Worthy for Thirty: Where stories of leaders doing good while doing well are told!

Removing PainWhen a child goes to sleep on a floor, a couch, or a pile of clothes, something far deeper than comfort is missing. It is hard to overstate what a bed means: safety, dignity, rest, routine, and the quiet belief that home is a place that holds you.That is the heart of my conversation with Luke Mickelson, Founder of Sleep in Heavenly Peace, the nonprofit that began with one simple act of service and grew into a national movement serving children in more than 350 chapters across the U.S. and beyond. What started as a local response to a child in need became a model for how purpose, community, and operational clarity can scale in ways that change lives.Luke’s story is compelling because it is grounded in something many leaders understand naturally: once you see a problem and truly feel it, you are no longer free to dismiss it. In the episode, he describes discovering that children in his own town were sleeping on floors, on pallets, and on makeshift bedding, and how that realization turned a garage project into a mission with lasting impact. That same pattern shows up in other community responses, like One House at a Time’s Beds for Kids program in Philadelphia, which has provided beds and bedding to more than 15,000 children and youth since 1998.The need is bigger than most people realize. Sleep in Heavenly Peace says roughly 2-3% of American children are without beds, a figure that becomes even more sobering when paired with the broader reality that millions of children live in poverty and that sleep deprivation is already widespread among young people. The CDC has reported that more than three-quarters of high school students were not getting enough sleep during the COVID-19 pandemic, and students sleeping less than seven hours were more likely to report poor mental health and difficulty doing schoolwork. In other words, bedlessness is not just isolated to housing, it affects education, physical health, and, invariably, a child’s future.“Big moments result from tiny moments in action, right?” - Luke MickelsonLuke also offers something especially valuable for founders, owners, and operators: a practical operating philosophy. He illustrates how the mission becomes stronger when it is made tangible, repeatable, and local. Sleep in Heavenly Peace did not try to solve everything at once; it built a chapter model, empowered communities to own the work, and turned volunteer energy into a scalable system. That is a lesson that applies just as much to for-profit leadership as it does to nonprofit work.What This Teaches LeadersLuke’s approach points to short but clear takeaways that leaders can apply right now:* Make the problem visible. Luke did not build a brand around theory; he built it around a real child, a real need, and a real community response.* Turn service into an operating system. Sleep in Heavenly Peace grew because it created a chapter model that allowed others to participate without centralizing every decision. Therefore, equipping people to solve the problem in their own towns, not just admire the problem from afar* Let the mission do the marketing. When people understand the impact, they want to help, and the mission becomes the message.* Use emotional clarity to drive practical action. The strongest movements do not begin with complexity; they begin with a problem people obsess about.For nonprofit leaders, that means designing an organization that is easy to join, easy to fund, and easy to trust. For for-profit leaders, it is a reminder that people rally behind businesses that stand for something concrete and human. Luke’s story provides evidence that a company or cause becomes more powerful when it moves from abstraction to clear action.Why It MattersA bed may seem simple, but for a child, it can change the entire rhythm of life. Safe sleep supports emotional regulation, physical health, and learning readiness, while chronic sleep loss has been linked to behavior challenges, mental health strain, and difficulty in school. When a child finally gets a bed, they are not just receiving furniture; they are receiving a place to rest, recover, and grow. “If you want true joy in this life, you got to stop thinking about yourself, and see how you can help someone else.” - Luke MickelsonThere is also a sobering operational truth in Luke’s work: the demand is still enormous. Sleep in Heavenly Peace’s own reporting has highlighted a significant waiting list and a need that far outpaces current capacity, which is why the chapter model matters so much. This is what scalable compassion (empathy + action) looks like: not just feeling the need, but building infrastructure that helps more people respond to it.How To Apply ItIf Luke’s episode leaves a mark, the next step is action. Here are a few ways to put the insights into practice:* Audit your own mission for hidden pain points. Ask what need you are solving that people may not fully see yet.* Create a simple entry point for participation. Whether it is volunteering, donating, or partnering, make it easy to take the first step.* Build a local activation model. Local leaders often move faster and care more deeply because they are closest to the problem.* Pair the story with data. The emotional pull becomes stronger when it is reinforced by credible third-party evidence.* Treat generosity like an operating principle, not a campaign. Luke’s model shows that sustainable impact comes from consistency, not one-off events.* If you lead a team, use service as culture-building. Shared work toward a meaningful goal can deepen loyalty, purpose, and trust.Luke Mickelson’s story is a reminder that some of the most important work in the world begins quietly, in a garage, with a question most people overlook. And sometimes, changing a child’s night changes their entire future. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.worthyforthirty.com

The Big IdeaWhat if the future of social connection isn’t about what’s in your glass, but how it makes you feel?In this episode of Worthy for Thirty, I sat down with J.W. Wiseman, founder of Curious Elixirs, to unpack a deceptively simple idea: the most powerful businesses don’t just solve a problem, they reimagine a behavior.Use code THIRTY10 at checkout for $10 off orders of $50 or more Curious Elixirs isn’t just a non-alcoholic beverage company. It’s a cultural intervention steeped in presence, intentionality, and the belief that rituals matter more than substances.For founders, operators, creators, and marketers, this conversation is a masterclass in building something that doesn’t just compete but reframes the category entirely.“We’re 11 years into a 40-year mission to transform how we drink socially.” - JW WisemanThe Throughline: Build for How People Want to FeelJ.W.’s journey didn’t start with a market gap. It started with a personal inflection point: after a night of 20 drinks and no hangover, something felt off, not physically, but existentially.That moment sparked a question that would define the business:“What if drinking could feel just as meaningful, without the alcohol?”That question became the foundation of Curious Elixirs, and it reveals the deeper throughline of this episode:The best brands don’t just deliver a product. They design a feeling.Curious isn’t selling beverages. It’s selling:* Presence over numbness* Ritual over routine* Inclusion over exclusion — hello, thriving communityAnd that shift, from product to feeling, is where the opportunity lives for any builder.What Makes Curious Elixirs DifferentJ.W. didn’t set out to replicate alcohol. He rejected that premise entirely.Instead, Curious Elixirs is built on three core principles:1. Stack, Don’t SubtractThey don’t remove alcohol from existing drinks. They build from the ground up using botanicals, adaptogens, and flavor layering.2. Occasion-Based DesignEach drink maps to a moment:* A Negroni alternative for aperitivo hour* A “beer” for post-workout refresh* A red wine for unwinding3. Flavor + FunctionEvery product is designed not just to taste good, but to do something:* Calm focus* Relaxation* Social easeThis is a blueprint for modern CPG: utility meets experience.Then vs. Now: Category Creation in Real TimeIn 2015, the non-alcoholic category was essentially:* Soda* Water* JuiceNo menus. No rituals. No identity.Today, it’s a movement.But as J.W. points out, we’re still early:“Maybe we’re 10% of the way there.”That’s the opportunity—and the challenge.Lessons for Founders, Operators, and Creators1. Start With Personal Truth, Not Market TrendsThe best ideas don’t come from spreadsheets. They come from lived experience. Jeff Boyd, Co-Founder, MTE, created the original formula out of his need to find a natural energy supplement without the negative effects of caffeine or stimulants.J.W. didn’t ask:* “Is there a market for this?”He asked:* “Why doesn’t this exist for me?”That’s a more powerful starting point.2. Design for the Occasion, Not the CategoryPeople don’t buy products. They buy moments. Remember Eliza Blank, Founder, The Sill, who realized that ‘plants make people happy?’Ask:* Where does this show up in someone’s life?* What replaces the habit you’re disrupting?Curious wins because it understands the ritual of drinking, not just the act.3. Build Culture, Not Just DistributionFrom 100-city cocktail parties to community-driven events, Curious invests in belonging. Mark your calendar: May 13th is the Great Curious Cocktail Party. Because in the end:People don’t just want better products. They want places to belong.4. Iterate Relentlessly (and Publicly)J.W. openly admits the latest batch isn’t perfect.That’s not a weakness, it’s a strategy.* Listen deeply* Adjust or iterate quickly* Improve continuouslyPerfection isn’t the goal. Progress is.5. Ask Better QuestionsFor early-stage founders, J.W. offers a simple framework:* What flavors do you love?* What feels underserved?* What already exists, and can it be better?Curiosity isn’t branding. It’s operating discipline.6. Community Is the MoatProducts can be copied. Community cannot.Whether it’s:* A sober bar* A dinner party* A shared experienceThe real value is in the people, not the product.“The community focus is what people are most thirsty for… you build it one customer at a time, one bar stool at a time.” - JW WisemanThe Bigger Shift: From Consumption to ConsciousnessThis episode taps into something larger than beverages.It’s about a generational shift:* From excess → intention* From escape → presence* From isolation → connectionAnd that shift is opening entirely new categories.Actionable TakeawaysIf you’re building something, or contemplating, start here:1. Run the “Feeling Test”What does your product make people feel, and is that clear?2. Map the RitualWhere does your product live in someone’s day or life?3. Build With Your Early CommunityYour first 100 customers are your co-creators.4. Start With SubtractionWhat can your audience remove from their life—and what replaces it?5. Stay Curious, Not CertainThe best founders aren’t the ones with answers.They’re the ones asking better questions.Closing ThoughtCurious Elixirs isn’t trying to eliminate alcohol.It’s offering something more interesting:a choice.And in that choice lies a powerful idea for any builder:You don’t have to fight the old system.You can create something people would rather choose. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.worthyforthirty.com

Impact in your own backyardIn this episode of Worthy for Thirty, I sat down with Sapreet Saluja, Executive Director of New York Cares, to discuss what it really takes to turn compassion into action at scale. New York Cares is the largest volunteer organization in New York City, and Sapreet leads efforts to connect everyday New Yorkers with urgent community needs across the city, from winter coats and meals to tutoring, tax prep, senior support, and more. What made me think most was not just the size of the impact, but the operating system behind it: a thoughtful, human, and highly organized approach to service that any founder or operator can learn from.Sapreet’s background spans the private sector, civil rights, education, youth leadership, and community service, and that mix gives her a uniquely useful lens on leadership. We talked about how purpose is not something that belongs only in the nonprofit world. It can show up inside a startup, a brand, a team, or a business model, if you build it intentionally. That idea reminded me of the kind of leadership we’ve seen from entrepreneurs like Yvon Chouinard at Patagonia or Whitney Wolfe Herd at Bumble: leaders who’ve demonstrated that mission and business performance are not mutually exclusive paths. The best organizations, whether for-profit or nonprofit, make it easy for people to participate in something bigger than themselves.Sapreet also broke down how New York Cares creates meaningful volunteer experiences by removing friction, designing for accessibility, and making sure there is a true fit between the need and the person showing up to help. As a quick reference, Sapreet and her team work with over 400 nonprofits, schools, and city agencies that support these vital causes! That part especially resonated with me because it applies far beyond volunteerism. The same principle is true when building a company, a podcast, or a team: if you want people to engage, you need to make it simple, clear, and emotionally rewarding to do so. In other words, impact is not just about having good intentions; it’s about building the infrastructure that helps those intentions move.We also discussed what impact measurement really means. It’s easy to count inputs, but much harder to understand outcomes. That’s true in business, too. Are you just tracking activity, or are you actually changing someone’s life, work, or day-to-day reality? Sapreet’s perspective was a compelling reminder that meaningful leadership requires both heart and rigor. If you want to do good while doing well, you have to measure what matters, listen closely to the people you serve, and stay open to learning from the private sector without losing your values.For me, one of the biggest takeaways was this: people are hungry to feel connected, useful, and part of something larger than themselves. Especially in a world with increased automation, and Ai becomes louder and louder by each passing minute. That is true in New York City, and it is true in business. Whether you’re building a company, launching a project, or simply trying to be more intentional with your time, you can take a page from New York Cares by making service easier to access, more human, and more joyful. Start small, remove friction, invite others in, and keep asking whether your work is really creating the kind of impact you want to be known for. Or better yet, the world around you is reflective of your values. “I’m someone who’s on a quest to build the world I want to live in.” - Sapreet Saluja🔑 Takeaways* Make your mission easy to understand and easy to join.* Measure outcomes, not just activity.* Build for belonging, not just conversion.* Look for ways your daily work can create real human connections.* Borrow the best systems from business without losing the heart of your mission.Daily ApplicationIf you want to apply what Sapreet shared, start with one simple question: What is one way I can make it easier for someone to participate, contribute, or feel seen today? That could mean simplifying a process at work, checking in on someone outside your usual circle, volunteering a few hours, or making your own product or service more accessible. The point is not to do everything, it’s to build or create systems that make an impact on your everyday life. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.worthyforthirty.com

This conversation with Kaleido Life Co-Founder Craig Du Bruyn isn’t really about life insurance; it’s about rethinking where value lives in our lives.For decades, financial products have trained us to think in straight lines: save now, access later. Protection today, payout tomorrow. But Craig and his co-founder are challenging something deeper. Why is so much of our financial value locked in the future when real life is happening right now?The origin of Kaleido Life comes from a deeply human moment, a sudden loss that exposed just how transactional and delayed traditional life insurance can feel. That spark led to a bigger question: what if the same system designed to protect your family after you’re gone could actually support you while you’re here?And that’s where this episode becomes bigger than life insurance.The Real Insight: Value Isn’t the Problem, Access IsCraig reframes the entire category with a simple but powerful idea: most people’s wealth isn’t behind them, it’s ahead of them.Traditional finance looks backward:* Credit scores* Income history* Assets already accumulatedBut Kaleido Life is asking: what if we underwrote people based on their future earning potential, not just their past?That shift, from backward-looking to forward-looking, isn’t just relevant to insurance. It’s already reshaping multiple industries:* Education → Income share agreements (betting on future earnings instead of upfront tuition)* Creator economy → Platforms advancing cash based on projected revenue* Housing → Shared equity models replacing traditional mortgages* Fintech → Companies like Affirm are redefining how consumers access purchasing powerKaleido Life is applying that same logic to one of the oldest, most untouched categories in finance.“Ninety percent of most people’s wealth still lies ahead of them, not behind them.” - Craig Du BruynA Familiar Pattern: New Models Feel Obvious… After They WorkCraig’s comparison to Uber is more than a metaphor; it’s a blueprint.At first:* “Why would I get into a stranger’s car?”* “Why would I trust an app with my transportation?”Now:* It’s second nature.The pattern is consistent across disruptive businesses:* Skepticism* Early adopters* Evangelists* NormalizationCraig’s insight is that education often follows experience, not the other way around.In other words: don’t wait for people to understand—give them something worth experiencing.Practical Takeaways for Business LeadersIf you’re building, scaling, or trying to disrupt a legacy space or category, this episode is filled with applicable lessons:1. Find trapped valueEvery industry has it: capital, data, time, or access that’s sitting idle.Your opportunity is to unlock it.👉 Ask yourself: Where is value being underutilized in my industry?2. Reframe the category, don’t just improve itKaleido Life isn’t making life insurance “better,” they’re reframing what it’s for.👉 Instead of optimizing features, ask: What is this product actually meant to do, and is that still true?3. Build for a different entry pointTraditional insurers target people looking for life insurance.Kaleido Life targets people who need liquidity.👉 Growth often comes from changing who you’re speaking to, not just what you’re offering.4. Design for evangelism, not just adoptionCraig isn’t chasing millions of users on day one; he wants thousands who tell others.This mirrors ideas popularized by author Seth Godin: small groups of believers can move markets.👉 Ask: Would someone tell a friend about this tomorrow? If not, why?5. Don’t over-index on skepticsEvery breakthrough sounds wrong at first:* Cars replacing horses* Streaming replacing cable* Remote work replacing offices👉 If your idea makes everyone comfortable, it’s probably not that new.The Deeper Shift: From Protection to PossibilityWhat makes this conversation compelling isn’t just the product; it’s the philosophy.Traditional life insurance is about protection against worst-case scenarios.Kaleido Life is betting on something different:* Funding a wedding* Paying down debt* Taking a dream trip* Starting a new chapterIt moves the narrative from “What happens if I die?” to “What becomes possible while I’m alive?”Why This Matters NowWe’re in a moment where people expect more flexibility from everything:* Work is flexible* Money is flexible* Ownership is flexibleFinancial products that don’t evolve toward access + optionality risk becoming irrelevant.Kaleido Life could be an early signal of where that shift is heading.Final ThoughtThe most interesting companies don’t just build new products; they challenge assumptions or long-held beliefs we didn’t even realize we had.This episode is a reminder that sometimes the biggest opportunity isn’t creating something new……it’s unlocking new utility. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.worthyforthirty.com

What if the thing fueling your ambition is also quietly draining it?That’s the quandary that sits at the center of the conversation I had with Jeff Boyd, Co-Founder, MTE (More than Energy). He is someone who has lived on both sides of the equation.Before co-founding MTE, he helped scale a logistics company across 100+ countries, saying “yes” to opportunity before knowing how it would work. It’s the kind of scrappy, figure-it-out-as-you-go mindset you see in companies like Airbnb in its early days, say yes, then figure it out afterwards. That line of thinking worked. The company grew, thrived, and ultimately exited.But here’s the twist: success didn’t feel like success.Behind the scenes, Jeff was running on fumes powered by stress, caffeine, and the cultural belief that burnout is just the cost of ambition.And that realization became the basis for something entirely different, where obsession became a business. From “Say Yes” to “Something’s Off”In his first company, Jeff helped build a global operation by refusing to say no. A call from North Carolina? Yes. A shipment to France? Yes. Cape Verde? Sure—then figure out where it is.That relentless bias toward action is something you’ll recognize in companies like Amazon, which obsess over the customer and then build the infrastructure to support them.But while the business scaled, something else quietly broke: his energy.Not the hustle. Not the drive. The foundation underneath it.“From the outside, I looked like I was in my prime. Internally, I was just fried.” - Jeff Boyd, Co-Founder, MTEIt’s a familiar story for high performers. You win externally while losing internally—and you don’t even notice until you stop.The Real Problem: Not Lack of Energy, But How We Get ItWhat Jeff discovered wasn’t just personal; it was systemic.We’ve built an entire culture around stimulation over sustainability.Coffee → energy drink → afternoon crash → repeat.It’s a loop. A flywheel. And not the good kind.Think about how Starbucks became a global staple, not just by selling coffee, but by embedding itself into daily ritual. Now layer in modern hustle culture, and suddenly energy isn’t optional; it’s survival.But Jeff saw the gap:What if energy didn’t have to come with a crash?Building MTE: A Product That Starts With “No”Where most brands begin with price points and margins, Jeff started somewhere else entirely:“I just wanted to build the perfect product for myself.”That meant saying no a lot.* No caffeine* No sugar* No artificial sweeteners* No cutting corners on ingredients (even expensive ones like saffron)This is where the story starts to mirror brands like Patagonia, build with conviction first, optimize later. The product becomes the marketing.And it worked.Instead of chasing trends, MTE built something fundamentally different:* Energy without spikes* Focus without jitters* Recovery is built into the experienceNot a quick fix, rather a system upgrade.The Founder Advantage: Not Knowing the RulesOne of the most powerful threads in this conversation is Jeff’s “outsider advantage.” Sound familiar? Marcin and Amit from Mission Craft Cocktails also had the same epiphany and stance.He didn’t come from the supplement industry. He didn’t know the “right” way to do things.Which meant he didn’t inherit the same limitations.It’s the same pattern we saw with Warby Parker disrupting eyewear or Dollar Shave Club rethinking grooming—fresh eyes create better questions.And better questions lead to better products.While others asked:“How do we make this cheaper?”Jeff thought:“I didn’t start with price. I just wanted to build the perfect product for myself, and then we’d figure the rest out.”That shift changes everything.The Lesson Most Founders MissThere’s a moment in the conversation that deeply resonates:Jeff and his team did extensive research. Thousands of surveys.Customers said:“If it works, I don’t care how it tastes.”Reality?They absolutely cared.It’s a classic founder lesson, one that companies like Netflix learned early when user behavior contradicted stated preferences.People don’t always tell you the truth. Their actions do.Instead of resisting that insight, Jeff leaned into it.Made the product taste great.Turned a weakness into a strength.That’s the difference between a product people try—and one they stick with.Redefining Energy (and Success)Zoom out, and this isn’t just a story about supplements.It’s about identity.Who are you when you’re not running on stress?What happens when your baseline isn’t burnout, but balance?Jeff’s vision for MTE isn’t to win shelf space.It’s to reshape how we think about energy altogether.Not:“How do I get through the day?”But:“How do I feel good while doing it?”That’s a much bigger game.So…Where Do You Start?If you’re building something, or even just trying to rebuild your own energy, Jeff’s philosophy is surprisingly simple:1. Stop Borrowing From TomorrowIf your current system creates crashes, it’s not sustainable.Whether it’s your business model or your daily routine—fix the foundation first.2. Build (or Choose) for How You Want to FeelNot just output, but experience.Energy, focus, clarity, and recovery should work symbiotically, not against each other.3. Start, Then Learn FastYou don’t need a perfect plan. You need momentum.Clarity comes from action, not overthinking.At its core, this episode is a reminder:You can scale a business.You can win the game.But if you’re not careful, you might build it on a system that can’t sustain you or isn’t authentic to you or aligned with your core fundamental values.Jeff Boyd chose to rebuild that system, from the inside out.And that might be the most valuable kind of entrepreneurship there is. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.worthyforthirty.com

