This month at Private Enterprise Value we are kicking off an experiment to regularly deliver you some thought-provoking interviews with some of the most interesting and successful for-profit and not-for-profit Entrepreneur Owner-Managers you’ll ever meet.
Today I am tickled to share with you the interesting and fun recorded conversation I had last month with my friend Allison Hooper. Allison is the co-Founder of Vermont Creamery (now owned by the farmer-owned coop Land O’Lakes). Allison is a globally recognized leader in the branded, artisanal farm to table movement.
Allison and I had an essentially private conversation between just the two of us about some of the twists and turns over the last thirty years of Allison’s journey that you will be able to listen in to. You can overhear the breadcrumbs she’s left along the way for other high performing EOMs; the learning and unlearning, the knowing and not-knowing.
Our conversation was spontaneous, candid, and unscripted. While I had an idea of directionally what themes I was intending to surface, Allison did not know what the questions would be in advance and (clearly) we did not rehearse. There are a couple of surprises. You’ll hear her terrific and insightful thoughts. Let us know how (if) you like it. Our conversation was recorded at Allison’s home on the end of a dirt road in rural Vermont.
In this brief, thought-provoking podcast (link below), you’ll hear me ask (and Allison answer):
» Specifically, what nouns does she use as self-descriptors?
» What is it about her personal background or upbringing that inspired her her to start up a goat cheese company?
» Who does Allison personally consider to be “mentors” for her?
» What thinking or reading is “pushing” her right now?
» What are some memorable failures and what did they motivate her to change about her behavior?
» We tried a thought experiment: if she woke tomorrow and magically it was ten years from now, what would she be working on?
» As a “Giver,” does she get depleted? If so, how does she get replenished, refreshed, rejuvenated?
