Founder's Mentality: The CEO Sessions

Bain & Company
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Before a strategy becomes a success story, it's a judgement call. Now in its second season, Founder's Mentality: The CEO Sessions gets inside the decisions that defined some of the world's greatest leaders - a bet the market couldn't yet see, a crisis that put the organisation's purpose to the test, and the courage to keep showing up even when you don't have the answer. How do you stay close to the frontline as the organisation scales? What does AI mean for the thing you have spent years building? How do you transform the company without breaking what makes it great? Hosted by Jimmy Allen, Advisory Partner at Bain & Company, bestselling author and founder of Bain's Global CEO Forum, each episode is a candid, in-depth conversation with leaders from Mars, The Economist Group, Khan Academy, and more. Each episode is built around one real story, one defining moment, and the lessons that come from living through it. Dense with insight and designed for leaders who listen with a pen in hand, the series explores the outer game of markets, technology and growth, and the inner game of energy, humility and courage, and what it takes to master both. The question this season isn't just what the CEO should do. It's who does the CEO need to become? Join the Conversation: To learn more check out the Founders Mentality website or our CEO Insights hub: https://www.bain.com/founders-mentality/ https://www.bain.com/insights/topics/ceo-agenda Links: Bain & Company LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/bain-and-company/) Bain & Company X (https://x.com/BainandCompany) Jimmy Allen LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-allen-3442b/) About the Host: Jimmy Allen is an Advisory Partner at Bain & Company with over 35 years’ experience advising leading organizations. He’s the author of multiple best-selling books on growth and leadership and the host and founder of Bain’s Global CEO Community Forum. Jimmy is a regular speaker at global business events, including the World Economic Forum, and serves on the Botswana Economic Advisory Council. Outside of consulting, Jimmy started his own record label (Abubilla Music) in 2008 and supports Singing Wells, a project dedicated to preserving Kenyan village music. Bain & Company: Founder’s Mentality: The CEO Sessions is brought to you by Bain & Company, a global consultancy trusted by the world’s most influential business leaders. With decades of experience guiding organizations through growth, transformation, and leadership development, Bain’s executive insights offer what it takes to lead at scale.

  1. 28 apr

    Embrace the New Rules of Scaling

    As this season of Founder’s Mentality: The CEO Sessions comes to a close, we take a step back to ask the question that has driven every conversation: how do you lead and grow in an era of turbulence? In this season finale, host Jimmy Allen revisits the season’s most powerful insights from the leaders of global brands and high-growth innovators, uncovering the new rules of scaling. You’ll hear from founders and CEOs who have mastered the balance between the outer game of strategy and the inner game of leadership, and how they sustain their energy in a role that never stops demanding more. From Pizza Hut’s Aaron Powell reigniting pride in the product, to Walmart China’s Christina Zhu turning routines into joy, to Mercado Libre’s Marcos Galperin on culture, competition, and resilience, this episode gathers lessons from leaders who refuse to let complexity kill growth. Alongside them, voices like Don Katz, Sunny Verghese, Tanuja Randery, Stuart Gent, David Haines, and Pedro Arnt reveal how simplicity, focus, and relevance can turn turbulence into momentum. Whether you’ve followed every episode or you’re just joining for the highlights, this is your crash course in the season’s biggest ideas and a blueprint for leading at scale, grounded in clarity, powered by purpose, and built to weather even the fiercest storms. Join the Conversation: To learn more check out the Founders Mentality website or our CEO Insights hub: https://www.bain.com/founders-mentality/ https://www.bain.com/insights/topics/ceo-agenda Learn More:  The Changing Nature of Strategy: Reflections on Thirty Years - Article (https://www.bain.com/insights/the-changing-nature-of-strategy-reflections-on-thirty-years-fm-blog/) Bain & Company LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/bain-and-company/)  Bain & Company X (https://x.com/BainandCompany)  Jimmy Allen LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-allen-3442b/)  About Founders Mentality Founder’s Mentality: The CEO Sessions is a leadership podcast hosted by executive advisor and bestselling author Jimmy Allen.  Each episode features candid conversations with top CEOs, from Audible to Walmart to AWS, as well as artists, comedians, and other unconventional thinkers. Together, they share the lessons that shaped their growth, the “aha” moments that redefined their work, and the surprising ways reinvention happens at every level.  Whether you’re a CEO, an aspiring leader, or simply curious about leadership, influence, and business at scale, this podcast will challenge and inspire you, one story at a time. About the Host: Jimmy Allen is an Advisory Partner at Bain & Company with over 35 years’ experience advising leading organizations. He’s the author of multiple best-selling books on growth and leadership and the host and founder of Bain’s Global CEO Community Forum. Jimmy is a regular speaker at global business events, including the World Economic Forum, and serves on the Botswana Economic Advisory Council. Outside of consulting, Jimmy started his own record label (Abubilla Music) in 2008 and supports Singing Wells, a project dedicated to preserving Kenyan village music. Bain & Company: Founder’s Mentality: The CEO Sessions is brought to you by Bain & Company, a global consultancy trusted by the world’s most influential business leaders. With decades of experience guiding organizations through growth, transformation, and leadership development, Bain’s executive insights offer what it takes to lead at scale.