What does it really mean to lead, especially when you’re handed something iconic?In this episode of Worthy for Thirty, I sat down with Elizabeth Sobol, CEO of the Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC), for a conversation that feels less like an interview and more like catching up with a wise friend who’s lived a few lifetimes and learned and gained from each one.Elizabeth’s story doesn’t begin in the C-suite. It started when she was a 13-year-old leaving home to follow her classical piano dream, chasing excellence with everything she had, until she made a realization that changed everything. Hearing peers who surpassed her technically, she made a decision that many high-achievers struggle to make:She let go.But instead of walking away from music, she moved closer to its impact, shifting from performer to champion of artists. That pivot led her to a decades-long career at IMG Artists and later Universal Music Group, where she helped shape the careers of world-class talent.And yet, her most meaningful chapter may have started when she thought she was done.From Achievement to AlignmentFour days into “retirement,” living in Florida, Elizabeth got a call about leading SPAC. Her initial reaction? Hard no.But something nudged her to visit.And that’s where the story changes.She describes arriving in Saratoga Springs and feeling something click: a natural sense of belonging. Not ambition. Not a strategy. Something deeper.That moment echoes a similar theme we’ve seen in leaders like Howard Schultz returning to Starbucks or Satya Nadella reshaping Microsoft, the shift from scaling success to stewarding purpose.“Let your ambition ride, but find the thing that anchors you, so you’re not just chasing what’s in front of you, but listening to what’s in your heart.” - Elizabeth SobolFor Elizabeth, SPAC wasn’t just a role. It was a return to nature, to community, to service.Leadership as Service (Not Just Results)One of the most striking throughlines in this conversation is how Elizabeth defines leadership:Service first. Results second.That wasn’t always the case. Early in her career, the language of business was about performance, metrics, and outcomes. Words like “gratitude” and “compassion” weren’t part of the vocabulary.“Service is the word. It’s the lens through which I now understand everything I’ve done—and everything I try to do.” - Elizabeth SobolToday, they’re foundational.And it shows up in the smallest details.She shares a moment when a guest approached her on the SPAC grounds and said every single employee she encountered from the box office to ushers exuded kindness.That’s not training. That’s culture.It’s reminiscent of what Danny Meyer built at Union Square Hospitality Group: the idea that if you take care of your people, they take care of everyone else.At SPAC, kindness isn’t a tactic. It’s the product.Reinvention Is a SkillElizabeth calls herself “restless” in the best way.Over 35 years at IMG, she continuously reinvented her role, expanding beyond classical music into broader cultural programming. She didn’t wait for permission; she followed curiosity.That instinct, to evolve from within, is something we’re seeing across sectors today.Think about Reed Hastings shifting Netflix from DVDs to streaming to content creation. Or nonprofit leaders rethinking delivery models post-pandemic.The takeaway?Longevity isn’t about staying put, it’s about staying in motion.Access Is the MissionIf leadership is service, then access is the strategy.Under Elizabeth’s leadership, SPAC has expanded from serving 5,000 students to over 60,000 annually. That includes:* Free tickets for veterans and underserved communities* Partnerships with over 100 local organizations* Programs for individuals with disabilities* Taking the arts into communities, not just asking communities to come to them* In partnership with Skidmore College, SPAC creates immersive, intergenerational arts experiences like pairing students with older adults in community-based dance programs to combat isolation, foster connection, and measure the deeper social impact of the artsThis isn’t just programming, it’s equity in action.And it aligns with a broader movement across institutions, from The Metropolitan Museum of Art expanding free access initiatives to leaders like Darren Walker pushing for cultural institutions to become more inclusive and community-centered.Elizabeth puts it simply: “Those stages belong to everyone.”The Business Case for Human ConnectionIn a world increasingly driven by automation and AI, SPAC is doubling down on something analog:Human connection. (Side bar: my personal thesis is we’ll see the automation pendulum swing back to more human connection — watch the micro!)Elizabeth points to emerging research showing that engagement with the arts activates empathy and compassion. In other words, experiences like concerts, dance, and storytelling don’t just entertain—they heal.That idea is gaining traction across industries. Companies are investing in experiences, not just products. Communities are prioritizing spaces that bring people together.SPAC sits at a unique intersection of nature, art, and community, all designed to create moments of awe.And in Elizabeth’s words, what could be more important than that?“You have to be willing to jump into the deep end before the water drains out.” - Elizabeth SobolBuilding for the Next ChapterLooking ahead, Elizabeth is focused on transforming SPAC into a fully year-round institution, anchored by a newly renovated 500-seat theater and expanded programming across culinary, literary, and healing arts.It’s a reminder that even legacy institutions can and must evolve. Just like us as individuals. Because stewardship isn’t about preserving the past.It’s about making it relevant for the future.Final ThoughtThere’s a moment in the conversation where Elizabeth reflects on luck vs. hard work. Her answer?It’s both, but luck favors those willing to jump before they have all the answers.For mission-driven leaders, that might be the takeaway:Follow the pull. Do the work. Stay open to reinvention. And build something that serves more than just yourself.Listen to the full conversation on your favorite podcast platform. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.worthyforthirty.com

She left rural Australia for this….On this episode of Worthy for Thirty, I sat down with Amy Bett, co-founder and CEO of Melo, a non-alcoholic sparkling kava brand helping people unwind without the hangover, sugar crash, or regret.What struck me most wasn’t just the product.It was the posture.Amy moved to Los Angeles without her family for a year to get Melo off the ground. She also recently slept in her Tesla for 15 days to personally demo product across three states when Melo launched into Sprouts Farmers Market, knowing she landed on the bottom shelf, and went store by store to make sure the product actually made it onto the floor.These are just a couple of incredible examples of her determination and focus.This isn’t a story about glamour.It’s about grit.The Insight: Replace, Don’t RemoveAmy didn’t set out to build a beverage empire.She was a mom of three in her 30s who realized alcohol was slowing her down. She didn’t want to quit drinking entirely; she just wanted something that could “take the edge off” without ruining the next day.That insight is powerful and very present.We’re living in the era of:* The rise of non-alcoholic spirits* Functional beverages going mainstream* Younger consumers redefining “social drinking”* Retailers carving out space for better-for-you alternatives; functional beveragesThink about the explosion of brands like Athletic Brewing Company or the creator-led retail dominance of Feastables. They didn’t shame old categories. They created alternatives that felt culturally relevant.Amy’s takeaway?If you’re asking someone to give something up, you better offer something better.That’s not just true for beverages.It’s true for any startup disrupting an incumbent.Actionable Lessons for Founders1. Stop Over-Strategizing. Start Shipping.Amy admitted they got stuck in strategy early; tagline debates, positioning tweaks, endless refinements.Her biggest hindsight lesson?It’s all a hypothesis until the customer speaks.Action step:* Launch sooner than you’re comfortable.* Talk to 100 real people.* Adapt fast.* Repeat.You can’t A/B test your way to conviction in a vacuum. If you’re not embarrassed by your first version, then you launched too late.2. Go Big Earlier (If You Believe in the Product)Most emerging CPG brands grind through independents first.Amy would do it differently.She’d go straight for major retail because scale unlocks:* Purchase order financing* Credibility* Better data* Faster feedback loopsThe risk? You'd better be confident in your product.This mirrors what we’ve seen from brands that bet early on national chains instead of slow regional rollouts. Big swings create big data.If your product converts when sampled, consider pitching higher up the food chain (no pun intended) sooner than you think you’re “ready.”3. Demo Like Your Life Depends On ItAmy’s Tesla road trip wasn’t scrappy theater.It was data acquisition.She:* She sometimes introduced herself as the founder.* Watched real reactions.* Listened to objections.* Observed what flavors moved fastest.* Verified repeat purchase behavior.Via DTC, she’d even call abandoned cart customers directly.That’s founder-level obsession.In a world obsessed with paid ads and CAC dashboards, she went analog — do the unscalable things well.Ask yourself:* When was the last time I personally watched someone use my product?* Do I know why someone didn’t buy?* Have I asked what stopped them?Your most valuable growth lever may not be another paid ads campaign; it may be one uncomfortable conversation with a consumer. 4. Product > Marketing (But Shelf Placement Matters)Amy said it plainly:Marketing can spark trial. Only product earns repeat.This echoes what we’ve seen across contemporary brands: the ones that stick don’t just win on branding. They win by making a great product.But here’s the nuance she highlighted:Placement plays a huge part in brick-and-mortar retail.Launching on the bottom shelf isn’t a death sentence but it demands hustle.Think about the MrBeast story of walking into Walmart stores to make sure Feastables were actually on shelves.Distribution isn’t the finish line.It’s the starting gun.Action for founders:* Visit your stores.* Meet managers.* Check inventory.* Don’t assume execution.Retail is a living organism. Stay close to it.5. Obsession Is Required. Loneliness Is Real.When I asked Amy what she wishes people would ask her, she didn’t say:“How did you scale?”“What’s your revenue?”“What’s your next retailer?”She said:“I wish people would really ask how I’m doing.”Founding is disorienting.You can be winning in business and feel like you’re failing at home. You can land retail and still lie awake at night questioning everything.“Usually if you're doing really well in business and you're pushing really hard in that area, it feels like you're failing in other areas.” - Amy BettWe talk a lot about resilience.We don’t talk enough about emotional cost.If you’re a founder:* Build your circle intentionally.* Find people who understand the weight.* Don’t confuse momentum with mental stability.And if you’re supporting a founder?Ask the second-level question.Not “How’s business?”But “How are you, really?”The Bigger ConversationWe’re watching consumer behavior shift in real time.Alcohol consumption trends are changing. Functional beverages are rising. Retailers are more open to innovation. Distribution models are evolving.But none of it matters without:* Courage to launch* Speed to adapt* Willingness to be embarrassed* Relentless customer proximityAmy didn’t just build a drink.She built proximity.And proximity compounds.If you’re a current or aspiring entrepreneur, here’s your challenge:* Identify the tension in your own life.* Build the replacement, not just the disruption.* When your product is in the market, talk to 25 customers per month (at least).* Ask what’s stopping them from buying.* Move faster than feels comfortable.The mountain gets built one can and one conversation at a time.And sometimes… one night in a Tesla at a time. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.worthyforthirty.com

In this episode of Worthy for Thirty, I had the fortune of speaking with Janine Shea, Co-Founder and COO of Primi Foods, and what unfolds is far more than a conversation about pasta.It’s a masterclass in how founders move markets.Primi is redefining convenience with Italian-made pasta cups that are non-GMO, preservative-free, under 300 calories, and ready in minutes. But as Janine makes clear, this isn’t about “instant food.” It’s about modernizing a legacy category without compromising values.And that distinction changes everything.The Real Innovation: A Point of ViewOne of the biggest unlocks from this conversation is Janine’s perspective on innovation:“Don’t lead with features. Lead with a point of view.” - Janine SheaToo many founders try to educate customers with specs, attributes, and bullet points. But transformation doesn’t happen through explanation; it happens through reframing. (Sounds familiar to my conversation with Eliza Blank, Co-Founder, The Sill. ‘Plants Make People Happy.’)Janine shares how early on, Primi could have leaned into the word “instant.” It would have been easier. Familiar. Search-friendly.Instead, they rejected it. Not them and what they’re building. Why? Because “instant” belongs to yesterday’s category, associated with low quality and compromise. By refusing that label, they forced a new mental model: traditional pasta, redesigned for modern life.It’s the same playbook used by companies like:* Liquid Death — who didn’t sell “water in a can,” but reframed single-use plastic as absurd.* Apple — who didn’t just improve MP3 players, but made CDs feel obsolete.* Salesforce — who didn’t sell software features, but made on-premise servers look antiquated.“As a founder, your main goal is to bring people from the old way of doing things into the new way of doing things. One of the ways you do that is by making the old way of doing things frankly look ridiculous.”The Psychology of Category ChangePrimi operates in a $600B convenience food ecosystem. Pasta alone is a $9B category that’s largely unchanged for decades.Ready-to-eat meals are growing. Traditional boxed pasta is stagnant.That gap is where opportunity lives.Janine breaks down the tension every founder faces:* Honor the past.* Build for the future.* Don’t alienate the customer.* But don’t stay trapped in legacy thinking.Her insight is incisive: your job as a founder is to usher people into a new world. That requires courage, especially when entrenched incumbents dominate shelf space and mindshare.This is classic innovator’s dilemma territory. Incumbents optimize. Founders reimagine.Values Aren’t Marketing. They’re Operational.Primi’s non-negotiables: non-GMO, no artificial preservatives, ingredient sourcing from Italy, continuous improvement aren’t branding decisions. They’re operational ones.Janine details how even replacing sunflower oil with coconut oil (without increasing cost of goods) was an easy call. If there’s a better way, do it.This hits upon a broader shift in modern entrepreneurship:Consumers are educated. Social media has accelerated ingredient literacy. Distrust in legacy brands is rising. Transparency isn’t optional anymore; it’s expected.For founders and change-makers, the takeaway is clear:You can’t bolt values onto a product. They must be embedded in the supply chain, sourcing, and decision-making. It must permeate every facet of your business!Happiness, Autonomy, and LeadershipPerhaps the most unexpected thread in the episode is Janine’s study of human happiness during COVID.Quick factoid: Janine is also a certified meditation teacher, which quietly shapes how she leads, builds, and handles the pressure of early‑stage entrepreneurship.Her conclusion?People are happier when they are doing good, when their actions positively affect others.That philosophy shapes how she leads:* Giving team members autonomy.* Avoiding micromanagement.* Distinguishing clearly between her skillset and her co-founder’s.It’s a reminder that culture is strategy.When founders understand their strengths and hire or partner accordingly, they create momentum instead of friction.Three Big Lessons for BuildersIf you’re an entrepreneur or operator listening to this episode, here are three concepts to come back to:1. Make the old way feel obsolete.If customers can comfortably return to legacy behavior, you haven’t gone far enough.2. Lead with perspective, not product specs.Features support the story. They don’t drive it.3. Operationalize your values.Modern consumers reward integrity — and they can smell shortcuts.This conversation with Janine Shea isn’t about pasta.It’s about how founders reframe categories, earn trust in skeptical markets, and build businesses that uplift rather than exploit.If you’re building the “new way” in your industry, this episode will challenge you and sharpen you.Listen in, and ask yourself:What old assumption in your category or industry needs to be made obsolete? This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.worthyforthirty.com

What happens when data meets nostalgia and storytelling becomes a growth lever?In this episode of Worthy for Thirty, I sat down with Tom Leigh, the UK-born brand builder and fundraiser turned food entrepreneur behind Tommy Popcorn, a gourmet popcorn brand designed to give popcorn its long-overdue “craft moment.”Tommy Popcorn isn’t built around health badges, macros, or functional claims. Instead, it’s built around bold nostalgic flavors, cinematic storytelling, and data-driven market insight tethered to a mysterious fictional character named Tommy, a popcorn-obsessed Brooklyn filmmaker from the 1950s who funded his film career through a side hustle selling popcorn.Tom walks through how his experience in data-led marketing helped him uncover unmet demand in the U.S. snack market (whiskey-flavored and pizza-flavored popcorn), how he and his co-founders resisted the urge to rush to market, and why they chose to obsess over taste, quality, and narrative from day one.The conversation crosses flavor development, brand world-building, fundraising realities in CPG, and why Tommy Popcorn purposely sits in the white space between indulgence and health-washed snacks. Along the way, Tom shares how experiential activations, consumer feedback, and community-driven storytelling are shaping not just the brand but its future roadmap.This episode is a masterclass in how modern brands can use data to uncover opportunity, storytelling to build emotional connection to consumers, and discipline to scale without diluting the core values of the brand.Real-World Business Case Studies Embedded in the Episode* Data → Demand Creation (Amazon Search Insights)Tommy Popcorn originated from analyzing high-intent search data for flavors consumers wanted but couldn’t find, substantiating that discovery doesn’t have to start with intuition alone.* Experiential Marketing Over Shelf PlacementThe ‘Berry Hot’ flavor activation (password-protected popcorn giveaways tied to Tommy’s backstory) shows how brands can “take over spaces” instead of competing passively on shelves.* Brand as IP, Not Just PackagingBy not having Tommy’s face on the packaging, the brand invited consumers to co-create the character, flipping storytelling on its head. Turning it into a feedback loop rather than a fixed narrative.* Fundraising Discipline in Early-Stage CPGTom’s anecdotes on advising other founders and restructuring raises to avoid losing control provide a candid look at capital strategy before seed and Series A. It’s part of his ‘give back’ ethos.5 Actionable Takeaways for Founders & Operators1. Let Data Tell You Where to Play Not Just What to BuildTommy Popcorn didn’t start with “we want a popcorn brand.” It started with search intent, unmet demand, and whitespace analysis.Action: Before building, validate who is searching, what’s missing, and how saturated the category really is.2. Don’t Rush to Market, Win on Taste FirstThe team spent months testing flavors, including hundreds (if not thousands) of taste tests, before launch.Action: If your product doesn’t over-deliver on the core experience, no amount of branding will save it.3. Storytelling Works Best When Consumers Help Write ItBy leaving Tommy intentionally undefined, the brand encourages customers to project their own ideas, creating emotional ownership.Action: Design brand narratives that are open-ended, not over-explained.4. Choose a Strategic Middle Ground in Crowded CategoriesTommy Popcorn avoids both extremes: ultra-indulgent junk snacks and hyper-functional “better-for-you” products.Action: Look for the ignored middle where consumer demand exists, but brand leadership doesn’t.5. Guard Your Non-Negotiables as You ScaleFrom in-house production to values-aligned investors, Tom is clear about what won’t change even at 100 million bags sold.Action: Define your non-negotiables early, before growth pressures force reactive decisions.Why This Episode MattersThis conversation isn’t just about popcorn. It’s about how modern brands are built where data sparks ideas, storytelling creates loyalty, and discipline sustains growth.If you’re building in CPG, consumer tech, or any crowded category, this episode offers a blueprint for turning insight into impact without losing your soul or north star along the way.🎧 Listen in, take notes, and then ask yourself: where is the white space you’re not seeing yet? This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.worthyforthirty.com

2026 begins in earnest, and many of us are thinking about goals, resolutions, and the kind of impact we’re focused on making, not just personally, but through our work, our businesses, and our communities.In this episode of Worthy for Thirty, I sat down with Eliza Blank, CEO of The Farmlink Project and founder of The Sill, for a grounded and timely conversation about what it really means to commit to impact in the new year. Rather than chasing shiny new efforts, Eliza offers a powerful counterpoint: real impact comes from resilience, focus, and the ability to deliver consistently, when people need you most. Remember my conversation with Rachel Doyle at Glamour Gals? Service to others is key!As organizations face economic uncertainty, shifting donor priorities, and growing demand, this conversation feels especially relevant for anyone setting intentions for the year ahead.Eliza shares how Farmlink is approaching 2026 with clarity and discipline, doubling down on its core mission of delivering fresh, healthy produce to food banks through the charitable food network. There are 40 million Americans, Eliza mentioned, who are food insecure. They don’t know where or when their next meal will come. In 2025 alone, Farmlink helped distribute 150 million pounds of surplus produce to food banks across the US, serving as a reliable safety net for communities. The Farmlink Project is a nonprofit that connects farmers with communities facing food insecurity by rescuing fresh produce that would otherwise go to waste. They move surplus food from farms to food banks and meal programs, getting nutritious food to people who need it mostWhat stands out most is Eliza’s emphasis on operational reliability as a form of impact. Growth matters, but only when it’s sustainable, scalable, and built on trust. This episode challenges listeners to rethink what success looks like in the year ahead and how personal and organizational goals can translate into measurable good.5 Actionable Takeaways to Shape Your 2026 Impact1. Make “being dependable” part of your missionFarmlink’s focus mirrors organizations like Feeding America, where consistency and infrastructure matter as much as expansion. Eliza is a hired gun who knows how to build scalable operational systems from her time as the day-to-day CEO at The Sill.Action: Identify where your work, whether a business or nonprofit, needs stronger systems to deliver reliably before it grows bigger.2. Optimize before you expandInstead of reinventing the wheel, Farmlink refined what already worked and scaled it thoughtfully. This echoes companies like Patagonia, which deepened its environmental impact by strengthening supply chains before launching new initiatives.Action: Audit your core offering. What’s already working and how could you make it more efficient, strategic, or sustainable?3. Set goals that can be counted, not just admiredThe Farmlink Project’s north star of getting to “150 million pounds of fresh produce delivered” is also a measurable outcome, not a vague aspiration.Action: Translate your 2026 goals into a number, metric, or milestone that people can latch on to. If you can’t measure it, you can’t manage or share it.4. Build partnerships that increase scale and sustainabilityFarmlink’s success is rooted in collaboration across farmers, nonprofits, and logistics partners similar to models used by organizations like World Central Kitchen.Action: Look beyond solo wins. Collaborations amplify impact!5. Treat resilience as a long-term advantageEliza frames resilience not as a reaction to crisis, but as a strategic choice.Action: Ask yourself: If demand doubled tomorrow, would we break or rise to the moment?Why This Conversation Is Worth(y) to Share!If your New Year’s resolutions include making your work more intentional and impact-focused or aligning success with service, this episode provides a rare mix of inspiration and execution. It’s a reminder that impact doesn’t always come from doing something new. Sometimes, it comes from doing the right thing better, longer, and together.If this conversation resonated, share it with someone who’s building, leading, or rethinking with intention in 2026. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.worthyforthirty.com

