The Executive hosted by Dr. Benjamin Ritter

Doug Bouton is the cofounder of Halo Top, the iconic low-calorie ice cream brand that grew to more than $300 million in sales and became the #1 selling ice cream in the United States, outselling the likes of Ben & Jerry’s, Haagen-Dazs, and Breyers.

Halo Top sold its business in September 2019, after which Doug spun out Halo Top’s international operations into Halo Top International where he currently serves as CEO. Halo Top is sold in more than 30 countries, including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Australia, Chile, Russia, Korea, and China.

In 2021, Doug launched Gatsby Chocolate, the first-ever and only low-calorie chocolate brand that’s positioned to disrupt the chocolate and confectionery category much like Halo Top disrupted the ice cream category. Doug studied mathematics and theology in college and, after graduating, he attended law school where he received his law degree.

In this conversation, Doug and I discuss how to embed values within an organization, and how continuous learning and self-awareness is the foundation of success.

Discover more:

Interested in coaching services, check out Live for Yourself Consulting and Dr. Benjamin Ritter

Nirit Harel, A veteran of the Israeli start-up environment with 20+ years of turnaround, marketing, and management experience positioning ventures for growth, public offering, and acquisition, including MRV Communications which subsequently reached a valuation of $5B+ (NASDAQ MRVC).

Nirit has extensive experience negotiating partnerships with world leaders in the European Framework Program/ Horizon 2020, winning and managing multi-year European Commission technology development bids for the world's most established and promising innovators.

Nirit serves as Chair of Intergam Communications Ltd, one of Israel's most respected tech innovation and EC development consultancies. She serves as global Chair of the YPO Entrepreneurship & Innovation Network, was most recently selected as a regional honoree of the prestigious YPO Hickok Distinguished Service Award, and is the recipient of the organization’s most innovative event award.

Ms. Harel is a frequent speaker on women's leadership and entrepreneurship, Israeli innovation and triple bottom line.

In this conversation, Nirit and I discuss the balance of being kind over being right, and the importance of learning in regards to leadership.

To learn more about Nirit Harel with Impact Manhattan, connect, or support Nirit's journey: https://www.linkedin.com/in/niritharel/

Tinia Pina began her career in sustainability as a former student pursuing a Masters of Science degree at Columbia University prior to becoming the CEO and Founder of Re-Nuble, Inc., an agricultural technology company headquartered in New York City. As a strong advocate for sustainable waste management and regenerative agriculture, she has been involved in management and business development roles within the sustainability industry for at least ten years.

In this conversation, Tinia and I discuss how emotional intelligence is the driver and key to impactful leadership.

Discover more:

Interested in coaching services, check out Live for Yourself Consulting and Dr. Benjamin Ritter

Paul Smith is the founder of Twelve Rivers and Rise Title. He grew up in New England and made a 4-year pit stop at Fort Hood before making his way down to Austin. The Army instilled in Paul many of the core values that he lives by today including honesty, integrity, and an unparalleled work ethic. Austin afforded him the opportunity to turn his passion into a career and he co-founded Twelve Rivers Realty in 2011. This year he was a Platinum Top 50 centurion and ABJ Top 25 winner.

Paul is also involved with a variety of organizations throughout Austin. He’s an ambassador for local charities including LifeWorks, Habitat for Humanity, Hope Gallery and Explore Austin. He utilizes his relationships to champion the success of such organizations. In 2019 alone, the combined efforts of himself and both his companies, Twelve Rivers and Rise Title, donated over $50,000 of charitable contributions.

Paul is a proud father and devoted husband. He enjoys spending quality time with his family exploring the endless offerings of life in Austin, TX.

In this conversation, Paul and I discuss how to engage and retain talent while also cultivating excellence throughout an organization.

Discover more:

Interested in coaching services, check out Live for Yourself Consulting and Dr. Benjamin Ritter.

Daniel Nicholson is the CEO of NadaMoo!, a plant-based ice cream brand based in Austin, Texas.

Daniel discovered NadaMoo!, for himself, in 2008 after an introduction he received to the founder and her CFO business partner. Since immediately falling in love with the product and brand, NadaMoo! has become his sole focus for the past 13+ years.

He started as the Controller, and after 3 years of this accounting, operations related work, the founder of the company was ready to step out to pursue other opportunities. In that moment, after much thought and reflection, Daniel decided to step into the role of President & CEO, and he never looked back.

Since 2011, the company has grown its revenue over 50x, from being distributed in just a few hundred stores to now when it is in over 10,000 stores nationwide, and it is beginning to be distributed more widely in Canada. NadaMoo! has been the driving force, for Daniel, to help build awareness around health, wellness, and sustainability. These are the problems he and the NadaMoo! team want to continue to solve.

In this conversation, Daniel and I discuss the key to growing as an authentic leader, the meaning of success, and how to create balance throughout the demands of being an executive.

Connect on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter

Discover more:

Interested in coaching services, check out Live for Yourself Consulting and Dr. Benjamin Ritter.