    24 min.

  2. 24 feb

    Compete, Evolve, Compete Again: Marcos Galperin, Executive Chairman & Founder, Mercado Libre

    What does it really take to stay relevant when the world refuses to stand still? In this episode, Jimmy Allen sits down with Marcos Galperin, Founder and Executive Chairman of Mercado Libre, and Chris Zook, Advisory Partner at Bain & Company and co-author of Profit from the Core and The Founder’s Mentality, to explore what it really takes to keep growing when the rules of strategy are being rewritten. From a garage in Buenos Aires to a $100B powerhouse, Marcos shares how Mercado Libre became Latin America’s e-commerce titan, outpacing global rivals and thriving through calm and storm alike. He opens up about the personal sacrifices behind building at scale, what it means to lead at 24/7 intensity, and how competition, culture, and constant reinvention have kept Meli’s spirit alive. Chris brings decades of deep research into what separates companies that sustain profitable growth from those that stall, revealing why most failures don’t come from markets, but from losing touch with the core that made them great. He shows how  rediscovering an insurgent mission, a frontline obsession, and an owner’s mindset can reignite growth from the inside out. Together, they unpack the brutal truth of sustainable success: that strategy alone won’t save you. It takes energy, resilience, and an ability to deliver and develop at once, optimizing today while inventing tomorrow. This conversation is a masterclass in balancing the outer game of performance with the inner game of purpose, and a reminder that the best CEOs don’t just manage complexity. They master it. Join the Conversation: To learn more check out the Founders Mentality website or our CEO Insights hub: https://www.bain.com/founders-mentality/ https://www.bain.com/insights/topics/ceo-agenda Learn More:  Escaladores - Podcast Series (https://podcasts.apple.com/ar/podcast/escaladores/id1692216304) The Founder's Mentality Defined (https://www.bain.com/founders-mentality/about/) Profit from the Core - Book (https://www.bain.com/insights/books/profit-from-the-core/) Founder's Mentality® and the paths to sustainable growth - Video (https://www.bain.com/insights/what-is-founders-mentality-video/) Get Your Mojo Back with the Founder's Mentality® - Video (https://www.bain.com/insights/get-your-mojo-back-with-the-founders-mentality-video/) Barriers and Pathways to Sustainable Growth: Harnessing the Power of the Founder's Mentality - Article (https://www.bain.com/insights/founders-mentality-barriers-and-pathways-to-sustainable-growth/) Reigniting Growth - Article (https://www.bain.com/insights/strategies-for-corporate-growth/) The Lost Engines of Growth - Article (https://www.bain.com/insights/the-lost-engines-of-growth-fm-blog/) Bain & Company LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/bain-and-company/)  Bain & Company X (https://x.com/BainandCompany)  Jimmy Allen LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-allen-3442b/)  David Haines LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-j-haines) Iona Gaskell LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/iona-gaskell/) About Founders Mentality Founder’s Mentality: The CEO Sessions is a leadership podcast hosted by executive advisor and bestselling author Jimmy Allen.  Each episode features candid conversations with top CEOs, from Audible to Walmart to AWS, as well as artists, comedians, and other unconventional thinkers. Together, they share the lessons that shaped their growth, the “aha” moments that redefined their work, and the surprising ways reinvention happens at every level.  Whether you’re a CEO, an aspiring leader, or simply curious about leadership, influence, and business at scale, this podcast will challenge and inspire you, one story at a time. About the Host: Jimmy Allen is an Advisory Partner at Bain & Company with over 35 years’ experience advising leading organizations. He’s the author of multiple best-selling books on growth and leadership and the host and founder of Bain’s Global CEO Community Forum. Jimmy is a regular speaker at global business events, including the World Economic Forum, and serves on the Botswana Economic Advisory Council. Outside of consulting, Jimmy started his own record label (Abubilla Music) in 2008 and supports Singing Wells, a project dedicated to preserving Kenyan village music. Bain & Company: Founder’s Mentality: The CEO Sessions is brought to you by Bain & Company, a global consultancy trusted by the world’s most influential business leaders. With decades of experience guiding organizations through growth, transformation, and leadership development, Bain’s executive insights offer what it takes to lead at scale.