Cheers and welcome to 2026!As we head into a new year, there’s a familiar pressure to optimize everything: bigger goals, grandiose ambition, lofty promises, and perhaps faster execution. This conversation with my dear friend, Jeff Ragovin, is a clear reminder that the work that lasts for posterity doesn’t start with perfection. It begins with people.Jeff—founder, builder, storyteller, and the creative force behind his new show, Bounty Uncharted—joined me for a wide-ranging conversation about building in public, letting go of ego, and creating experiences that live far beyond the moment. It’s vulnerability and self-awareness on steroids from one of the best in the business. From launching a show on the open ocean to cultivating community around a dinner table, Jeff’s work sits at the intersection of ambition and humanity. Or as we say on the show, doing good while doing well. Bounty Uncharted is a cinematic storytelling series where fishing, food, and human connection collide. It celebrates the people, our cherished waterways, and the shared moments that bring community to life.This episode feels like the right way to kick off 2026: humble yet hungry, curious, and deeply intentional.5 Takeaways to Carry Forward1. Start Before You’re ReadyWhat we talked about:Jeff didn’t wait to become an expert filmmaker before launching Bounty Uncharted. He learned on the fly by doing, whether on the water, in the edit room, or in real-time with his guests.Why it matters:Many founders stall because they’re chasing readiness. In reality, readiness is earned through motion.‘If you're not embarrassed by the first version of your product, you've launched too late.’ — Reid HoffmanReal-world parallel:Airbnb’s first listings were far from polished. The founders learned what mattered by shipping early and iterating fast, way before they became the ubiquitous brand we know.How to implement:* Identify the minimum viable product (MVP) of the idea you’ve been sitting on* Commit to one imperfect launch in Q1* Treat feedback as fuel, not failure2. Build Around People, Not Just OutcomesWhat we talked about:Whether it’s Jeff’s closed-door dinner series (10-15 people max), The Digital Fork, or a day at sea, Jeff designs experiences where the human connection is the value, not an afterthought.Why it matters:Community compounds. Transactions don’t.Real-world parallel:Patagonia didn’t build loyalty by chasing growth alone; they built it by standing for something (protecting the environment) and inviting customers into a shared mission.How to implement:* Ask: Where do people naturally gather around my work?* Invest in one intimate, high-touch experience (dinner, roundtable, small event)* Optimize for depth over reach3. Let Go of Ego, Keep the VisionWhat we talked about:Jeff’s original idea for Bounty Uncharted evolved as the right stories showed up. Instead of forcing the concept, he let it breathe.Why it matters:Rigidity kills resonance. Flexibility strengthens it.Real-world parallel:Slack started as an internal tool for a gaming company. The founders paid attention when the tool, not the game, became the thing people loved.How to implement:* Revisit your original vision and ask what’s changed* Listen closely to what’s working unexpectedly* Be willing to pivot without abandoning your core values4. Treat Creative Work Like a Business and a Business Like a CraftWhat we talked about:Producing a show on the ocean requires systems, teams, and contingency planning, but also trust, intuition, and taste.Why it matters:Sustainable creativity needs structure. Scalable businesses need soul.Real-world parallel:Nike’s success lives at the intersection of operational excellence and cultural storytelling; one doesn’t exist without the other.How to implement:* Identify where you’re an A-player vs. where you need outside help* Build repeatable systems for the unsexy parts* Protect space for creativity, even as you scale5. Create Experiences People Will Never ForgetWhat we talked about:First tuna catches. Shared meals. Unexpected moments. These aren’t “content,” they’re core memories.Why it matters:People don’t remember metrics. They remember how you made them feel.“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” - Maya AngelouReal-world parallel:Apple Stores became cultural landmarks not because of square footage, but because of how people felt inside them.How to implement:* Look for moments of “firsts” in your work (first customer win, first launch, first event)* Slow those moments down* Document or label them not just for marketing, but for meaning and understanding. How can you use those moments to clue you into the continued evolution of your work?A Thought to Carry Into 2026We’re all building something: companies, communities, creative work, relationships. The question isn’t how big it gets. It’s how deeply it’s felt; depth vs. breadth. Feelings are the connective tissue that binds people together. As Jeff reminded us, time accelerates. The only real leverage we have is intention: who we invite in and spend time with, what we pay attention to, and whether we choose to start, right now, without asking.Here’s to a year of building boldly, leading generously, and creating work that stands the test of time.🎣 Watch & FollowSubscribe to Bounty Uncharted on YouTube and experience storytelling at the intersection of food, ocean, and humanity.📲 Stay ConnectedFollow Worthy for Thirty on Instagram for episode clips, reflections, and conversations that explore purpose-driven work.🎧 Listen & ShareFind Worthy for Thirty on all major podcast platforms, and if this episode resonated, share it with someone who’s building something new this year.🥂Here’s to 2026 🥂 and the work worth doing. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.worthyforthirty.com

A pre-Christmas / 2026 read and listen. Some inspiration to keep you thinking as we head into the new year. In this episode of the Worthy for Thirty podcast, I sat down with Blake Niemann, the founder of Levels Protein. From humble beginnings in his Jersey City, NJ apartment in 2016 to becoming a trusted name in the supplement industry, Blake shares his insights on building a brand that prioritizes transparency and the consumer experience. Discover how his commitment to purpose over shortcuts has led to success and learn actionable strategies for your entrepreneurial journey.Quick bio on Levels Protein:* Founded in 2016, Levels Nutrition, LLC (“Levels”) built its name on one thing: whey protein done right. No artificial sweeteners. No fake flavors. No fillers. Just clean, high-quality ingredients you can trust. That same standard carries through everything we make—from our best-selling whey to collagen, casein, and plant-based proteins.* Levels has a multi-channel presence across Amazon, our direct-to-consumer website, and brick-and-mortar retailers including, but not limited to, Walmart, Target, and Costco.com.✍️ down these key takeaways:1. Transparency Builds Trust — and Trust Is the Real MoatBlake’s perspective:From its founding, Levels was built on the notion that consumers are smarter than brands give them credit for. Blake didn’t just remove artificial ingredients, he removed anything that felt or sounded artificial. Ingredient names, packaging cues, and even regulatory choices (like using a Nutrition Facts Panel instead of a Supplement Facts Panel) were all intentional signals of honesty.For Blake, transparency isn’t marketing it’s operational discipline. When you’re clear about what’s in the product, what it does, and what it doesn’t do, you reduce friction everywhere: customer service, reviews, returns, and long-term trust.Relevant brand case: PatagoniaPatagonia didn’t win loyalty by saying they’re sustainable—they won it by showing receipts: supply chain disclosures, environmental tradeoffs, and even encouraging customers not to buy new gear. That radical honesty built trust that competitors can’t copy overnight.How to implement:* Audit your product or service for “hidden friction” or vague claims. If you can’t clearly explain it to a customer, it’s a liability.* Replace marketing language with factual language. Blake avoided flashy performance claims and stuck to what was scientifically and legally defensible.* Transparency compounds: fewer complaints, fewer returns, and stronger word-of-mouth over time.2. Consumer Experience Is the ProductBlake’s perspective:Blake views experience as everything surrounding the product, not just what’s inside the canister. From the way the seal peels off the lid cleanly, to how quickly customer service responds, to even how an email sounds, Levels is “in the weeds” of consumer feedback.The clean-peel induction seal is a perfect example. No one was loudly asking for it, but Blake and his team knew the frustration of paper residue, messy lids, and downstream complaints. Fixing a small annoyance preemptively removed an entire slew of issues before customers had a chance to complain.Brand case: AppleApple’s obsession with experience isn’t about specs, it’s about removing friction you didn’t even know existed. Packaging, setup, in-store help, and ecosystem design all reinforce trust and ease.How to implement:* Put your consumer ‘hat’ on. Walk through your product like a first-time customer. Where do they pause, get annoyed, or feel confused?* Fix “quiet frustrations,” not just loud complaints. Blake didn’t wait for outrage, he prevented it.* Treat customer service as a profit-protector, not cost center. Fast, human responses are remembered and reviewed.“You don’t win by obsessing over competitors—you win by obsessing over the customer. Everything we do starts with asking how the consumer will feel.” - Blake Niemann3. Entrepreneurship Is a Long-Term CommitmentBlake’s perspective:Blake is upfront: building a real business takes a long time. The myth of overnight success is not just wrong, it’s harmful. Levels grew brick by brick, fueled by frugality, patience, and founder accountability; no outside capital. Because it was Blake’s money on the line, every decision was intentional.He embraces suffering as part of the deal, not as a badge of honor, but as the cost of building something durable. Brand case: AmazonAmazon took years to become profitable, prioritizing infrastructure, customer trust, and long-term scale over short-term optics. That patience is now its biggest advantage.How to implement:* Plan your business as a 10-year project, not a 10-month sprint.* Build for survivability before optimization. Blake focused first on supply chain, operations, and unit economics, not hype.* Ignore curated social media timelines showing the perceived glitz and glamour of entrepreneurship. Keep your head down. If it feels slow, you’re probably doing it right.4. Innovation Must Serve Real Consumer NeedsBlake’s perspective:Blake resisted chasing trends, whether it was exotic flavors, flashy ingredients, or the latest supplement fad. Instead, he focused on what consumers actually wanted: clean whey, great taste, and a fair price.Innovation at Levels isn’t about novelty it’s about relevance. If consumers didn’t care about bag-in-a-box packaging or fruit-and-vegetable flavors, Blake cut them, no matter how “differentiated” they seemed on paper.Brand case: TeslaTesla didn’t win by adding gimmicks it won by solving real pain points: performance, charging infrastructure, and user experience, all aligned with consumer demand.How to implement:* Kill ideas that excite you but aren’t want the consumer actually wants. Again, put yourself in your consumers’ shoes. * Use minimum-viable-product (MVP) thinking: launch small, learn fast, and adjust based on real behavior not internal opinions. As an old boss once said ‘spend a little, earn a little, learn a lot!’* Innovation should simplify life for the customer, not complicate it. Innovation should never add friction to the CX.5. Iterate Relentlessly, but Only on Meaningful SignalsBlake’s perspective:Blake doesn’t chase every piece of feedback, but he pays close attention to patterns. One-off opinions don’t drive change; consistent signals do. That mindset allowed Levels to refine pricing, packaging, flavors, and even communication tone without losing focus.Iteration, for Blake, is humility and self-awareness in action: saying when something doesn’t work and fixing it quickly. Brand case: NetflixNetflix continuously adapts: content, UI, recommendations based on viewer behavior, not executive taste. Data-driven iteration keeps them relevant.How to implement:* Separate noise from signal. Look for repeat feedback across channels.* Build fast feedback loops (reviews, customer service tickets, trial formats).* Treat iteration as ongoing, not episodic. Blake still refines Levels years after launch.The Big Idea for the AudienceBlake’s playbook isn’t flashy, but it’s long-lasting:* Be frank.* Obsess over the consumer, not competitors.* Commit for the long haul.* Innovate only where it matters.* Improve constantly, leave your ego at the door.That’s how you build a brand people trust and keep coming back to. Transparency.Join the Worthy for Thirty community as we dive into these themes and more, offering valuable lessons for entrepreneurs looking to make their mark in any industry. Tune in to hear Blake’s story and gain inspiration for your own business endeavors. If you enjoyed this write up, hit the ‘share’ button below. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.worthyforthirty.com

In this episode of Worthy for Thirty, I sat down with Frankie Scanlon, founder of Gustus Vitae, a small-batch, mission-driven gourmet seasoning brand that started at a local farmers market and has grown into a community-loved staple. Frankie’s story is a reminder that you don’t need a fancy launch, deep funding, or a flashy brand strategy to build something real. You need relentless curiosity, customer proximity, and a set of core values that guide your decisions.Need gift ideas? I highly recommend buying Gustus Vitae seasonings for Christmas or Hanukkah. They have the perfect gift sets!This conversation is filled with lessons for founders at every stage, especially those navigating the complex transition between the energy of a scrappy startup and sustainable growth.💡 Big Lessons & Key Takeaways 1. Get Uncomfortably Close to Your CustomersWhen Frankie talked about how Gustus Vitae was created by being face-to-face with customers at farmers’ markets, it echoed a truth every founder learns. You can’t innovate from inside an office.This isn’t new, but most founders still avoid the inconvenient truth. Look at:* Airbnb, whose breakthrough came from founders literally staying in hosts’ homes.* Figma, which built early versions by watching designers struggle in real time.Practical takeaway:Spend 30 minutes this week listening without defending. Ask your customers:“If you could change one thing about our product or service, what would it be?”And don’t correct them. Just record.2. Innovation Happens When Teams Feel OwnershipFrankie empowers his team to experiment; new blends, new packaging ideas, new messaging. That “open kitchen” approach is why their products feel fresh and alive.Compare this to:* Netflix, which famously encourages radical candor and decentralized decision-making.* Duolingo, where small autonomous squads launch experiments constantly.When people feel trusted, they stop waiting for permission and start building. Hire for talent and get out of the way!Practical takeaway:Give one team member a “run with it” project this week—something small, but fully theirs.3. Purpose Isn’t a Tagline. It’s an Operating SystemGustus Vitae is deeply connected to the community they serve in East LA: local creators, farmers’ markets, and food insecurity initiatives. Purpose isn’t a layer; it’s integral to the business model.Think of:* Patagonia, where environmental activism drives product and policy.* Bomba’s One-for-One, which turned giving into a scalable business engine.Customers can feel the difference between purposeful storytelling and actual purpose.Practical takeaway:Identify a cause that intersects naturally with your business and commit to one measurable action over the next 90 days.4. Hire for Attitude and Aptitude, Not RésumésFrankie said it plainly: You can train skill; you can’t teach hunger, curiosity, or heart.Founders often default to formal credentials when what they really need is:* Someone who takes ownership like an owner.* Someone who asks “why” more than “what.”* Someone who wants to build, not just perform tasks.Companies that embrace this—like Tesla, Stripe, and Notion—often outperform competitors overloaded with pedigree but lacking initiative.Practical takeaway:In your next interview, ask:“Tell me about a time you taught yourself something difficult.”Their answer will reveal everything.5. Optimism Is a Business StrategyFrankie calls it “irrational optimism.”The ability to believe in your future despite the daily setbacks is what keeps momentum alive. Calling Kass & Mike!Founders who scaled big, whether it’s Ben Chestnut at Mailchimp, Tristan Walker, or Sara Blakely they talk about holding onto unreasonable faith long before outcomes were guaranteed.Optimism doesn’t ignore reality; it propels you through it.Practical takeaway:Write down the biggest challenge you’re facing. Then list three possibilities, not solutions, just possibilities.Reopening possibility is often the first step toward progress. As Luminary’s Founder, Cate Luzio famously poses, ‘What is the worst that can happen?’🔥 Final ThoughtFrankie’s journey is a reflection of most early-stage founders: start small, listen deeply, experiment often, empower your people, and stay grounded in your community.You don’t need perfection.You need humility, curiosity, and a willingness to keep walking.If you’re building something mission-driven—or want to—this episode is your reminder that purpose and performance don’t compete. They compound together. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.worthyforthirty.com

Right before Thanksgiving, when we catch up with friends and families, sharing our gratitude for everything we have and experience…In this episode of Worthy for Thirty, I sat down with Rachel Doyle, Founder and CEO of Glamour Gals, a nonprofit that’s been changing lives for nearly 25 years. What started as Rachel’s way of honoring her late grandmother has grown into a national movement that connects teens with seniors through beauty makeovers and conversation.What makes this conversation special is how real it is. It’s not just the startup story of a long-standing nonprofit; it’s about leadership, reinvention, community, and how kindness becomes a strategic advantage. It’s the kind of talk you have with a friend who reminds you that doing good doesn’t have to be complicated, and growth doesn’t have to mean sacrificing your values. Doing good can coexist with doing well!Rachel breaks down how she built Glamour Gals from a single idea into an intergenerational network with national and global reach, powered by teen volunteers and strengthened through corporate partnerships. Oh did I mention breakthrough storytelling?And throughout the episode, she gives a masterclass in leading with empathy and operational excellence, a combo we need more of in a world that often celebrates either heart or hustle, but not both.Why This Episode Hits Different Right NowIf you’ve been paying attention to the world of business lately whether it’s how companies responded post-COVID, the rise of employee-engagement burnout, or the pressure on brands to “do good” in a way that’s actually real, you’ll hear echoes of those conversations throughout this episode.* Loneliness is at an all-time high, both among aging adults and among younger workers. Glamour Gals is a reminder that connection is still one of our most powerful tools.* Companies are looking for ways to engage employees in meaningful service, not box-checking volunteer hours. Glamour Gals’ turnkey programs are a blueprint for what real engagement looks like.* As tech continues to automate everything, leaders are realizing the biggest differentiator is human connection; Gary Vaynerchuk says he’s ‘long’ human connection in an impending tidal wave of automation. Glamour Gals has been leaning into that since day one.* And in a time when many brands struggle with authentic storytelling, Rachel shows exactly how storytelling built her movement—and continues to fuel its growth. I met Rachel through SixDegrees.org’s Stacy Huston. GlamourGal is one of the non-profits that won a spot in their ‘Purpose, Produced’ campaign. This episode is a reminder that doing meaningful work isn’t about the perfect plan. It’s about consistent action, community, and the courage to start. Create the parachute on the way down or build the plane — either way, you’re going to find a way to land. ‘What’s the worst that can happen?’ Top Takeaways1. Kindness is scalable when you design for it.Glamour Gals succeeds because it gives teens a clear, structured way to make an impact. Kindness becomes repeatable when there’s a plan.2. Intergenerational connection solves real problems.Loneliness is an epidemic among seniors, employees, founders, everyone. Glamour Gals’ approach is a model for how simple rituals can create deep connection for everyone.3. Corporate partnerships aren’t just about funding they’re about culture.Companies want meaningful employee engagement, and nonprofits need sustainable support. The best partnerships treat service as a culture builder, not a photo op. There are human resource metrics to back it up, too!4. Technology doesn’t replace humanity, it enables it.From COVID pivots to scaling chapters, Glamour Gals used tech to deepen connection, not dilute it. It’s a reminder to build tech around human needs, not instead of them.5. Leadership is a series of calculated risks.Rachel’s story shows that great leaders don’t wait for perfect conditions—they move, adapt, and build community as they go.Action Steps for the ListenerWhether you’re a founder, employee, parent, or someone trying to make your corner of the world a little better, here are ways to take this episode from inspiration to action:1. Do one small thing to reduce loneliness this week.Call an older relative. Visit someone in care. Text a friend you haven’t checked in on. It counts.2. If you’re part of a company, pitch a service program.Use Glamour Gals as an example: turnkey, structured, high-impact. Propose a pilot program or volunteer day that actually builds connection. Rachel has a tons of ancedotes from Glamour Gal alumni who are making a difference at Fortune 1000 companies TODAY!3. Audit your culture for connection gaps.Ask yourself: Where is my team or community feeling isolated? Then create one ritual—weekly check-ins, peer mentors, shared stories—to strengthen bonds.4. Use technology to free up time for human moments.Look for one task you can automate or streamline so you can use that energy toward relationships, creativity, or service.5. Send one bold email.A partnership ask. A mentor request. A “here’s what I’m building, can you help?” moment. Rachel built a movement by sending that email again and again. Again ‘What’s the worst that can happen?’Why This Episode MattersAt its core, this conversation is a reminder of something we all need:People need people. Community is a strategy. And kindness is not soft—it’s powerful.In a business world obsessed with scale, efficiency, and metrics, Rachel reminds us that connection is still the highest-leverage play—for nonprofits, companies, and individuals alike.This episode is for anyone trying to build something with purpose. Anyone trying to make their team feel more human. And anyone who just needs a reminder that the things we do with heart and passion are the things that are set up to last.If you found value in this conversation, share the episode with someone you think would love it—or someone who might need a reminder that small acts really do create big change. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.worthyforthirty.com

🎙️ Purpose-Driven Profits: The ANDI Brand’s Blueprint for Doing Good While Doing Well🚀 Introduction Welcome back to the Worthy for Thirty podcast. If this is your first time here, welcome! I am your host, Eric Tash.We talk a lot about scaling, funding, and product-market fit, but what about the core “why” that truly sustains a business through the inevitable challenges? Today, we’re diving deep into the story of a brand that defines doing good while doing well: The ANDI Brand, founded by Andrea Weinberg.The ANDI Brand isn’t just about beautifully designed, functional bags; it’s a masterclass in purposeful iteration and building a company on the bedrock of human connection and sustainability.Andrea’s journey, spanning over a decade, offers concrete lessons on how to stop chasing fleeting trends and instead, focus on creating products that truly serve a purpose and last. If you’re wrestling with balancing your mission with your bottom line, this episode is your blueprint.I. The Birth of a Purpose: Chasing Adventure, Not Immediate ROI * The Problem/Opportunity: Andrea didn’t start with a spreadsheet; she started with a desire to create a genuinely purposeful product. Her goal was to design for adventure and functionality. Versatility meets fashionable, meets durability. (Say that 3x fast).* Actionable Insight for Founders: A key piece of advice from her mentors was not to expect immediate financial success. This reframed her journey from a sprint to a marathon of exploration.* Case Study Connection: This echoes the early days of Patagonia. Founder Yvon Chouinard initially focused on making the absolute best climbing gear, driven by a passion for the environment, allowing purpose and quality to lead the way before aggressive scaling.* The First Hurdle (Actionable Challenge): Finding a manufacturing partner who would collaborate on a novel vision, like her initial waterproof handbag, required persistence. Andrea’s takeaway: Don’t be afraid to knock on 100 doors; you only need one to open.II. The Discipline of Purposeful Iteration: Quality as the Core Mission * The ANDI Brand Example: The signature tote bag went through 68 iterations over 10 years. This is the non-glamorous, high-discipline work that underpins “doing well.”* Actionable Insight: Prototype to Learn, Not to Launch. Since Andrea didn’t know design, she used tactile experimentation (e.g., duct tape prototypes) to immediately translate her functional vision into a tangible object. This allowed her to get physical feedback from potential users and manufacturers long before committing to a final design. For non-designer founders, your prototype is your most essential research tool.* The Founder’s Advantage: A lack of formal training often comes with a lack of preconceived suggestions. Andrea was free to approach factories with a unique, user-driven concept rather than being held back by traditional industry practices or design dogma. Your “outsider” perspective can be a powerful source of innovation if you validate it relentlessly through iteration. Reminds me of my conversation with Marcin & Amit at Mission Craft Cocktails :). * The Tension Point: Andrea’s belief is crucial: Mission matters, but quality is the core. If your product doesn’t meet a need effectively, the mission is irrelevant to the customer.* Case Study Connection: Think of Tesla’s early focus. Their mission is sustainability, but the reason people buy the cars is because they are high-performance, quality vehicles. Quality validates the mission. Founders, never let your mission be an excuse for a mediocre product.III. Human Connection: Your Most Valuable Business Asset * The Counterintuitive Insight: Andrea emphasizes overcoming the fear of reaching out. Meaningful collaborations and opportunities often come from unexpected places—from a cold email to a chance encounter.* Real-World Example: Andrea’s year of “van life” reinforced the profound insights and enriching relationships that come from engaging with strangers. This translates directly into market research and authentic brand building.* Actionable Tip: Schedule “Reach Out” time. Make a list of three people you admire (mentors, potential partners, customers) and send them a brief, thoughtful email or LinkedIn message this week.* Case Study Connection: This aligns with the “Community First” models of brands like Lululemon (building a brand through yoga instructors and ambassadors) or Airtable (growing by empowering individual users and developers to evangelize the product). Your network is your advisory board and your early market.IV. The Sustainability Pivot: From Afterthought to Cornerstone * The Evolution: Sustainability was not her primary focus at the start. It became a non-negotiable commitment as she recognized the environmental impacts of consumerism.* The Mission Alignment: The philosophy of “doing more with less” became central. This translates into products designed for longevity and versatility, fighting fast fashion/disposable culture.* The Deeper Dive: Her commitment deepened through collaborations with scientists and a focus on textile waste and upcycling. Sustainability is now a source of innovation, not just a cost center.* Case Study Connection: Look at Allbirds. They didn’t just use one sustainable material; they made sustainable innovation their core differentiator (wool, eucalyptus, sugarcane) to disrupt a massive industry. How can your mission drive radical innovation in your product?V. Navigating Uncertainty: The COVID Re-evaluation * The Challenge: Like many founders, Andrea faced significant shifts like consignment deals, supply chain shocks, and the pandemic. She had to pivot quickly without losing sight of the business and its objective of producing a great, long-lasting product that can be used for multiple occasions. * The Actionable Response: The period of uncertainty forced her to step back and re-focus on the brand’s core mission and the evolving needs of her customers. This wasn’t a time for panic; it was a time for strategic recalibration.* Key Takeaway: Adversity doesn’t define your mission; it tests it. If your purpose is genuine, it provides the North Star needed to pivot successfully.🎯 Conclusion & Key Takeaways The journey of Andrea Weinberg and the ANDI Brand offers compelling and actionable lessons for every founder: The path to doing good is the path to doing well, but it demands discipline, connection, and a relentless focus on quality.Here are the Three Core Action Items to implement this week:* Embrace Iteration: Don’t chase perfection; embrace continuous improvement. What is the “duct tape prototype” you can build today?* Activate Your Network: Reach out to someone you admire or a potential collaborator. Human connections are your cheapest and most valuable growth hack.* Validate Your Mission with Quality: Ensure your product’s performance is so exceptional that your mission becomes the bonus. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.worthyforthirty.com

