Transparent Business Practices: A Leadership Story with David Billstrom

What is the impact of implementing transparent business practices in your organization?

In this week's podcast episode, Laura Juarez welcomes David Billstrom. David is one of the leaders of Kitsbow Cycling Apparel in Old Fort, North Carolina. He is an entrepreneur, executive coach, and recovering venture capitalist. Along a 41 year career that includes both Intel and smaller companies, he founded a tech company acquired by Walt Disney, co-founded a venture capital fund, helped build the Clover coffee company acquired by Starbucks, and worked with more than 40 startups and entrepreneurs to meet their goals.

After relocating Kitsbow to North Carolina in 2019, he helped the team restart from a single employee to make apparel in the U.S. sustainably, pivot to PPE temporarily in the Pandemic, and helped the team purchase the brand from the original investors and founder in 2022. Kitsbow is now a public benefit corporation.

Today, we discuss insights from David's journey as an entrepreneur and CEO, discover how disruptive business models can make a huge impact on all stakeholders in an organization, and share applicable examples on how to integrate transparent business practices into your own organization.

9:15- David's take on the role of CEO.

14:30- How to create transparency and inclusivity in decision making within an organization.

22:45- How to keep your values front and center

28:30- Moving towards radical transparency

The team at Kitsbow is offering 10X Impact Conversations listeners 25% off their first order of Sewn-in-the-USA quality apparel. Visit https://www.kitsbow.com/discount/10XLeaders or use code "10XLeaders" at checkout. This offer is valid until July 11,2022. Cannot be combined with other discounts, restrictions apply.