that Milonga shares the same principles as us as people, and we will always prioritize selling products that connect with us before just trying to make a profit.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I would definitely take my friend to the area of the beach. Miami isn’t Miami without its beaches, weather, & the unique points of South Florida. I would go to Wynwood and show my friend the art and creativity that surrounds that neighborhood, and then all around Brickell, Key Biscayne and the surrounding areas just so my friend can get a feel of sunny South Florida.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
It’s very difficult to pinpoint exactly one person or mentor that we would want to dedicate our success and our story to, but I would like to thank the people that I was around when I was living in Argentina. They truly showed me the cultural importance and health benefits that are found in yerba mate. It is so much more than just a drink or an infusion, and my time living in Argentina really helped me understand that mate is just a metaphor for unity, friendship, companionship, and so much more. I also want to thank Lucila Marti Garro from La Nacion, one of the biggest newspapers in Argentina. Once we became an actual brand and our ideas became reality, she was one of the first people to interview us and take an interest in our story and our vision. I also want to thank Carla DiLorenzo who continues to work with us day in & day out to help grow our brand and our vision together. She is one of the most motivated and driven people I’ve had the pleasure of working with, and she believed in Milonga before it was even a brand. Lastly, I would like to thank the other cofounder & my father. Without his help and continued work, Milonga would be nothing. There is no one else that I would rather discuss, argue, bounce ideas & grow Milonga together with than my dad.

Website: milongamate.com

Instagram: @milonga_yerbamate

Facebook: Milonga Yerba Mate

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCItxVp0HVFE3b4P8CeaEsQg