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Culture, Talent & Growth

Culture, Talent & Growth

Written by: Ruckus
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 This is Culture, Talent & Growth – a Ruckus Podcast. Join Anish Shah and the Ruckus team as they converse with dynamic leaders to share what they’ve learned about creating lasting culture, attracting great talent, and achieving sustainable growth.Copyright 2022 All rights reserved. Careers Economics Management Management & Leadership Personal Success
Episodes
  • Ep. 60 - Part-Time Teacher to CEO of Coucou French Classes with Victoire Lester

    Ep. 60 - Part-Time Teacher to CEO of Coucou French Classes with Victoire Lester
    Aug 31 2023

    Imagine going from part-time teacher to the CEO of the same company. Victoire Lester's journey is exactly that. Victoire began her career with a keen interest in the sociology of music. However, a serendipitous part-time teaching role at Coucou French Classes set her on a path into start-ups and business. Over seven years, she journeyed from teacher to CEO, helping evolve Coucou from a Brooklyn start-up to later expand across New York, L.A., and online.

    In this episode, we discuss navigating between Coucou’s roots and growth, understanding leadership nuances, and how Coucou had to adapt quickly online if they wanted to stay afloat during COVID. Victoire gives us insight into hiring the perfect match, and it’s shockingly not about what’s on your resume! All this and more!

    Here’s What We Discussed

    • [00:01] Victoire Lester's Journey from Cultural Researcher to CEO of Coucou French Classes
    • [04:10] Balancing Roles and Growth as a Small Business
    • [07:05] How Covid Affected Coucou’s Operations – How to Transition Your Business Online Successfully
    • [13:06] Insights into Building a Harmonious Multicultural Team
    • [25:29] Balancing Authority and Openness as a CEO
    • [27:25] Bridging Online Learning, Bicoastal Operations, and Technological Integration
    • [34:40] How to Protect the Essence and Heart of a Business as It Scales

    About Victoire

    Victoire Lester is the CEO of Coucou French Classes. Seven years ago, Victoire started at Coucou French Classes as a part-time teacher. Founded by two French cousins in their 20s, the school was in its infancy, but Lester quickly became an integral part of its growth. From teaching to overseeing operations, she immersed herself in every aspect of the business. Recognizing her invaluable contributions and innate understanding of the company's needs, Coucou appointed her CEO. Today, under Lester's leadership, the once-small corner shop has transformed, showcasing the power of passion and dedication.

    Quotes

    “I think communication is key; Communication and transparency and not being afraid to repeat yourself.” – Victoire Lester

    “One of the principles that I live by is to treat people the way that you'd like to be treated.” – Victoire Lester

    ABOUT RUCKUS

    We are growth leaders who recruit your game changers. Visit https://bringruckus.com and connect on LinkedIn. Subscribe and listen to more episodes on Apple Podcasts, Spotify Google Podcasts, Audible, or wherever you get your podcasts!
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    42 mins
  • Ep. 59 - Founder of Dirtbag Bar, Mark Andrew Gravel: Startup Stories

    Ep. 59 - Founder of Dirtbag Bar, Mark Andrew Gravel: Startup Stories
    Jun 20 2023

    Born from personal adversity and crafted with a spirit of rebellion, Dirtbag Bar is a testament to founder Mark Andrew Gravel’s journey through substance addiction and depression toward a healthier, more fulfilling existence.

    In this episode, we discuss how Mark transformed his battle with addiction and depression into a mission to provide a unique, healthy alternative to the candy bars we know. This single-SKU, chocolatey health bar balances indulgence and wellness, connecting with consumers who embrace an active, unconventional lifestyle. We also dive into Dirtbag Bar’s mission to stand for mental health, contributing a portion of sales to organizations providing no-cost mental health care services. We also get an honest insight into what it takes to expand reach and navigate the intricate terrain of growth in food distribution.

    Here’s What We Discussed

    • [00:37] Mark's Unconventional Journey Behind the Creation of Dirtbag Bar
    • [07:41] How Dirtbag Bar Redefines Health Snack Branding
    • [13:45] Supporting Non-Profits & Choosing Mental Health Organizations
    • [19:16] On Growth, Challenges, and Expansion Plans

    About Mark

    As the Founder of Dirtbag Bar, Mark Andrew Gravel has carved a niche for himself in the food industry, from spearheading unique pop-up restaurant events to crafting an artful food magazine. His professional journey started in 2007 with Bouwerie Projects, where he made his mark as an artist for over a decade. His professional journey in the food industry spans over 15 years, marked by a dynamic mix of popups and conceptual art projects. Throughout his career, Mark's passion for food remained steadfast.

    Dirtbag Bar was born out of a personal need for a healthy snack. Starting as a snack bar he made for himself and shared with friends and family, the product quickly grew in popularity. This prompted Mark to commercialize the product, starting from formalizing the recipe to figuring out manufacturing, branding, and packaging, all in the midst of a global pandemic.

    About Our Host

    Anish Shah is the CEO & Founder of executive search agency Bring Ruckus. Anish has worked in-house in Growth roles at Snapfish and Getable. He started Bring Ruckus as a Growth consultancy 11 years ago working with 40+ clients, then re-focused his firm on executive recruiting for Growth leaders.