    40 min.

  3. 10 feb

    Stay Relevant, Spark Energy: Pedro Arnt, CEO dLocal

    How can a hyperscaler grow at lightning speed without losing its soul? In this episode, Jimmy Allen sits down with Pedro Arnt, CEO of dLocal and former CFO of Mercado Libre, to explore how to scale at pace while keeping culture, relevance, and energy intact. From building one of Latin America’s most successful e-commerce and fintech giants to steering a new generation of high-growth businesses, Pedro shares what it means to stay adaptable, focus on impact, and reinvent yourself as a leader.  We’re also joined by Ann Wright, founder of The Wright Approach and a long-time coach to global CEOs, who helps leaders navigate their career crossroads. Ann reveals why self-awareness is a strategic skill, how to protect your time and energy, and what it really means to do only what only you can do. Together, these conversations uncover how the best leaders balance humility with conviction and build organizations that stay curious, grounded, and relentlessly relevant. Join the Conversation: To learn more check out the Founders Mentality website or our CEO Insights hub: https://www.bain.com/founders-mentality/ https://www.bain.com/insights/topics/ceo-agenda Learn More:  Introducing: The Net Promoter System® - Article (https://www.bain.com/insights/introducing-the-net-promoter-system-loyalty-insights/) The Customer Confidential Podcast on NPS - Podcast Series (https://www.netpromotersystem.com/podcast/)  Closing the Talent Gap: Seven Tips from Dubai - Article (https://www.bain.com/insights/closing-the-talent-gap-seven-tips-from-dubai-fm-blog/) Bain & Company LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/bain-and-company/)  Bain & Company X (https://x.com/BainandCompany)  Jimmy Allen LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-allen-3442b/)  Pedro Arnt LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/pedro-arnt-5a7a69/) Anne Wright LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/anne-wright-93587b14) About Founders Mentality Founder’s Mentality: The CEO Sessions is a leadership podcast hosted by executive advisor and bestselling author Jimmy Allen.  Each episode features candid conversations with top CEOs, from Audible to Walmart to AWS, as well as artists, comedians, and other unconventional thinkers. Together, they share the lessons that shaped their growth, the “aha” moments that redefined their work, and the surprising ways reinvention happens at every level.  Whether you’re a CEO, an aspiring leader, or simply curious about leadership, influence, and business at scale, this podcast will challenge and inspire you, one story at a time. About the Host: Jimmy Allen is an Advisory Partner at Bain & Company with over 35 years’ experience advising leading organizations. He’s the author of multiple best-selling books on growth and leadership and the host and founder of Bain’s Global CEO Community Forum. Jimmy is a regular speaker at global business events, including the World Economic Forum, and serves on the Botswana Economic Advisory Council. Outside of consulting, Jimmy started his own record label (Abubilla Music) in 2008 and supports Singing Wells, a project dedicated to preserving Kenyan village music. Bain & Company: Founder’s Mentality: The CEO Sessions is brought to you by Bain & Company, a global consultancy trusted by the world’s most influential business leaders. With decades of experience guiding organizations through growth, transformation, and leadership development, Bain’s executive insights offer what it takes to lead at scale.

