The Wharton School’s Post

Advice from Fawn Weaver for CEOs and leaders at every level “If you share your insights as you go, you can break free from a scarcity mindset and the fear that if you give away an idea, you might never have another one.” #leadershipmatters #talentmatters

Day 3 of being a Black Story Teller: The tricky thing about online advertising is... the guidelines can change on any platform at any time. Had I launched Resilient Spirits in 2021, I would have no problem getting my ads approved to reach Black-Owned Wine & Spirit brands and their supporters. Fast forward to today, elevating Black-Owned businesses isn't technically what's "hot in the streets" for these larger platforms and VCs are being sued for attempting to even the playing field for a "specific" demographic. The reaility is that Black business owners and Black entrepreneurs across the country STILL face many unique challenges, including systemic racism, a lack of access to venture capital funds, barriers to accessing support services and networking opportunities, and inequitable access to business education. Resilient Spirits was created in observance of these obstacles... hence the name. I'm observing and learning. It's very early in my journey and I'm still in high spirits. For now I will rely on my network to spread the word that Resilient Spirits is searching for brands interested in being included in the first ever platform showcasing the largest catalog of Black-Owned Wine&Spirits for FREE!!! As always, thanks for your support! #resilientspirits #blackowned #Wine & #spirits #startup #spiritsindustry #wineindustry

Fawn Weaver: How a Quest for Truth Revolutionized an Industry Imagine being a high school dropout, facing life's harsh realities head-on from a young age, and then stumbling upon a piece of history that not only changes your life but also challenges the narratives of an entire industry. In 2016, Fawn Weaver, while researching for a potential book, uncovered a significant part of whiskey history that had been long forgotten. It all started with an intriguing photo in the New York Times, featuring a black man seated next to Jack Daniel. This man was connected to Nearest Green, a former slave who was pivotal in teaching Jack Daniel how to make whiskey. Contrary to the prevailing stories, Fawn believed that the relationship between Daniel and Green was not one of theft but of mentorship and collaboration. Driven by curiosity and a relentless pursuit of truth, Fawn’s 40th birthday trip to Lynchburg, Tennessee, turned into a groundbreaking journey. Not only did she end up purchasing the 300-acre farm where Green taught Daniel the craft, but her meticulous research also led to the discovery of primary documents confirming the site as the original location of Daniel’s first distillery. This discovery was the catalyst for launching Uncle Nearest Whiskey in 2017. Since its inception, Uncle Nearest has not only tripled its sales but has become the fastest-growing American whiskey brand in history, with Forbes estimating its worth at $1.1 billion. Fawn Weaver’s story is a testament to the power of perseverance and the impact of honoring true heritage and contributions, regardless of the odds. What can we learn from Fawn Weaver's journey about the power of historical truth in shaping business ethics and brand integrity? My favorite drink. My birthday! Share your thoughts and insights below. Inquiring minds want to know. #BusinessEthics #Leadership #Entrepreneurship #WhiskeyIndustry #Innovation Image credit: @unclenearest

My wife (Luann Abrams) and I are franchise owners of a Ben & Jerry's for four primary reasons: 1. Ice cream makes people across all socioeconomics and demographics happy and the world can use a lot more happiness 2. We want our kids, their friends, and other young people in the community to be involved in and understand the services industry and be able to make money (note: one of our managers makes more money scooping ice cream than he did as a video journalist at one of the local news stations, but that doesn't mean - with cost of living - it's necessarily enough...and it's a more complex & complicated issue). 3. We appreciate the authenticity, the brand, the purpose, the model and the mission of Ben & Jerry's (3 interrelated parts): 👉Product: to make, distribute & sell the finest quality all natural ice cream & euphoric concoctions with a continued commitment to incorporating wholesome, natural ingredients & promoting business practices that respect the Earth & the Environment. 👉Economic: To operate the Company on a sustainable financial basis of profitable growth, increasing value for our stakeholders & expanding opportunities for development & career growth for our employees. 👉Social: To operate the Company in a way that recognizes the central role that business plays in society by initiating innovative ways to improve the quality of life locally, nationally, & internationally. 4. We want to make money...no we're not socialists, communists, and many other names I saw in the comments section of the The Wall Street Journal article here. NOTE: this doesn't mean we agree with every stance they take (hell, I don't agree with every stance I take and my wife certainly doesn't agree with me much of the time), but it does mean we agree with the model, the mission, the intention, and the authenticity for which the brand works towards every day and, importantly, for which local owners across the country / world work towards in their own communities and in their own ways. That authenticity, combined with mission, is often missing today in zero sum models, short-term incentives / thinking, and the world in which we live. At the end of the day for Ben & Jerry's, it is fundamentally about so many small and local community members / business owners working towards the three legs of that stool (product, economic, social) for what matters in THEIR local communities and who are trying to, ultimately, bring happiness through ice cream to their communities. It is about folks trying to do the right things to make things better in their local areas. That isn't "woke" (hell, I don't even know what that means) and perhaps it more broadly can be thought of as just being a human being trying to make things a bit better and, like all human beings, being fallible through this journey of life. https://lnkd.in/ggPhz2gr

