Grow Good

Anne Oudersluys
  • 4.7 (14)
  • MARKETING

Grow Good tells the story of purpose-driven leaders who grow their businesses while staying true to mission and values. Hosted by growth and brand strategist Anne Oudersluys, each episode features candid conversations with CEOs and founders about real decisions they make and how they operate across strategy, product, marketing, people, and scale. This show provides practical, thoughtful insight for leaders who want to grow with intention.

Episodes

  1. MAR 11

    Why Great Companies Choose Trust Over Control: Greg Harmeyer, CEO of TiER1 Impact

    On dynamic authority, employee ownership, and building a business that serves people Episode Summary What does it actually look like to build a company that puts people first—without sacrificing performance? Greg Harmeyer is the co-founder of TiER1 Performance Solutions and CEO of TiER1 Impact, a certified B Corp and 100% employee-owned company that helps large organizations improve performance through people. Over the past two decades, Greg has led TiER1 through significant growth, 18 acquisitions, and major economic cycles—while intentionally rejecting traditional hierarchy, performance reviews, and individual incentives. In this conversation, Greg shares how his company operates with “dynamically distributed authority” instead of static bosses, why they tolerate inefficiency in service of collaboration and innovation, how employee ownership shapes long-term decision-making, and what it costs to uphold your values during financial pressure. This episode is a candid look at the real tradeoffs behind building a values-driven company—and what it takes to make those values operational, not aspirational. What You’ll Learn 02:00 – What it means to operate without traditional bosses How dynamic authority replaces static hierarchy—and why most employees say they don’t really have a boss. 06:19 – What TiER1 actually does How the company helps large organizations drive performance through leadership alignment, change management, and people-centered transformation. 10:11 – Turning abstract values into “values in action” Why six simple values weren’t enough—and how rewriting them in first-person language made them operational. 14:31 – The power of “embracing the tension of the and” Why over-rotating on any one value—performance, relationships, or impact—creates imbalance. 18:48 – Why great companies tolerate inefficiency How leaving space for ideas, experimentation, and collaboration led to entirely new business lines—including federally funded research and internal creative teams. 23:33 – What real collaboration requires Why trust, incentive design, and removing fear of credit or competition matter more than saying you “value teamwork.” 27:24 – Why TiER1 doesn’t use traditional performance reviews How growth conversations, shared bonuses, and team-based success replace individual scoring systems. 30:12 – Navigating economic pressure without abandoning values How Greg approached a difficult financial year without defaulting to immediate layoffs—and what tradeoffs that required. 35:24 – Why employee ownership changes leadership decisions How becoming an ESOP created long-term alignment—and new responsibility. 39:57– When you have to be willing to walk away from revenue The mindset required to confront a major client when culture and team wellbeing were at risk. 43:56 – Decision-making without a rigid framework Why principles, not algorithms, guide tough calls—and why long-term thinking matters most. 48:36 – What makes a “good” company Greg’s belief that organizations should exist to serve people—not the other way around. Resources & LinksGreg Harmeyer – LinkedIn TiER1 Performance Solutions Impact with Love: Building Business for a Better World Connect with Anne Oudersluys and learn about creating a marketing strategy that delivers business growth.Work with Anne:  Core Impact StrategyAnne's LinkedIn -  LinkedInAnne's Newsletter - Core Impact Newsletter - Get monthly in-depth articles about marketing and growth strategy for purpose-driven brands

    51 min

  2. FEB 25

    Building a Brand in a Crowded Category: Mike Zelkind, CEO of 80 Acres Farms

    If you play in a crowded category, this episode will help you think more clearly about how to stand out — not by hyping your technology or lowering price, but by sharpening your value, focusing your message, and building trust with customers over time. We focus on the consumer, ensuring you have the right unit economics and staying disciplined on a clear strategy.  Mike Zelkind is the co-founder and CEO of 80 Acres Farms, which grows leafy greens, herbs, and microgreens n indoor farms across the U.S. Their product line includes packaged lettuce mixes, pre-made salads and salad dressings.  Over the past decade, the company has expanded into thousands of retail stores, scaled production through acquisitions, and built a national brand in the produce aisle. In our conversation, Mike shares how to simplify your value proposition when you have too many benefits to communicate, how to compete against larger incumbents without chasing them, how to be transparent with investors during industry hype cycles, and how authenticity and grit shape leadership as you scale. What you’ll Learn:  00:39 – Technology is only valuable if it serves the customer Why innovation alone doesn’t create differentiation — and what has to translate for consumers to care. 03:49 – Proximity as a competitive advantageWhy shortening the supply chain increases freshness, reduces waste, and builds trust. 10:03 – When industry failure becomes strategic clarity What environmental breakdowns in traditional agriculture revealed about system-level inefficiencies. 13:25 – Purpose as a filter for growth decisions Why a clear “why” should narrow your choices, not expand them. 15:05 – Too many benefits weaken your brand The discipline of choosing one or two promises instead of listing every advantage. 27:01 – Commoditization is often a strategy failureWhy categories become interchangeable when leaders stop defining a clear promise. 28:03 – Redefining value instead of reacting to price pressure What it takes to shift the conversation toward outcomes customers actually care about. 29:31 – Scaling through acquisition without lowering standards Protecting product quality and culture as distribution expands. 36:37 – Infrastructure is not software Why vertical farming requires patience, iteration, and realistic expectations from investors. 40:43– Authenticity, curiosity, and grit in leadership The habits that sustain growth when the industry cycle turns. Resources & LinksMike Zelkind – LinkedIn80 Acres Farms If you are interested in working with Anne Oudersluys to develop a marketing strategy that supports your growth, you can reach out through these channels:  Anne's LinkedIn – LinkedInAnne's Website - Core Impact Strategy Anne's Newsletter - Core Impact Newsletter - Get monthly in-depth articles about marketing and growth strategy for purpose-driven brands