    38 min.

  4. 27 jan

    Shift to Vertical: David Haines, Group CEO, Flora Food Group

    What does it take to stay connected to your customers when scale and complexity threaten to pull you away? In this episode, Jimmy Allen sits down with David Haines, Group CEO of Flora Food Group, to explore how leaders can keep their focus vertical - anchored in the customer and the frontline, while running global organizations. From his early days at Mars and Vodafone to leading GROHE and Flora, David shares stories of how listening, curiosity, and relevance shaped his approach to leadership. He shows why great strategy starts on the shop floor, how moments of truth can differentiate a brand, and why humility and honesty are the CEO’s most underrated tools. We’re also joined by Iona Gaskell, Head of Artist Voice at Abubilla Music, who brings a creative perspective on building authenticity and resonance. Together, they unpack how purpose, simplicity, and connection fuel lasting growth, and share the secret tools for staying truly vertical: humanity, transparency, and care. Join the Conversation: To learn more check out the Founders Mentality website or our CEO Insights hub: https://www.bain.com/founders-mentality/ https://www.bain.com/insights/topics/ceo-agenda Learn More:  Micro-battles and the Journey to Scale Insurgency - Article (https://www.bain.com/insights/micro-battles-and-the-journey-to-scale-insurgency/) An Introduction to Micro-battles - Video (https://www.bain.com/insights/james-allen-an-introduction-to-micro-battles-video/) On Building Communities - LinkedIn Post (https://www.linkedin.com/posts/jamesallen-_as-part-of-the-%F0%9D%90%85%F0%9D%90%A8%F0%9D%90%AE%F0%9D%90%A7%F0%9D%90%9D%F0%9D%90%9E%F0%9D%90%AB%F0%9D%90%AC-%F0%9D%90%8C%F0%9D%90%9E%F0%9D%90%A7%F0%9D%90%AD-activity-7346480364657270785-SI3r/)Flora Food Group Manifesto:  Financial and ESG Summary 2023; Page 12-13) (https://www.florafoodgroup.com/-/media/project/upfield/corporate/upfield-corporate/supplier-centre/esg-centre-pdfs/esg-reports/current-years/financial-and-esg-summary-2023.pdf?rev=95bbb9295c0f4c1bb89fd58bc2b73b4e)Flora Food Group Manifesto:  Financial and ESG Summary 2022; Page 22-23 (https://www.florafoodgroup.com/-/media/project/upfield/corporate/upfield%20corporate/supplier%20centre/pdfs/upfield_annualsummary_esg_2022-1.pdf) Bain & Company LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/bain-and-company/)  Bain & Company X (https://x.com/BainandCompany)  Jimmy Allen LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-allen-3442b/)  David Haines LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-j-haines) Iona Gaskell LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/iona-gaskell/) About Founders Mentality Founder’s Mentality: The CEO Sessions is a leadership podcast hosted by executive advisor and bestselling author Jimmy Allen.  Each episode features candid conversations with top CEOs, from Audible to Walmart to AWS, as well as artists, comedians, and other unconventional thinkers. Together, they share the lessons that shaped their growth, the “aha” moments that redefined their work, and the surprising ways reinvention happens at every level.  Whether you’re a CEO, an aspiring leader, or simply curious about leadership, influence, and business at scale, this podcast will challenge and inspire you, one story at a time. About the Host: Jimmy Allen is an Advisory Partner at Bain & Company with over 35 years’ experience advising leading organizations. He’s the author of multiple best-selling books on growth and leadership and the host and founder of Bain’s Global CEO Community Forum. Jimmy is a regular speaker at global business events, including the World Economic Forum, and serves on the Botswana Economic Advisory Council. Outside of consulting, Jimmy started his own record label (Abubilla Music) in 2008 and supports Singing Wells, a project dedicated to preserving Kenyan village music. Bain & Company: Founder’s Mentality: The CEO Sessions is brought to you by Bain & Company, a global consultancy trusted by the world’s most influential business leaders. With decades of experience guiding organizations through growth, transformation, and leadership development, Bain’s executive insights offer what it takes to lead at scale.