Have you ever turned to the internet to learn something new? With hard work and YouTube tutorials, Tay Nelson turned a curiosity into Bobby's BBQ, a culinary staple in #GreenvilleSC. Read the entrepreneurial story of he and his wife: https://bit.ly/450wkrL #NationalBlackBusinessMonth

🥂 Desolas Mezcal, a female-founded spirit, has just secured a major investment from Miami Heat star Duncan Robinson. 🤝 Click the link below to read the full story! #DesolasMezcal #DuncanRobinson #InvestmentNews #FemaleFounders #MiamiHeat #EmpoweringEntrepreneurs #BusinessSuccess #MezcalMagic #SFBW #CheersToSuccess

Meet Charles & Company: There was a time when Lawrence Charles was as far from being a CEO as one could imagine. He and his family struggled with being houseless in Canton, Ohio, when he was young, a time he recalls vividly. He remembers carrying all his belongings in a trash bag as his family searched for a shelter, as well as moving from apartment to apartment with his grandparents. "I tried to understand why my grandparents kept everything in boxes. They never unpacked," he remembers. "That was a powerless situation." But Charles was determined to change his situation. He lived in a homeless shelter while putting himself through the Pittsburgh Institute of Art. It was during this moment of challenge that he accepted a part-time modeling gig for a local department store, which led to a big break for him. A New York City fashion director saw his photo and invited him to come to New York to do more modeling. Soon, he was a Tommy Hilfiger model traveling the world, working with a major international public relations firm and networking with industry power players. "I was able to get through college and I was fortunate I had an opportunity in New York City as a model," he remembers. "That's where I learned some of the fundamental aspects of business. Being a model, you fly all over the world and you're working with these major PR firms and you see how they're making these really interesting decisions. I had to uniquely find my own way." He had an entrepreneurial spirit and that led him to rely on himself to create his own unique pathway to success. Location: Long Beach, California Website: cnctea.com Leadership: BIPOC-owned ICIC Program: ICCC Dallas 2014, San Diego 2018, San Diego 2020, and San Diego 2021 Read more 🔗 https://lnkd.in/esx7KCWy. . . . #ICICOrg #ICIC #BusinessOwners #Entrepreneurship #BlackOwnedBusiness #BlackInBusiness #MinorityOwned #BIPOC #BlackHistoryMonth #ICICBlackinBusiness #BIPOCBusinessOwners #SupportBlackOwnedBusiness #ICICImpact #ICICImpactReport #BostonMA #GreaterBoston @https://lnkd.in/eZvvSQwk

☕ Looking to turn your passion into a trading #business? 📈 Fraser Smith at EH9 Espresso is one of the many start-up businesses that we've supported in #Tayside. Hear about his entrepreneurial journey and how we've helped him turn his love for coffee into his own business! 💬 “The support I received from Business Gateway was crucial in bringing my idea to life and my passion into the market.” Read the full story below⬇️ https://bit.ly/3r5CoAH

Business owners and entrepreneurs; how do you energize and support your team and customers? I encourage you to follow Stephanie Stuckey with Stuckey's. She is a business owner that is so very passionate about her company, product, employees, retail partners and customers. She has the commitment and the drive to "get it done". She literally rolls up her sleeves and does the heavy lifting. Check out her LinkedIn posts and videos. More business owners can learn from her. #Stuckeys #businessowners #entrepreneurship #ownership #hustle #employeengagement #customersupport