Speakers

Speaker profile

Kristal Baker is the Founder & Director of Luxwells, a botanical infused water beverage range created to encourage better hydration.

Before launching Luxwells, Kristal worked as the Head of Property within an overseas Asia investment firm after passing her Master’s in Real Estate and prior Degree in Business. After more than a decade in that field, followed by becoming a first-time mother and experiencing a new perspective on life, Kristal decided to begin her Founder journey.

Entering the beverage industry as a complete novice, with a disruptive offering to the plant-based category, many twists and turns were met from the setbacks of the pandemic to a variety of manufacturing challenges. However, after much research and perseverance, Luxwells was launched in the summer of 2022.

Within just 1 year Kristal has secured retail listings with Selfridges, Fortnum & Mason and Country Living Artisans to name a few.

Her brand Luxwells has received a collection of Great Taste awards for all beverage flavours from the Guild of Fine Food, to Taste the Trends awards from Speciality & Fine Food Fair and also winning mentorship from Virgin Startup.

Luxwells has also been seen in BBC Good Food, Radio Times, The Guardian, National Geographic Traveller and Tatler magazine.

Kristal has had the pleasure of gifting her beverages to world superstar Beyonce, Mayor of London Sadiq Khan and Touker Suleyman from the BBC’s Dragon’s Den.

Before getting started, gripping just an idea with a very clear vision, yet feeling completely paralysed by fear, Kristal attended the Women in Business & Tech Expo for inspiration and a much-needed confidence boost. After hearing a keynote speech from Baroness Karren Brady of Knightsbridge CBE herself, Kristal decided that it was time to bring her business idea to life.

Flash forward just a short time later, we are delighted to welcome Kristal to our stage to share what she has learned along the way.