On this episode of the Growing with Purpose podcast, host Paul Spiegelman speaks with Britt Wiedemann, president and owner of IWI Ventures, a company that runs various organizations in the hospitality industry. Britt is also a mentor in the Small Giants Sounding Board program.
Britt grew up in an entrepreneurial family and was raised on a horse and tobacco farm. Early on, he began adding more and more tools to his toolbox by way of new experiences. From working on his family’s farm, to being an English teacher in Korea, to being a mountain guide for Outward Bound, Britt never shied away from the opportunities that were presented to him. And along the way, he kept an open mind, remained humble, and sought out like-hearted people. With a mix of hard work, curiosity, and luck, Britt’s winding path led him into the hospitality industry. Today, he remains appreciative of all the varied experiences that have led him to where he is today, and continually strives to be the best leader he can be.
Tune into this episode to hear Paul and Britt talk about how Britt came to discover the importance of good culture, what growing up on a farm taught him about entrepreneurship, and why he considers himself the luckiest guy on the planet.
Show Notes:
3:23 - Getting in on the ground floor of fast casual
10:35 - “It turns out, good people won’t serve garbage”
17:45 - Growing up with entrepreneurial DNA
28:00 - How the pandemic changed the hospitality industry
36:35 - “Put tools in your toolbox”
Eric Rieger: Unpacking the Past
Andy Fowler: The Accidental Entrepreneur
Kate McCrea: The Sweet Side of Leadership
Angela Barbash: Empowerment Through Financial Literacy
Mel Gravely: Reframing How We Think and Talk About Race
Conni Reed: From ”Un” to Fun
Drew Patrick: The Company Is Yours Now
Leslie DeMent & Sabrina White: Dodgeball, Friendship, and Shonda Rhimes
Torey Carter-Conneen: Our Work Continues
Colin Quinn: Every Leader Needs a Sounding Board
Bonus Mailbag with Mackey McNeill: How to Thrive, Not Just Survive This Year
Jim Hume: The Harsh Wake-Up Call That Changed Everything
Khalilah "KO" Olokunola: From the Block to the Boardroom
Ari Weinzweig: While the World Gets Louder, Humility Can Quietly Help
Jay Wilkinson: Fired as CEO of Your Own Company
Bo Burlingham: What Makes a Company Great?
Delcie Bean: On a Mission to Make I.T. Fun
Elizabeth Glasbrenner: Can a Leader Care Too Much?
Travis Slisher Interviews Paul Spiegelman: Take Care of the Person In Front of You
Lisa Wise: Empathy Is My Engine
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