CEO: Chief Eternal Optimist with Kevin Rutherford

Kevin sits down with Eric Ryan, a serial entrepreneur.  At one point the two of them were competitors leading the way to the creation of a booming natural cleaners category. Today, they are friends and dig into the 'what' and 'how' they both won their 'Superbowl'. More importantly, as Eric reveals, why stop when you have success when you love what you do.  Eric talk about how identifies opportunities and how he and his teams took method, Olly, and Welly, from concept to massively successful brands. More importantly, Eric's authenticity and wonderful character shine through in this episode.  Get ready to take notes because this one is full of insights and ideas for you to reapply.  --------- Eric Ryan has built his career and portfolio of direct-to-consumer companies by disrupting industries that are overly complex by simplifying and beautifying them to make consumers’ lives easier and prettier. He started out squeaky clean in 2001 when he co-founded Method with a good high school friend and built it into a global industry leader for both design and sustainability. In 2015, he shed his clean reputation to shake up the vitamin aisle with OLLY, an innovative line of gummies and proteins with smart design and downright deliciousness.  Next, Eric ventured into making the finest fabric bandages and ointments that people actually want to buy and wear, co-founding Welly in 2019. Most recently, he co-founded Cast, a collaborative, female-focused line of fine jewelry created by some of the world’s most inventive jewelry designers. A serial entrepreneur and creator of everlasting brands, Eric is always thinking about his next big project. So, what’s next? You’ll see soon! Eric has been named an eco-leader by Vanity Fair, an eco-revolutionary by Time Magazine, PETA's Person of the Year, a recipient of the Clinton Global Citizen Award, and was named to Fortune’s 40 under 40. He's accomplished quite a bit, yet remains modestly approachable, and has a great sense of humor. There is no separation between work and home - what you see is what you get. He brilliantly owns his bold style yet keeps it real by always being respectful, transparent, and empathetic. And if that’s not enough, despite his self-professed less than average build, this adrenaline junkie is an avid kite-surfer, snow skier, sailor and  Dad to three lively kiddos.

Wayne Wu is a General Partner at VMG Partners. VMG Partners works intimately with founders and leaders of branded consumer product companies, providing the resources and guidance needed to propel them to their next level of growth and value.  Beyond capital, Wayne provides a value-added investment philosophy that pulls from his decades of experience, strategic guidance, and passionate focus to help our brands accelerate growth, increase brand awareness, and achieve their own definition of success. VMG has worked closely and successfully with brands such as Ancient Nutrition, Drunk Elephant, Humm Kombucha, Justin's, KIND, Nature's Bakery, Perfect Snacks, Quest, and Spindrift, to name a few.  Wayne is energized by the next generation of innovative, consumer product entrepreneurs, and looks forward to helping them fully realize their vision. Wayne is based in San Francisco, CA.

At Nestlé Health Science [https://www.nestlehealthscience.com/], the mission is to empower healthier lives through nutrition. As the CEO of NHSc U.S., Abigail Buckwalter has the goal to bring this purpose to life and deliver innovative solutions that transform the lives of consumers and patients. Buckwalter has been with NHSc since its inception, and for more than a decade she is still fueled every day by the people, purpose, and potential. Listen to this educational episode as two CEOs, Kevin and Abigail, drop important lessons on leadership in this amazing conversation.  About host Kevin Rutherford Kevin is a human-centric leader helping you to unlock your team’s full potential by creating a dynamic and engaging work environment. Joined by other thought leaders, they will share tools they have used to create highly successful teams through culture-first leadership. Kevin Rutherford is a CEO, board member, public speaker and team culture expert who believes in the power of people. As CEO of two different companies, he shaped their company cultures resulting in recognition as one of ‘Outside Magazine’s Best Places to Work’ for a total of six years. Known as the Chief Eternal Optimist, he has made it his mission to create a working environment where everyone can succeed and thrive. Join Kevin on a journey to help you and your team become the very best they can be.

Seth Goldman, the Founder and CEO of Just Ice Tea, and the mastermind behind the iconic Honest Tea brand (which he later sold to Coca-Cola) sits down and talk about business, culture, and even a quick chat on running 10 miles after eating 20 donuts.  Following the acquisition of Honest Tea, Coca-Cola chose to discontinue the brand, leaving a void in the market. Undeterred, Seth embarked on his second journey in reinventing the ice tea industry with Just Ice Tea. Remarkably, Seth and his team took Just Ice Tea from concept to commercialization in under 4 months—an impressive feat in itself.  What's truly remarkable about Seth's story is not just his entrepreneurial resilience but also his leadership and team culture ethos. Despite facing challenges, Seth remained steadfast in his belief that there was a demand for beverages crafted with integrity and superior taste. If the journey of Just Ice Tea doesn't pique your interest, Seth's approach to leadership and team culture certainly will. Tune in to the full episode as Seth and Kevin unravel this fascinating story. About host Kevin Rutherford Kevin is a human-centric leader helping you to unlock your team’s full potential by creating a dynamic and engaging work environment. Joined by other thought leaders, they will share tools they have used to create highly successful teams through culture-first leadership. Kevin Rutherford is a CEO, board member, public speaker and team culture expert who believes in the power of people. As CEO of two different companies, he shaped their company cultures resulting in recognition as one of ‘Outside Magazine’s Best Places to Work’ for a total of six years. Known as the Chief Eternal Optimist, he has made it his mission to create a working environment where everyone can succeed and thrive. Join Kevin on a journey to help you and your team become the very best they can be.

Roy Notowitz knows a thing about culture and fit, he runs one of the top recruiting companies [https://www.notogroup.com/] in the country. Listen to this episode as Roy and Kevin discuss how to find great people who will help you build your company into a force. About host Kevin Rutherford Kevin is a human-centric leader helping you to unlock your team’s full potential by creating a dynamic and engaging work environment. Joined by other thought leaders, they will share tools they have used to create highly successful teams through culture-first leadership. Kevin Rutherford is a CEO, board member, public speaker and team culture expert who believes in the power of people. As CEO of two different companies, he shaped their company cultures resulting in recognition as one of ‘Outside Magazine’s Best Places to Work’ for a total of six years. Known as the Chief Eternal Optimist, he has made it his mission to create a working environment where everyone can succeed and thrive. Join Kevin on a journey to help you and your team become the very best they can be.