Welcome to Season 4 of Stories from the River!

Host and CEO of Broad River, Charlie Malouf, kicks off season four by introducing Broad River Retail's Word of the Year for 2025—"Pioneer."

Guests Heather Greenwood and Will Luke discuss their roles in the new, creative process of selecting the Company's Word of the Year. Historically, the Word of the Year has been selected by the executive team, but this year, a collaborative and innovative approach was introduced during a Leadership offsite meeting in early November. The Leadership Team was separated into three teams of six people, and each team had to use guidelines and a framework to present their suggested Word of the Year for the Company for 2025. Each team was charged with the responsibility of nominating and presenting a word, aiming to find one that adhered to the framework and encapsulated the zeitgest (the spirit of the times) for the country, the industry, the Company, and its Memory Makers.

Heather and Will describe their journey and thought process in choosing "Pioneer" as their final submission. They originally considered "Forge" but later pivoted after realizing one of its negative connotations. The word "Pioneer" was chosen for its multi-dimensional nature, symbolizing courage, innovation, and leadership. Although unexpected, the word resonated deeply with Charlie and the executive team, as it aligned with their vision of empowering Memory Makers to be intrapreneurs and drive forward-thinking growth initiatives. The episode concludes with a discussion on how the word Pioneer will guide organizational programs and individual actions throughout the year, aiming to inspire Memory Makers to embrace change and propel Broad River Retail into exciting frontiers.

This episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/4RmDdkvV51g

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