S10-Ep8: Love at First Slice - Pizza & Passionate Leadership

Guest: Tom Krouse

Lots of leaders claim their products are made with love. Donatos Pizza means it: they practice Agape Capitalism.

 

As CEO Tom Krouse explains in this episode, Agape Capitalism puts a love of humanity at the center of their company processes and revenue generation. Its origins are rooted in founder Jim Grote’s observations as a teen working in a pizzeria with two owners: one a frugal bean counter, the other a passionate people-person. Sales soared higher the nights the people-person was in charge!

 

Tom talks about that, his own leadership style, and the parallels between playing music in a band and great leadership.

Here's what Tom and Maureen cover:

1. How innovation has always been one of the major keys to Donatos’ profitability and success;
2. Why the core tenets of Agape Capitalism complement corporate goals so effectively; and
3. The positive effects the COVID pandemic had on the restaurant industry…and, most critically, on its leadership.

Other episodes you'll enjoy:

- Applying Innovative Leadership Concepts with Tom Grote & Christoph Hinske

- ITP: Building the Resilience Every Leader Needs with Christina Grote & Pam Kramer

- Informed Leadership: The Power of Trauma with Rachael Kelly

 

For daily wisdom from our guests, be sure to follow us on LinkedIn. We’re on Instagram, Threads, and Twitter, too!

 

RESOURCES:  

The book Tom is reading is The Gap vs the Gain by Dan Sullivan & Dr. Benjamin Hardy. It’s available in print at https://amzn.to/3UG0leq and as an audiobook at https://amzn.to/48fQDlY.

 

Donato’s board chair Jane Grote Abell’s book is The Missing Piece: Doing Business the Donatos Way. It’s available in print at https://amzn.to/3wfTM8b. You can watch her episode of Undercover Boss on Paramount Plus (subscription) or Pluto TV (https://pluto.tv/en/on-demand/series/65301d20a78f0d001ace948e/season/5/episode/65496d2125fde2001aed7337).

 

Our host Maureen Metcalf posts a newsletter every week on LinkedIn. You can subscribe here. 

 

Maureen’s latest book is Innovative Leadership & Followership in the Age of AI. You’ll find details about it at https://bit.ly/LeaderInAI. Her other 10 books are available on Amazon here. 

 

 

Books we’re reading for fun or personal development right now include:

• Women and Leadership: Journey Toward Equity by Sherylle J. Tan & Lisa DeFrank-Cole
• Becoming Superman: My Journey from Poverty to Hollywood by J. Michael Straczynski
• Own the AI Revolution by Neil Sahota
• Time and Chance by Kim Campbell

NOTE: As an Amazon partner, we may make a small commission from books you buy through these links.

 

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OUR PODCAST TEAM:  

Host & Executive Producer: Maureen Metcalf

Editor & Producer: Dan Mushalko

Video & Graphics Editor: Devon Mushalko

Assistant Editor & Raconteur: Luigi Morelli

Debating Square vs Wedge Pizza Slices: Jenna Reik & Mike Morrow-Fox

CONNECT WITH US: 

YouTube: @InnovatingLeadership 

Threads: @innovativeleaders

Twitter: @IL_Institute 

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