.png)
Written by: Kaylee Franklin
We’ve finally entered the month of June which means we’re halfway through the year! We've launched 22 amazing episodes this year with incredible Founders and CEOs and it continues to get better and better each month. In the month of May, we got to hear from five different CEOs and we heard some remarkable stories. Let’s get to it!
To start the month of May off strong, Lee sat down with Ben Goodwin, Co-Founder and CEO of Olipop!
For those who don’t know, Olipop is a sparkling digestive tonics brand that contains eight to nine grams of fiber, less than three grams of sugar per can, and is dedicated to bringing the benefits of digestive health to consumers in a delicious, convenient, and accessible beverage.
In this episode, Ben shared quite the entrepreneurial journey from dropping out of college, to starting a kombucha company at 20 years old, to building and exiting his first probiotic beverage brand, to launching Olipop. He also shared his experience getting a brain scan, his love for personality tests, and why he believes emotional intelligence is important as a leader.
Best piece of advice:
“Have values and principles that you can articulate that you're willing to fight for, and that mean something to you and that you considered. Simultaneously, be ready to morph and upgrade yourself in an authentic way as you go.”
If you haven’t listened to Ben’s episode yet, you can tune in HERE!
When the second week of May rolled in, we published Episode 105 with Sydney Krames-Wainer, Founder and CEO of French Squirrel.
Although we titled the episode Dreams, Dares, and Dates, we aren’t talking about going on dates! We’re actually talking about the food dates that not everybody loves, and Sydney was on a mission to change that.
French Squirrel is a French-inspired good-for-you snacking company, best known for their nutrient-dense vegan protein bites and nut butter stuffed dates, both coated in 100% pure unsweetened chocolate. And according to Lee, they’re delicious!
Sydney shared with us her journey from growing up with a passion for food, how she balances both her full-time job at Erewhon and building her company, the importance of working with the right distributor, and why she wants to continue bootstrapping the business and growing organically.
Best piece of advice:
“Just start an actionable start, instead of talk, which the talk is great, but who's actually doing?”
To listen to more of Sydney’s story, check out Episode 105!
On the third Tuesday of May, we got to hear from Jeremy Cai, Founder and CEO of Italic.
Italic is a marketplace that offers high-quality products at low prices. Founded in 2018 with the idea that customers shouldn't have to pay a premium just for a label, Italic seeks to create a world where everyone can afford to live well.
In this episode, Jeremy shares his entrepreneurial journey from growing up in Chicago with a family working in the manufacturing business, to starting two companies in high school, to taking a leave of absence in college, to building his first venture-backed business, Fountain, to launching Italic. He also talks about the two types of buying behaviors, how he's created a service culture, the importance of focus, and how he's raised over $50 million from investors.
Best piece of advice:
“Whoever you bring into the organization is what the organization is going to become. When you're small, it's more important than ever that you're bringing in people who fit the cultural kind of value you set.”
To hear more of Jeremy’s great advice tune in to Episode 106, and be sure to check out our product review on Italic!
Continuing the month strong, we had Matt Weiss, Founder and CEO of RIND Snacks.
Lee chatted with Matt about his journey to founding RIND Snacks, a functional snack brand in the better-for-you CPG space that offers a line of unique whole fruit snacks that maximize nutrition and minimize food waste.
He talks about the art of asking good questions, how attending Expo West inspired him to start RIND, why he believes no one is born an entrepreneur, and how RIND has managed to become available in over 3,000 retail stores nationwide, including Whole Foods, Wegman's, and CVS.
Best piece of advice:
“You have to share a vision with customers and stakeholders about a company that can stretch into multiple categories with a value proposition that works across all of those categories.”
Listen to Matt’s inspiring story here!
And on the last day of the month, we launched an episode with Lindsay McCormick, Founder and CEO of Bite.
.png)
Bite stands for “Because It's The Earth” and believes in doing better: better ingredients, better for our bodies, and better for our planet. Bite’s plastic-free products are zero waste, vegan, cruelty-free, and they're on a mission to become the most sustainable personal care company in the world.
Lindsay shares her story from growing up in Northern Virginia and choosing to become a vegetarian at eight years old, to moving to LA and working as a TV producer, and launching Bite in 2016. She shares what keeps her motivated, how she stays engaged with her customers every week, and how Bite has become one of the fastest-growing brands in America.
Best piece of advice:
“The most important superpower you can have, especially as a small brand, is talking to and understanding your customers.”
Be sure to tune into Lindsay’s episode, number 108!
When we look back at the month of May, we can see a common pattern of communication and trust. The five founders all mentioned the trust they have in their employees, their mission, and their consumers, and how communication plays a key role in that trust.
Stay tuned through the month of June and continue to hear from some amazing CEOs. During the month of June, you’ll get to hear from:
Don’t forget to subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, follow us on Spotify, or tune in wherever you listen to podcasts.
Have any guest suggestions, comments, or questions about Stairway to CEO? Drop us a line here!
Welcome to the third edition of Stairway to CEO's Holiday Gift Guide– your ultimate resource for finding the perfect gifts. As we’ve reached almost 200 episodes, the options of your favorite leading direct-to-consumer brands. We have a lot of amazing gift ideas for you and we’ll be sure to cover everyone you’re shopping for, so we hope you enjoy!
Welcome back to another monthly recap! I know for some, the month of September felt like the longest month of the year, and for others, it flew by. But nonetheless, we had an incredible lineup of four amazing guests, with incredible backgrounds and stories. Let’s jump in to see what they all had in common, some life lessons they had to share, and take a peak into what we have coming out in October.
As the year hurtles towards its close, the fourth quarter (Q4) offers a prime opportunity to not only meet financial targets but also leave a lasting impression on your customers. It's a time when holiday festivities mingle with year-end goals, and careful planning can make all the difference. In this blog post, we'll explore strategies to navigate Q4 with a focus on delivering outstanding customer experience, and how to partner with Awesome CX to offer seamless solutions to help your business not only weather the storm but also thrive during this crucial season.
