Shaun Belongie is the CEO of New Belgium Brewery. He previously served as VP of Marketing for New Belgium before becoming CMO and then CEO in 2023. Shaun has over 20 years of CPG experience, having managed marketing innovation and brand direction for iconic companies like Nestle Purina and Kraft Foods. He’s helped build and maintain New Belgium’s human-powered business model as the brand grows and expands, all the while stewarding the brewery’s legacy and people-centric culture. Shaun joins Roy to discuss the challenges and opportunities during his journey from CMO to CEO, the differences between working at a large CPG brand versus a smaller, more nimble company, how New Belgium embodies and enacts their foundational values, and much more.

Highlights from our conversation include:

• Shaun’s transition from CMO to CEO at New Belgium (3:35)
• Challenges he’s confronted as New Belgium’s CEO (6:14)
• Shaun’s experience serving as New Belgium’s CMO (9:53)
• Shaun’s perspective on building and shaping culture as CEO (12:09)
• New Belgium’s human-powered business model (14:55)
• Maintaining authentic values throughout periods of growth (16:16)
• How his son’s health crisis inspired him to think differently about life and leadership (18:35)
• Leadership lessons that carried over from Shaun’s Kraft and Purina days (21:11)
• How changes in the industry are affecting Shaun’s approach to hiring (23:08)
• Leadership qualities that Shaun seeks in his senior executive team (25:01)
• How technology fits into his strategic plan (25:48)
• Guidance he’d offer to somebody early in their career (28:18)
• What Shaun’s most excited about in the future (30:13)

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David Stever is the former CEO and CMO of beloved ice cream brand Ben & Jerry’s. David started with the company back in the early 80’s, working as a tour guide at their factory in Waterbury, Vermont. Over time, David ascended within Ben & Jerry’s, helping to grow the then start-up into an iconic, multinational corporation. Over the course of his decades-long career there, David led marketing initiatives, drove massive brand growth, expanded global market share, and helped facilitate reinvention and product innovation, all while keeping Ben & Jerry’s social mission front and center. He joins Roy to discuss his journey from tour guide to C-Suite, the many learnings he took from founders Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield, the profound effect of pursuing a triple bottom line, and much more.

Highlights from our conversation include:

• David’s initial interest in the ice cream industry and how it evolved into his career (1:32)
• Working with Ben and Jerry in the early days (3:50)
• Leadership lessons learned through periods of massive growth and scaling (6:13)
• David’s strengths and keys to success as Ben & Jerry’s CMO (8:48)
• What surprised him the most when he transitioned from CMO to CEO (13:48)
• What it means to do “business as unusual” (15:29)
• The influence of Ben & Jerry’s blend of activism and commerce on his leadership (18:12)
• How David defines Ben & Jerry’s unique culture and how he helped sustain it through the years and through acquisition (20:26)
• Successful hiring throughout Ben & Jerry’s different phases (22:48)
• Qualities David sought in his top leadership team (27:40)
• What he believes is often overlooked when assessing prospective talent (28:47)
• David’s next chapter and what he’s most excited about in looking ahead (31:00)

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Jason Bronstad is the CEO of Malk Organics, a clean-label, plant-based milk and creamer brand. Jason began his career in the food and beverage industry at Sara Lee, serving across several managerial and directorial positions between 2004 and 2010. He then went on to become VP of Sales at Mike’s Hard Lemonade and then the President of Mighty Swell Cocktail Company before joining purpose-led start up, Malk Organics, in 2020. He joins Roy to discuss the ins and outs of shaping culture, values-driven hiring, evaluating talent, learning to keep things simple, and much more.

Highlights from our conversation include:

• Core beliefs and values that comprise Jason’s leadership playbook (3:55)
• Connection to mission (6:12)
• Hiring lessons learned during periods of brand growth and development (8:20)
• Key characteristics of high-performing leaders (11:40)
• Important traits Jason seeks in his direct reports (14:15)
• Evaluating cultural fit in prospective talent (15:50)
• The parts of Malk’s culture that make Jason most proud (18:08)
• Jason’s definition of success and how it’s evolved over the course of his career (20:22)
• His advice for the next generation of CPG leaders (21:10)