    32 min.

  5. 13 jan

    Simplify: Stuart Gent, Partner, Bain Capital

    How on earth can we simplify when business complexity feels inevitable? In this episode, Jimmy Allen sits down with Stuart Gent, Partner and Co-Head of Europe Private Equity at Bain Capital, to explore how leaders can strip away noise, refocus their teams, and rediscover what truly drives performance. From defining the heart of a business to knowing which problems only the CEO can solve, Stuart shares practical lessons on clarity, focus, and “flow” - the energy that fuels great organizations. We’re also joined by David Fleck, Founder and Managing Partner at Freeflow Ventures, who brings a startup investor’s lens to the conversation. Together, they unpack how to balance creativity with execution, when to say no in order to grow, and how to build resilience in teams facing constant change. These insights reveal why the best leaders fall back in love with process, not bureaucracy, and how intentional simplicity can turn pressure into momentum and restore flow across an organization. Join the Conversation: To learn more check out the Founders Mentality website or our CEO Insights hub: https://www.bain.com/founders-mentality/ https://www.bain.com/insights/topics/ceo-agenda Learn More:  Simplify to Fuel Growth - Blog (https://www.bain.com/insights/simplify-to-fuel-growth-fm-blog/) Killing Complexity Before Complexity Kills Growth - Blog (https://www.bain.com/insights/killing-complexity-before-complexity-kills-growth/) Overcoming Complexity and the Energy Vampires - Blog (https://www.bain.com/insights/overcoming-complexity-and-the-energy-vampires-fm-blog/) Steve Jobs - Get Much Simpler, Be Really Clear - Sept. 23, 1997 - Video (https://youtu.be/jMSa9sSZpF8?si=Ul8iPmL8Zh1_RZ8C) Bain & Company LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/bain-and-company/)  Bain & Company X (https://x.com/BainandCompany)  Jimmy Allen LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-allen-3442b/)  Stuart Gent Profile (https://www.baincapital.com/people/stuart-gent) David Fleck LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidfleck) About Founders Mentality Founder’s Mentality: The CEO Sessions is a leadership podcast hosted by executive advisor and bestselling author Jimmy Allen.  Each episode features candid conversations with top CEOs, from Audible to Walmart to AWS, as well as artists, comedians, and other unconventional thinkers. Together, they share the lessons that shaped their growth, the “aha” moments that redefined their work, and the surprising ways reinvention happens at every level.  Whether you’re a CEO, an aspiring leader, or simply curious about leadership, influence, and business at scale, this podcast will challenge and inspire you, one story at a time. About the Host: Jimmy Allen is an Advisory Partner at Bain & Company with over 35 years’ experience advising leading organizations. He’s the author of multiple best-selling books on growth and leadership and the host and founder of Bain’s Global CEO Community Forum. Jimmy is a regular speaker at global business events, including the World Economic Forum, and serves on the Botswana Economic Advisory Council. Outside of consulting, Jimmy started his own record label (Abubilla Music) in 2008 and supports Singing Wells, a project dedicated to preserving Kenyan village music. Bain & Company: Founder’s Mentality: The CEO Sessions is brought to you by Bain & Company, a global consultancy trusted by the world’s most influential business leaders. With decades of experience guiding organizations through growth, transformation, and leadership development, Bain’s executive insights offer what it takes to lead at scale.

    36 min.