How to Build a Purpose-Driven Brand That Disappears Off the ShelfIn a crowded market full of fleeting trends and artificial flavors, how do you build a product that commands premium quality, which correlates with deep, immediate customer loyalty?Meet Amit and Marcin, the founders of Mission Craft Cocktails. They aren’t career bartenders or spirits industry veterans; they are simply two friends who saw a massive quality gap in the $1.8 billion Ready-to-Drink (RTD) cocktail category. Their solution wasn’t just to make a better product—it was to build a better business model, making social impact a core financial pillar of their company.In this powerful episode on the Worthy for Thirty podcast we dive deep with the Mission Craft Cocktails founders to uncover the non-negotiable business strategies that scaled their award-winning, quality-first, and mission-driven brand. This isn’t just a story about cocktails; it’s a masterclass in market disruption and building a sustainable give-back model. Make this clear and conciseThe founders ‘why’ is more impactful than the ‘how.’ Marcin and Amit’s upbringing and being immigrants to the U.S. made this mission even more intrinsic to the brand.1. The ‘5% Revenue’ Strategy: Turning Purpose into a Non-Negotiable COGSMost companies that donate use a percentage of profit—a figure that fluctuates and can be easily zeroed out in lean times. Mission Craft Cocktails flipped the script by dedicating 5% of all top-line revenue to local food banks.* The How: By baking the 5% donation into their pricing and financial model from day one, they treated “impact” as a fixed, non-negotiable Cost of Goods Sold (COGS). This provided immediate transparency and confidence to their supply chain, partners, and customers.* 🔑 Takeaway: Do not treat your social mission as a marketing budget or a variable expense. Integrate your purpose into your financial structure. This approach drastically increases the trust currency of your brand, as customers know their purchase guarantees a tangible result (e.g., they provided over 26,000 meals in 2023 and have now exceeded over 600K meals donated in partnership with Feeding America. 🤯* Relatable Example: Similar to Patagonia dedicating 1% of its sales to environmental causes, making the commitment public and fixed creates an unparalleled competitive moat based on ethics.2. The Outsider Advantage: Using Maniacal Focus to Disrupt QualityAmit and Marcin are self-proclaimed “outsiders” to the spirits world. Instead of learning industry shortcuts, they focused relentlessly on solving the consumer pain point: poor quality in RTD cocktails.* The How: They benchmarked their products not against other bottled drinks, but against the gold standard of high-end bar cocktails. This required two years of R&D to perfect using only locally-sourced California ingredients and authentic spirits (like Tequila from Jalisco, Mexico), refusing to use artificial stabilizers or flavors.* 🔑 Takeaway: When entering a competitive, entrenched market, don’t just innovate on price or packaging—innovate on core quality that competitors have neglected due to legacy processes or institutional inertia. An outsider’s perspective often sees the simplest, yet most critical, area for improvement.* Relatable Example: Think of Warby Parker (optical industry) or Dollar Shave Club (razor industry). They weren’t constrained by established distribution or manufacturing methods, allowing them to deliver superior value and convenience where incumbents were comfortable.3. Proceduralizing Authenticity for ScaleThe challenge of any artisanal product is maintaining integrity when scaling from a small kitchen batch to large-volume bottling. Mission Craft Cocktails had to ensure the complex flavor profile of a cocktail like the Mai Tai remained perfect in a 5,000-liter vat.* The How: They invested significant time in reverse-engineering their complex recipes into repeatable, industrial processes that strictly preserved the integrity of the fresh ingredients (like lime juice and locally-sourced orange liqueur). This required intense vendor vetting and a deep understanding of preservation science.* 🔑 Takeaway: Successful scaling is predicated on turning art into science. For executives, this means proceduralizing your core differentiator (be it service, quality, or speed) so that it survives the transition to mass market. Authenticity must be defined by process, not just intent.* Relatable Example: The entire history of Starbucks is a lesson in scaling an artisanal “third place” coffee experience globally while attempting to maintain procedural quality standards for the perfect espresso shot.4. Leveraging Third-Party Validation to De-Risk PartnershipWhen entering a market without existing brand recognition, external validation—like winning major industry awards—is crucial for accelerating trust among retailers and distributors.* The How: Marcin & Amit secured prestigious Double Gold awards for multiple products (Margarita, Mai Tai, Old Fashioned) early in Mission Craft Cocktail’s launch phase. They then use this objective critical acclaim, combined with their strong give-back mission, to secure immediate deals with major national retailers (like Total Wine & More).* 🔑 Takeaway: For a disruptive product, awards and endorsements are not just for marketing; they are essential due diligence tools for your partners. Invest in seeking high-status validation to drastically reduce the perceived risk of stocking or distributing your novel product.* Relatable Example: The early success of YETI coolers was driven less by direct-to-consumer marketing and more by winning endorsements from professional fishermen and outdoor guides, lending instant, credible authority to a premium-priced product.5. The Dual-Customer Focus: Serving the Consumer and the CommunityA purpose-driven business successfully recognizes and markets to two distinct “customers”: the individual consumer making the purchase and the community benefiting from the purchase.* The How: Mission Craft Cocktails’ marketing effectively speaks to both needs: convenience and quality for the drinker, and direct social impact (meals funded) for the socially-conscious shopper. This dual narrative completely changes a discretionary, transactional purchase into a values-based, repeatable act of giving.* 🔑 Takeaway: Design your product experience and marketing to explicitly communicate the impact metric (meals funded, trees planted, etc.) rather than just the donation percentage. This engages the customer as a collaborator in the mission, drastically improving retention and word-of-mouth growth.* Relatable Example: Bombas socks, with their “one pair purchased = one pair donated” model, built an enormous brand around the dual satisfaction of receiving a high-quality product while actively addressing homelessness. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.worthyforthirty.com

For most of us, leaving a 20-year career as a senior leader in global banking with stops at renowned institutions like JP Morgan and HSBC sounds like an overwhelming, terrifying risk.But for Cate Luzio, the founder and CEO of Luminary, it was simply the next logical step. Luminary is a gender-inclusive community and platform that has grown from a single 25,000 sq ft physical space in New York into a global network with members in over 30 countries.In a frank interview on the Worthy for Thirty podcast, Cate shared the vital mindset shifts, non-negotiable business principles, and leadership strategies that allowed her to make the leap and build a thriving, impactful business.If you’re standing on the precipice of leaving your stable job to pursue your big idea, or if you’re an entrepreneur looking to grow your impact, these takeaways from Cate are indispensable.1. The Power of the Mentor’s Challenge: “Why Not Me?”Cate’s pivot didn’t start with a burning entrepreneurial vision; it started with a powerful conversation. A mentor challenged her to define what she wanted to do next after nearly two decades in finance. This moment of reflection shattered the myth that an entrepreneur must always be born, not made.The mentor’s advice served as a blueprint for minimizing risk and reframing the unknown:* “What’s the worst that can happen?” (You can always go back.)* “You always have your reputation, relationships, and resume to lean back on.” (Your past experience is your safety net.)* “You’re going to learn a hell of a lot in the process.” (The experience is the ultimate reward.)Cate realized that if she could build or rebuild businesses inside massive corporations (which she did at JP Morgan and HSBC) aka being an ‘intraprenuer’, she could certainly build her own. Entrepreneurship, in this context, is simply taking an intrapreneurial spirit and applying it to your own company.“I think I kind of approach so much of my life professionally, what’s the worst that can happen? I’m going to take the jump, and if it doesn’t work out, I’ve learned a lot in the process.” - Cate Luzio2. Your Business Plan is Your North StarMany founders get obsessed with a product idea but fail to do the foundational work. For Cate, a sound, strategic business plan is non-negotiable. She stresses that if you want to build a sustainable, scalable, and profitable business, you must lock down these fundamentals:Salient & Actionable Takeaways for Aspiring Founders* Focus on the Market You’re Capturing, Not the Total Size: Don’t just brag about a “$10 billion market.” Detail the specific customer segment you are going after, the problem you are solving, and the revenue you can realistically attract.* Master Your Financials from Day One: Your financials are your key to success. You must have a fundamental understanding of when you will break even and become profitable. If you need to raise capital, know exactly how you will deploy those funds. Hint: watch ‘Shark Tank’ to know what I mean. * Conduct a SWOT Analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats): This one-page exercise is crucial. It forces you to look at the potential headwinds and tailwinds of your business, ensuring you have a realistic perspective before you launch.* Identify Your Competitors (They Exist): Do not assume you have no competitors. If you have the best product or service, you will quickly have copycats. Be aware of your landscape and plan for “co-opetition.”3. The Path to Scale: Leadership by Delegation and DebateYou can’t scale an enterprise by being everywhere at once. Cate’s key to scaling herself from a single founder to a leader impacting thousands was a focused approach to team building and innovation.* Make Your A’s A+s, and Delegate the C’s: Cate’s “superpower” is her memory and sales ability. She focuses on her strengths (sales, people leadership, B2B enterprise) and strategically hires team members to handle areas where she not as great, such as digital marketing or operations.* Challenge Your Team to Challenge You: The founder should not be the sole source of ideas and innovation. Cate has created an environment where team members know they are encouraged to debate decisions and push back. Luminary Live, the company’s successful on-the-road experience, was an idea that came directly from her team.* Prioritize Impact as a Daily Win (The Small W’s): While financials matter, the headline success for Luminary is impact—the number of lives touched and businesses served. Success isn’t just a massive revenue swing; it’s the smaller, cumulative wins:* A great meeting leading to an enterprise client renewal.* Connecting one member to their future co-founder.* Providing community to someone navigating a major career change.4. Building the Future: Luminary’s RoadmapCate’s mission is to keep creating space at the table for everyone. This includes a forward-looking roadmap that leverages strategic partnerships to amplify impact:* Fellowship Programs: The recent launch of a fellowship program with Marshalls, offering grants and full Luminary membership with no strings attached, shows a commitment to directly funding and supporting entrepreneurs.* New Areas of Impact: A partnership with Under Armour aims to prepare collegiate athletes for their professional lives, underscoring the value of athletic skills (teamwork, leadership, resilience) in the workforce.5. Creating Space: The Golden Rule of Community BuildingLuminary’s core mission goes beyond a physical office or digital content; it’s about solving a universal human discomfort: the feeling of not belonging. Cate shared a profound insight that many people, especially in new environments, worry there isn’t “room at the table” for them. Luminary’s success is built on intentionally eliminating that barrier through a culture of radical inclusion.* Eliminate Application Barriers for Self-Selection: Luminary is open to all genders and requires no application to join. This approach is based on the philosophy that true community should be self-selected and welcomes those who are actively seeking connection, reinforcing the “what’s the worst that can happen?” mindset. A community that aligns to Cate and her team’s vision and core, fundamental values.* Make Inclusion Your Core Tagline: The company’s original tagline, “Come sit at our table,” directly addressed the fear of exclusion. Your mission statement should clearly communicate that your business is a safe, welcoming place, setting the expectation for how members should treat each other (the Golden Rule).* Empower Your Employees as Community Equals: Treat your team members and your paying members as equals. When employees feel fulfilled, challenged, and supported, they naturally mirror that supportive culture back to the community, strengthening the foundation of the entire ecosystem.Cate Luzio’s story is a reminder that entrepreneurship is an act of execution, not just ideation. It’s about tying and using your professional experiences to make your vision a reality, getting ruthlessly candid about your business plan, and assembling a team that pushes you to be better. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.worthyforthirty.com

We’ve all heard the stats: women receive a disproportionately small slice of venture capital funding. Despite continuously proving their acumen and driving innovation, female founders often hit a wall when it comes to securing the capital and resources needed to scale. Enter Fierce Foundry, a groundbreaking FemTech venture studio on a mission to change the narrative.In a recent episode of the Worthy for Thirty Podcast, I sat down with Fierce Foundry’s co-founders, Melissa Wallace and Katie Schuele. Their conversation uncovered not just a compelling business model, but a movement committed to giving the means to female entrepreneurs and solving critical health gaps for women globally.(And this was the 2nd attempt to record. 1st time was marred by technical difficulties.)If you’re an aspiring founder, an investor looking for impact, or simply passionate about the future of women’s health and entrepreneurship, this episode is a must-listen. Key Takeaways & Actionable Insights from my conversation with Melissa & Katie:* The Power of the Venture Studio Model for De-Risking Innovation:* Fierce Foundry isn’t just an investor; it’s a co-founder. They operate as a venture studio, meaning they ideate, build, and launch companies alongside founders from “idea to exit.” This hands-on approach provides deep operational support, significantly de-risking early-stage ventures.* Actionable for Founders: If you’re struggling to find the right co-founder or need more than just capital, explore venture studio models in your industry. These partners bring expertise, network, and infrastructure, allowing you to focus on your core innovation. Think of it like a highly specialized accelerator combined with a co-founder.* Contemporary Reference: Companies like Idealab (a classic venture studio) or newer models like Atomic (which has launched multiple successful tech companies) demonstrate the power of this build-and-scale approach, reducing the typical startup failure rate by embedding expertise from day one.* Addressing the “Warm Intro” Disadvantage:* Melissa and Katie highlighted how traditional VC often relies on warm introductions, which disproportionately disadvantages female and underrepresented founders who may not have access to existing networks. Fierce Foundry actively breaks down these barriers.* Actionable for Founders: Don’t wait for the “warm intro.” Be proactive. Attend industry events (virtual and in-person), engage on LinkedIn, and genuinely connect with people who can offer advice or open doors. Your network is built, not found. Fierce Foundry offers regular bootcamps and co-working events specifically to foster these connections—seek out similar opportunities.* Contemporary Reference: The rise of platforms like Built In or even niche Slack communities for founders shows that “cold outreach” done strategically can be incredibly effective when combined with genuine value and clear communication.* “Zero to One” – The Unsexy but Critical Work of Building:* The co-founders stressed the immense effort required to get a company from “zero to one”—the foundational work before scaling. This involves everything from market validation and regulatory navigation to team building and initial product development.* Actionable for Founders: Embrace the grind. Don’t skip foundational steps. Test your assumptions rigorously, talk to potential customers constantly, and be prepared for iterative learning. As Eric Ries preaches in “The Lean Startup,” validated learning is paramount.* Contemporary Reference: Even massively successful companies like Airbnb famously went door-to-door to photograph listings in their early days, proving that successful “zero to one” isn’t always glamorous, but it’s essential. Do the unscalable well! * Defining and Dominating a Niche (FemTech):* Fierce Foundry’s laser focus on FemTech allows them to build deep expertise, identify overlooked opportunities, and leverage a powerful network specific to women’s health.* Actionable for Founders: Instead of trying to be everything to everyone, identify your specific niche. Who are you serving? What unique problem are you solving? Deep expertise in a smaller market can lead to outsized returns and clearer competitive advantages.* Contemporary Reference: Look at the explosion of “vertical SaaS” (Software as a Service) companies—like Toast for restaurants or Veeva for life sciences—which proves that specializing in a specific industry’s pain points can lead to billion-dollar valuations.* “No, Not a VC!” – The Strategic Capital Advantage:* Melissa and Katie clarify that Fierce Foundry is not a traditional VC firm. While they do invest, their model is about providing strategic capital and operational support. They seek investors who understand this long-term, hands-on approach.* Actionable for Investors: Consider models beyond traditional venture capital. Venture studios offer a different risk/reward profile, often with a more active role and a focus on building robust companies from the ground up, rather than simply writing checks. This can be particularly appealing for family offices or impact investors.* Contemporary Reference: The growth of “smart money” investors who bring more than just capital (e.g., industry expertise, strategic partnerships, operational guidance) reflects a broader trend of valuing comprehensive support over just financial injection.* Reversing Medical Data Bias* The Statistic: Women spend an average of 25% more of their lives in poor health or with a disability compared to men, which translates to a potential loss of $1 trillion in global GDP annually by 2040 (as cited by McKinsey and the World Economic Forum, and reflected in Fierce Foundry’s mission). This disparity is largely due to historical exclusion from research and gender bias in medicine.* The Fierce Foundry Example: Fierce Foundry is tackling this by building companies like Dove, which is developing an AI-driven tool to provide better, more personalized early diagnostics for diseases, particularly focusing on conditions like dementia, which affects women at a significantly higher rate than men.* Building a Network and Asking for Help:* A recurring theme was the importance of outreach and asking for assistance. “If you ask for help, people will help you.”* Actionable for Everyone: Don’t be afraid to reach out! Whether you’re a founder seeking advice, an investor looking for deals, or just trying to expand your professional circle, genuine curiosity and a clear “ask” can open many doors.* Contemporary Reference: LinkedIn isn’t just for job searching; it’s a powerful tool for professional networking. Personalize your messages, demonstrate you’ve done your homework, and clearly state why you’re reaching out. The worst they can say is no. Or why not try Boardy.Ai?!The Future is Female (and Fierce)The work Fierce Foundry is doing is not just about financial returns; it’s about social impact and rebalancing a historically imbalanced ecosystem. By building and scaling solutions for women’s health, they are addressing critical needs and proving that investing in female founders isn’t just good for women—it’s good for business, and it’s good for the world.This episode is available on all podcast listening platforms! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.worthyforthirty.com

I sat down with Stacy Huston, the Executive Director of SixDegrees.org, and it was one of those talks that completely re-shapes how you think about business, purpose, and impact. Stacy and the Six Degrees team have already found it, and they’re showing everyone how to make it happen.A New Model for Corporate Social ResponsibilityStacy talked about how the non-profit world is moving beyond the traditional "check-in-the-box" approach to corporate social responsibility (CSR) and into something much more powerful: a model of "hyper-local philanthropy." It’s not just about donating a lump sum to a national charity. It's about empowering businesses to make a real, tangible impact in their own communities. The ‘pie’ of money is not getting bigger year over year — more non-profits are being launched while the donation dollars stay stagnant or declining. How can you break through the noise?Think of it like this:* Beyond the "Big Brand" Mentality: Instead of a company like Starbucks simply donating to a large, global foundation, Stacy and her team work with brands to create tailored, local initiatives. Imagine a Starbucks store in a specific neighborhood partnering directly with a local youth center, not just financially, but by having employees volunteer, host events, and become part of the community fabric.* The Power of Storytelling: A key part of SixDegrees.org's strategy is helping non-profits tell their stories. This isn't just fluffy marketing; it's about making the impact visible and emotional and breaking through the media algorithms. Businesses like Bell Bank have partnered with Six Degrees to create content that highlights the good their CSR efforts are doing on the ground. This not only inspires other businesses, but it also creates a strong, authentic brand story that resonates with customers far more than a generic ad campaign.* Advertising Week and the Power of Purpose: Stacey highlighted the work SixDegrees.org is doing with Advertising Week on a new initiative called "Purpose, Produced." It’s a groundbreaking program where they've paired a group of deserving non-profits with some of the world's top advertising agencies to create full-scale, pro-bono marketing campaigns. The goal is to give these small organizations the kind of high-level brand exposure that's typically reserved for major corporations.* Amplifying Grassroots Causes: Sixdegrees.org focuses its efforts on small, community-based non-profits, specifically those with less than $3 million in revenue. Their mission is to empower these organizations that are often overlooked by larger funders and to help them scale their impact by giving them a powerful platform. Their focus is on four key areas: youth empowerment, justice and equality, sustainable environments, and emergent issues.* Purpose as a Product: Stacy mentioned how businesses are starting to realize that their core product or service can be a tool for good. This is similar to what we're seeing from companies like Patagonia, where environmental leadership is built into the business model itself, or TOMS, which birthed the "buy one, give one" model. SixDegrees.org helps companies find that unique way their business can be a force for positive change. Again, doing good WHILE doing well :). The Six Degrees Origin StoryIf you're wondering where the name comes from, it's all thanks to Hollywood icon Kevin Bacon. He founded SixDegrees.org in 2007 on the principle that everyone is in need of human connection and that we can all be "celebrities for our own causes." The idea, of course, plays on the popular "Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon" game. Kevin reframed the game and turned it into a powerful, global movement for good. He's still actively involved as the organization's chair, using his unique platform and celebrity to champion the work of grassroots non-profits.This episode was a total wake-up call. It's not about being a giant corporation to make an impact; it's about being strategic, authentic, and connected to your local community. I left the episode feeling so motivated to think differently about how my own work can contribute. You should definitely check it out and see what you think.To learn more about their mission and programs, visit SixDegrees.org This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.worthyforthirty.com

