No matter what industry you are in, swag is everywhere and, when used correctly, can be a very effective vehicle for marketing. Today’s guest is a leader in this field and has made it her mission to create a human-centric ecosystem in her business. Tara Milburn joins us today to discuss her career, her business, Ethical Swag, and the importance of putting people first in leadership. Tuning in, you’ll hear all about her career, what drew her to swag, what Ethical Swag has looked like from opening until now, and so much more! 

Our guest goes on to talk about how she manages and prioritizes people and relationships before discussing navigating having employees all over the world while still bringing love into her leadership. We even discuss some of the biggest errors she sees when companies try to create a human-centric culture, how she keeps her mission, vision, and values alive in her company, and why being ethical is prioritizing progress over perfection and being entirely transparent. Finally, Tara tells us about her incredible father and what he taught her about leadership. To hear all this, and even be reminded that it takes time to build a sustainable business, press play now!

Guest Bio:

Tara Milburn is an accomplished business executive with expertise in building partnerships and driving strategic initiatives. She has played key roles in high-profile projects, including co-writing the successful bid for the NBA's first international expansion and contributing to Vancouver's bid for the 2010 Winter Olympics. With a focus on social and ecological sustainability, Tara founded Ethical Swag to promote equity in the corporate merchandise supply chain. She is also an active volunteer, having held leadership positions with the CIBC Run for the Cure, Celtic Colours International Festival, and Cape Breton University.

Key Points From This Episode:

• [00:20] Why Mike absolutely adores frogs and a catch-up with our hosts. 
• [11:03] An introduction to today’s guest, Tara Milburn. 
• [12:08] Tara tells us about the incredible biosphere that she lives in: Cape Breton Island. 
• [13:54] What led her to create her company, Ethical Swag. 
• [16:15] Tara walks us through the process of starting the business through to where it is now. 
• [26:40] How she approaches people and relationships in her business. 
• [31:31] Balancing her family and work life and bringing love into leadership. 
• [37:39] How she manages to lead employees all over the world. 
• [41:24] The mistakes she sees companies make in trying to create a human-centric culture. 
• [44:56] How Tara keeps her mission, vision, and values at the forefront of Ethical Swag. 
• [47:54] What being ethical actually entails. 
• [51:44] Tara shares her bigger goals for the swag industry as a whole. 
• [54:41] How Tara’s father has shaped her as an entrepreneur. 
• [59:54] Some key takeaways from this episode. 

Quotes:

“I sort of see swag as almost a far more economical sponsorship of what you stand for as a brand.” — Tara Milburn [0:14:32]

“It’s a technology-driven, human-centered company that we’re creating.” — Tara Milburn [0:21:37]

“[Being Ethical means] progress over perfection and – transparency.” — Tara Milburn [0:47:54]

“It’s not what you say, it’s what you do that matters.” — Tara Milburn [0:51:48]

RESOURCES:

 

• [10:08]Ethical Swag

FOLLOW:

Follow Tara Milburn

• LinkedIn
• Ethical Swag on Facebook
• Ethical Swag on Instagram
  
   

FOLLOW:

Follow Laura Eich:

• LinkedIn
• Facebook
• Instagram
   

Follow Mike McFall:

• Website
• LinkedIn
• Facebook
• X
• Instagram
   

Follow BIGGBY® COFFEE & LifeLabTM:

• Website
• Facebook
• X
• Instagram
• LinkedIn
• About LifeLabTM
  
   

ABOUT LOVE IN LEADERSHIP:

At the Life You Love LaboratoryTM and BIGGBY® COFFEE, we’re out to prove that financial success and healthy workplace culture aren’t two separate goals. BIGGBY® COFFEE's own cultural transformation is proof that not only is it possible to have a successful company where people aren’t miserable at work, but that the happier your people are, the more your business will grow. Each week, join host Laura Eich, Chief Purpose Officer at BIGGBY® COFFEE, and her co-host and BIGGBY® COFFEE co-CEO Mike McFall as they’re joined by guests from around the world to learn how they are fostering a culture of love and growth in the world’s most innovative and people-centric companies. Get inspired. Get real. Get ready to transform workplace culture in America with us. This is the Love in Leadership podcast.

Learn more at: loveinleadershippodcast.com

 

ABOUT THE HOSTS:

Mike McFall began his journey with BIGGBY® COFFEE as a minimum-wage barista at the original store in East Lansing in 1996. Over the span of 23 years, alongside business partner Bob Fish, he has helped create one of the great specialty coffee brands in America. Today Mike is co-CEO with Bob, and BIGGBY® COFFEE has over 250 stores open throughout the Midwest that sell tens of thousands of cups of coffee each day. But more importantly to Mike and BIGGBY® COFFEE, the company is a profoundly people-first organization.

Mike is also the author of Grind, a book which focuses on early-stage businesses and how to establish positive cash flow.

Laura Eich is BIGGBY® COFFEE’s Chief People Officer, having worked in a variety of roles at BIGGBY® COFFEE for the last 11+ years. She helped launch BOOST, the department at BIGGBY® COFFEE which ultimately became LifeLabTM — BIGGBY® COFFEE’s in-house culture cultivation team designed to help people be the best versions of themselves and help companies support them along the way. In her role, Laura helps people build lives that they love through the process of building profitable businesses and robust, growth-filled careers.