This Changes Everything #4: Doing Business in California - The CEOs' Point of View

California Groundbreakers

Thirteen months of statewide shutdowns have meant shuttered doors and bankruptcies for businesses in all types of industries, and the exodus of companies leaving California for other states seems to have accelerated. Governor Gavin Newsom has promised that the state will be fully open for business by June 15 if all goes well, but how many businesses will make it to that date? And will they be able to recover and thrive in a post-pandemic economy? We’re talking to two CEOs in industries that were hit hardest by California’s shutdowns. GUESTS * Dustin Lancaster, founder of An Eastside Establishment, the umbrella company for a group of restaurants, bars and hotels in Los Angeles (www.establishmenteast.com) * Francesca Schuler, CEO of In-Shape Health Clubs, which operates fitness centers statewide (www.inshape.com/our-story) NOTE: There are some audio glitches between the 8:50-minute and 10:30-minute marks, and again between the 13:15-minute and 14:15-minute marks PODCAST PLAY-BY-PLAY * 0 to 4:25 min - Intro to "This Changes Everything," and why we're doing this episode * 4:25 min - The two CEOs' share a few of the tough decisions they've made in the past year, and where those decisions have put them today * 10:30 min - Where they got help -- and where they didn't -- from federal, state and local government authorities * 14:50 min - How different will your restaurants and gyms look to customers when they go back inside? How has that changed the way you run your businesses overall? (Will fine dining bounce back? And do you think cocktails-to-go will stick around?) * 29:10 min - What should California government do more of to keep businesses here in the state and thriving? * 38:25 min - The CEOs' advice for current and aspiring business owners in California to run their companies and make them grow