Christine Mei is the CEO of Gathered Foods, makers of Good Catch®, a chef-driven revolutionary food company developing flavorful, 100% plant-based seafood alternatives.

She is a global leader with extensive consumer goods experience - based in the US, China, and Hong Kong - with roles in general management, marketing, strategy, sales, and operations. Christine has held various leadership positions at the global, regional, and local levels across Beiersdorf, Royal Philips, The Coca-Cola Company, The Dow Chemical Company, Nike and Procter & Gamble.

Most recently, Christine has been an investor and mentor for SKU, a CPG accelerator based in Austin TX, and also serves on the Board of Directors for Naturally Austin. She holds a B.S. degree in Chemical Engineering from The University of Texas and an MBA from Rice University.

In this conversation, Christine and I discuss the critical importance of developing a leadership legacy, how true leadership develops through difficult times, and how we need to find opportunities to think outside of the day to day.

Discover more:

Interested in coaching services, check out Live for Yourself Consulting and Dr. Benjamin Ritter.

Rodney Northern is a Managing Partner at the Nucleus Group, CTO at the Behavioral Science Lab, and faculty member at the University of Texas, McCombs School of Business where he lectures and coaches in the curriculum of Innovation & Entrepreneurship.

He has been a corporate executive for over two decades specializing in brand marketing, business/product innovation and human centered design for many of today’s leading CPG organizations.

Through his innovative business approach, market insights and organizational leadership he has led to the development of over $15 billion in sustainable retail sales and services that continue to grow today. As a consultant, he has partnered to helped clients in over 50 different industries including but not limited to; mass market retailers, telecommunications, fast food, automotive, education, the airline industry, banking, adult beverages, consumer packaged goods, retail, cosmetics, nonprofits, health care, wellness beverages and many others. He has also led turnaround work for both profit and not for profit businesses.

In this conversation, Rodney and I discuss the critical importance of leading like an entrepreneur, being authentic and creating an environment for others to be authentic, believing that it will work out, and trusting yourself when making career decisions..

Resources [Books] mentioned:

• Servant Leadership: A Journey into the Nature of Legitimate Power and Greatness

• Playing to Win: How Strategy Really Works

• Value Proposition Design: How to Create Products and Services Customers Want

• The Book of Joy: Lasting Happiness in a Changing World

Discover more:

Interested in coaching services, check out Live for Yourself Consulting and Dr. Benjamin Ritter.

Shermin Kruse is an executive, attorney, consultant, author, Northwestern Pritzker School of Law adjunct professor, TED talk producer garnering millions of views, and thought leader with a long history of civic engagement.

Shermin is the founder and CEO of My Reality Cubed, providing organizational and management consulting; leadership, diversity, and inclusion training; stoic tactical empathy training; as well as executive coaching services to top level executives. She is also the interim CEO of Innovation80, a new Donor Advised Fund distributing over a dozen five figure grants to, and coalition building between, arts organizations in Chicago’s under-served communities.

Ms. Kruse was recently named as the 2018 Woman Extraordinaire by the International Women Associates, featured by various global publications for her humanitarian work. She was named one of the nation’s top 100 “Women to Watch” by BizWomen Magazine, one of Chicago’s most influential women by Chicago Business Journal, and one of Chicago’s Women of Inspiration by Today’s Chicago Magazine.

In this conversation, Shermin and I discuss the importance of building lasting relationships, continuous learning and growth, tactical empathy and negotiation, leading with curiosity, and the meaning of success. Make sure to connect with her on LinkedIn to continue the conversation.

Discover more:

Interested in coaching services, check out Live for Yourself Consulting and Dr. Benjamin Ritter.

Charlotte A. Lee is the Managing Consultant, SVP and ICEO Advisor in the New York office of Lee Hecht Harrison (LHH), the world’s largest outplacement firm, with 300 offices in 67 countries, and has been awarded the Firm’s Global Coach of the Year Award for “Exceptional Consulting/Coaching Performance.,” the Firm’s Superstar award for the number one coach in the Northeast, and was selected to join the Northeast Leadership Council.

Ms. Lee is also the author of “Bring a Dead Mouse: The Secret to Finding Your Perfect Job,” which has garnered five stars on Amazon as well as a children’s book, “Where Are You Moon?”

In this conversation, Charlotte and I discuss the critical importance of remembering names, authentic leadership, role models, and the power of community and your network.

Resources [Books] mentioned:

• Own the Room: Discover Your Signature Voice to Master Your Leadership Presence

• What Got You Here Won't Get You There: How Successful People Become Even More Successful

• Never Eat Alone

• Build Your Dream Network: Forging Powerful Relationships in a Hyper-Connected World

Discover more:

Interested in coaching services, check out Live for Yourself Consulting and Dr. Benjamin Ritter.

What does it mean to be a leader? The Executive podcast highlights the career journeys, struggles, successes, and day to day experiences of leaders. Your host Dr. Benjamin Ritter brings over 10 years of experience as a leadership and career coach, L&D consultant, healthcare executive, and international speaker focused on guiding others in finding, creating, and sustaining a career they love.