What if disruption wasn’t a destination, but the byproduct of a worthwhile journey? On this week’s episode of Commerce Chefs, Kyle and Tom chat about what disruption actually means and how leaders can use it to their advantage… without going overboard. They sit down with two incredible guests: Geoff Cottrill—marketing legend and previous exec at Converse, Starbucks, Coca-Cola, and even the Grammy Foundation—and Khaleed Juma—former Creative Director of Shopify and now fractional CMO at various brands, including General Assembly Pizza. Together, they come to the conclusion that disruption is not about where you’re going, but how you get there and can better everything from your big picture mission to simply sending emails to your colleagues.

How does being a founder affect your leadership? This week on Commerce Chefs, Kyle and Tom talk about the ups, downs, failures, and triumphs of leading a company as both a founder and CEO. They chat with the extraordinary Roberta Mantenuto—Co-Founder and CEO of Aria Vent—about her changing role as Aria has grown across the continent. Adding in Courtney Buhler—Founder and CEO of Sugarlash Pro—on how she scaled the brand globally while keeping a unique customer lens. Plus, pb+j alumna, Amy Hall—Founder and CEO of Goldilocks Wraps—discusses her unique approach to heart-centered leadership and setting boundaries. TL;DR: this episode might just change your perspective on what it means to scale a company as a founder and a leader, all with too many Green Lantern references.

Let’s talk about CeX, baby. This week on Commerce Chefs Kyle and Tom dive into all things customer experience with Marina Parejo, Head of Ecommerce at O2 and formerly from Shopify Plus, Teresa Greiner who’s worked with the likes of Microsoft, Nike, and the Olympics, even bringing in Danielle Jeffery, a relationship psychotherapist, to work through each phase of a relationship. Relationships between brands and customers are ultimately just relationships between people. The brands of tomorrow need to step up and lead with empathy to create better solutions that keep customers happy and wanting more. Post-purchase may be a long term game, but it’s definitely worth the investment. And that’s CeXy.

This week on Commerce Chefs, Tom and Kyle are taking a slightly different approach… talking to just each other -- the entire episode. Not to worry, this episode features action stories, anecdotes, and knowledge bombs all about our priorities as brand leaders (oh, and outtakes, ‘cause who doesn’t love outtakes?). How to stop being so ‘busy’ all the time and look at what’s really important. At the end of the day, no one wants to be known as the person who fussed around. Leaders need to stay present and focused to have real impact and inspire their teams to do the same.

In this episode, featuring a lot more Chumbawamba than anyone asked for, the commerce chefs get real about relevance, resilience, and being better every day. Spoiler alert: as with most important things, it’s rooted in the choices we make. Relevance is dynamic and resilient brands need their leaders to wake up every day and choose courage over comfort. That way, they can reframe failure to build opportunities. Kyle and Tom explore these themes with Brent Baldwin—a prolific marketer who’s worked with the likes of Disney on Ice, the Harlem Globetrotters, and is now founder of NYOO Agency—Katie Tuff and Yannis Karlos—founders of the Banff Hospitality Collective—and Nate Justiss—co-founder and lead product designer of Distil Union. 

In our inaugural episode (ooooo that sounds fancy), Kyle and Tom dissect the tension of leading a purpose-driven brand and the challenges that arise from operating in a market that wasn’t designed for it. They use big 10-letter-words and bad jokes and bring in experts Angela Wallace (COO of Bogobrush and Founder of A.W. Impact Agency), Richa Gupta (Founder & CEO of Good Food For Good), and Natatsha Vandenhurk (CEO of Three Farmers), to explore how purpose has driven their businesses, while asking the vital question: is having a purpose worth it? (or maybe more importantly, does anyone really even read these episode synopses?

Welcome to Commerce Chefs! A quirky, thoughtful, and thought-provoking show for future-focused commerce leaders. We’re here to pit the world’s most brilliant, inspiring, and driven DTC visionaries – the “Commerce Chefs” – with riveting questions to uncover their secret ingredients at the intersection of passion, performance, and leadership in practice. For the past decade, hosts Kyle and Tom have led teams of designers, thinkers, strategists, and digital wizards to help brave brands become enduring classics. Now, they’re here to help you uncover what makes consumer brands magical so we can all become better leaders and by default, make the brands we lead better to.