Columbia Bizcast

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Ethan Brown '08: How Relentless Innovation Created Beyond Meat Apr 16, 2018

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For Ethan Brown '08, the journey to disrupting the meat industry began with his childhood, which he split between an urban life in Washington, DC and his family's Holstein cattle farm in rural Maryland. The connection to animals and the food system informed his innovative idea. After a successful career in clean technology, Brown began to feel disconnected from his upbringing. "It started to really manifest itself when I had to make choices for my own children," Brown says. "I can remember being on the Jersey Turnpike and stopping to get something to eat with [my children] at Subway. I was ordering a ham sandwich or something for the kids. And here we had these pigs we kept as pets — and the whole thing just got to be 'Wait, my life is not making sense to me.' I needed to make a change." After that epiphany, Brown founded Beyond Meat, a company that produces 100-percent plant-based products with the taste and texture of meat. Brown's vision for the future of protein is one which improves human health, reduces the environmental strains caused by meat production, and addresses animal welfare concerns. The success of Beyond Meat — now found in more than 20,000 stores nationwide, always in the meat aisle rather than the "alternative" protein case — relies on "relentless innovation." "We want to innovate so fast that when people try to replicate they're chasing ghosts," says Brown. Brown fosters this innovation by letting go of ego and surrounding himself with experts, something he learned from the Oracle of Omaha himself. "I try as hard as I can to surround myself with people who I think are better than I am at what they're doing," he says. "And that's a tried and true axiom. It really makes sense. And that comes back to Columbia. What does Buffett say about great businesses? It's management."

April Tam Smith '10: The Power of Generosity and the Pursuit of Social Justice Apr 09, 2018

Show notes

April Tam Smith '10 is laser-focused on social impact – whether it's through business or her personal commitment to giving back. It's transformed the way she defines ROI. She is the co-owner of P.S. Kitchen, a plant-based restaurant in New York City that focuses on the three branches of sustainability – economic, environmental, and social. For her demonstrated leadership and commitment to social enterprise, she received the Tamer Center's 2018 Social Enterprise Leadership Award.

Professor Hitendra Wadhwa — Part II: The Five Pillars of Personal Leadership Apr 02, 2018

Show notes

In part two, Professor Hitendra Wadhwa and Fahad Ahmed '17 discuss the the five pillars of personal leadership.

Professor Hitendra Wadhwa — Part I: The Importance of Self-Mastery in Leadership Apr 02, 2018

Show notes

Professor Hitendra Wadhwa's Personal Leadership & Success is Columbia Business School's most popular leadership elective. It's easy to see why. Blending his cultural heritage and experiences in business, psychology, mathematics, with Eastern mystical traditions, Wadhwa investigates how business leaders – and everyone – can best reach their potential.

Stephanie Palmeri '11: Taking Chances, the Power of Connections, and Tips from the Startup Industry Mar 26, 2018

Show notes

When Stephanie Palmeri graduated from Columbia Business School in 2011, she took a leap of faith. With no job and two suitcases, she left New York City for Silicon Valley, crashing on the couches of fellow CBS grads. "As someone who didn't have a network [in the Valley]…it was scary, but I did it," Palmeri says. Palmeri, now a partner at Uncork Capital (formerly SoftTech VC), sat down with Why CBS host Fahad Ahmed '17 during the School's Women's Business Leadership in Tech: From Talk to Action conference in February, where she was a panelist.

Antonia Hyman '18 — Part II: Columbia Business School's Black Business Student Association Mar 22, 2018

Show notes

In part two of her Why CBS interview, Antonia Hyman '18 speaks in-depth about her leadership role in the Black Business Students Association (BBSA), the upcoming Elevate conference, and the importance of sharing your story.

Antonia Hyman '18 — Part I Mar 19, 2018

Show notes

In a powerful, two-part conversation, Antonia Hyman '18, who is completing a joint MBA/JD program at Columbia, sits down with Fahad to discuss the influence her family had on her dream to launch a company for the historically disadvantaged. Read more: https://www8.gsb.columbia.edu/articles/columbia-business/why-cbs-podcast-antonia-hyman-18-part-i

Professor Sheena Iyengar: The Power of Choice Dec 08, 2017

Show notes

Sheena S. Iyengar is the S. T. Lee Professor of Business at Columbia Business School. Professor Iyengar has taught courses in leadership and entrepreneurial creativity. Her research addresses the implications of offering people, whether they be employees or consumers, choices. In this episode, Fahad Ahmed '17 meets with Professor Iyengar to discuss how "choice" became such an important part of her life, as well as the tips and tools she feels a person can use to maximize the power of choice.

Molly Magnuson '18: Finding your Purpose Nov 30, 2017

Show notes

In this episode, Fahad Ahmed '17 meets with Molly Magnuson '18, co-president of Columbia Business School's Student Government, to discuss how life circumstances have helped to define Molly's passions, her purpose, and overall life perspective.

Carolyn Disbrow '18: Business is Storytelling Nov 10, 2017

Show notes

Carolyn Disbrow is the Senior Director of Brand Marketing for CNN Worldwide and a member of Columbia Business School's Executive MBA Class of 2018. In her role at CNN, she oversees internal and external branding, corporate donations, sponsorships, and awards strategy for CNN Worldwide. In this episode, Fahad Ahmed '17 sits in-studio with Carolyn to discuss her love for non-fiction content, passion for the First Amendment, and her opinion that "business is storytelling."

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