Next at Work

Workable

Exploring what’s next for teams, talent, and the tools that support them. Next at Work by Workable is where leaders, innovators, and change-makers share ideas shaping the future of work. Through insightful, unfiltered conversations, we uncover the trends, challenges, and breakthroughs redefining how we work, and what’s coming next.

Episodes

  1. Oct 8

    Ten Years at the Helm: Leading a Movement, Not Just a Company — with CEO of UNREAL Snacks, Kevin McCarthy

    Kevin McCarthy became CEO of UNREAL at just 24 years old. Ten years later, he’s still at the helm, leading the company as it has grown into the largest better-for-you chocolate brand in the U.S. In this episode of Next at Work, Kevin joins host Brendan Jeannetti to talk about what a decade of leadership has taught him about building a company, hiring the right people, avoiding burnout, and creating a culture that actually reflects the mission behind the brand. Kevin shares why he never felt completely “ready” to become CEO, why young professionals should focus less on chasing titles, and how his approach to leadership has evolved as UNREAL has grown from a small startup into a fully remote company of nearly 100 people. They also get into UNREAL’s unique culture, including its policy allowing employees to expense chocolate from any brand, why Kevin believes leaders need to model healthy boundaries, and why great products and repeat customers matter more than building a CEO’s personal brand. In this episode: • Becoming CEO at 24 and learning to lead while doing it • Why chasing titles can be a career trap • Building a team around passion, curiosity, and low ego • Why hustle culture and burnout are bad for business • Leading a fully remote company of nearly 100 employees • How UNREAL built a culture that reflects its brand and mission • Why employees are encouraged to expense competitors’ chocolate • What Kevin looked for in his earliest hires • Why hiring the right leaders has been among his biggest wins as CEO • The role product quality and repeat purchases have played in UNREAL’s growth • Why leadership should be about the consumer, not the CEO • What’s next for UNREAL Next at Work is a podcast from Workable exploring the ideas, people, and shifts shaping the future of work. Listen to the full episode and follow Next at Work for more conversations with the leaders building what comes next.

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

Exploring what’s next for teams, talent, and the tools that support them. Next at Work by Workable is where leaders, innovators, and change-makers share ideas shaping the future of work. Through insightful, unfiltered conversations, we uncover the trends, challenges, and breakthroughs redefining how we work, and what’s coming next.

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