Agape Capitalism: Can Ethics & Profit Coexist in Business?

Guests: Jim Grote, founder of Donato’s Pizza, & Tom Grote, Chief Catalyst, Edge Innovation Hub What if the future of capitalism depends on something most business leaders rarely talk about, and even disdain: love? In this episode, Jim and Tom Grote, leaders behind Donatos Pizza and the Grote Company, share their decades-long experiment in Agape Capitalism, a business model grounded in the principles of unconditional love, the Golden Rule, and long-term responsibility. This isn’t theory. Over multiple industries—including food service and global manufacturing—they’ve built highly profitable organizations while prioritizing people, community, and purpose. In this episode, we explore: What “love” actually means in a business context—and how to operationalize it Why ethical leadership becomes essential during disruption and uncertainty How companies can navigate automation and AI without leaving people behind The shift from competition to “coopetition” and industry-wide responsibility, and The evolving role of business in feeding the world and supporting planetary health. We also dive into one of the most provocative ideas of the episode: Can we program artificial intelligence with the principles of unconditional love, and should we? As disruption accelerates across industries, this conversation challenges leaders to rethink not just strategy, but the values that guide it, too. Other episodes you'll enjoy: - Our Emotional Recession: How to Lead When People Are Depleted with Joshua Freedman - Why Corporate Social Purpose Also Means Profit with John Heiser - Why Principle Beats Process: Inside the Koch Leadership Framework with Steve Daley   For daily wisdom from our guests, be sure to follow us on LinkedIn. RESOURCES:  Learn more about Agape Capitalism and the Grotes’ Edge Innovation Hub – with businesses practicing this principle – at https://www.edgeinnovationhub.com/agape.     The book Jim Grote referenced, Evolutionary Love and the Ravages of Greed, is available in paperback at https://amzn.to/4tD2N3v.   Our host Maureen Metcalf posts a newsletter every week on LinkedIn. You can subscribe here.   Maureen’s latest book is Innovative Leadership & Followership in the Age of AI. You’ll find details about it at https://bit.ly/LeaderInAI, or check out the Kindle version at https://amzn.to/44buVz8. The audiobook version is now available at  https://amzn.to/4dTCleZ.   Her other 10 books are available on Amazon here.   -----------------------  OUR PODCAST TEAM:  Host & Executive Producer: Maureen Metcalf Editor & Executive Producer: Dan Mushalko Graphics Editor: Stacia Rogan Sponsorship Sales Manager: Kristine Gross ([email protected]) Booking Producer: Jenna Reik ([email protected]) Theme Music by Pavel Bekirov from Pixabay.   CONNECT WITH US: YouTube: @InnovatingLeadership LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/ILI-LinkedIn2 Website: InnovativeLeadershipInstitute.com   Loved this episode? Leave us a review and rating! -----------------------  About Our Guests:  Based on the power of positive thinking and the Golden Rule, Jim Grote founded Donatos Pizza in 1963 in Columbus, Ohio. Sfter years of applying sliced pepperoni by hand in the pizza shop, he went on to invent and patent the Pepp-a-matic, a machine to slice and apply pepperoni directly to pizza. He founded The JE Grote Company on this invention in 1972, which manufactures food processing equipment globally. Grote recently founded the Edge Innovation Hub, a center for creativity, where forward thinking companies can innovate at the edge of possibility.   Grote’s moonshot is to instill unconditional love into artificial intelligence, countering the apocalyptic predictions surrounding AI.After growing up in the Catholic tradition, Grote began his search for a deeper understanding of the golden rule, loving your neighbor as you love yourself. He learned about the Christian traditions of unconditional love, eastern traditions of yoga philosophy, meditation and the teaching of Buddhism on loving kindness and compassion. Jim’s massive transformative purpose is to help evolve the American capitalist system to a profitable model based on the power of love and the Golden Rule, which he calls Agápe Capitalism.    ----- Thomas Grote grew up on Columbus Ohio's south side, working at the original Donatos Pizza and later rising to the post of Chief Operating Officer as the business grew from seven restaurants to over 150. He graduated with a finance degree from Miami University, and his MBA with honors from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.   He opened the groundbreaking Out On Main, a casual fine dining restaurant which celebrated the lives of gays and lesbians. Thomas became chief financial officer for Green Biologics, a UK based biotech company, and continues to consult in business development and brand strategy. Thomas is and has been a tireless advocate for LGBTQ equality.   Tom lives with his husband and two daughters in German Village, Ohio.