School is back! And if you love being a student then you’ll love this episode!For any entrepreneur or investor, the story of O2 Hydration is a masterclass in building a brand with both purpose and a powerful market strategy. In a recent interview I had with co-founder Dave Colina, he shared the unfiltered journey from a side project born of personal necessity to a thriving CPG (Consumer Packaged Goods) brand. His story is a powerful reminder that a strong "why" and a deep connection with your community can be one of the most valuable assets a company can have.Key Takeaways for Entrepreneurs and Investors* The Power of a "Why": O2 Hydration was founded on a personal need for a healthier alternative to sugary sports drinks. This authentic origin story created a mission-driven brand from day one, which resonated deeply with a specific audience—the CrossFit community. The lesson here is that a business built on a genuine need or passion is often more resilient and relatable than one built on a trend.* Community is Your Moat: While many brands focus on product differentiation, O2 Hydration found its true competitive advantage in its community. By adopting a "channel-first" marketing strategy, the brand's early growth was fueled by partnerships with local gyms. This allowed them to build a loyal customer base and drive online sales through a powerful word-of-mouth network, proving that a dedicated community can be a more effective barrier to entry than any single product feature.* Values Are Your North Star: Dave shared that O2 Hydration's core principles—honesty, humility, and hustle—are more than just buzzwords; they are printed on every can and guide major business decisions. This commitment to values was most apparent during the COVID-19 pandemic when they launched the "Stay for May" campaign, offering gift cards to gym members who kept their memberships active. This act of "doing good" not only helped their community but also led to a significant boost in online sales, demonstrating that a commitment to positive social impact can be a powerful business driver.* The Path to Retail is a Marathon, Not a Sprint: A common mistake for early-stage CPG brands is entering the retail market too soon. Dave advises that a brand should aim for strong brand awareness and at least $10 million in revenue before making this leap. His experience highlights the importance of mastering product marketing, positioning, and packaging before scaling to a wider audience, ensuring that your brand is ready to compete on a larger stage.* Positioning is the Real Differentiator: While O2 Hydration’s initial product was differentiated by its oxygen-infusion technology, the company found more success by leaning into its clean, low-sugar, and great-tasting qualities. Dave emphasizes that a brand's moat is often created through marketing and positioning, not just the product itself. The ability to tell a compelling story and position your product correctly is what truly sets you apart in a crowded market. We live in a fragmented world — how will you break through?* Learn and Adapt Quickly: The entrepreneurial journey is full of unknowns. Dave's advice to new entrepreneurs is to learn as fast as possible, seek out mentors, and surround yourself with a peer network. He co-founded CPG FastTrack, an online community that helps early-stage entrepreneurs get qualified advice and build their networks. This reinforces the idea that an agile mindset and a willingness to learn are crucial for navigating the challenges of building a successful business. It also reinforces the ethos of ‘doing good while doing well.’The full episode is available on your favorite podcast listening platform. Let me know what insight, tip, or advice Dave shared resonated with you. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.worthyforthirty.com

Are you a founder navigating the choppy waters of startup growth or a senior executive at the helm of a well-established company? In today's rapidly evolving business landscape, the ability to lead with courage and clarity is more critical than ever. WeGotThis.org’s Founder (show friend and supporter) Elissa Kalver and I recently sat down with Ryan Berman (part of my ‘Worthy for Thirty is in LA’ series), founder of Courageous, a consultancy that helps Fortune 500 companies unlock their "courageous quotient," to extract vital lessons for leaders like you.Check out and pre-order Ryan’s upcoming book, Headamentals.This episode is a must-listen primer for anyone looking to build resilient teams, foster genuine connections, and drive meaningful impact. Found below, I’m breaking out what I believe are salient takeaways from our conversation, complete with contemporary examples and concrete action steps to help you lead more courageously:1. Cultivate a Shared Purpose Beyond ProfitIn an era where employees, especially the younger generation, seek more than just a paycheck, a clear, shared organizational purpose is your North Star. As Ryan emphasizes, this purpose unites your team and fuels their passion.* Contemporary Example: Patagonia's unwavering commitment to environmental activism isn't just a marketing ploy; it pervades its business model and resonates profoundly with its customer base and employees, making it a purpose-driven powerhouse.* Action Step: Beyond your mission statement, clearly articulate the "why" behind your organization's existence. In your next all-hands meeting or ELT meeting, dedicate time to discuss how each team's work contributes to this larger purpose, making it tangible and personal for everyone.2. Build Transparent Teams that Embrace "Tough Love"Courageous leadership demands clear and honest communication, even when it's uncomfortable. Creating an environment where constructive feedback is not only accepted but encouraged is vital for growth and problem-solving.* Contemporary Example: Netflix's culture of "radical candor" is a well-known example. While sometimes intense, this direct feedback loop is designed to accelerate individual and organizational learning, ensuring issues are addressed swiftly and effectively.* Action Step: Implement a "feedback Friday" or a dedicated "courageous conversations" slot in your weekly leadership meetings. Encourage leaders to share one piece of constructive feedback they've received and one they've given, modeling the behavior for their teams. And make sure the feedback is shared throughout the company.3. Strategically Invest Your "Courage Currency"You can't be courageous all the time, nor should you try. Ryan advises identifying a few critical moments where leaning into discomfort and making a bold decision will yield the most significant impact.* Contemporary Example: When Satya Nadella took the helm at Microsoft, he made the courageous decision to pivot away from a "Windows-first" mentality to a "cloud-first, mobile-first" strategy, alienating some traditionalists but ultimately revitalizing the company's growth. This was a strategic investment of courage in a key moment.* Action Step: Identify one major strategic decision or challenge your organization faces this quarter. As a leadership team, pinpoint where a courageous, unconventional approach might break through stagnation, then allocate your focus and resources to that specific "courageous moment."4. Lead with Authenticity to Avoid Transactional RelationshipsIn a world increasingly fatigued by corporate speak, genuine leadership stands out. If employees don't trust their leaders, the relationship quickly reduces to a purely transactional exchange, stifling innovation and loyalty.* Contemporary Example: Many admired tech leaders, like HubSpot's co-founders, are known for their transparent communication, often sharing personal struggles and learnings, which fosters a deep sense of trust and loyalty among their employees.* Action Step: Share a personal learning or challenge you've recently overcome in a team communication or leadership meeting. Demonstrate vulnerability and authenticity, inviting others to connect with you on a human level rather than just a professional one. EQ > IQ!5. Embrace Continuous Adaptability and EvolutionThe only constant in business is change. Leaders must act as "detectives," constantly examining and re-examining strategies, remaining flexible, and adapting swiftly to new information and market shifts.* Contemporary Example: Companies like Amazon exemplify continuous adaptation, constantly experimenting with new services and technologies (from e-commerce to cloud computing, and now AI) and quickly pivoting away from what doesn't work, maintaining their market leadership.* Action Step: Dedicate 15 minutes weekly to scan industry trends or disruptors outside your immediate niche. Challenge your team to identify one potential future shift that could impact your business and brainstorm proactive steps, fostering a mindset of continuous vigilance and adaptation. Set up Google Alerts, or use Perplexity.Ai for deep researchThis is just a glimpse into the profound insights Ryan Berman shares in the full episode. To truly grasp the nuances of courageous leadership and equip yourself with the tools to inspire and innovate, I highly recommend listening to the complete conversation wherever you enjoy podcasts.Listen to the full episode here This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.worthyforthirty.com

In a highly thought-provoking and insightful episode, Gloria Hwang, founder and CEO of Thousand, a company revolutionizing urban mobility with stylish helmets, lights, and bags, shares her inspiring journey from non-profit work to building a successful for-profit venture with a powerful mission. For entrepreneurs, founders, investors, and C-suite professionals, her story offers salient takeaways on purpose-driven business, community building, and strategic growth.It was great to record in person with show guest and supporter, Elissa Kalver, Founder, WeGotThis.org. The first non-profit gift registry for cancer patients, thrivers, and their loved ones. (Check out their new revamped website)Thank you, Boardy.Ai for the connection to Gloria!🔑 Takeaways with Action Steps:* Anchor Your Business in a Deeply Personal Mission: Gloria’s motivation for founding Thousand stemmed from a tragic personal loss, driving her to create a product that encourages safety through style. This deeply personal connection to her mission – to save a thousand lives – resonates with customers and fuels the brand's authenticity.* Action Step: Reflect on the core problem your business solves. Is there a personal story or a profound impact you aspire to make that can serve as the bedrock of your brand's purpose? Consider how companies like Patagonia (environmental activism woven into their outdoor gear) or Warby Parker (providing affordable, stylish eyewear while addressing vision care globally) have successfully integrated a strong mission into their business model.* Validate Your Product and Build Community Through Crowdfunding: Gloria successfully launched Thousand through a Kickstarter campaign, raising nearly a quarter-million dollars. This not only provided crucial early funding but also validated the market need and fostered a passionate community around the brand before mass production.* Action Step: For new ventures or product launches, explore crowdfunding platforms to gauge market interest, secure initial capital, and cultivate a loyal customer base. This approach can potentially de-risk your idea and provide invaluable early feedback, similar to how many innovative tech gadgets and indie games gain traction and funding on platforms like Kickstarter or Indiegogo.* Prioritize Customer Connection and Understanding: She emphasizes the importance of staying connected with customers to understand their evolving needs. Thousand’s focus on the "everyday rider" rather than just hardcore cyclists demonstrates a clear understanding of their target audience and their desire for practical yet stylish solutions.* Action Step: Implement mechanisms for continuous customer feedback, whether through surveys, social media engagement, or direct outreach. Regularly analyze customer data to refine your product offerings and marketing strategies. Brands like Netflix (constantly analyzing viewing habits to recommend content) and Spotify (personalizing music experiences) excel at leveraging customer data to enhance their offerings.* Even Lyft’s CEO is a Lyft driver every 6 weeks to understand the experience and to stay connected to both drivers and riders!* Embrace Your Strengths and Delegate Effectively: As a founder, Gloria highlights the necessity of recognizing one's core competencies and strategically delegating tasks that fall outside of those strengths. Make your A’s, A+ and delegate the B’s to someone who can make them A+’s. This allows for focused effort on high-impact areas and empowers team members.* Action Step: Conduct a personal skills audit to identify your strengths and weaknesses. Build a team that complements your abilities and trust them with decision-making power in their areas of expertise. Think about how Apple's success is often attributed to Steve Jobs' vision, but also to his ability to delegate engineering and design to highly skilled teams.* Cultivate a Lean, Empowered, and Growth-Oriented Team: Her approach to team building focuses on efficiency, talent retention, and providing opportunities for growth and decision-making. This fosters a strong, motivated, and agile workforce.* Action Step: Design a company culture that prioritizes autonomy, professional development, and clear pathways for advancement. Empower your team members to take ownership of their work and contribute to strategic decisions. Companies like Google and Zappos are renowned for their employee-centric cultures that encourage innovation and growth.Gloria Hwang’s journey with Thousand is a powerful testament to the impact of combining a heartfelt mission with strategic business acumen. By leading with intentionality, this begets authenticity, leveraging community, and building strong teams. Founders can not only create successful companies but also drive meaningful change. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.worthyforthirty.com

In today's fast-paced world, it's easy to get caught up in the pursuit of profit alone. But what if your business could also change lives for the better? My next conversation features a compelling conversation with Derek Ting, CEO and founder of TextNow, a company that embodies the true spirit of mission-driven entrepreneurship.Derek's journey began with a simple frustration: the high cost of phone services while in college. From that personal pain point, he built TextNow with an audacious mission: to democratize communication, making essential phone services like texting and calling accessible and free for everyone. This isn't just about convenience; it's about profound social impact. Imagine the difference free phone service makes for someone seeking a job, connecting with family, or navigating life's challenges without the burden of monthly bills. TextNow's innovative, ad-supported model proves that a powerful social mission and a viable business can go hand-in-hand.This type of impact has created millions of customers from the US and Canada.For founders, aspiring entrepreneurs, and mission-driven business leaders, this episode is a masterclass in building with purpose. Derek shares invaluable insights on:* The Power of a Clear Mission: How TextNow's unwavering commitment to democratizing communication has guided their growth and innovation.* Lean Startup in Action: Learn how TextNow prioritizes user feedback and iterative development to solve real problems for millions.* Cultivating Autonomy: Discover TextNow's unique company culture, built on trust and empowering employees to make impactful decisions.* Resilience in the Face of Adversity: Derek openly discusses the significant challenges and near-failures TextNow faced, including a cash crunch and even an accidental customer database wipe [21:39], offering crucial lessons on resilience and perseverance.* The Future of Free: TextNow's ambitious vision to provide completely free data plans, making phone service as ubiquitous and free as email [08:57].This conversation is more than just a business story; it's a testament to how passion, purpose, and persistence can create a powerful, profitable enterprise that genuinely impacts the world.Don't miss the full episode to dive deeper into Derek's journey, learn from his triumphs and challenges, and gain actionable insights for building your own mission-driven brand.This episode can be found and listened from your preferred podcast listening platform. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.worthyforthirty.com

Hello Everyone -I’m releasing an episode with an incredible founder as we head into the long July 4th weekend. This is an episode that is intended to get our inspirational and strategic juices flowing as we celebrate the country’s independence whether by ourselves or with friends.Meet FX Rouxel, the visionary CEO and founder of Gardyn. If you've ever dreamt of fresh, nutrient-packed veggies grown right in your living room, or if you're a founder looking for a serious dose of inspiration, you're in the right place. This episode felt like sitting down with two old friends, chatting about everything from personal frustrations to building a tech company that's genuinely changing lives.🔑 Takeaways with Application ⬇️1. Solve a Real Problem (Even if it's Your Own!)You know how a minor annoyance can spark a massive idea? (Reminds me of my conversation with Dan Reich). That's exactly how Gardyn started. FX, an athlete, was frustrated by the dwindling nutritional value of store-bought produce. He realized that the long journey from farm to plate was costing us vital nutrients. This personal pain point led him to wonder: "Could AI bring fresh, super-nutritious food right to our homes?"🔑 Takeaway, Founders: Don't chase trends. Look for genuine frustrations – in your own life, your friends' lives, or society at large. The most impactful startups often spring from deeply personal, relatable problems. If you're solving something you truly care about, that passion will fuel your journey. Travis at Uber was frustrated with hailing yellow cabs, Steve at Apple was frustrated with PC computing, Jason at Seamless hated calling restaurants to place food orders. The list goes on and on….2. Innovation Doesn't Mean Reinventing the Wheel, But Making it SmarterGardyn isn't just about growing plants; it's about growing them smarter. They've harnessed AI, smart lights, and a closed-loop water system to make indoor gardening incredibly easy and sustainable. Over 120 varieties, 95% less water, zero pesticides, and food that's 50% more nutritious than store-bought? That's not just cool tech; it's a game-changer.🔑 Takeaway, Founders & Investors: Look for businesses that take existing concepts (like gardening) and inject them with intelligent, efficient technology. It's not always about creating something entirely new, but about making something much, much better. Investors, pay attention to how companies are leveraging tech and Ai to drive efficiency and deliver tangible, superior results.3. The Power of a Clear Roadmap & Continuous EvolutionFX walked us through Gardyn's thoughtful four-part product roadmap: devices (from Home to the new compact Studio), accessories, constantly expanding plant varieties, and a robust AI/digital strategy. What's inspiring is their commitment to releasing new plant varieties almost monthly and constantly optimizing their AI. This isn't a "build it and forget it" company; it's a living, breathing ecosystem of innovation.🔑 Takeaway, Founders: A clear product roadmap isn't just a fancy slide for investors; it's your North Star. It helps you prioritize, stay focused, and communicate your vision. And remember, the journey is about continuous improvement. Listen to your users, iterate, and never stop refining.4. Impact Beyond Profit: Community & Well-beingWhile Gardyn is clearly a successful B2C venture, it was incredibly heartwarming to hear about their forays into commercial applications. They're developing a K-12 curriculum for schools, and even seeing their system integrated into mental health and PTSD clinics. Imagine the impact of fresh, homegrown food on a child's learning or someone's recovery journey.🔑 Takeaway, Founders & Investors: Impact-driven businesses are not just a trend; they're the future. Think about how your product or service can extend beyond direct consumers to create broader community value. Investors, look for companies that have a strong "why" beyond just the bottom line – these often build more resilient and loyal customer bases.5. The Entrepreneurial Grind: Boldness, Reality, and Early FeedbackFX’s personal journey was incredibly candid. He shared a pivotal moment where his wife challenged him to prove the concept, leading to the first 20 prototypes. He also emphasized the critical importance of early market feedback. He openly admitted that Gardyn's first generation wasn't perfect, but those early adopters were invaluable in shaping the robust Gen 4 system.🔑 Takeaway, Founders: Be bold in your vision, but stay grounded in reality. Test your assumptions early and often. Don't be afraid to put out an imperfect product (an MVP!) to gather real-world feedback. That feedback, as FX highlighted, is pure gold. It's the difference between a good idea and a truly great, market-validated product. And always, always have a supportive team and family around you – they're your bedrock through the inevitable ups and downs.This episode with FX was a true masterclass in entrepreneurial spirit, innovation, and building a business with purpose. Whether you're just starting your founder journey, scaling your venture, or looking for the next big thing to invest in, Gardyn's story offers a wealth of inspiration.Go check out Gardyn and start growing your own fresh produce! And if you haven't already, watch the full episode of "Worthy for Thirty" here – it's definitely worth your time or find it on all podcast listening platforms!What were your biggest takeaways from this episode? This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.worthyforthirty.com

Hello Everyone!Super excited for this episode drop.I highly suggest listening and digging in to discover actionable strategies for anxiety relief and powerful insights on transforming personal challenges into community support. You'll learn how to harness your own experiences for positive impact and find genuine connection in the process.—Guests:Elissa Kalver was invited back to share significant updates on We Got This, including a revamped website, vital resources, and her new book, offering a unique perspective on thriving with cancer.I wanted to invite Marina Khidekel so she could introduce the community to Hugimals World, an innovative company providing weighted plushies that offer tangible anxiety and stress relief for all ages, normalizing comfort in a powerful and impactful way!The Power of a Hug, Literally (and Metaphorically!)* 🔑 takeaway: Marina shared how her company, Hugimals World, creates weighted plushies that literally "hug you back," releasing feel-good hormones like oxytocin. She was even surprised by the wide range of people seeking comfort – from anxious kids to college students and seniors. Hello, kidult trend.* Implication: We often underestimate the physical and emotional need for comfort and connection, especially in a world that can feel increasingly isolated. Especially coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic where we feel more isolated and alone. Simple, concrete tools can have a profound impact on our well-being.* Application for You: Ever feel overwhelmed or just... off? Instead of just pushing through, try incorporating intentional comfort into your day. Maybe it’s snuggling with a pet, a weighted blanket, or even just taking a moment to give yourself a big, comforting hug. Consider what simple acts of comfort you can offer to others too – a warm cup of tea, a cozy blanket, or just a listening ear. Sometimes, the simplest things are the most profound.Turning Personal Challenges into Powerful Support Systems* 🔑 takeaway: Elissa, founder of WeGotThis.org, shared how her own journey with cancer led her to create a robust resource directory, "thriver lists," and a new book – all designed to help others navigate their cancer journeys with more comfort and dignity. She emphasized prioritizing living and finding joy, even amidst challenges.* Implication: Our greatest struggles can often become our greatest strengths, propelling us to help others in profound ways. There's immense power in shared experience and a community that understands.* Application for You: Think about a challenge you've faced – big or small. How did you get through it? What did you learn? Could your experience or your insights be helpful to someone else going through something similar? Maybe it's not starting a non-profit, but perhaps it's sharing your story with a friend, offering advice, or even just creating a simple list of resources that helped you. Your past experiences hold valuable wisdom that others can benefit from.Normalizing Our Needs: It's Okay to Seek Comfort* 🔑 takeaway: Marina initially thought Hugimals would primarily be for kids, but quickly realized that over half her customers were adults seeking comfort for their own anxiety. She spoke about people thanking her for "normalizing" weighted plushies as tools for adult comfort.* Implication: There's still a stigma around admitting we need comfort or support, especially as adults. But acknowledging our needs and seeking out what helps us is a sign of strength, not weakness.* Application for You: Be honest with yourself about what truly brings you comfort and peace, without judgment. If a cozy blanket, a favorite stuffed animal from childhood, or even just a quiet moment with a cup of tea helps you de-stress, lean into it! Don't let peer pressure or perceived norms dictate what "adult" self-care looks like. Your well-being matters, and whatever helps you feel grounded and calm is valid.Your Past Paves the Way for Your Future (Even if You Don't See it Yet!)* 🔑 takeaway: Both Elissa and Marina reflected on their diverse career paths – Elissa from financial services, Marina from journalism – and how seemingly unrelated past experiences unexpectedly became instrumental in building their current, passion-driven businesses. Connecting the dots* Implication: Every step you take, every job you hold, every skill you learn, is building your unique toolkit. Even when you can't see the direct connection, those experiences are shaping you for what's next.* Application for You: Feeling stuck or unsure of your next move? Instead of focusing on what you don't have, take a moment to list all the skills, experiences, and connections you do have, even from seemingly disparate parts of your life. You might be surprised at how your "unrelated" past experiences can be exactly what you need to unlock your future potential. Don't discard any part of your journey – it's all part of your masterpiece in progress!Collaboration Over Competition: A Rising Tide Lifts All Boats* 🔑 takeaway: I wanted to bring Elissa and Marina together on the show to demonstrate the power of collaboration, encouraging both women to continue their important work and highlighting how their efforts can amplify and be complementary.* Implication: In a world that often teaches us to compete, remembering that true strength often lies in supporting one another can lead to greater collective success and impact.* Application for You: Look around your own life, whether it's in your workplace, your community, or among your friends. Where can you offer support or collaborate instead of seeing someone as a competitor? A simple offer to help, a word of encouragement, or connecting two people who could benefit from knowing each other can create ripple effects of positive change. Let's lift each other up! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.worthyforthirty.com

