In this episode of Beyond the Bottom Line, host Bert Miller sits down with Jason Bronstad, CEO of MALK Organics, to unpack how he grew the clean-label plant-based milk brand from 1,200 to over 15,000 retail doors.

Jason shares his approach to culture-first leadership, extreme ownership, and building high-performing CPG teams without sacrificing authenticity. Learn how MALK expanded its portfolio, entered new categories like creamers and shelf-stable SKUs, and stayed true to its mission of clean, organic ingredients—no gums, no fillers.

🔍 What You’ll Learn:

• How to lead with transparency and trust
• Why culture must be operationalized—not just talked about
• The challenges (and wins) of scaling a premium CPG brand
• How MALK approaches new retail partners and consumer demographics
• Why leadership without a mask is the new performance edge

💡 Whether you’re a founder, brand builder, or CPG operator, this episode is packed with insights on scaling with purpose.

In this episode of Beyond the Bottom Line, Bert Miller sits down with Scott Northcutt, Senior Vice President of HR at Bacardi, who shares his 15+ year journey helping build one of the world's most iconic spirit portfolios while maintaining its family-owned culture.

Scott reveals how Bacardi, still completely family-owned, uses the original 1862 yeast strain and keeps its recipe under lock and key - known only to two people. Learn how this commitment to quality drives everything from innovation to talent development.

💡 QUOTABLE MOMENTS: "Quality is personal to the family. If something isn't right with that profile, we will destroy the whole thing rather than ship something that doesn't meet our standards." - Scott Northcutt

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS:
00:00 - Introduction & Welcome
00:07 - Changing Consumer Behaviors Post-2020
02:28 - Innovation in Non-Alcoholic Beverages
04:35 - Bacardi's Mission: Making Moments Matter
06:52 - Premium Brand Portfolio Management
09:01 - Building Performance Culture
13:24 - Leadership Development Programs
15:30 - Creating High-Performance Teams
17:33 - Communication Strategies
19:30 - Future Vision & Industry Trends

🔑 KEY INSIGHTS:

How Bacardi maintains quality while innovating for new consumer trends
The unique approach to managing premium brands like Grey Goose, Patron, and Angels Envy.

Building a performance culture while preserving family values
Leadership development strategies including Harvard Business School partnership

Implementing radical candor in a family-oriented business

💼 ABOUT SCOTT NORTHCUTT: With over 15 years at Bacardi, Scott has been instrumental in developing the company's talent strategy and cultural evolution while maintaining its family-owned values and premium brand positioning.

🔗 CONNECT WITH US:
► Subscribe to Beyond the Bottom Line: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/beyond-the-bottom-line-with-bert-miller/id1542810489
► Follow Bert Miller: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bertmiller/
► Visit Protis Global: www.protisglobal.com
► Connect with Scott: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scott-northcutt-838315125/

#BeyondTheBottomLine #Leadership #Bacardi #SpiritsIndustry #FamilyBusiness #Innovation #CorporateCulture #PremiumBrands #TalentDevelopment

Join host Bert Miller in this fascinating episode of Beyond the Bottom Line as he interviews Joe Fortune—CEO (or “Chief Meister”) of Jägermeister—about the brand’s 90-year legacy and its innovative transformation in the U.S. market. Discover how Jägermeister balances a close-knit, family-owned culture with high-performance goals, adapting to changing consumer preferences while staying true to its iconic shot identity. Joe shares insight into the company’s multi-generational perspective, strategic leadership approach, and the importance of talent acquisition for sustainable growth. Plus, learn how the brand’s data-driven focus aligns with Jägermeister’s heritage to create a thriving, future-ready organization.

In This Episode, You’ll Learn:
•How a fifth-generation, family-owned business stays agile in a competitive beverage industry
•Why redefining target consumers is pivotal for Jägermeister’s ongoing success
•The role of employee engagement, open communication, and organizational development in building a high-performance culture