Donatos Pizza’s CEO Offers His Better Ingredients for Better Leadership

Guest: Tom Krouse Lots of leaders claim their products are made with love. Donatos Pizza means it: they practice Agape Capitalism.   As CEO Tom Krouse explains in this episode, Agape Capitalism puts a love of humanity at the center of their company processes and revenue generation. Its origins are rooted in founder Jim Grote’s observations as a teen working in a pizzeria with two owners: one a frugal bean counter, the other a passionate people-person. Sales soared higher the nights the people-person was in charge!   Tom talks about that, his own leadership style, and the parallels between playing music in a band and great leadership. Here's what Tom and Maureen cover: How innovation has always been one of the major keys to Donatos’ profitability and success; Why the core tenets of Agape Capitalism complement corporate goals so effectively; and The positive effects the COVID pandemic had on the restaurant industry…and, most critically, on its leadership. Other episodes you'll enjoy: - Applying Innovative Leadership Concepts with Tom Grote & Christoph Hinske - ITP: Building the Resilience Every Leader Needs with Christina Grote & Pam Kramer - Informed Leadership: The Power of Trauma with Rachael Kelly   For daily wisdom from our guests, be sure to follow us on LinkedIn. We’re on Instagram, Threads, and Twitter, too!   RESOURCES:   The book Tom is reading is The Gap vs the Gain by Dan Sullivan & Dr. Benjamin Hardy. It’s available in print at https://amzn.to/3UG0leq and as an audiobook at https://amzn.to/48fQDlY.   Donato’s board chair Jane Grote Abell’s book is The Missing Piece: Doing Business the Donatos Way. It’s available in print at https://amzn.to/3wfTM8b. You can watch her episode of Undercover Boss on Paramount Plus (subscription) or Pluto TV (https://pluto.tv/en/on-demand/series/65301d20a78f0d001ace948e/season/5/episode/65496d2125fde2001aed7337).   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. Her other 10 books are available on Amazon here.      Books we’re reading for fun or personal development right now include: Women and Leadership: Journey Toward Equity by Sherylle J. Tan & Lisa DeFrank-Cole Becoming Superman: My Journey from Poverty to Hollywood by J. Michael Straczynski Own the AI Revolution by Neil Sahota Time and Chance by Kim Campbell NOTE: As an Amazon partner, we may make a small commission from books you buy through these links.   -----------------------   OUR PODCAST TEAM:   Host & Executive Producer: Maureen Metcalf Editor & Producer: Dan Mushalko Video & Graphics Editor: Devon Mushalko Assistant Editor & Raconteur: Luigi Morelli Debating Square vs Wedge Pizza Slices: Jenna Reik & Mike Morrow-Fox CONNECT WITH US:  YouTube: @InnovatingLeadership  Threads: @innovativeleaders Twitter: @IL_Institute  LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/ILI-LinkedIn2  Instagram: @innovativeleader  TikTok: @innovativeleadership Website: InnovativeLeadershipInstitute.com    Loved this episode? Leave us a review and rating!  -----------------------   About Our Guest:   With a commitment to innovation, growth, and the brand’s core values, Tom Krouse has etched an extraordinary journey as a leader at Donatos Pizza. Krouse was named the fourth CEO in the company’s history in October 2010, after spending ten years in various marketing and growth leadership roles. Krouse was recognized as one of the top four pizza executives in the country at the 2023 International Pizza Expo and was also included in the 2022 Columbus Smart 50 Awards recognizing the region’s top leadership.   Prior to joining Donatos in 2000, Krouse was Vice President of Marketing for Wendy’s International, where he spent 12 years in various field and brand marketing positions. Before joining Wendy’s, he spent his early years at various advertising agencies, including being a co-founder and partner of Daly, Lewis & Krouse, a marketing communications firm. As an active member of the community, Krouse combines his passion for music, leadership, and giving back. Tom currently serves on the Board of the International Franchise Association (IFA) and the Columbus Association of Performing Arts (CAPA). He is a Co-Founder, Board Member, and past Chair of the Columbus Music Commission, past Chair of the Board of Junior Achievement of Central Ohio and past board member of Harmony Project and SproutFive. In addition, Tom is a founding member and front man for Grassinine, a popular mountain rock band in central Ohio. Through his popular LinkedIn series, The Corner Piece: Leadership Insights by a Pizza Man, Krouse inspires and shares candid leadership advice.