A Punch Above tells today’s David & Goliath stories of businesses and business leaders overcoming insurmountable odds to achieve sustainable business success. In the face of big tech, big finance and big business, A Punch Above focuses on the compelling stories of small and medium sized businesses that are punching above their weight and making a difference on the world stage by affecting real change. The lessons learned apply across all aspects of business transformation and are engagingly told by brand specialist and former COO of Saatchi & Saatchi Worldwide and the CEO of The Next Practice, Chris Foster as he engages his guests and narrates their transformation journeys.A Punch Above is a FosterEquity production.
In this final episode of the 3-part series with Roberto Guidetti, group CEO of Vitasoy, we talk about the most urgent topic for this generation – Sustainability. Roberto connects Vitasoy’s offering of plant-based nutrition to the world’s calling by putting sustainability at the heart of business and leadership. He shares with us his views on the importance of purpose and sustainability in business, while focusing on connection and doing the best in the context of the world we live in. And of course, we get to hear Roberto’s ‘a punch above’ moments in life and in business.
11/21/21 • 20:24
In this second episode of the three-part series with Roberto Guidetti, group CEO of Vitasoy, we talk about his experience in leading innovation. He shares with us the speed of innovation and adoption he sees in today's digital economy in China, and the 5 key drivers for embedding innovation into the everyday:1. Embrace innovation as a constant state of being2. Innovate within a defined parameter3. Systematization for implementation4. Practice inclusiveness5. Embrace fluidity
11/14/21 • 22:32
To kick-off Season 2, I'm delighted to have Roberto Guidetti, Group CEO of Vitasoy, to join me in a 3-part series and share his business leadership insights on Culture, Innovation and Sustainability. In this episode, we start with Culture and the powerful differences we see in the West vs East - from the way the pandemic is being handled to the way it influences business relationships. Roberto takes us to his 'living with COVID' experience in mainland China and Hong Kong. We discussed how his business and the marketplace has changed during the pandemic. As an outsider leading a family-owned company, Roberto shares his experience and insight on connecting Vitasoy's purpose and its ‘reason for being’ as a driver for culture. Using purpose as the single source of truth to galvanize the wider company towards the same shared value. It is a great example that proves ‘doing good and doing well’ can actively coexist.
11/6/21 • 25:26
I talk with Karuna Rawal, the Chief Marketing Officer of Nature’s Fynd, a start-up food technology company that uses fungi from Yellowstone as an alternative protein source. The company has raised over $150 million to date from backers including Al Gore and Bill Gates. Hear Karuna’s story about aligning her personal purpose with the company’s purpose to create an undeniable and compounding effect on revolutionizing the way we eat.
6/12/21 • 24:55
Generous experience will define the successful brands of the future. In this episode, John McNeel, Founder & CEO of in/PACT, shares with us how in/PACT supports successful brands like Target and Walgreens to activate their brand purposes by providing a generous giving experience in their loyalty programs, allowing customers to choose the charitable causes they care about most when making a purchase. You can find out more about in/PACT here: https://inpact.com/. This episode is brought to you by FosterEquity Production, a FosterEquity company https://www.fosterequity.com/.
5/8/21 • 38:57
~ Forbes magazine calls it "The World's Most Radically Redesigned Bicycle." ~~ MMA world champion, Conor McGregor, says "It is like freedom out there!" ~ These are the transformative cycling experiences created by Schiller Bikes, a water biking company founded on the belief that a sustainable planet is meant for biking. In this episode, Chris talks with the founder of Schiller Bikes, Jessica Schiller, who has punched above her weight and created the most inclusive and exhilarating biking experience for people of all athletic abilities. She also shares with us her deeply personal transformation story; her transition from Judah to Jessica. A daring personal story about honesty and courage, and an inspiring business story about the power of radical optimism and leading change.
3/19/21 • 39:23
“Whether there's a pandemic or not people still need help." -- Lt. Kyron Newbury, The Salvation ArmyThe spirit of generosity was what led Chris Greenfield to start tiptap, a touchless giving company that serves those who are being left behind in an increasingly cashless world. In this second episode of A Punch Above, we hear how technology is being used for good, how a simple device can provide equal access to easier digital payments for everyone and specifically how it has revolutionized the way an age old institution raises money in a touchless time. Please join us for an inspiring conversation with Chris Greenfield, the founder and CEO of tiptap. Enjoy!
2/2/21 • 35:53
George Hartel is the Chief Commercial officer of Supara Group, an innovative fabric technology company based in Thailand, that felt compelled to enter the US market during the pandemic. In doing so, they were able to establish a direct-to-consumer business that generated millions in sales in 3 months without a single person on the ground.In this conversation, George takes us through the story of how Supara Group has transformed its offering, transitioned to second-generation leadership and established an innovative partnership with Crayola that allowed them to enter the US market in record time with great effect.This progressive approach to leadership and business enabled Supara Group to punch above its weight and make a real difference when it mattered the most.
1/2/21 • 36:59