    48 min

  3. FEB 25

    Scaling Without Diluting Your Values: Blair Kellison, former CEO of Traditional Medicinals

    In this episode, we explore what it actually takes to scale a company without diluting its values, leading with transparency and turning your brand story into a competitive advantage.  Blair Kellison has spent more than 25 years leading natural products companies, often stepping in as the first non-founder CEO. Most notably, he spent 14 years at Traditional Medicinals, helping grow the business from roughly $20 million to well over $100 million in revenue while strengthening its commitment to organic sourcing, fair trade partnerships, and community impact. In our conversation, Blair shares how to formalize values so they guide real decisions, how to protect product integrity while scaling, how transparency builds trust (even in moments like a product recall), and why culture—not strategy—is often the true engine of long-term growth. What You’ll Learn 00:00 – Why aligning your personal values with your work changes everything How Blair’s decision to leave corporate life and take a 70% pay cut shaped the trajectory of his career. 05:20 – How to transition from founder-led to professionally led—without losing the mission Why companies are often strongest when founders remain deeply involved, just not necessarily in the CEO role. 07:05 – How to codify values so they actually influence decisions A practical framework for moving values from vague language to clear behavioral standards. 08:55 – How to embed mission into hiring, onboarding, and performance reviews What it looks like to operationalize values so they become part of the company’s infrastructure. 10:35 – Why efficacy must come first—even in purpose-driven brands How product performance (“it works”) builds the foundation for trust, retention, and word-of-mouth. 15:05 – How to scale without lowering your standards Why growth should increase rigor around quality, sourcing, and testing—not erode it. 19:45 – How relational supply chains create resilience What it means to invest in growers and build long-term partnerships that expand alongside your growth. 22:05 – How transparency during a recall can strengthen trust Why proactively communicating difficult news can ultimately reinforce credibility with customers. 27:45– How to compete ethically in an industry full of exaggerated claims Blair’s approach to building brand equity through consistency, education, and integrity. 33:15 – Why your story becomes your competitive moatHow deeply embedding your mission and operating principles into the brand creates differentiation competitors can’t replicate—even when they copy your product. 36:25 – Why culture—not strategy—is the true competitive advantage The “change the water, not the fish” metaphor and how leadership behavior shapes performance. Resources & LinksBlair Kellison – LinkedInTraditional Medicinals  -- Connect with Anne Oudersluys and learn about creating a marketing strategy that delivers business growth.  Work with Anne:  Core Impact Strategy  Anne's LinkedIn -  LinkedInAnne's Newsletter - Core Impact Newsletter - Get monthly in-depth articles about marketing and growth strategy for purpose-driven brands

    51 min
  4. Grow Good - Podcast Trailer

    FEB 4

    Grow Good - Podcast Trailer

    Grow Good is a podcast for purpose-driven leaders who want to grow their business while staying true to their mission and values.  In this trailer, host Anne Oudersluys explains the show's premise and what to expect in each episode: honest conversations with CEOs and founders about the real decisions and trade-offs involved in scaling—from strategy and marketing to culture and leadership. Subscribe to Grow Good for practical examples of how to build growth-oriented, values-aligned companies.

    1 min

Trailer

4.7
out of 5
14 Ratings

About

Grow Good tells the story of purpose-driven leaders who grow their businesses while staying true to mission and values. Hosted by growth and brand strategist Anne Oudersluys, each episode features candid conversations with CEOs and founders about real decisions they make and how they operate across strategy, product, marketing, people, and scale. This show provides practical, thoughtful insight for leaders who want to grow with intention.

Information

  • Creator
    Anne Oudersluys
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    4
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Core Impact
  • Show Website
    Grow Good

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