  6. 23-12-2025 ·  Bonus

    What CEOs Bring Home: A Holiday Special

    As the year winds down, Founder’s Mentality: The CEO Sessions takes a festive turn. In this special holiday bonus episode, host Jimmy reflects on the season’s conversations with global leaders, each sharing a lesson they bring home to their families.  This episode gathers a wreath of insights about resilience, curiosity, and gratitude. You’ll hear from CEOs who’ve learned to sweat the details, embrace hard choices, love the ride, and simply say “thank you.” Whether you’re listening on the way home for the holidays or by the fire with friends, it’s a reminder that the best leadership lessons often start at home, and that bringing energy, empathy, and optimism to all we do might just be the greatest gift of all. Join the Conversation: To learn more check out the Founders Mentality website or our CEO Insights hub: https://www.bain.com/founders-mentality/ https://www.bain.com/insights/topics/ceo-agenda Learn More:  Hard-Earned Lessons from CEOs - Blog (https://www.bain.com/insights/hard-earned-lessons-from-ceos-interactive/) Five Keys to Navigating Organizations Through Turbulence - Video (https://www.bain.com/insights/five-keys-to-navigating-organizations-through-turbulence-video/) Maintaining Relevance Amid Uncertainty - Video (https://www.bain.com/insights/maintaining-relevance-amid-uncertainty-video/) Bain & Company LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/bain-and-company/)  Bain & Company X (https://x.com/BainandCompany)  Jimmy Allen LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-allen-3442b/)  About Founders Mentality Founder’s Mentality: The CEO Sessions is a leadership podcast hosted by executive advisor and bestselling author Jimmy Allen.  Each episode features candid conversations with top CEOs, from Audible to Walmart to AWS, as well as artists, comedians, and other unconventional thinkers. Together, they share the lessons that shaped their growth, the “aha” moments that redefined their work, and the surprising ways reinvention happens at every level.  Whether you’re a CEO, an aspiring leader, or simply curious about leadership, influence, and business at scale, this podcast will challenge and inspire you, one story at a time. About the Host: Jimmy Allen is an Advisory Partner at Bain & Company with over 35 years’ experience advising leading organizations. He’s the author of multiple best-selling books on growth and leadership and the host and founder of Bain’s Global CEO Community Forum. Jimmy is a regular speaker at global business events, including the World Economic Forum, and serves on the Botswana Economic Advisory Council. Outside of consulting, Jimmy started his own record label (Abubilla Music) in 2008 and supports Singing Wells, a project dedicated to preserving Kenyan village music. Bain & Company: Founder’s Mentality: The CEO Sessions is brought to you by Bain & Company, a global consultancy trusted by the world’s most influential business leaders. With decades of experience guiding organizations through growth, transformation, and leadership development, Bain’s executive insights offer what it takes to lead at scale.

    13 min.

  7. 16-12-2025

    Rediscover The Art of Business Building: Tanuja Randery, Managing Director EMEA, Amazon Web Services