In the world of startups and philanthropy, few stories resonate as powerfully as that of entreprenuers, investors and philanthropists, Kass and Mike Lazerow. Their journey, marked by both the intense highs of building successful companies, Golf.com and Buddy Media and their profound commitment to a cause like Cycle for Survival, offers invaluable insights into resilience, mission-driven work, and the realities of the entrepreneurial path.Relationships are vital to success. I worked with them 15 years ago at Buddy Media and have remained in touch. What was amazing was seeing and meeting other folks in their orbit at their book launch party this past Monday. Some of those people they’ve known for the majority of their lives! In this episode, I invited past show guest Bradley Tusk as my co-host. Bradley is the founder and CEO of Tusk Ventures where he works with startups that have regulatory challenges like Lemonade, FanDuel, Uber, Ro among others. Bradley is the host of ‘Firewall’ a weekly podcast where he discusses the intersection of business, politics and regulation. Takeaways & Their Impact 🚀The Lazerows' experiences highlight several critical lessons for anyone navigating the professional landscape:* Mission Drives Impact: Cycle for Survival's remarkable growth from a grassroots effort into a national movement, raising over $400 million for rare cancer research, underscores the immense power of a strong, personal mission. This demonstrates that aligning your work with a meaningful cause can unlock unparalleled dedication and results [01:05], [01:43]. The implication is clear: when individuals and organizations are deeply invested in a purpose, they can achieve extraordinary things.* Culture is King: Buddy Media's enduring success, even post-acquisition, was rooted in its emphasis on transparency and celebrating achievements. This fostered deep employee loyalty [11:26], [11:37], [11:41], [12:18]. The application for readers is to prioritize intentional culture building within their own teams, fostering environments where people feel valued and connected.* Navigating Bureaucracy: The Lazerows candidly discuss the challenges of working within large, often bureaucratic institutions like Memorial Sloan Kettering. This highlights the need for agility and innovative strategies, even in established settings [04:33], [07:43]. For those in large organizations, this means finding ways to champion change and maintain momentum despite institutional inertia.* Entrepreneurship is a Marathon, Not a Sprint: Their anecdotes about fundraising hurdles, near-death experiences, and the constant "shoveling $h!t" perfectly encapsulate the arduous yet ultimately purposeful nature of entrepreneurship [18:18], [21:27]. This offers a realistic perspective for aspiring founders: it's tough, but the rewards of building something meaningful are immense.* Co-founder Alignment is Crucial: The Lazerows, as a married co-founding team, emphasize the vital importance of shared work ethics, a clear mission, and complementary skills among co-founders [23:52], [24:04]. This is a key application for anyone considering a partnership: ensure your foundational values and working styles are in sync to avoid pitfalls like micromanagement.* Resilience is Cultivated: Kass's story of overcoming a significant career setback and bouncing back with fierce determination demonstrates that resilience isn't just innate; it's developed through a competitive spirit and an unwavering refusal to quit [17:36], [17:49], [18:05]. This takeaway offers hope and actionable strategies for readers to cultivate their own resilience in the face of adversity.* Focus is Paramount for Startups: Mike stresses the critical need for startups, with their limited resources, to maintain sharp focus and avoid being sidetracked by too many initiatives [29:57], [30:06]. The application here is clear: prioritize ruthlessly to maximize impact with the resources you have.* Perspective Shifts Everything: Mike's personal experience with a life-threatening situation dramatically altered his perspective on life and business, diminishing the significance of previous worries [33:03], [33:18]. This profound takeaway reminds us to maintain perspective, especially when facing challenges, and to recognize what truly matters.Why You Should Read "Shoveling $h!t: A Love Story" 📖The Lazerows' book, "Shoveling $h!t," promises an authentic and inspiring account of their journey. Here’s why it should be on your reading list:* Real and Raw Entrepreneurial Insights: Expect an unfiltered look at the realities of building a business—the struggles, the triumphs, and the messy bits that are often left out of polished success stories."And really what the book is about is there's no worse way to spend your day than being an entrepreneur. You show up, s**t hits the fan. You never know what's going to go wrong." - Mike Lazerow* Actionable Advice on Grit and Resilience: Drawing from their personal battles, the book likely offers practical strategies for developing the mental fortitude essential for entrepreneurial success.* Lessons on Partnership and Co-founding: Their unique dynamic as a married co-founding team provides invaluable insights into navigating the complexities and rewards of mixing business with a life partnership.* Inspiration to Do Good While Doing Well: Their involvement with Cycle for Survival showcases a powerful model for creating a successful business that also makes a tangible positive impact on the world.* Humorous and Engaging Storytelling: Given their candid and conversational style, the book is sure to be an entertaining and relatable read, filled with humor and compelling anecdotes. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.worthyforthirty.com

In a recent episode of the Worthy for Thirty podcast, I sat down with Sir Darren Jacklin, a multi-millionaire entrepreneur, investor corporate trainer, and philanthropist - take a look at Darren and his team’s bold initative to build schools around the world through the LYNK Foundation. What unfolded was a powerful conversation about overcoming adversity, the paramount importance of integrity, and how to truly build meaningful relationships and successful ventures.Thank you Boardy.Ai for the connection! Let me know if you want to be connected to Boardy.Sir Darren's story is a testament to resilience and the transformative power of self-awareness. From childhood trauma and misdiagnosed learning disabilities to homelessness and financial bankruptcy, his journey is far from typical. Yet, these experiences forged in him a unique mental toughness and a profound understanding of what it takes to succeed and serve others."I commit to my commitments even when it's hard even when I don't feel like it even when I'm tired even when I'm jet-legged whatever it is I commit to my commitments and the key thing is is it's about honoring my word so that my word today has power." - Sir Darren JacklinTakeaways and Considerations for Founders and Operators1. Adversity as a Catalyst for Growth: Sir Darren openly shares his challenging past, including failing grade one, being labeled "the dumbest kid in school," and experiencing homelessness [03:53]. He emphasizes that he's "grateful for [his] childhood trauma because [he] wouldn't be at where [he's] at today" [03:58]. This highlights that our greatest struggles can become our greatest strengths, teaching us invaluable lessons that formal education often cannot.* Implication: Do not shy away from challenges. View them as opportunities for learning and personal development.* Application: Reflect on past adversities and identify the "street smarts" or unique skills you gained from them. How can you leverage these experiences in your current endeavors?2. The Power of Your Word: A pivotal turning point for Sir Darren at age 38 was recognizing that his "words had no power" [07:58] due to a lack of integrity, lying, and exaggeration. He made a conscious decision to commit to his commitments, even when difficult [10:09], and now lives by the principle that his "word today has power" [10:27].* Implication: Your integrity is your most valuable asset. Consistency in action builds trust and credibility.* Application: Implement "micro commitments" [23:16] in your interactions. If you make a promise, no matter how small, follow through. Schedule commitments in your calendar and proactively communicate if a delay occurs.3. Vulnerability as Strength: Sir Darren now practices transparency and vulnerability, even when it's uncomfortable [14:12]. He shared an instance where he admitted to not knowing how to complete a task in front of a team [14:37], demonstrating that it's okay to ask for help and it showcases a genuine desire to learn.* Implication: True strength isn't about knowing everything, but about the courage to admit what you don't know and seek support.* Application: In professional settings, replace "I know" with "I don't know" or "I don't understand" when appropriate [16:07]. This fosters a learning environment and builds stronger relationships.4. Strategic Relationship Building Through "Hiking Tests": Forget coffee meetings. Sir Darren's preferred method for vetting potential partners, investments and clients is taking them hiking [21:26]. This unconventional approach allows him to observe "behavior never lies" [40:54], revealing how people handle discomfort, prepare, and follow through on micro commitments [27:27]. This "integrity test" [41:26] has led to millions of dollars in deals [23:34].* Implication: Observe how people show up in challenging situations. Their actions speak louder than words.* Application: When considering significant collaborations, create low-stakes "tests" that reveal character, reliability, and commitment. This could be a small task with a clear deadline or an activity that pushes them slightly outside their comfort zone.5. The Accessibility of Success: Sir Darren notes a common trait among highly successful individuals: "the more successful you are, the more accessible you are" [39:04]. This is because they work on their businesses, not in them, delegating daily operations to integrators [39:21]. This allows them to respond quickly and focus on high-level strategy.* Implication: True success often comes with increased responsiveness and a focus on strategic oversight, rather than getting bogged down in minutiae.* Application: Evaluate where you spend your time. Are you working in your business (day-to-day tasks) or on your business (strategy, vision, growth)? Look for opportunities to delegate and focus on high-impact activities. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.worthyforthirty.com

From Moving Mishaps to Marketplace Magic: The AirTasker StoryEver been stuck trying to move a couch, assemble furniture, or tackle a random task and wished you had a superhero on speed dial? That's exactly how, Co-Founder & CEO, Tim Fung felt back in 2011, and it sparked an idea that would become AirTasker – a platform connecting people who need help with those ready to roll up their sleeves and get things done tasks.In this episode, I chat with Tim about the journey of building AirTasker, and it's packed with insights for anyone dreaming of creating their own marketplace, betting on themselves, brand building or just fascinated by the gig economy.Key Takeaways for the Hustlers and Dreamers:* Patience is a Virtue (Especially in Marketplaces): Building a platform that connects supply and demand takes time. You need enough "taskers" and enough "customers" to create a thriving ecosystem. [03:20], [03:31]* Be Uniquely You: AirTasker isn't trying to be the "Uber" of everything. They're all about community, letting anyone be a customer or a tasker. [06:43], [07:32], [07:44] They're also "infinitely horizontal," meaning you can find help for almost anything legal.* Humans > Robots (Sometimes): While AI has its place (more on that later), AirTasker emphasizes the value of human skills and craftsmanship. [14:30], [14:40] People want to connect with people.* AI as Your Co-Pilot: AirTasker uses AI to help people describe their tasks better, leading to clearer instructions for taskers. [21:43], [21:49] Think of it as AI helping humans communicate more effectively. Clarifying the need and the task :).* Brand Love is Real: Building a strong brand creates lasting relationships. It's not just about getting clicks; it's about being top-of-mind when someone needs a hand. AirTasker is synonymous with getting things done. [30:28], [31:02], [32:12]* Loyalty Pays (Literally): AirTasker realized that rewarding repeat business with lower fees keeps users coming back. [26:34], [26:51] It's like a "thank you" for sticking around.So, What's in it for You?Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur, a side-hustler, or just someone who occasionally needs a helping hand, AirTasker's story offers some compelling takeaways:* For the Entrepreneur: Don't be afraid to think outside the box and build a platform that reflects your values. What makes you different?* For the Side-Hustler: Your skills are valuable! AirTasker shows that people are willing to pay for quality and reliability, not just the lowest price. Monetize your downtime. [16:48], [17:27]* For Everyone: There's a certain magic in connecting with someone who can solve a problem for you. It's about community, convenience, and getting things done.Want the Full Story?This is just a taste of the conversation between me and Tim. To dive deeper into the world of AirTasker, hear more about their F1 partnership, and discover the surprising tasks people are requesting around the world (negative juju removal, anyone?), tune into the full episode on your favorite podcast platform! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.worthyforthirty.com

A message from our sponsor:If you're looking for a stress-free way to buy or lease your next car, look no further! The Car Guys let you skip the dealership hassle and shop online or over the phone, with delivery right to your door. They offer a wide selection of new vehicles and can save you time, money, and effort. Plus, their personalized service makes the whole process a breeze. I’m on my 4th car with their CEO, Edwin and his team.Ditch the dealership and head to wearethecarguys.com today! Use my referral code to get the best price on your next vehicle!They are making a concerted effort to do good while doing well!In my most recent episode of the Worthy for Thirty podcast, I sat down with Jamie Hess, a podcast host, TV personality, fitness influencer, and former publicist, to share her incredible journey and insights on building a personal brand and cultivating gratitude. Jamie's story is one of resilience, transformation, and empowerment, offering valuable lessons for anyone looking to define their identity, overcome challenges, and create a life of purpose and impact.Thanks to the power of relationships — I heard about Jamie through WeGotThis.org Founder, Elissa KalverFrom Addiction to InspirationJamie openly shares her past struggles with addiction, describing it as her "gift of desperation" that ultimately led her to recovery and a profound transformation. Through recovery, she discovered the power of wellness, mindset, and gratitude, which became the cornerstones of her personal philosophy and brand.“Those who have been to the darkest places see the light that much brighter.” - Jamie HessJamie's journey highlights that true gratitude isn't just about listing things you're thankful for; it's a practice that can transform your life. She trademarked the term "Gratitudeology" to emphasize the study and practice of gratitude as a way of life. It’s also the name of her podcast.“Gratitude is the heartbeat of happiness.” - Jamie HessBuilding a Powerful Personal BrandJamie is a strong advocate for personal branding, believing that everyone is a personal brand, regardless of their profession. She emphasizes that your personal brand is defined by your missions, values, and how you present yourself to the world.“Every day you wake up, you decide what are you putting forward to the world?” - Jamie HessFor those who aspire to build a personal brand and work with other brands, Jamie offers practical advice and coaching through her program, Brand Ninja. She stresses the importance of authenticity, creating value, and building mutually beneficial partnerships.“If you look at it all and you kind of take it one click out and it's and you're truly geeking out on the brand partnership and you're asking yourself like, ‘How can I use this partnership to make people's lives better?’” - Jamie HessOvercoming Imposter Syndrome and Embracing Your PotentialJamie believes that imposter syndrome is a common challenge, but it can be overcome by recognizing your strengths, seeking guidance, and having a mindset of "figureoutability". She encourages listeners to silence their inner critic and embrace their ability to learn and grow.“My toxic trait is I...pretty much believe I could do anything.” - Jamie HessKey Learning and how you can implement Jamie’s advice:* Gratitude is a Practice: Don't just list what you're grateful for; actively cultivate an attitude of gratitude in your daily life.* Actionable step: Jamie learned in recovery to take accountability, live with intention, and practice gratitude daily. This can be applied by incorporating a daily gratitude reflection into your routine, focusing on your integrity, and taking responsibility for your actions.* Embrace Your Personal Brand: Recognize that you are a personal brand and define your missions, values, and how you want to present yourself to the world.* Actionable step: Jamie coaches women to define who they are, especially after experiencing life changes that cause them to lose their identity. This can be applied by taking time for self-reflection to reconnect with your core values, passions, and aspirations, and then aligning your actions with them.* Turn Obstacles into Opportunities: Reframe your perspective to see challenges as opportunities for growth and learning.* Actionable step: Jamie's experience with addiction became a catalyst for her transformation and success. This can be applied by reframing your challenges and looking for the hidden opportunities and lessons within them. Find the silver lining!* Don't Let Fear Hold You Back: Overcome imposter syndrome by believing in your ability to figure things out and taking action despite your fears.* Actionable step: Jamie's "figureoutable" mindset empowers her to take on new challenges and learn along the way. This can be applied by adopting a growth mindset, embracing challenges as learning opportunities, and taking small steps forward even when you feel uncertain. Build the parachute on the way down!* Invest in Yourself and Seek Support: Don't hesitate to invest in coaching or seek support to help you overcome obstacles and achieve your goals.* Actionable Anecdote: Jamie emphasizes the value of coaching and mentorship, she has a coach too. This can be applied by seeking out mentors or coaches who can provide guidance, support, and accountability as you work towards your goals.Embrace Your Worth and Create Your MiracleJamie Hess's story is a powerful reminder that everyone has the potential to overcome challenges, define their identity, and create a life of purpose and impact. By practicing gratitude, embracing your personal brand, and believing in yourself, you can unlock your true worth and achieve your dreams.“Don't quit one second before the miracle happens.” - Jamie Hess This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.worthyforthirty.com

A message from our sponsor:If you're looking for a stress-free way to buy or lease your next car, look no further! The Car Guys let you skip the dealership hassle and shop online or over the phone, with delivery right to your door. They offer a wide selection of new vehicles and can save you time, money, and effort. Plus, their personalized service makes the whole process a breeze. I’m on my 4th car with their CEO, Edwin and his team.Ditch the dealership and head to wearethecarguys.com today! Use my referral code to get the best price on your next vehicle!They are making a concerted effort to do good while doing well!Episode Overview: In this inspiring episode of Worthy for Thirty, I welcome Nicole Portwood, a marketing leader and creative visionary whose career spans iconic brands like Tito’s, PepsiCo, and Live Nation. Nicole shares her unconventional career journey, the power of manifesting aspirations, and how a culture of creativity and humanity drives real business success.Key Takeaways:* Manifesting Success Starts with Clarity and Community* Nicole emphasizes that true success begins with believing in your vision and surrounding yourself with like-minded individuals who can help bring it to life.* She shares how simply talking about her aspirations—like serving on a nonprofit board—opened doors she never expected, proving that putting energy into the world brings opportunities back.* The Courage to Pivot and Follow Passion* Nicole’s journey began in theater and philosophy, aiming for Broadway, only to realize that it wasn’t fulfilling. She pivoted into marketing, discovering the magic of blending creativity with business.* Her leap from acting to building marketing powerhouses showcases the importance of adaptability and staying open to unexpected opportunities.* Leadership Rooted in Humanity and Creativity* One of Nicole’s strongest beliefs is in being "ruthlessly human"—bringing authenticity, curiosity, and kindness into leadership.* She highlights how fostering creativity within organizations, from startups to corporate giants like PepsiCo, leads to innovation and competitive advantage.* Her "What If Days" at PepsiCo encouraged cross-functional teams to bring bold ideas forward, resulting in groundbreaking initiatives like the largest e-sports nonprofit partnership in the company's history.* Breaking the Box: Rethinking Job Descriptions* Nicole challenges the traditional hiring model, advocating for hiring based on potential, creativity, and problem-solving rather than rigid job descriptions.* She shares how at Tito’s, hiring outside of the traditional spirits industry led to disruptive and successful marketing campaigns, including the widely successful Vodka for Dog People initiative.* Embracing Failure and Experimentation* True innovation comes from taking risks. Nicole encourages leaders to allow teams to experiment, learn from failures, and embrace new ways of thinking.* "If you can prove an idea will work before you do it, then it’s probably already been done," she says, advocating for bold moves in business.* Writing the Future: A Book on Leadership* Nicole is currently working on a book focused on bringing love, joy, and humanity back into leadership, proving that heart-driven leadership delivers powerful business results.* She aims to provide actionable steps for leaders at all levels to create cultures of openness, creativity, and purpose."The things that come back to you are often the things that serve you best. If you have to force something, it may not be the right path." - Nicole PortwoodFinal Thoughts: Nicole’s journey is a testament to the power of belief, the importance of surrounding yourself with people who elevate you, and the courage to take unconventional paths. Whether you’re an entrepreneur, a leader, or someone navigating career transitions, her insights will inspire you to dream big, act boldly, and lead with humanity.Connect with Nicole:* LinkedIn: Nicole Portwood* Email: [email protected] & Stay Inspired: Don’t forget to subscribe to Worthy for Thirty for more conversations that empower you to create meaningful impact in your career and community. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.worthyforthirty.com

Introducing the show’s new sponsor: The Car Guys. If you're looking for a stress-free way to buy or lease your next car, look no further! The Car Guys let you skip the dealership hassle and shop online or over the phone, with delivery right to your door. They offer a wide selection of new vehicles and can save you time, money, and effort. Plus, their personalized service makes the whole process a breeze. I’m on my 4th car with their CEO, Edwin and his team. Ditch the dealership and head to wearethecarguys.com today! Use my referral code to get the best price on your next vehicle! They are making a concerted effort to do good while doing well!They have 4.9/5 stars on Google!Ever wondered how everyday people can become angel investors and create positive change? Join me on the Worthy for Thirty podcast as I sit down with Marcia Dawood, angel investor, author, and podcast host. We'll explore the world of angel investing, uncovering its potential for making a real difference. Discover how you can get involved, support exciting startups, and help shape a better future. You’ll want to lean in and learn more!Demystifying Angel InvestingMarcia breaks down the concept of angel investing, explaining how it provides an opportunity for individuals to use their own money to invest in early-stage companies, fostering innovation and driving social impact.Marcia's Journey: From Corporate America to Angel InvestingMarcia shares her personal journey, transitioning from a career in corporate America to becoming an angel investor.The Power of Investing in Underrepresented GroupsMarcia highlights the importance of investing in women, people of color, and other underrepresented groups, emphasizing the need for greater accessibility and education in angel investing.Equity Crowdfunding: Democratizing Angel InvestingMarcia discusses the rise of equity crowdfunding, which allows individuals to invest as little as $50 in startups, providing a more accessible entry point into angel investing.Investing in Funds: Diversifying Your PortfolioMarcia advocates for investing in funds as a way to diversify your angel investing portfolio, providing exposure to a wider range of companies with a single investment.Impact Investing: Aligning Values with ReturnsMarcia challenges the misconception that impact investing and financial returns are mutually exclusive, emphasizing the potential for both.The Future of Angel InvestingMarcia shares her predictions for the future of angel investing, envisioning a more democratized and accessible landscape where anyone can participate in the private markets.Key Takeaways* Angel investing is an accessible way to support innovation and drive positive change.* Investing in underrepresented groups is crucial for fostering a more inclusive and equitable entrepreneurial ecosystem.* Equity crowdfunding has democratized angel investing, making it more accessible to a wider range of individuals.* Investing in funds provides diversification and reduces risk in angel investing.* Impact investing and financial returns can go hand-in-hand.* The future of angel investing is bright, with a more democratized and accessible landscape on the horizon.* Read Marcia’s book: Do Good While Doing Well: Invest for Change, Reap Financial Rewards, and Increase Your Happiness This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.worthyforthirty.com

I love when two worlds collide..Especially when those worlds are friends both old and new.My conversation with Helaine Knapp back in Spring 2023 was her unvarnished account of founding, scaling and selling her fitness business, CITYROW.Now, she shares her experience with Carrie Kerpen, Founder, The Whisper Group. A business and consultancy focused on helping female entreprenuers maximize their exits.This is a special guest episode which I imagine you’ll appreciate!Show NotesHelaine shares her compelling journey of founding CityRow, a boutique fitness company inspired by her own need for a low-impact yet intense workout.From her childhood struggles with weight to her professional endeavors in publishing and tech startups, Helaine intricately narrates her path to building CityRow. She discusses the challenges faced, including a debilitating injury that led her to discover rowing and the obstacles in finding real estate and funding. Despite raising over $20 million and expanding the business, the COVID-19 pandemic hit hard, causing substantial financial strain.Helaine opens up about the eventual decision to sell CityRow, the emotional turmoil of letting investors and team members down, and the relief of finding a suitable home for her concept. She also talks about her book, 'Making Waves,' which serves as a therapeutic recount of her entrepreneurial journey.Helaine's story offers a raw and real look into the high stakes of starting and running a business, and her resilience through it all.00:32 Helaine's Early Life and Career Beginnings01:45 Discovering SoulCycle and the Birth of City Row02:14 Overcoming Injury and Developing a New Fitness Concept03:39 Launching City Row and Early Challenges08:58 Fundraising and Expansion Efforts12:43 Navigating COVID-19 and Digital Transition18:45 The Struggles of Boutique Fitness20:22 COVID: A Year of Layoffs and Challenges21:45 The Final Hail Mary and M&A Process24:43 Navigating the Acquisition30:02 Reflecting on the Journey This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.worthyforthirty.com

