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A Mission Beyond Coffee (featuring Jon Sell and Norma Pyscher)
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A Mission Beyond Coffee (featuring Jon Sell and Norma Pyscher)
Two franchisees discuss leadership, legacy, and leaning on employees for wisdom
GUEST BIO:
Jon Sell is a seasoned entrepreneur and a passionate advocate for positive workplace culture. With a background as an environmental scientist, Jon transitioned from the corporate world to become a successful franchise owner of BIGGBY® COFFEE.
Norma Pyscher is an inspirational business leader and co-owner of multiple Biggby Coffee franchises. With roots in nonprofit work, particularly in supporting at-risk youth, Norma has seamlessly integrated her passion for social impact into her entrepreneurial experience.
CORE TOPICS + DETAILS:
[51:53] - When Change Equals Growth
From previous careers to franchise ownership
Both Jon and Norma come from unique backgrounds before their time as franchisees. Jon was an environmental scientist, while Norma worked in the nonprofit sector. They shared a commitment to meaningful work, which is what attracted them to BIGGBY® COFFEE. Their stories underscore the courage required to pivot into entrepreneurship and fulfillment found in creating positive workplaces. As Jon says, “don’t wait to make a change.”
[32:09] - More than a Workplace
Putting employee growth and wellbeing first
A workplace is not a family. But why can’t it feel like one a bit more often? Jon and Norma emphasized the importance of supporting their employees' growth and well-being, treating their teams like family. They highlighted the significance of providing second chances and fostering an environment where everyone feels valued. This also means setting clear expectations and encouraging personal development.
[59:28] - The Vision of Leadership
Setting new standards for workplace culture
Jon and Norma discussed their commitment to improving workplace culture, not only in their franchises but through their example in the wider corporate landscape. By setting high standards for how employees are treated and engaged with, they hope to be positive influences for other workplaces. It’s not about the bottom line — it’s about being remembered for creating positive work environments and being willing to step up on behalf of employees.
[50:47] - Be Vulnerable First
The power of authenticity in leadership
Norma and Jon discussed the outdated idea that leaders are meant to always appear infallible and all-knowing. Instead, they advocate for a leadership style that embraces vulnerability, encouraging open communication and authenticity within their teams. As we’ve seen time and time again, this approach fosters a deeper connection between employees and management, creating a more cohesive and supportive team dynamic.
[46:47] - When Leaders Learn from Employees
Incorporating employee feedback for lasting success
The importance of listening to employees and incorporating their feedback into business decisions was a key theme, as it always is when it comes to BIGGBY® COFFEE.. Norma and Jon (as well as cohosts Mike and Laura) believe that great ideas can come from any level within the organization and that acknowledging and acting on employee suggestions leads to better business outcomes and a more engaged team. Better people and a better bottom line — what’s better than that?
[1:01:02] - More than Coffee
Envisioning a future in alignment with personal values Both Norma and Jon shared their aspirations for their personal and professional legacies, emphasizing the impact they hope to have beyond the success of their BIGGBY® COFFEE franchises. Norma spoke of her children, of wanting them to inherit a legacy of social and emotional intelligence, coupled with a business acumen that prioritizes people first. Jon expressed a similar thought, hoping his employees would measure future workplaces by the positive experiences they had working for him.
RESOURCES:
FOLLOW:
Follow Jon: LinkedIn
Follow Norma: LinkedIn
Follow Laura Eich:
Follow Mike McFall:
Follow BIGGBY® COFFEE & LifeLabTM:
ABOUT LOVE IN LEADERSHIP:
At the Life You Love LaboratoryTM and BIGGBY® COFFEE, we’re out to prove that financial success and healthy workplace culture aren’t two separate goals. BIGGBY® COFFEE's own cultural transformation is proof that not only is it possible to have a successful company where people aren’t miserable at work, but that the happier your people are, the more your business will grow. Each week, join host Laura Eich, Chief Purpose Officer at BIGGBY® COFFEE, and her co-host and BIGGBY® COFFEE co-CEO Mike McFall as they’re joined by guests from around the world to learn how they are fostering a culture of love and growth in the world’s most innovative and people-centric companies. Get inspired. Get real. Get ready to transform workplace culture in America with us. This is the Love in Leadership podcast.
Learn more at: loveinleadershippodcast.com
ABOUT THE HOSTS:
Mike McFall began his journey with BIGGBY® COFFEE as a minimum-wage barista at the original store in East Lansing in 1996. Over the span of 23 years, alongside business partner Bob Fish, he has helped create one of the great specialty coffee brands in America. Today Mike is co-CEO with Bob, and BIGGBY® COFFEE has over 250 stores open throughout the Midwest that sell tens of thousands of cups of coffee each day. But more importantly to Mike and BIGGBY® COFFEE, the company is a profoundly people-first organization.
Mike is also the author of Grind, a book which focuses on early stage businesses and how to establish positive cash flow.
Laura Eich is BIGGBY® COFFEE’s Chief People Officer, having worked in a variety of roles at BIGGBY® COFFEE for the last 11+ years. She helped launch BOOST, the department at BIGGBY® COFFEE which ultimately became LifeLabTM — BIGGBY® COFFEE’s inhouse culture cultivation team designed to help people be the best versions of themselves and help companies support them along the way. In her role, Laura helps people build lives that they love through the process of building profitable businesses and robust, growth-filled careers.
PRODUCED BY DETROIT PODCAST STUDIOS:
In Detroit, history was made when Barry Gordy opened Motown Records back in 1960. More than just discovering great talent, Gordy built a systematic approach to launching superstars. His rigorous processes, technology, and development methods were the secret sauce behind legendary acts such as The Supremes, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Diana Ross and Michael Jackson.
As a nod to the past, Detroit Podcast Studios leverages modern versions of Motown’s processes to launch today’s most compelling podcasts. What Motown was to musical artists, Detroit Podcast Studios is to podcast artists today. With over 75 combined years of experience in content development, audio production, music scoring, storytelling, and digital marketing, Detroit Podcast Studios provides full-service development, training, and production capabilities to take podcasts from messy ideas to finely tuned hits.
Here’s to making (podcast) history together.
Learn more at: DetroitPodcastStudios.com
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