How Buddy Teaster and Soles4Souls Turned Crisis into Clarity—and Shoes into Opportunity

Joe Pardavila sits down with Buddy Teaster, President and CEO of the global nonprofit Soles4Souls, which transforms lives through clothing and shoe donations. Buddy opens up about steering the organization through crisis, turning financial turmoil and reputational challenges into a thriving mission that serves millions. Discover how Soles4Souls balances philanthropy with earned revenue, using innovative programs like For the Planet, For Opportunity, For Relief, and For Every Kid to create lasting impact. Buddy shares hard-earned leadership lessons from his book From Tailspin to Tailwind, including the critical role of board governance, the emotional weight of succession planning, and his leadership philosophy. He also reflects on overcoming personal and organizational loss, and why “no margin, no mission” is key to sustaining nonprofit work. Whether you’re a nonprofit leader, entrepreneur, or simply inspired by stories of resilience, this episode offers profound insights into turning crisis into clarity, the power of compassionate leadership, and building a legacy that outlives your tenure. Watch or listen now to uncover how purpose-driven leadership can transform lives—and why caring might just be the most undervalued strategy in business.