Food52 CEO Erika Ayers Badan: Building Brands, Leading Teams, and Changing Work Culture

What do Barstool Sports and Food52 have in common? Visionary leadership, incredible growth, and today’s podcast guest, Erika Ayers Badan. After nearly a decade as the CEO of Barstool Sports, turning it into a cultural juggernaut, Erika has taken the reins at Food52, where she’s bringing her passion for design, food, and empowering women to the forefront. Tune in as Erika talks managing young teams, shaping resilient work cultures, staying ahead of trends (hello, AI), and the lessons she’s carrying from Barstool’s locker-room vibes to Food52’s stylish kitchen counters. If you’re hungry for entrepreneurial insights and brand-building wisdom, this episode is a must-listen.

Burnout is bad for employees and business. Spot the signs, tackle the causes, and create a successful workplace: https://bit.ly/4jSaJJq

Your workforce is your superpower — but only with the right planning. This webinar shows you how to boost productivity, close skills gaps, and hire a team that thrives: https://bit.ly/4iUbJM7

Topics include:
00:00 – Episode preview and welcome
01:47 – Erika’s career journey 
04:06 – Pivoting towards women-led workspaces
06:10 – Lessons learned at Barstool 
09:07 – Motivating and leading young employees
12:18 – Building company culture
17:34 – Managing diverse teams
18:31 – The importance of feedback
21:32 – Remote work vs. office collaboration
23:16 – Brand-building lessons from Barstool
26:11 – Leveraging digital creators at Food52
27:24 – The role of AI in business growth
29:08 – Wrap up and thank you

DISCLAIMER:
The information presented in this podcast, and that is further provided by the presenter, should not be considered legal or accounting advice, and should not substitute for legal, accounting, or other professional advice in which the facts and circumstances may warrant. We encourage you to consult legal counsel as it pertains to your own unique situation(s) and/or with any specific legal questions you may have.