In Conversation: Yianna Velos

  1. In Conversation: Yianna Velos

    Heritage, nourishment & the rituals that make life feel soulful

  1. At Kate & Kole, we’re inspired by women who shape culture through intention, creativity and quiet confidence. Our In Conversation series explores the intersections of identity, artistry and the pursuit of a meaningful life — celebrating voices who embody modernity, mindfulness and depth.

    For this edition, we speak with Yianna Velos, founder of Golden Groves Co, whose work stems from a profound connection to heritage, nourishment and the rituals that make life feel soulful. Yianna’s approach to business — and living — is guided by a philosophy of presence and authenticity. Golden Groves is more than an olive oil brand; it is an invitation into her family’s lineage, a celebration of simplicity, and a reminder that food can be both medicine and memory.

    Through her reflections on culture, creativity, luxury and personal ritual, Yianna offers a beautiful reminder that the art of living begins with awareness — of what we consume, what we keep and what we choose to make meaningful. We spoke with her about the values shaping her work, the emotional resonance she hopes Golden Groves brings into people’s homes and the rituals that anchor her daily life.

  2. Building With Intention

    How would you describe your approach to work, creativity and the way you shape your brand?

    All my decisions and interactions in life, whether it be work, creatively or interpersonally,  are guided by their soulfulness. Everything we do has an energetic charge and the more I have experienced and developed my awareness of self, the more I have learnt that I am energetically drained by interactions that feel disingenuous, lack warmth or are superficial.

    On the contrary, I am energetically charged by interactions that are warm or soulful. It is why my brand is truly an extension of me and my personal values. I want people to feel valued, loved and as if they can achieve whatever it is in this one beautiful life that they have. This is why I openly share my approach to life online on my personal social media and through my business, because I know that people crave that voice of encouragement and belief that they matter and can achieve whatever it is that they want from this life, regardless of their beginnings or goals. 

  1. The idea of “the art of living” is central to Golden Groves. What does that philosophy mean for you beyond the products themselves?

    For me, the art of living means living your life intentionally and consciously. It is a life that you have designed and chosen because it feels true and authentic to you. I remember listening to Joe Dispenza and him stipulating that approximately 90% of the 60,000-70,000 thoughts a person has a day are the same as the day before. Whether it’s ruminating over the same problem, or taking the same route to work everyday. It was at that moment that I realised so many of us, myself included, live our lives on autopilot and do things out of obligation.

    It takes a lot of courage to go against the status quo and do things that may look a little different to others, but for me, I like to feel that the decisions I make and my beliefs are my choice. 

  2. Are there creative disciplines, experiences, or places that inspire or shape your work today?

    I love to travel and often draw so much inspiration from my adventures, whether it be my brief stint studying luxury fashion in Milan, to connecting with my heritage whilst visiting the Mani Peninsula in Greece over the summer, or going to New York in September for fashion week. I am very open-minded and quite extroverted, so I am always meeting new people and inspired by their stories and origins.

  3. When you think of luxury in the realms of food, lifestyle, and home—it’s rarely about excess. How do you define luxury today in your own work?

    True luxury to me is having the time and space to think, be, feel and act from a place of soul. The one thing money cannot buy is time, and I find that the older I get, the less time I have to potter, rest and do things spontaneously. For me, true luxury is carving out the time to be with my thoughts or be present. When I have time to think, that is when I am creatively rejuvenated and come up with my best ideas. 

  4. As a founder, entrepreneur and creative, what does success feel like right now? How has your understanding of success evolved since starting Golden Groves?

    I love to meditate every morning using the Open app and last week I was posed this exact question, of what success means to me during my meditation. If you asked me a few years ago what my idea of success was, I would have instantly answered with fiscal wealth. Today, success means giving a pursuit of my all and my best.

    It is knowing I couldn’t have done more, having a deep belief and trust in myself that my all is enough. It is having a level of contentment where my heart feels full and I have freedom from any limiting beliefs. 

  1. Rituals & Recalibration

    When someone opens a bottle of your olive oil, shares a meal or integrates it into their home—what do you hope they feel or remember? 

    When someone opens a bottle of Golden Groves, I feel as if I am inviting them into my own or my family’s home. It is as if they have a seat at our family’s dining table. My family has been harvesting olive oil for generations - as far back as our family’s lineage goes. Even though it's something that has always been present in my life, it is something that I have always cherished.

    When we would go to our grandmother's (yiayia’s) house, we would beg her for lightly toasted bread with olive oil pressed from our wild olive trees that are over 500 years old. I hope when people open a bottle of Golden Groves they feel this familial warmth and know that cooking for yourself or others is an act of love. 

  2. On Food, Jewellery and Living Well

    Many people see food, objects and rituals as expressions of identity. How do you view jewellery or other meaningful objects in your life?

    Jewellery for me has always been something sentimental. Growing up, my mother and grandmother always had the most exquisite pieces that had a story or heritage behind them. My grandmother was born in Greece and migrated to Melbourne  where she and my grandfather opened up clothing and linen factories. They would travel all over the world buying fabrics and selling their garments. Along these travels, my grandfather would surprise my grandmother with different stones and jewellery pieces. This notion of gifting someone jewellery for a special occasion was passed down through my family.

    For each milestone, my parents would buy us children a special piece, from my mother a pearl faced Rolex watch for graduating university, to my diamond studs for my 21st birthday. They are pieces I wear everyday, because I believe life is too short to reserve meaningful objects like jewellery for special occasions. Everyday is a special occasion! 

  1. If you could share one guiding principle for living well, creatively and intentionally, what would it be?

    A book that changed my life was ‘Untamed’ by Glennon Doyle. She explained that no one is going to give you a medal at the end of your life and say, “well done, you did a great job”. There is no manuscript or right way to live your life. Your life only needs to be true and beautiful enough for you, and you only. This reminds me that my one obligation in this life is to do things that feel right to me and show up for people in a way that I want to. When you show up authentically, the right people and opportunities know where to find you. 

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  1. Quickfire Questions

  2. A meal you always come back to?

    A grass-fed eye fillet with steamed greens and homemade chimichurri using Golden Groves EVOO and parsley from my garden.

  3. The playlist you have on repeat?

    Tame Impala’s new album, Deadbeat.

  4. What makes something worth keeping?

    If it makes you feel something special, it is worth keeping.

  1. Discover this piece

    Yianna wears our archive Tiny Flower studs

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