Tom Barr, CEO of Sono Bello and former Starbucks executive, knows that innovation doesn’t always follow the numbers.

In this episode of All Dots Connected, Tom shares rare behind-the-scenes stories about how some of Starbucks’ biggest hits (including the Pumpkin Spice Latte) defied data and relied on intuition and curiosity instead.

Tom also dives deep into his experience scaling Sono Bello from under $100 million to over half a billion dollars in revenue, explaining why relentless growth and rallying your team around a higher purpose is critical to sustained success.

We cover:

• The untold story behind Starbucks’ legendary Pumpkin Spice Latte

• How customer confusion sparked Starbucks’ powerful “customization” strategy

• Why sometimes the smartest business decision is to ignore the data

• Leading your team through uncertainty and scaling during crisis

• Why relentless growth and a clear purpose beat quarterly targets every time

Whether you’re an executive, entrepreneur, or marketer, Tom’s stories will challenge how you think about innovation, growth, and leadership.

Listen and subscribe for more episodes of All Dots Connected.