Q&A with Jesslyn Rollins, Founder of BIOLYTE

Jesslyn Rollins has a track record of bringing ideas to life. When her father, a board-certified Anesthesiologist and Pain Specialist, asked her to head up sales for his new hydration solution, BIOLYTE®, the IV in a bottle®, she hit the streets and sold it out of her Toyota Highlander. Seven years later, Jesslyn has worked her way up from Director of Sales to now the company’s CEO. Under her leadership, BIOLYTE has grown into a multi-million dollar business whose products are available in 15,000+ retail locations. 

1. Jesslyn, transitioning from Director of Sales to CEO of BIOLYTE, what strategies have you employed to steer the company towards becoming a multi-million dollar business, and how has your background in theatre and communications influenced your leadership and business approach?

I found that the best way I could lead my team is by employing the skills that came naturally – for me, it's being understanding, creative with a tidal-wave of energy and utilizing the attributes which the successful leaders in my life have instilled in me – for example, my parents. My father, Dr. Trey Rollins, who developed the formula of BIOLYTE and my mother, Jeannine, who inspired its creation, have always modeled the power of hard work, self-confidence and kindness. In 2017, I secured our first major accounts – Kroger and Savannah Distributing Company, with only a handful of retail partners under my belt and no “proof of concept” quite yet by tapping into these strengths. It involved a lot of research, abundant energy, tons of enthusiasm (all thanks to my degree in Theatre) and a passion for a product I truly believed in. Along the way, I have also learned that as a leader, it's okay to not always know the answer. It’s a strength to know when you can’t do it alone and need to rely on your team. I believe that showing trust in those around us is the key to building a company that has incredible communication and can respond effectively and efficiently to anything. To me, these are necessary skills to have as we continue growing our reach within the industry. 

2. Under your leadership, BIOLYTE has made significant charitable contributions, including over $1M bottles and $100k to Cancer Charities in Georgia. Can you share how these philanthropic efforts align with BIOLYTE’s mission and your vision for the company’s role in the community?

Inspired by my mother’s story, I have always wanted to ensure that our company’s support of our community and more specifically, breast cancer awareness, is felt year in and year out. BIOLYTE’s commitment to breast cancer research and education is at the core of our brand’s mission, so every October, we collaborate with organizations raising awareness and funds for breast cancer, in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. This past year, we, of course, continued that tradition by donating a portion of all October 2023 sales to American Cancer Society’s HOPE Lodge in Atlanta, which provide free housing for patients and their caregivers going through cancer treatments away from home, in hopes to top our 2022 contribution of $69,920 donated to the American Cancer Society.

Additionally, we launched a 2023 Breast Cancer Awareness Month social media campaign to help raise more awareness and support additional fundraising. Leading up to October, we asked our BIOLYTE LYTERS who were breast cancer survivors to share how our product helped them through their treatments and what it meant to them, which we shared on our social channels to help create and foster a community of support. Plus, year round, we provide complimentary product to anyone undergoing chemo. All you have to do is let us know, and BIOLYTE will be shipped. 

3. Being named one of Atlanta Business Chronicle’s “Most Admired CEOs” and making it to the Inc. 5000 list are impressive achievements. What do you consider your most challenging moment in leading BIOLYTE to this level of success, and how did you overcome it?

Once BIOLYTE gained traction and I took on the role as CEO, I found myself leading a team of employees during accelerated growth. It was intimidating at first, but with an incredible team by my side, BIOLYTE has been able to grow exponentially. We have developed a national footprint, and we have been ranked twice on Inc. 5000’s Fastest-Growing Companies and on Instacart’s 75 Fastest-Growing Emerging Brands. I would be lying if I said that through all this we haven’t felt the growing pains. 

We have transformed our brand from a team of one into a multi-million dollar company backed by a dedicated group of employees. It hasn’t always been easy, especially as a small family business, but today, I look back and proudly say our team has successfully continued to navigate this industry. I credit most (if not all of our success) to making sure all of our decisions were made while always keeping our number one priority in mind: getting our product into the hands of those who need it most. Whenever I felt stuck or frustrated, I thought about all of the faces of those who rely on BIOLYTE to get through the day, and because of this, we have successfully infiltrated a saturated market and set ourselves apart from the rest.  

4. With BIOLYTE’s commitment to “helping everyday warriors enjoy the gift of an ordinary day,” could you elaborate on how the product development process is influenced by this vision, and how do you ensure that new products align with the core mission of relieving dehydration discomforts?  

BIOLYTE’s formula was created when my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer and experienced the debilitating side effects associated with chemotherapy, including dehydration. During her treatment, she found herself unable to recover effectively or efficiently through leading sports drinks, so my father developed what we now know as BIOLYTE, a hydration beverage containing the same amount of electrolytes (and benefits) as a full medical-grade IV bag. Unlike an IV bag, our product is priced at a fraction of the cost and can be consumed in the convenience of your own home. This was our ultimate goal from the very beginning: to bring the IV bag home and place our product into the hands of those who truly need it – specifically people like my mom. 

This past year, we have made tremendous strides in further achieving that goal – we always make it the focus of what we do. We are immensely proud to now have BIOLYTE recognized and approved with The Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services, making our product eligible for coverage under certain medical conditions. Our team worked so hard to reach this achievement and are looking forward to launching a brand new product this year. We hope to create more of an impact on our consumers’ lives with this announcement  – we want everyone to know that BIOLYTE can be there for you whenever you may need it.

5. As an active participant in your local community and a supporter of arts and education, how do you balance your professional responsibilities with your personal passions, and what advice would you give to young entrepreneurs about the importance of community involvement and giving back?

I have always believed in the importance of appreciating your community and team – the ones who are helping you succeed. For young entrepreneurs and those building their own companies, my largest piece of advice is to turn your weaknesses into strengths and support a cause you're passionate about. We have built BIOLYTE around those two ideas. 

BIOLYTE’s formula was created when my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer, so we, of course, felt called to use our platform to give back to organizations supporting breast cancer awareness. It’s something extremely close to our hearts. What once started as a weakness for us, we have turned into a strength through our American Cancer Society campaigns & donations. Through our causes, we have built an incredible community of support amongst our consumers. I think we can all agree that the backing of your community is an unbreakable way to success.