    Quotes

    “And it's really all about just listening to like what people are saying and the, you know, people that are interested in your product.” – Mark Andrew Gravel

    “It goes back to that idea of being unconventional, not being afraid to do what you love or step outside of the boundaries. Just march to the beat of your own drum and live your life in a way that's meaningful to you.” – Mark Andrew Gravel

    “The mental health component in Dirtbag intersects. I think access to mental health is access to nature, to be able to go outside, connect with your surroundings, and connect with something that's bigger than you.” – Mark Andrew Gravel

    ABOUT RUCKUS

    We are growth leaders who recruit your game changers. Visit https://bringruckus.com and connect on LinkedIn. Subscribe and listen to more episodes on Apple Podcasts, Spotify Google Podcasts, Audible, or wherever you get your podcasts!
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    23 mins
  • Ep. 58 - Corporate Venture Capital Insights with Comcast Ventures and Estee Lauder New Incubation Ventures

    Ep. 58 - Corporate Venture Capital Insights with Comcast Ventures and Estee Lauder New Incubation Ventures
    Jun 6 2023
    Venture Capital is a dynamic and ever-evolving landscape, constantly influenced by market trends, tech advancements, and economic fluctuations. This industry has seen significant shifts, prompting both founders and VCs to adapt their strategies and approaches. In this discussion, Comcast Ventures SVP Allison Goldberg, and Executive Director at Estee Lauder New Incubation Ventures, Ryan Piela, share advice for founders seeking investment and VCs aiming to excel in their roles. We discuss what can go into crafting a winning pitch, how investment decisions are not static, and the importance of strengthening VC-Founder relationships. Here’s What We Discussed [00:37] Our Panelists Share Their Background [06:12] Exploring Untapped VC Opportunities and Collaborating with Founders[11:36] Corporate VC vs. Traditional VC; Exploring Differences and Commonalities[20:23] Exploring Changes in Startup Evaluation and Selection [32:20] Advice for Founders Engaging the Right Investors – Tailoring Your Pitch to Corporate VCs & Harnessing External Insights[37:57] Advice for VCs & How to Create Lasting Value for Their Investments About Our Speakers With a wealth of experience in venture capital, incubation, and mentorship, Ryan J. Piela currently serves as the Executive Director of New Incubation Ventures at Estée Lauder Companies, where he drives innovation and fosters the development of new ventures. In addition to his role at Estée Lauder Companies, Ryan is an active board observer at Haeckels, a company focused on sustainable skincare. He provides valuable insights and guidance to support their growth and strategic initiatives. He also mentors startups at WEVE Acceleration. Additionally, Ryan is an Entrepreneur in Residence at Starta Ventures, leveraging his expertise to guide early-stage ventures. With a passion for innovation and mentorship, Ryan contributes to the growth and success of emerging companies in the startup ecosystem. Allison Goldberg is an accomplished SVP & Managing Partner at Comcast Ventures and Startup Engagement, where she leads the management of Comcast Ventures, Lift Labs, and Comcast NBCU SportsTech. With a diverse background in finance, media, and digital industries, Allison has excelled as an investor and strategist, consistently delivering strategic value and driving impressive financial returns. Previously, she served as Group Managing Director & Senior Vice President of Time Warner Investments, overseeing investments of up to $25MM in private companies to generate strategic value and financial returns for Time Warner Inc. Allison has held numerous board and board observer roles, including companies such as Adify, AdMeld, BDG Media, Bluefin Labs, Discord, Dynamic Signal, Everyday Health, Fanduel, FirstMark Horizon Acquisition Corporation, Fuse Media, Hive, Mashable, Players' Lounge, Proletariat Inc., SambaTV, Simulmedia, Tact.ai, Visible World, Vostok Emerging Finance, and YieldMo About Our Host Anish Shah is the CEO & Founder of executive search agency Bring Ruckus. Anish has worked in-house in Growth roles at Snapfish and Getable. He started Bring Ruckus as a Growth consultancy 11 years ago working with 40+ clients, then re-focused his firm on executive recruiting for Growth leaders. Quotes “Where are those white spaces or those edge cases that we wanna play into? Where's the market going? Consumers are becoming more educated, they're changing, evolving, and they're at different levels of the journey. And so we see a lot of people that are creating in a space that others already own or others already exist in.” – Ryan J. Piela “We want to do everything that a traditional VC does, plus bring a little bit more to the table to the extent we can with the portfolio company.” – Allison Goldberg “If you look back in time, lots of great companies were started when the venture markets weren't, you know, amazing” – Allison Goldberg “When talking to any investor, know who you're talking to, know who that investor is, understand if they're a corporate VC, what their priorities might be, and some of the companies that they've invested in before.” – Allison Goldberg “I don't think you can time the market, and I'm always surprised when people think they can. I think now's a great time. Its value for VC is right, as well as just an opportunity to support some great people.” – Ryan J. Piela ABOUT RUCKUS We are growth leaders who recruit your game changers. Visit https://bringruckus.com and connect on LinkedIn. Subscribe and listen to more episodes on Apple Podcasts, Spotify Google Podcasts, Audible, or wherever you get your podcasts!
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    42 mins
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