How’s everyone’s 2025 so far? I imagine most, if not all, of you are following the devastation wrought by the LA fires. If you’re looking for relief organizations helping people affected by the fires, let me know. I have been sharing content from a slew of amazing organizations that are helping with support and relief efforts on the ground —- including WeGotThis.org & IFundWomen — past guests of this show.Get ready to be inspired! On this episode of Worthy for Thirty, I had the incredible opportunity to connect with Sally Joy Wolf, a true beacon of resilience and transformation. Sally's journey, marked by both incredible success in the corporate world and three battles with breast cancer, has led her to a powerful realization: true well-being is the key to unlocking our full potential.Sally's story is a testament to the human spirit's ability to not only survive but thrive in the face of adversity. She transitioned from a high-powered media executive to a well-being advocate, driven by a deep desire to help others prioritize their own well-being and bring their authentic selves to the workplace. She works with both businesses and individuals to shape and refine their well-being journey!Key Takeaways to Spark Your Transformation:* Vulnerability is Strength: Sally emphasizes that true connection and trust are built on a foundation of vulnerability. By daring to be open and authentic, we create space for deeper relationships and genuine collaboration.* Embrace the Journey: Life throws curveballs. Instead of fearing challenges, Sally encourages us to reframe them as opportunities for growth and self-discovery. It's in navigating these challenges that we uncover our resilience and inner strength.* Well-being is Essential: Prioritizing well-being isn't just a "nice-to-have" – it's essential for individuals and organizations to flourish. When we feel supported and empowered, we're able to bring our best selves to everything we do.* Lead with Authenticity: Sally reminds us that leadership isn't about titles or authority, but about inspiring others through genuine connection and vulnerability. By modeling authenticity, leaders create a ripple effect that empowers those around them."Resilience is... about looking at the obstacles and navigating the obstacles and also leaning into the opportunity." - Sally Joy WolfReady to Embark on Your Own Journey of Transformation?This episode is packed with wisdom and actionable insights to help you:* Cultivate greater resilience in the face of challenges.* Embrace vulnerability to build stronger relationships.* Prioritize your well-being to unlock your full potential.* Lead with authenticity to inspire those around you.Don't miss out on this powerful conversation! Head over to your favorite podcast listening platform or YouTube to watch the full episode now. And remember, your journey to a more fulfilling life starts today! ✨ This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.worthyforthirty.com

Hello, and Happy New Year!January 1st is here and 2025 is ahead of us! Why not start the year with a heart and stomach full of inspiration?What are your new year’s goals?I’m elated to introduce you to Carmen VanderHeiden Brodie, Co-Founder and CEO, Removery. Thanks to her agency counterpart, Vayner Media’s, Casey Madsen, a connection was formed and an episode recording happened. Appreciate you following the show and supporting what we do, Casey!* Removery's Mission: The world's largest pure-play tattoo removal company, aiming to normalize tattoo removal and provide a safe, effective solution for individuals seeking to modify or remove their tattoos.* Carmen's Journey: Carmen's path to co-founding Removery stemmed from her experience in med spas, where she recognized a growing demand for tattoo removal services. She took a risk, invested in laser technology, and expanded her business from a single location to a national and now global network alongside two other co-founders.* Shift in Tattoo Attitudes: While tattoo enthusiasts still exist, there's an increasing trend of individuals seeking tattoo removal or reduction due to various reasons like life changes, professional considerations, or simply evolving personal preferences.* Technology and Expertise: Removery utilizes advanced PicoWay laser technology and has a clinical advisory board of dermatologists and physicists to develop proprietary protocols for safe and effective tattoo removal.* The INK-nitiative: Removery's social impact program provides free tattoo removal services for cancer patients seeking to remove radiation tattoos and formerly incarcerated individuals who want to remove tattoos that may hinder their reintegration into society.* Measuring Success: Removery gauges its success not just through financial metrics but also through the positive impact it has on clients' lives, helping them achieve their personal and professional goals.* 1.4MM Tattoo Removals: Continued expansion is on the roadmap in 2025 in both treatments and locations! 150 locations and growing. * Advice for Entrepreneurs: Carmen encourages aspiring entrepreneurs to take the leap and pursue their passions, emphasizing the importance of calculated risks, hard work, and seizing opportunities.Cancer Awareness and helping the formerly incarcerated are central pillars of the Worthy for Thirty platformCarmen’s journey adds to a list of incredibly inspiring stories like those of Elissa Kalver, Andrew Glazier, and Coss Marte. They remind us why we do what we do: to shine a light on the incredible work being done by individuals and organizations who are making a real difference in the world.By amplifying their voices and sharing their journeys, we can:* Inspire others to take action and create positive change.* Build connections between those who are passionate about similar causes.* Drive progress towards a more just and equitable world.Their stories are a powerful reminder that even in the face of adversity, we can achieve amazing things. Let's continue to champion these voices and shine a light on the incredible impact they're having.Getting in touch with Removery & Carmen* Visit Removery's website: Removery.com* Contact Carmen directly with questions about tattoo removal or starting a business: [email protected] This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.worthyforthirty.com

In my most recent episode of the Worthy for Thirty podcast, I had the pleasure of speaking with Annie Tulkin, the Founder & CEO of Accessible College. Accessible College is an organization that provides college transition support for students with physical disabilities and chronic health conditions. This insightful approach illuminates the path for families navigating the crucial decision of choosing the right college, leading them towards a future filled with promise and academic success.Thank you Worthy for Thirty guest and supporter, Mindy Scheier, for the connection!Annie shared her personal journey and how it led her to create Accessible College. She also discussed some of the challenges that students with disabilities face when transitioning to college.Key Takeaways:* Start early: The college search process for students with disabilities should begin as early as possible, ideally during the junior year of high school.* Do your research: There is a wealth of information available online and through organizations like Accessible College.* Connect with others: It is important for students with disabilities to connect with one another and with professionals who can support them. Shared experiences can help relieve any isolation that someone may experience thinking their disability is unique.* Self-advocate: Students with disabilities need to be able to articulate their needs and advocate for themselves.* Don't give up: The transition to college can be challenging, but it is also an exciting time.Calls to Action:* Visit the Accessible College website* Join the College Success: Physical Disabilities, Chronic Health, and Mental Health Facebook group * Connect with Annie on social media* Check out and take Accessible College’s online course. This introductory course provides the tools to support college students with physical disabilities and health conditions. You'll learn how to facilitate their transition to college and empower them with life skills for independence beyond academics.* Share this information with others who may benefit from it!* E-Mail Annie: [email protected] Additional Thoughts:I was so impressed with Annie's passion for helping students with disabilities. She is a true advocate and a valuable resource for families and educators. I hope that this episode of the Worthy for Thirty podcast will help to raise awareness of the challenges and opportunities that students with disabilities face. I also hope that it will inspire others to get involved in supporting this important community. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.worthyforthirty.com

A somber yet powerful message as we head into Thanksgiving.Elissa's story is a powerful testament to the human spirit's ability to find strength and purpose in the face of adversity. By leaning in and truly listening to her experience, we can gain invaluable insights into resilience, perseverance, and the transformative power of community. Understanding her journey not only sheds light on the challenges faced by cancer thrivers but also illuminates the extraordinary ways in which individuals can redefine success, embrace life, and inspire others to do the same. Learning from Elissa's story empowers us to cultivate compassion, empathy, and a deeper appreciation for the importance of human connection, especially during times of hardship.Key Takeaways:* Life is richer when we are of service to others. Elissa’s journey with stage IV metastatic breast cancer inspired her to create a platform that supports others going through similar challenges.* Entrepreneurship can be a powerful tool for social good. Elissa’s business acumen enabled her to identify a gap in cancer support and create a solution that benefits both thrivers and their supporters.* Community is crucial for navigating life's challenges. We Got This fosters a sense of belonging and mutual support, empowering individuals to thrive despite their circumstances.* Giving and receiving support is essential for healing. The We Got This platform facilitates both, enabling thrivers to ask for what they need and supporters to contribute meaningfully.* Redefining success means living a full life, even amidst adversity. Elissa’s "Road to a Million" campaign reflects her determination to make a lasting impact and inspire others to live their best lives.Key Components of WeGotThis.org:* Cancer Gift Registry: Allows cancer thrivers to create registries for products and services that support their well-being, making it easier for loved ones to help.* Recommendations Page: Provides crowd-sourced recommendations for products and services that enhance comfort and joy for thrivers, featuring partnerships with brands like Bombas, Long Wharf Supply Co. Tropy Smack, and Crocs.* Resources: Connects thrivers with a network of partner nonprofits offering various support services, such as financial assistance and emotional support.Breast Cancer Statistics:* 1 in 8 women will develop breast cancer in their lifetime.* 30% of those diagnosed in earlier stages will experience a recurrence.* Nearly 100% of breast cancer deaths occur in stage IV.* Only 2-5% of breast cancer funding goes towards stage four metastatic breast cancer research.Road to $1,000,000 Raised:* Elissa aims to raise $1,000,000 for We Got This by the end of 2024 through public speaking engagements, corporate partnerships, and individual donations. Big #GivingTuesday effort is underway. Stay tuned!* The campaign also seeks to raise awareness about the importance of supporting cancer thrivers and their families.* With $900,000 already raised, Elissa is determined to reach her goal and continue expanding We Got This's impact.Call to Action:* Visit wegotthis.org to learn more, create a registry, or donate.* Follow We Got This on social media for updates and ways to get involved.* Spread the word about this vital resource for the cancer community.* Elissa's upcoming book, available for pre-order and shipping in June, delves into redefining success and what it means to "win" in the context of life with cancer.* Watch our full conversation on YouTubeThis podcast episode is a powerful reminder that even in the face of adversity, we can choose to thrive. Elissa story is an inspiration, and We Got This is an invaluable resource for anyone whose life has been touched by cancer. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.worthyforthirty.com

Hi Everyone -A pre-Thanksgiving conversation for your consideration! Perhaps bringing a 6-pack of great-tasting Athletic Brewing Company Beer to your table!?In this episode of the *Worthy for Thirty* podcast, I sit down with Bill Shufelt, Co-Founder and CEO of Athletic Brewing Company, a trailblazer in the non-alcoholic beer industry. Bill shares his journey from a demanding Wall Street career to founding a company centered on high-quality, alcohol-free beers that cater to the modern, health-conscious adult. With a mission to create healthier drinking options and a deep commitment to community impact, Athletic Brewing Company has grown into one of the most respected non-alcoholic brands nationwide.Join us as we explore Bill’s personal journey, the brand’s innovative brewing approach, and the environmental and social initiatives that set Athletic Brewing apart.Key Points Discussed: **Bill’s Personal Journey**: Bill recounts his transition from Wall Street to founding Athletic Brewing Company He shares how going alcohol-free for 30 days impacted his life, inspiring him to bring premium non-alcoholic options to market.**The Athletic Brewing Difference**: Bill explains how Athletic Brewing is transforming the non-alcoholic beer space with innovative brewing techniques, quality ingredients, and over 50 limited-edition beers released each year.**Mission-Driven Culture**: The company prioritizes employee well-being, environmental responsibility, and community service, including the "Two for the Trails" initiative, which donates $2 million annually to trail restoration across the U.S.**Non-Alcoholic Beers in Social Settings**: Bill discusses the changing perception of non-alcoholic options in bars and restaurants, making it easier for adults to socialize without compromising wellness goals.**Celebrity Support**: Athletic Brewing has garnered praise and endorsement from well-known figures, including Football star JJ Watt, Chef David Chang, Supermodel Karlie Kloss, University of Texas QB Quinn Ewers, Craig Conover from ‘Southern Charm’ even shared how he orders Athletic beers by name, highlighting the brand’s cultural impact.**Community & Environmental Impact**: Bill shares the importance of Athletic Brewing’s Two for the Trails program and other community-focused efforts, including volunteer days that allow employees to give back - 12 days per year! Check it out!**The Future of Athletic Brewing**: Bill gives a glimpse into what’s next, from opening a new West Coast brewery to increasing product availability at major retailers.Listen Now:Tune in to this insightful conversation to learn more about Athletic Brewing Company’s mission to redefine non-alcoholic beverages for the modern adult, their commitment to community and environmental impact, and Bill’s personal journey in building a brand that aligns profit with purpose. 🎧 This episode and all other conversations are available on all podcast listening platforms. Follow Worthy for Thirty for more episodes featuring impactful business leaders who are driving change and giving back to their communities.**Stay Connected**:Follow Athletic Brewing on InstagramVisit Athletic Brewing’s Website This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.worthyforthirty.com

Hello Everyone -We’ve hit a milestone: 50 episodes! That’s 50 incredible conversations with mission-driven leaders who are redefining what it means to pursue professional success with purpose. Each guest has shown us the power of embedding core values into their work, illustrating that when ambition and integrity combine, the result is a vision for a better world—a world they not only imagine but actively build.Which conversation is your favorite? What topics do you want to dive further into? Which guests should we reach out to and invite to the show? Comment here:In Episode 50, I had the fortune of sitting down with INSPIRED’s Stephen Ready. While I was connected to Stephen through his colleague Ben, Stephen and I have another mutual connection with Ben Erwin, CEO, Charitybuzz. A guest and supporter of this community. The world becomes small once we connect the dots!What is INSPIRED?Revolutionizing Cause Marketing: INSPIRED is redefining how brands and consumers engage in charitable giving. Moving beyond traditional donation requests, INSPIRED offers a seamless, integrated approach that empowers consumers to support causes they care about in a personalized way. By embedding charitable actions into everyday interactions, it amplifies the social impact of every transaction, helping brands make a genuine difference while strengthening their relationships with customers.Innovation & Storytelling: At the core of INSPIRED’s mission are innovation and storytelling. By weaving causes into the customer journey, INSPIRED makes charitable support a year-round endeavor. Here’s how it’s changing the game:Loyalty & Repeat Engagement: INSPIRED rewards customers for their good deeds. Imagine earning perks simply by engaging with a cause—without spending extra money. This approach creates a win-win, where brands boost loyalty and customers feel good about their actions, driving both repeat engagement and meaningful impact.Contextual Cause Discovery: INSPIRED leverages the power of alignment, helping customers discover brands that share their values. It creates a smooth, frictionless path to support meaningful causes, benefiting brands through enhanced customer loyalty and giving charities greater visibility.Scaling INSPIRED: Every Shopify brand is a potential partner, and INSPIRED makes it easy for them to get involved. With a free, forever plan, brands can seamlessly integrate charitable giving into their Shopify experience. There’s no setup required—just activate INSPIRED and start making a difference, turning every store into a hub for positive impact.Beyond E-Commerce: INSPIRED’s influence extends far beyond online shopping. Imagine walking into a physical store powered by Shopify, where you can engage with and support causes that matter to you. INSPIRED brings the same seamless charitable functionality to in-person interactions, meeting consumers wherever they shop.Making Charitable Support Ubiquitous: Picture an Airbnb stay where hosts and guests alike have the opportunity to give back. Through INSPIRED, guests can choose to donate a portion of their stay to a local cause, further strengthening Airbnb’s ethos of community support. It’s just one example of how INSPIRED can personalize the giving experience across different platforms, industries, and interactions.Beyond Transactions: INSPIRED envisions a world where every transaction is "inspired." Imagine sharing your Airbnb story, knowing that at no extra cost, you contributed to a local children's sports program. This blend of personal storytelling and charitable impact creates a deeper connection for everyone involved.INSPIRED: Beyond the "Rakuten of Giving": Traditional platforms often force a choice between cashback and donations. INSPIRED believes you shouldn’t have to choose. By layering rewards on top of charitable actions, it eliminates the "do good or do well" dilemma, incentivizing positive behavior and driving sustainable change.Impact Beyond Money: INSPIRED recognizes that impact isn’t just about monetary donations. By harnessing the collective power of 8 billion humans, it encourages contributions in various forms, from spreading awareness to sharing resources. Similarly, INSPIRED helps brands leverage their marketing reach and influence to support causes, democratizing social impact and making it a movement for everyone—not just the privileged few.Full Power, Not Just Charity Checks: Imagine a brand like Liquid Death donating more than just money—it brings its marketing muscle and community engagement to support a cause. This strategy fosters long-term involvement, driving deeper, sustainable connections between brands, customers, and the causes they champion.INSPIRED: A Disruptive Force in Cause Marketing: INSPIRED is setting a new standard by moving beyond the traditional model of asking companies for donations. It’s proven that there’s a better way, and now it’s scaling this approach to create a global impact. By seamlessly embedding cause marketing into everyday interactions, INSPIRED is leading a movement where every action, every purchase, and every story can be a catalyst for change.Join the Movement: Visit inspired.com to learn more about how to leverage INSPIRED to do good and do well, for free. Together, we can create a future where every interaction contributes to a more aware and compassionate world.Follow INSPIRED on LinkedinFollow INSPIRED on InstagramWatch the episode on YouTube Rate the show on Apple and Spotify This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.worthyforthirty.com

All Worthy for Thirty listeners can receive 25% off your first Amia order by entering promo code WORTHY at checkout. This might be worth trying for anyone who suffers from migraines.In this episode of Worthy for Thirty, I sat down with Omar Alvarez, the Founder & CEO of Kinnect, a groundbreaking mobile app designed to combat the loneliness epidemic and preserve precious memories. Omar shares his personal journey, driven by the loss of his grandfather to Alzheimer's and his friend to cancer, that inspired him to create a platform for families to connect, share, and cherish their stories.We delve into the innovative features of Kinnect, from creating private "kin groups" to personalized memory preservation tools. Omar discusses the app's mission to bridge the gap between generations, provide support during difficult times, and foster deeper connections within families.Key Takeaways:* The loneliness epidemic: A growing concern in the U.S. and the importance of addressing it through technology.* The power of memories: How preserving and sharing stories can strengthen family bonds and provide comfort during challenging times.* Kinnect’s unique features: Learn about the app's innovative approach to memory storage, sharing, and personalized experiences.* Omar's entrepreneurial journey: Discover how personal loss fueled his passion to create a meaningful solution.* The Power of Storytelling. Omar & Kinnect are no exception and Omar is leaning into this art form to acquire early adopters.* Hear from an early stage founder on how he’s building his startup’s narrative and sharing it with backers and investors. Call to Action:* Download Kinnect (available in the Apple App Store) and start building your own kin group today. Bonus points: rate the app!* Share this episode with friends and family who might benefit from Kinnect.* Follow Kinnect on social media for updates and inspiring stories.By highlighting the personal impact of Kinnect and its potential to make a positive difference in people's lives, you can encourage listeners to download the app and share it with others.Watch the full conversation on YouTube This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.worthyforthirty.com

Remember, you can receive 25% off your first Amia order by entering promo code WORTHY at checkout. For those migraine sufferers out there this could be something good to try.Hi Everyone -Last episode of our ‘back-to-school’ series.In this episode, I spoke with Mike Lamagna, the Founder and CEO of Long Wharf Supply Co. Mike is a lifelong marine enthusiast who started Long Warf Supply Co. to create a brand that tells authentic stories of the sea and builds products to outfit those who love the water. The company is also committed to sustainability and giving back to the marine community.I’m looking forward to the upcoming Hamptons International Film Festival which will be held between Oct 4th-14th. The South Fork Sea Farmers are partnering with the festival to showcase the incredible work of the Air Land and Sea Program. Long Wharf Supply Co.'s short film highlighting South Fork’s mission has been chosen to air before some of the feature films. South Fork Sea Farmers is one of the many organizations Long Wharf Supply Co. supports.South Fork Sea Farmers (SF²) is a nonprofit dedicated to promoting sustainable marine aquaculture. The organization collaborates with the East Hampton Town Shellfish Hatchery to expand educational programs and encourage community involvement in preserving the local marine environment. The mission is to inspire people to participate in oyster gardening, which helps to clean the water, provide habitat for marine life, and improve the overall ecosystem.Key Takeaways:* Mike Lamagna founded Long Wharf Supply Co. to create a brand that tells authentic stories of the sea and builds products to outfit those who love the water.* The company is committed to sustainability and giving back to the marine community.* Long Wharf Supply Co. uses recycled materials in its products, such as recycled oyster shells and recycled water bottles.* The company supports various organizations that are working to protect and restore marine ecosystems.* Mike is a passionate entrepreneur who is committed to making a positive impact on the world.* He is a great example of how it is possible to do good while doing well.* This video is a great resource for anyone who’s interested in learning more about sustainable fashion, social impact, or entrepreneurship.Watch the full conversation on YouTube This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.worthyforthirty.com

Remember, you can receive 25% off your first Amia order by entering promo code WORTHY at checkout. For those migraine sufferers out there this could be something good to try.Let me know what you think about the video header!In Episode 3 of Worthy for Thirty’s ‘Back-to-School’ series, I spoke with Carrie Kerpen, the Founder of The Whisper Group. Carrie is a serial entrepreneur who has exited multiple businesses, including Likable Media, a social media agency she co-founded with her husband, Dave. Carrie founded The Whisper Group to help women-owned businesses prepare for and navigate the exit process. The Whisper Group provides mentorship, education, and resources to help women entrepreneurs build sellable businesses and achieve successful exits.Salient Takeaways:* The importance of mentorship for women entrepreneurs: Carrie believes that mentorship is essential for women entrepreneurs who are looking to exit their businesses. She emphasizes the value of having a mentor who has been through the process themselves and can provide guidance and support.* The seven tenants of building a sellable asset: Carrie outlines the seven key components that are necessary for building a business that is attractive to buyers. These components include understanding your why, your how, your income, your secrets sauce, your profitability, your executive team, and your Roar factor.* The challenges faced by women entrepreneurs in the exit process: Carrie discusses the unique challenges that women entrepreneurs face when it comes to selling their businesses. These challenges include being undervalued by buyers, feeling alone in the process, and having to prove themselves more than their male counterparts.* The importance of doing good while doing well: Carrie believes that it is important for businesses to have a positive impact on the world. She emphasizes the importance of building businesses that are both profitable and sustainable.* The power of community: Carrie highlights the importance of building a community of like-minded women entrepreneurs. She believes that by connecting with other women who have been through similar experiences, entrepreneurs can learn from each other, support each other, and feel less alone.This episode provides valuable insights for women entrepreneurs who are considering selling their businesses. And first, determining the merits of their business — this is where Carrie comes in! Carrie's expertise and experience make her an invaluable resource for anyone who is looking to navigate the exit process successfully!LinksCarrie is a podcast host too!Follow Carrie on InstagramOur full conversation on YouTube This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.worthyforthirty.com

