Beyond the Bottom Line with Bert Miller

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

In this impactful episode of Beyond the Bottom Line, Bert Miller sits down with Sean Parkhurst, CEO of REDCON1, to unpack his unconventional journey to the helm of a leading CPG brand. With a rich background in finance, lobbying, hospitality, and consulting, Sean shares how his unique path has shaped an innovative leadership style that drives a high-performance, mission-driven culture supporting the military and delivering premium products. Tune in to hear Sean’s insights on building powerhouse teams, adapting to trends like ready-to-drink products, and how he successfully navigated a complex, high-profile energy drink acquisition. 🎙️ Subscribe for more insights from top industry leaders:   Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/beyond-the-bottom-line-with-bert-miller/id1542810489 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/66B0ftjouyzcsr72PY7rBa Amazon Podcasts: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08K5B2N6P/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_gJL2FbZYRVTH8 Follow Sean Parkhurst: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sean-parkhurst-mba-bb18671/ Follow REDCON1: https://www.youtube.com/c/Redcon1Official/ Follow Bert Miller: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bertmiller/ Visit Protis Global: https://protisglobal.com/

In this episode of Beyond the Bottom Line, host Bert Miller interviews Pete Carr, CEO of A1RWATER - Americas, and Ryan Bibbo, COO of - A1RWATER Americas, to explore the future of sustainable drinking water solutions through cutting-edge air-to-water technology.   Pete and Ryan, both industry veterans with extensive experience at renowned companies like Red Bull and Bacardi, discuss how their new roles at A1RWATER are aligned with a mission to combat water scarcity.   Learn how their innovative approach extracts humidity from the air to create clean, drinkable water, providing a sustainable alternative to traditional water sources. With a focus on reducing environmental impact, A1RWATER’s air-to-water solutions aim to address the water scarcity.   From insights into their transition to the water technology space, to the challenges of educating consumers on the benefits of air-to-water systems, Pete and Ryan share their vision for reshaping the water industry.   Discover how A1RWATER is targeting key markets, from South Florida to global regions facing water shortages, and offering eco-conscious options like reusable glass bottles.   Join us as we dive into a conversation about water innovation, sustainability, and the power of leadership in driving change. Explore more about A1RWATER's mission to provide accessible, pure drinking water to communities around the world.   Learn more about Pete and Ryan here: https://a1rwater.com/company-updates/meet-our-new-us-leadership-team/     🎙️ Subscribe for more insights from top industry leaders:   Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...   Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/66B0ftj...   Amazon Podcasts: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08K5B2N6P/...   Google Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0...   Follow Pete Carr: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pete-carr-a619a737/      Follow Ryan Bibbo: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-bibbo-5182411/   Follow A1RWATER:     https://www.linkedin.com/company/a1rwater/   Follow Bert Miller:   / bertmiller     Follow Beyond the Bottom Line with Bert Miller Podcast:   / beyondthebottomline       Visit Protis Global: https://protisglobal.com/