    Big companies are built to deliver, but in a world where technology shifts daily and customer needs change overnight, delivery alone isn’t enough. Business building has to become part of the culture. In this episode, Jimmy Allen sits down with Tanuja Randery, Managing Director of Amazon Web Services in EMEA, to explore how AWS scales without becoming a bureaucracy. From codifying leadership principles to democratizing challenges, Tanuja shares how AWS sustains speed  and empowers a rare but vital community she calls “scalers” - the people who turn bold ideas into repeatable models. We’re also joined by Erika Serow, Partner and CMO at Bain and former President of Sweaty Betty, who reveals how improv comedy became a crash course in collaboration, creativity, and scaling ideas. Together, these stories show why business building isn’t a distraction from delivery, it’s the growth engine. And why the real art of scaling comes from creating cultures where curiosity, experimentation, and even mistakes fuel speed and innovation. Join the Conversation: To learn more check out the Founders Mentality website or our CEO Insights hub: https://www.bain.com/founders-mentality/ https://www.bain.com/insights/topics/ceo-agenda Learn More: Four Ways CEOs Can Spur Innovation amid Turbulence - Blog (https://www.bain.com/insights/four-ways-ceos-can-spur-innovation-amid-turbulence/) How to Identify Great Scalers - Blog (https://www.bain.com/insights/how-to-identify-great-scalers-fm-blog/) Scaling Businesses as a Team - Blog (https://www.bain.com/insights/scaling-businesses-as-a-team-fm-blog/) The Best Practices of Great Scalers - Blog (https://www.bain.com/insights/the-best-practices-of-great-scalers-fm-blog/)How to Preserve the Essence of Founder-Driven Companies - Video (https://www.bain.com/insights/how-to-preserve-the-essence-of-founder-driven-companies-video/) Bain & Company LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/bain-and-company/)  Bain & Company X (https://x.com/BainandCompany)  Jimmy Allen LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-allen-3442b/)  Tanuja Randery LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/tanuja-randery) Erika Serow Profile (https://www.bain.com/our-team/erika-serow/) About Founders Mentality Founder’s Mentality: The CEO Sessions is a leadership podcast hosted by executive advisor and bestselling author Jimmy Allen.  Each episode features candid conversations with top CEOs, from Audible to Walmart to AWS, as well as artists, comedians, and other unconventional thinkers. Together, they share the lessons that shaped their growth, the “aha” moments that redefined their work, and the surprising ways reinvention happens at every level.  Whether you’re a CEO, an aspiring leader, or simply curious about leadership, influence, and business at scale, this podcast will challenge and inspire you, one story at a time. About the Host: Jimmy Allen is an Advisory Partner at Bain & Company with over 35 years’ experience advising leading organizations. He’s the author of multiple best-selling books on growth and leadership and the host and founder of Bain’s Global CEO Community Forum. Jimmy is a regular speaker at global business events, including the World Economic Forum, and serves on the Botswana Economic Advisory Council. Outside of consulting, Jimmy started his own record label (Abubilla Music) in 2008 and supports Singing Wells, a project dedicated to preserving Kenyan village music. Bain & Company: Founder’s Mentality: The CEO Sessions is brought to you by Bain & Company, a global consultancy trusted by the world’s most influential business leaders. With decades of experience guiding organizations through growth, transformation, and leadership development, Bain’s executive insights offer what it takes to lead at scale.

    35 min.