I hope everyone enjoyed my conversation with Amia’s, Co-Founder, Jon Katz. Remember, you can receive 25% off your first order by entering promo code WORTHY at checkout. Back to episode 2 of our ‘Back-to-School’ series. This time it’s with long-time supporter, Jason Schulweis of The Female Quotient. Jason introduced us to Phil Schermer at Project Healthy Minds. A little bit about The Female Quotient: The Female Quotient (The FQ) is a woman-owned business dedicated to achieving gender equality in the workplace and beyond. * Their intersectional and inclusive approach brings together conscious leaders and rising stars across industries worldwide.* The Female Quotient is a non-profit organization with a mission to advance gender equality in the workplace and close the pay gap.* The Female Quotient provides executive advisory and board advisory work to help companies create a more equitable workplace.* The Female Quotient hosts events such as the Equality Lounge at major industry and business conferences.* The Female Quotient has a digital content platform that provides insights and resources on gender equality.* The Female Quotient's Flipping Point 5 initiative works with Fortune 50 and Fortune 100 companies to help them close the pay gap within five yearsDuring our conversation, Jason shares his insights on how to build a successful career by connecting the dots. He believes that it is important to be comfortable collecting dots, which are people, experiences, and skills that you acquire along the way. Once you have collected enough dots, you can start to connect them in different ways and see how they can help you move forward in your career.Salient points from the conversation:* It is important to be comfortable collecting dots, which are people, experiences, and skills that you acquire along the way.* Once you have collected enough dots, you can start to connect them in different ways and see how they can help you move forward in your career.* There are many different ways to connect the dots, such as through your education, work experience, and personal relationships.* It is important to be open-minded and flexible when connecting the dots, as you may not always see the connections right away.* Once you have connected the dots, you can start to develop a plan for your career.* It is important to be patient and persistent when building your career.* There will be setbacks along the way, but it is important to keep moving forward.* With hard work and dedication, you can achieve your career goals.Additional insights:* Jason believes that it is important to have a mission-focused mindset when building your career.* He also believes that it is important to be passionate about what you do.* Jason is a strong advocate for gender equality in the workplace — hence his role.* He cited examples that shows a strong correlation about The Female Quotient’s mission and the positive impact it’s having on the world around us.Conclusion:By being comfortable collecting dots, being open-minded and flexible, and having a mission-focused mindset, you can increase your chances of success.Watch the full conversation on YouTube This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.worthyforthirty.com

Hello Everyone! Let’s kick off our ‘Back to School’ content series with my conversation with AMIA co-founder, Jon Katz. Jon is a friend I met through a job interview 5 years ago in NYC. While things didn’t work out where we’d work together, we stayed in touch. Once I saw Jon launch AMIA foods out of a personal need I had to reach out and invite him on the podcast. I know his business is going to benefit the millions of chronic migraine sufferers in the US!In addition, Jon discusses the steps he’s taken to gain a foothold in both brick-and-mortar retail and DTC, the feedback he’s received, the challenges he faces, and the annoucement of his new co-founder (you’ll need to listen).Use promo code WORTHY at check to get 25% off your first AMIA order.Migraines are a debilitating condition that affects millions of people worldwide. While medication is often the go-to treatment, there are natural ways to manage and potentially reduce the frequency of migraine attacks. In this interview with Jon, we delve into the world of migraine management through diet and explore his journey in building a successful startup focused on providing migraine-friendly food solutions.Key Takeaways from the Interview:* Migraines and Diet: Jon’s personal experience with migraines led him to discover the significant impact of diet on migraine frequency. By making dietary modifications based on research from Dr. David Buchholz’s book "Heal Your Headache," he experienced a 50% reduction in migraine attacks.* The Birth of Amia: Inspired by his own success trying to prevent the onset of migraines through diet and the lack of convenient migraine-friendly food options, Jon founded Amia. The company aims to provide easy-to-access, trigger-free food products for migraine sufferers.* Challenges and Triumphs: Jon openly discusses the challenges of starting a business, including fundraising difficulties and the emotional rollercoaster of entrepreneurship. He emphasizes the importance of perseverance, customer focus, and adaptability in overcoming obstacles.* Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs: Jon shares valuable advice for those considering starting their own ventures. He stresses the importance of thorough preparation, a strong stomach for stress, and a genuine passion for the problem you're trying to solve.* The Power of Customer Focus: Jon highlights the significance of understanding and connecting with customers. By actively seeking feedback and building relationships with migraine sufferers, Amia has been able to develop products that truly meet the needs of its target market.Actionable Takeaways:* Educate Yourself: Learn about the potential connection between diet and migraines. Consider reading books like "Heal Your Headache" by Dr. David Buchholz to gain insights into food triggers.* Experiment with Your Diet: If you suffer from migraines, try eliminating potential triggers like aged cheeses, processed meats, and excessive caffeine. Keep a food diary to track your migraine patterns and identify any correlations.* Support Migraine-Friendly Businesses: Consider supporting companies like Amia that offer products specifically designed for migraine sufferers.* Embrace a Growth Mindset: If you're considering starting your own business, develop a growth mindset and be prepared for challenges. Focus on learning from setbacks and adapting to changing circumstances.* Prioritize Customer Relationships: Building strong relationships with your customers is essential for business success. Actively seek feedback and tailor your products or services to meet their needs.By incorporating these insights into your lifestyle and supporting businesses like Amia, you can take proactive steps to manage your migraines and empower yourself on your wellness journey.Watch the full conversation on YouTubeUpcoming conversation drops* Jason Schulweis, CCO, The Female Quotient* Carrie Kerpen, Founder, The Whisper Group* Mike Lamagna, Founder, Long Wharf Supply Co. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.worthyforthirty.com

Hello Everyone!How was your Memorial Day Weekend? Care to share your highlights with the community?My family and I celebrated my daughter, Sydney’s 8th birthday at a local roller rink, enjoyed a BBQ with our neighbors, and walked in our town’s Memorial Day Parade.In this episode of the Worthy for Thirty podcast, I was thrilled to welcome Hallie Seltzer, Founder and President of Pinpoint Productions. Thank you, Jamie Hill of Shallot Communications for reaching out to me after listening to my conversation with Jessica Sloan, and asking to connect me with Hallie. With nearly two decades of experience in live events, Hallie has worked with prestigious brands like Google, Netflix, and Dior, turning ambitious ideas into unforgettable experiences. Hallie shares her journey from wanting to be an actress when she began college in Washington DC to an industry leader and discusses the core values driving Pinpoint Productions to innovate and impact the event production landscape.Thank you for reading Worthy for Thirty. This post is public so feel free to share it.Thanks to Polina Pompliano for the interview prep suggestions she made in a previous The Profile post!Join us as we dive into Hallie's inspiring story, her approach to creating meaningful and community-centered events, and her advice for aspiring event professionals.Key Topics:* Hallie's Journey: From college freshman who wanted to be an actress to leading event producer.* Pinpoint Productions' Evolution: The need for authentic partnerships and meaningful engagement in the event industry.* Creating Impactful Events: How Pinpoint integrates community values and sustainable practices.* Pro Bono Work: The significance of giving back and selecting nonprofits to support.* Mentorship and Team Values: Cultivating a team that shares core values and the importance of mentorship.Calls to Action:* Follow Us: Subscribe to the Worthy for Thirty podcast, here, or on your favorite podcast listening platform, and follow us on social media for updates and behind-the-scenes content.* Connect with Hallie: Interested in collaborating with Pinpoint Productions? Visit their website to learn more about their services and impact.* Join the Conversation: Have questions or comments about this episode? Share your thoughts on social media using #WorthyFor30.* Get Involved: If you're a nonprofit organization in need of event production support, reach out to Pinpoint Productions to explore potential partnerships.Tune in to hear how Hallie Seltzer is redefining the landscape of event production and the passion that fuels her mission to create unforgettable and impactful experiences.Links:PinPoint Productions on Instagram This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.worthyforthirty.com

Hello Everyone!Spring is here. Who followed and saw the solar eclipse? Any good pictures? Share them here:I had the pleasure of sitting down with Wall Street Journal best-selling author, Mita Mallick, who wrote Reimagine Inclusion: Debunking 13 Myths To Transform Your Workplace. Creating a truly inclusive workplace requires more than just diversity initiatives. In this write-up, we'll delve into key points from my interview with Mita Mallick, a DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) expert, to understand how to foster a work environment where everyone feels valued and respected.Unveiling Our BiasesWe all have biases, and Mallick emphasizes self-awareness as the first step to overcoming them. Reflect on your social circles: are they diverse? Who do you interact with outside of work? Here are some questions Mallickk offers to consider:* How many of your close relationships are cross-cultural?* Who are the people you spend your leisure time with?* When you go about your daily errands, who serves you?* What kind of social spaces do you frequent?* Who lives in your neighborhood?* When celebrating something important, who are the first five people you contact?A lack of diversity in your personal life may limit your ability to recognize and challenge biases in the workplace.Going Beyond DiversityDiversity training is a common approach, but Mallick contends that inclusion is the ultimate goal. A diverse workforce is important, but it's about creating a space where everyone feels a sense of belonging and has the opportunity to thrive.Simple practices can make a big difference:* Be mindful of who dominates conversations in meetings.* If someone seems quiet, take the initiative to connect with them.* Show appreciation for colleagues' contributions with handwritten thank-you notes.* Broaden the scope of invitations to social gatherings.The Power of SponsorshipMentorship is valuable for career development, but sponsorship takes it a step further. Sponsors are advocates who actively promote your work and champion your growth when you’re not in the room.Here are some tips for finding a sponsor:* Identify someone you admire for their work ethic and achievements.* Offer to assist them with a project they're leading.* Build a strong relationship over time.* Don't hesitate to ask for their guidance and support.Equal Pay for Equal WorkThe gender pay gap is a persistent issue, and Mallick highlights how motherhood can still negatively impact a woman's salary. Regular compensation reviews by managers are crucial to ensure equal pay for equal work.Call to ActionBuilding an inclusive workplace is a continuous journey. By being aware of our biases, actively fostering inclusion, and advocating for equal pay, we can all contribute to a more equitable work environment.Here are some ways you can get started:* Listen to the full podcast episode to gain deeper insights.* Consider reading Mita’s book.* Most importantly, take action today! Small changes in your daily interactions can make a big difference.Watch the full conversation on YouTubeFollow Mita Mallick on Instagram This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.worthyforthirty.com

Hello Everyone - What was the best April Fool’s prank you saw on social media? For today’s episode drop, I had the fortune of sitting down with Deborah Malone, the Founder of the Internationalist to discuss purpose-driven marketing. I met Deborah 10+ years ago at one of her incredible events in partnership with the ANA. In the world of international marketing, staying connected and informed is crucial. That's where The Internationalist steps in. As a marketer-driven resource, The Internationalist has established itself as a trusted source for best practices, industry insights, and thought leadership.This episode explores the intersection of purpose and marketing with Deborah. She discusses how companies can leverage marketing to make a positive impact while achieving business goals.Summary:* Deborah Malone founded The Internationalist, a publication connecting the people and ideas in international marketing.* The Internationalist's "Marketing Makes a World of Difference" initiative showcases companies using marketing for social good.* Examples include initiatives like encouraging recycling through parking meters and a Tide campaign in India promoting gender equality in laundry responsibility.* Authentic purpose goes beyond slogans and permeates all aspects of a company's culture and decision-making.* Strong marketing can bridge the gap between intention and action, inspiring consumers to live more sustainable lifestyles.* Avoid greenwashing or being called inauthentic or insincere. Focus on clear communication of your company's purpose and positive impact. Make sure your message aligns with your brand's core values.Key Quotes:* "Marketing makes a world of difference... because not only was the marketing doing some great things, but it demonstrated that within the corporation, the marketing department really was about innovation and about thinking a little bit more broadly." - Deborah Malone* "The issue though becomes you can look at all these case studies and be inspired, but whatever you choose to think about, it has to be authentic, of course, to the brand." - Deborah Malone* "There's a lot of marketers that are afraid to be labeled as ‘greenwashers’ and they say nothing about some of the great things that they're doing." - Deborah MaloneAdditional Notes:* This episode also mentions Patagonia and REI as companies with strong corporate cultures focused on purpose. * Intention vs Impact Jessica Sloan: A statistic Deborah references is that 92% of consumers are motivated to live sustainably but only 16% actively change their behaviors.I encourage listeners to lean in and learn more about The Internationalist's "Marketing Makes a World of Difference" initiative and explore case studies of companies using marketing for good. The Internationalist website is a wealth of information and inspiration!Watch the full conversation on YouTube This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.worthyforthirty.com

Hello Everyone - A lot of new faces and names since we last spoke. We're thrilled to have you join the Worthy for Thirty community. Take a moment to introduce yourself and share what drew you here. What are you hoping to gain from your subscription? And if you find this content valuable, help us reach more curious minds by spreading the word on Substack and social media. Together, let's expand our collective knowledge and make learning a shared experience!Cracking the Code to Corporate Giving: Insights You Can Take Back to The OfficeThis episode dives into the world of corporate social responsibility, specifically how companies can create impactful giving programs. Our guest, Jessica Sloan, Executive Director at Raised By Us, a nonprofit that empowers businesses in this important topic area, shares actionable insights you can leverage to boost your company's social impact.The Struggles are Real:Let's face it, many companies struggle to bridge the gap between good intentions and real-world change. Jessica acknowledges this, highlighting the disconnect between a company's desire to give back and the actual impact of their efforts.The Key to Success: Employee EngagementSo, how do you bridge that gap? The answer is clear: Employee Engagement. Jessica emphasizes that traditional, one-size-fits-all programs often fall flat. The key is to understand what matters most to your employees.Actionable Steps:Here's how you can take action:* Unmask Employee Passions: Conduct surveys to understand the causes your employees care about. This allows you to tailor your program to resonate with their interests, fostering a stronger connection.* Make it Fun and Social: Partner with giving platforms that gamify the experience. This injects excitement and encourages friendly competition, boosting participation rates.Beyond the Money: Expanding Your ImpactFinancial contributions are important, but they're not the only way to give back. Jessica highlights the power of strategic partnerships with nonprofits. Here are some ways to expand your impact:* Think In-Kind: Donate needed supplies or equipment to support the nonprofit's work.* Volunteer Power: Organize volunteer opportunities for your employees to give back their time and skills.* Become an Advocate: Amplify the work of your chosen nonprofit by promoting its mission and raising awareness.Getting Started:Feeling overwhelmed? Jessica provides a roadmap to help get you and your company, started:* Define Your Goals: What impact does your company want to make?* Employee Input Matters: Survey your team to understand their interests.* Resource Check: Be realistic about your capacity to give (financial, in-kind, volunteer time).* Seek Guidance: Partner with an organization like Raised By Us to develop a strategic program.The Call to Action is Clear:By implementing these insights, your company can create a social impact program that excites employees, strengthens your company culture, and makes a lasting difference in the world. Don't wait, take action today!A Parting Thought:A growing percentage of for-profit businesses continue to think beyond the financial bottom line. They’re asking what and how can they serve their communities. Metrics on doing good perhaps isn’t as black and white as ROI but what’s the inverse if the business does nothing to give back or do good or support causes and non-profits important to their employees? Correlation doesn’t equal causation yet the numbers for employee satisfaction, fulfillment, and retention have to be noticeable when a company makes a concerted effort to do good and give back. Running a for-profit business WHILE doing good can be done at the same time. It reminds me of my conversation with Jonah Goodhart, Co-Founder, Montauk Labs.“…And I think the key, for us at least, is doing it in a sustainable way.And sustainable way means having a business model that's attached to it.So somebody has to generate revenue off of it in order to make it work, but you can have those double bottom lines.You can have a scenario where it can be a business that is absolutely a business, but at the same time does good.”I’d love to get your thoughts on CSR and share what you’ve experienced Links:Raised by Us on InstagramRaised by Us on LinkedInWatch my full conversation with Jessica on YouTube This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.worthyforthirty.com

Hello Everyone -I hope your 2024 is off to a great start. A great conversation is on deck and you’ll want to dive in head first!As a refresher and introduction:* Welcome to the Worthy for Thirty podcast, where we delve into the world of impactful business leaders.* Hosted by Eric Tash, we spotlight visionaries who merge success with social impact.* I was honored to introduce Lan Phan, founder and CEO of Community of Seven, renowned for her insights into purpose and mindset to the show.Key Points:* Background and Inception of Community of Seven:* Lan's journey begins with a successful career trajectory, yet internal dissatisfaction.* A pivotal moment during the pandemic led to the inception of Community of Seven.* Personal struggles ignited a shift towards serving others and finding purpose.* Navigating Identity and Purpose:* Lan reflects on the importance of owning one's narrative and identity.* The realization that true fulfillment stems from aligning actions with core values.* Lessons learned from past experiences, including poverty and career transitions, shape Lan's perspective.* The Power of Mindset and Consistency:* Lan emphasizes the significance of mindset in shaping our destiny.* Daily habits and intentional actions foster transformation and growth.* Consistency, coupled with a growth mindset, paves the way for sustainable change.* Transformative Leadership and Community Building:* Community of Seven serves as a platform for life-changing leadership and personal development.* Lan's book, "Do This Daily," offers a practical blueprint for living authentically and purposefully.* The importance of creating a committed community and environmental support in building personal growth.Closing Thoughts:* Lan's journey underscores the metamorphic power of aligning actions with purpose.* Each individual possesses the agency to define their narrative and pursue a life of fulfillment.* "Do This Daily" serves as a guide for embracing authenticity, fostering growth, and constructing a supportive community.How to Connect with Lan Phan:* Follow Lan Phan on LinkedIn and YouTube for insightful content and updates on Community of Seven.* Pre-order Lan's book, "Do This Daily," for a practical guide to purpose-driven living and evolutionary leadership. Releasing in April.This episode encapsulates the journey of Lan Phan and the impact of Community of Seven, offering listeners actionable insights for aligning purpose with success. Join us on the Worthy for Thirty podcast, where purpose meets profit. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.worthyforthirty.com

Hello Everyone -I hope your 2024 is off to a solid start! What are the immediate goals you’ve set so far?Excited to share my next conversation with Steven Izen, Founder & CEO, Lokai.Conversation Highlights:* Lokai's Origin Story:* Inspired by the Hawaiian term "Lokai" representing balance* Infused elements from Mount Everest and the Dead Sea into its products, symbolizing life's highs and lows. Staying humble at your highs, hopeful at your lows.* Lokai's Social Impact:* Donates 10% of net profits, totaling $8 million, so far, to charitable causes.* Rooted in Steven's journey after his grandfather's Alzheimer's diagnosis, Lokai aims to remind individuals to navigate life's contrasts with grace.* Steven's Entrepreneurial Journey:* Started Lokai during college, officially launching after graduation.* He highlights the role of athletics and education in preparing for entrepreneurship.* Executing an Idea or Vision:* Steven emphasizes the importance of long-term thinking and sustainable plans in entrepreneurship.* Advises against overworking to avoid burnout, focusing on sustainable growth.* Living Lokai's Ethos:* He advocates about giving back as a way to gain perspective and balance amidst life's challenges.* Lokai partners with 20+ nonprofit organizations, prioritizing impactful contributions.* Steven is a proud Make-A-Wish’s national board member* Transparency in Giving Back:* The brand engages consumers in the impact by sharing stories and outcomes of donations.* Values transparency in showcasing the direct impact of donations on various causes.* Product Focus and Brand Authenticity:* Steven and his team prioritizes product excellence over excessive marketing spending.* Highlights consumer stories, emotional connections, and authenticity as drivers of brand loyalty.* Cultivating a Purpose-Driven Culture:* Fosters a balanced work-life culture at Lokai with initiatives like "Balance Fridays."* Steven and his team look for prospective employees who align with Lokai's values and mission.* Family as a Personal Anchor:* Stresses the grounding influence of family, especially kids, in maintaining perspective amidst business highs and lows.* Parting Wisdom for Entrepreneurs:* Steven encourages aspiring entrepreneurs to pursue their passions with a long-term vision, emphasizing the need for genuine dedication and passion.Watch the full conversation on YouTube 👇Follow Steven & Lokai on Social Media 👇Lokai on InstagramSteven on Instagram This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.worthyforthirty.com

Hello Everyone -Happy New Year! Wishing everyone a happy, healthy, and prosperous 2024!In this episode of Worthy for Thirty, we delve into the inspiring journey of Mike Clarke, co-founder of StoryVoice, a platform that connects children from all over the world for live, interactive storytime sessions. Mike shares his story of leaving a tech career in New York City to work on the frontlines of the Syrian refugee crisis in Lebanon. It was there that he met his co-founders and witnessed firsthand the challenges children faced in accessing education and language resources. This experience sparked the idea for Storyvoice, a platform that leverages technology to bridge the gap and foster a love of reading in children everywhere.Mike Clarke's journey to co-founding StoryVoice:* 2016: Moved to Lebanon to work with refugees and leverage technology for their benefit.* 2016: Organized a hackathon for refugee challenges, and met future co-founders Ahmad and Leen.* 2016-2019: Worked with UN agencies and embassies to develop tech solutions for refugee issues.* 2018-2019: Witnessed the challenges faced by Syrian refugee children in Lebanese schools due to language barriers.* 2019: Developed the Kindi app, a platform for children to request on-demand reading buddies.The pivot to StoryVoice:* Late 2019: Realized the limitations of Kindi and decided to pivot to a one-to-many model.* Barcelona retreat: Conceptualized StoryVoice as a centralized platform for global storytime.* Focus: Creating a free, safe, and exciting space for children worldwide to enjoy reading together.Current status:* StoryVoice is now a thriving platform hosting weekly live read-aloud shows with authors, educators, and celebrities.* It has reached over 100,000 classrooms and families across 35 countries.* In late 2022, StoryVoice was acquired by Scholastic, a leading children's book publisher and education company.Links:Follow Storyvoice on Instagram Follow Scholastic on Instagram | LinkedinFollow Mike on Instagram | Connect with Mike on LinkedinFull conversation on YouTube 👇 This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.worthyforthirty.com