Better Half

In the fifth installment of the Beneath the Surface Podcast, Corey and Sean bring Corey’s more sensible half, Chief Operations Officer and BOTE Co-Founder, Magda Cooper, into the studio. Wife to Corey, mother to their three children, and the female founder to the BOTE brand, we dive deep with Magda to find out how she manages the juggling act while keeping her sweet demeanor… just kidding, she’s actually the first one to drop f%!#* in the podcast (don’t worry, it’s bleeped).

Like all startup stories, Magda and Corey had their moments of frustration, fear of failure, and dwindling bank accounts, but unlike all startup stories, they had each other. Their combined stubbornness and belief in the lifestyle pushed them to succeed.

From lugging her newborn to their very first trade show through sleet and snow to coining the idea for the BOTE Inflatable Dock, a top seller in its product category, Magda views every day as an opportunity to get shit done and make a difference. As she puts it, there’s no other choice than to succeed.

LINKS FROM THE EPISODE

During a recruiting trip, Magda learns Auburn University isn’t in Georgia.Magda’s nagging pays off and Florida Sportsman reviews BOTE.Paddle Guru gives you a running tally of paddle board races near you.Check out the simple yet badass BOTE Inflatable Dock in all its glory.Sean Murphy’s ‘calmness’ is captured in the video Murphy: Simmer Down.

WHO'S IN THE EPISODE

Lead Designer, Co-Founder, and CEO at BOTE, Corey Cooper is a licensed engineer hailing from Auburn University. Corey is the pioneer of the DarkRoom, assisting with the design of the machinery, concepting the layout and ultimately developing the workflow used in DarkRoom production. Corey’s passion for this project is so strong that on any given day, regardless of how busy things are at BOTE, you will often find Corey working in the DarkRoom.

Magda Cooper is the Co-Founder and Chief Operations Officer at BOTE, wife to BOTE CEO, Corey Cooper, mother of three, and three-time collegiate swimming National Champion at Auburn University. Magda’s ability to juggle it all coupled with her ‘no quitting allowed’ policy has been critical in the success of BOTE. Her belief in the product and eye for identifying market needs and trends has brought the public a quality line of lifestyle products that are second to none. When Magda isn’t running the business or teaching her three children that good work ethic pays off, you’ll find her finding time in her schedule to work out, likely on the water.

Sean Murphy is the Director of Photography at BOTE and a world-renowned photographer based in Fort Walton Beach, Florida. After spending most of his career based in Los Angeles, shooting for brands like Adidas, Red Bull, and Toyota, just to name a few, Sean moved back to the Redneck Riviera. You can find Sean capturing gritty America and spontaneous moments that translate into visually stunning photography.

SOUND BITES

“BOTE has become our life. From business to product we live it every second of every day. We call it our fourth child! We’ve been lucky enough to be surrounded with people and employees who share in our passion and believe in the products.” - Magda Cooper, Chief Operations Officer and Co-Founder at BOTE

“Starting a business with your spouse is difficult, but I can’t imagine having done it without him (Corey). It’s a balancing act between family, free time, fitness, and the business. It’s a juggling act.” – Magda Cooper, Chief Operations Officer / Co-Founder