  8. 02-12-2025

    Pursue Repeatable Models: Sunny Verghese, CEO & Co-Founder, Olam

    How do you grow a bold idea into a global agribusiness leader… and then reimagine it all over again? In this episode, Jimmy Allen sits down with Sunny Verghese, Co-Founder and CEO of Olam, to discuss how repeatable models can deliver both discipline and discovery. From sourcing cashews in Nigeria to building a business that now spans 60 countries, Sunny reflects on how differentiation, curiosity, and a willingness to embrace discomfort shaped Olam’s growth, and his own evolution as a leader. We’re also joined by Tabu Osusa, legendary Kenyan producer, cultural archivist, and co-founder of Singing Wells. Tabu shares how field recordings across East Africa shifted from chaotic, costly expeditions into a streamlined process that ultimately gave musicians more space to shine. Together, these stories show that repeatable models aren’t just about efficiency. They create the freedom to listen, to innovate, and to keep the entrepreneurial spirit alive. Join the Conversation: To learn more check out the Founders Mentality website or hit the link for additional CEO Insights.  Join the Conversation: To learn more check out the Founders Mentality website or our CEO Insights hub: https://www.bain.com/founders-mentality/ https://www.bain.com/insights/topics/ceo-agenda Learn More:  Repeatable Models and the Mafia Retirement Home – Blog (https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/repeatable-models-mafia-retirement-home-james-allen-3adke/)  The Great Repeatable Business Model – Article (https://www.bain.com/insights/the-great-repeatable-business-model-hbr/) The Strategic Principles of Repeatability – Article (https://www.bain.com/insights/the-strategic-principles-of-repeatability) Three Things Your Company Can Learn from a Bottle of Water – Article  (https://www.bain.com/insights/three-things-your-company-can-learn-from-a-bottle-of-water) From Founder-Led Origins to a Decentralized Business Model – Video (https://www.bain.com/insights/from-founder-led-origins-to-a-decentralized-business-model-video/) Bain & Company LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/bain-and-company/)  Bain & Company X (https://x.com/BainandCompany)  Jimmy Allen LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-allen-3442b/)  Sunny Verghese LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/sunny-verghese/) Tabu Osusa Profile LinkedIn (https://www.singingwells.org/who-we-are/tabu-osusa/) About Founders Mentality Founder’s Mentality: The CEO Sessions is a leadership podcast hosted by executive advisor and bestselling author Jimmy Allen.  Each episode features candid conversations with top CEOs, from Audible to Walmart to AWS, as well as artists, comedians, and other unconventional thinkers. Together, they share the lessons that shaped their growth, the “aha” moments that redefined their work, and the surprising ways reinvention happens at every level.  Whether you’re a CEO, an aspiring leader, or simply curious about leadership, influence, and business at scale, this podcast will challenge and inspire you, one story at a time. About the Host: Jimmy Allen is an Advisory Partner at Bain & Company with over 35 years’ experience advising leading organizations. He’s the author of multiple best-selling books on growth and leadership and the host and founder of Bain’s Global CEO Community Forum. Jimmy is a regular speaker at global business events, including the World Economic Forum, and serves on the Botswana Economic Advisory Council. Outside of consulting, Jimmy started his own record label (Abubilla Music) in 2008 and supports Singing Wells, a project dedicated to preserving Kenyan village music. Bain & Company: Founder’s Mentality: The CEO Sessions is brought to you by Bain & Company, a global consultancy trusted by the world’s most influential business leaders. With decades of experience guiding organizations through growth, transformation, and leadership development, Bain’s executive insights offer what it takes to lead at scale.

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Before a strategy becomes a success story, it's a judgement call. Now in its second season, Founder's Mentality: The CEO Sessions gets inside the decisions that defined some of the world's greatest leaders - a bet the market couldn't yet see, a crisis that put the organisation's purpose to the test, and the courage to keep showing up even when you don't have the answer. How do you stay close to the frontline as the organisation scales? What does AI mean for the thing you have spent years building? How do you transform the company without breaking what makes it great? Hosted by Jimmy Allen, Advisory Partner at Bain & Company, bestselling author and founder of Bain's Global CEO Forum, each episode is a candid, in-depth conversation with leaders from Mars, The Economist Group, Khan Academy, and more. Each episode is built around one real story, one defining moment, and the lessons that come from living through it. Dense with insight and designed for leaders who listen with a pen in hand, the series explores the outer game of markets, technology and growth, and the inner game of energy, humility and courage, and what it takes to master both. The question this season isn't just what the CEO should do. It's who does the CEO need to become? Join the Conversation: To learn more check out the Founders Mentality website or our CEO Insights hub: https://www.bain.com/founders-mentality/ https://www.bain.com/insights/topics/ceo-agenda Links: Bain & Company LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/bain-and-company/) Bain & Company X (https://x.com/BainandCompany) Jimmy Allen LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-allen-3442b/) About the Host: Jimmy Allen is an Advisory Partner at Bain & Company with over 35 years’ experience advising leading organizations. He’s the author of multiple best-selling books on growth and leadership and the host and founder of Bain’s Global CEO Community Forum. Jimmy is a regular speaker at global business events, including the World Economic Forum, and serves on the Botswana Economic Advisory Council. Outside of consulting, Jimmy started his own record label (Abubilla Music) in 2008 and supports Singing Wells, a project dedicated to preserving Kenyan village music. Bain & Company: Founder’s Mentality: The CEO Sessions is brought to you by Bain & Company, a global consultancy trusted by the world’s most influential business leaders. With decades of experience guiding organizations through growth, transformation, and leadership development, Bain’s executive insights offer what it takes to lead at scale.

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