Get to know our co-founder, Deb Suchman

Happy International Women's Day! Today, we’re celebrating our amazing co-founder and co-owner, Deb Suchman. From running manufacturing at our Boston Fish Pier kitchen to managing Polkadog Wholesale and everything in between, she juggles (fun fact: she can in fact, juggle!) it all with compassion, humor, and a serious love for dogs (and Thin Mints!) With her dedication to sustainability and passion for community, Deb makes everything we do feel a little more special. Dive into this Q&A to hear more about her journey, what keeps her motivated, and a few fun surprises along the way. Ready for some laughs?

How do you choose between running a successful business and committing to environmentally sustainable practices?

I reject the premise! Success and sustainability can go hand in hand…like running a business and having a family, or eating a box of thin mints and maintaining a healthy balanced diet. Right? We are doing this! 

Who are some of the women who have inspired you along your journey, whether in business or in life?

I’d like to thank all the women! Specifically the incredible team of inspiring women that I work with from sales and customer service, to the women handmaking and packaging Polkadog treats, to marketing, to admin, to shipping, to finance. Shout out to mom, my sisters and aunts. And the amazing principal of my son’s school. Oh, and Tina Fey!

How do you plan to continue innovating in the sustainable pet treat space?

In February I joined the Pet Sustainability’s Ingredient Cohort, and not just because the name has the word cohort in it, or because two thirds of its members are led by industry-leading extraordinary women. But obviously those are the two most important reasons. Sustainability is about working together. Sharing ideas. Responsibility and quality practices are the priority, not just innovative sloganeering. Unless you’re a highly qualified executive sloganeer with 8-10 years of professional experience; in that case we are hiring.   

What’s the most dog-like thing you do in your daily life?

I’ll occasionally wag my tail, you know, from time to time. And I bite. 

If you had to pick a dog breed to represent your leadership style, what breed would it be?

Ostrich.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received that still sticks with you today?

Bribe the big crate-carrying people at trade shows. Work smarter not harder. Delegate. Feel the joy of good days because who knows what is next. Surround yourself with good people. Surround yourself with people who think differently. Tension can be good. Nobody puts Baby in the corner. 

If you could travel anywhere in the world right now, where would you go and why? 

One of my friends and seafood suppliers keeps promising to take me on one of their fishing expeditions in the Bering Sea. He’s probably reading this right now, aren’t you, Keith? Or back to the British Virgin Islands [note to self: check weather app before deciding between the Bering Sea and the Carribean]

What’s one of the most unexpected lessons you’ve learned on your entrepreneurial journey?

When to hold on and when to let go. And what to hold on to and what to let go. It is a continual growth process for me as Polkadog has gone from a single store in Boston to an international business.  There are trade-offs, and that’s okay.  No more “Do not feed the chickens” tee shirts, but when I go to oyster festivals, I’m sometimes saving the world.

We often say the Fish Pier kitchen is where the magic happens, and it's Deb who makes that magic come to life every day. She inspires us by how she leads with heart, stays true to her values, and has fun along the way. Happy International Women's Day to an incredible woman who makes the world a better place, one treat at a time.