Shows
Welcome to the Arena from ICR – Conversations with Today's Innovators & Business LeadersAnton Nicholas, CEO, ICR – Passing the Torch: Building on ICR's legacy of excellence in strategic communicationsAfter serving as CEO of ICR for nearly 30 years, Tom's role within the company is changing. Today, Tom sits down for a chat with his successor — the new CEO of ICR, Anton Nicholas. After joining ICR in 2012, Anton eventually came to run ICR's consumer practice, and was subsequently tasked with managing the entire communications division. He has over 25 years of communications and advisory experience, having served in several senior positions at leading US and International public relations firms. Anton joins us to discuss what sets ICR apart in the world of strate...
2026-02-0426 minWelcome to the Arena from ICR – Conversations with Today's Innovators & Business LeadersDemond Martin, CEO and Co-Founder, WellWithAll – Inclusive Capitalism: Building a business that empowers communitiesIn this country, health outcomes are too often dictated by your ZIP code, but one company is working very hard to fix those inequities.Demond Martin, is the CEO and co-founder of WellWithAll, a health and wellness company dedicated to advancing health equity for underserved communities. Operating under ‘inclusive capitalism’, WellWithAll reinvests 20% of its profits into health initiatives tailored to specific community needs, tackling health disparities, and ensuring a targeted approach to wellness.Before WellWithAll, Demond was a senior partner at Adage Capital Management, where he invested in the cons...
2025-12-1026 minWelcome to the Arena from ICR – Conversations with Today's Innovators & Business LeadersSyed "Raj" Imteaz, Head of ICR's Convertible and Equity Derivatives Advisory – Convertibles Demystified: How ICR is helping clients navigate a white-hot convert marketIssuing convertible derivatives can be a great way for companies to raise capital, but issuance can be complex and daunting. Today's guest, Syed "Raj" Imteaz, has made a career out of demystifying that process.Raj is the head of ICR's Convertible and Equity Derivatives Advisory. During his career at ICR, Barclays and Lehman Brothers, he has worked on more than 200 convertible and equity derivatives transactions, totalling over $125 billion in deal value. Raj joins us to discuss the state of the convert market, the importance of receiving unbiased advice, and the i...
2025-09-1022 minWelcome to the Arena from ICR – Conversations with Today's Innovators & Business LeadersTom Ryan, Founder & CEO, ICR – New Year, New Outlook: Welcome to the Arena's 2024 Year-End Wrap-UpSummary: This year, news cycles were dominated by American election coverage, groundbreaking advancements in AI, and distressing updates on global conflicts. After a year marked by uncertainty on so many fronts, will 2025 see a leveling out of the macroeconomic landscape, or persistent volatility? On this brief, end-of-year episode, Tom Ryan, founder and CEO of ICR, and host of Welcome to the Arena reflects on the key market trends of 2024 and explores the potential economic shifts that could define the year ahead.Happy new year from everyone at ICR and Welcome to the Arena. Watch out fo...
2025-01-0109 minWelcome to the Arena from ICR – Conversations with Today's Innovators & Business LeadersMichael Saylor, Executive Chairman, MicroStrategy – The Bitcoin Buy-in: Embracing a New Paradigm of Digital CapitalSummary: With a new, crypto-friendly administration incoming, 2025 may be the year we see Bitcoin integrate more fully into mainstream finance in America and globally. Though volatile, and with an uncertain future that will heavily depend on how macroeconomic conditions and regulatory policies play out across the year, there's reason to believe that Bitcoin could soon be more prominent than ever. Today's guest is here to tell us why.Michael Saylor is the Executive Chairman and co-founder of business intelligence company MicroStrategy (Nasdaq: MSTR), and a leading advocate of Bitcoin. MicroStrategy considers itself t...
2024-12-1846 minWelcome to the Arena from ICR – Conversations with Today's Innovators & Business LeadersLyndon Park, Managing Partner, Global ESG Advisory & Shareholder Activism, ICR – Boardroom Balancing Act: Governance, ESG, and Shareholder Power (re-broadcast)Summary: Navigating the intricate landscape of ESG and shareholder activism requires a deep understanding of both market dynamics and investor expectations. That's why expert guidance is indispensable for companies looking to build lasting value and trust with their stakeholders.Today we're sitting down with Lyndon Park, Head of ICR Governance Solutions. Lyndon advises boards and management teams on complex corporate governance, ESG and shareholder activist event-driven issues to align clients with investor and market expectations. Before joining ICR, Lyndon was Head of Global Corporate Governance at Dimensional Fund Advisors, whe...
2024-11-2732 minWelcome to the Arena from ICR – Conversations with Today's Innovators & Business LeadersJared Isaacman, Founder, Shift4 and Draken International, Part 2 of 2 – The Next Frontier: Exploring the boundaries of space and innovation (re-broadcast)A few weeks ago, Jared Isaacman became the first civilian in history to carry out a spacewalk during a mission aboard the SpaceX spacecraft. We decided to celebrate that by revisiting our two-part interview with him from earlier this year. Check out part two, now!If you've been to space and back, you're bound to have an amazing perspective about your own capabilities, and what humans can achieve. Our guest today knows all about that.On this episode, we're sharing part two of Morgan Brennan's interview with Jared Isaacman, recorded in January at ICR's 26th...
2024-10-0922 minWelcome to the Arena from ICR – Conversations with Today's Innovators & Business LeadersJared Isaacman, Founder, Shift4 and Draken International, Part 1 of 2 – Shooting For The Stars: Going beyond limits for lasting impact (re-broadcast)A few weeks ago, Jared Isaacman became the first civilian in history to carry out a spacewalk during a mission aboard the SpaceX spacecraft. We decided to celebrate that by revisiting our two-part interview with him from earlier this year. Look for part two next week.In business, there's success, and there's potential. Success is an achievement, but true greatness lies in tapping into untapped possibilities. Today's guest has harnessed their business's potential to make a lasting impact on a global scale.On this episode, we're featuring an interview recorded in January at ICR's annual...
2024-10-0226 minWelcome to the Arena from ICR – Conversations with Today's Innovators & Business LeadersLyndon Park, Managing Partner, Global ESG Advisory & Shareholder Activism, ICR – Boardroom Balancing Act: Governance, ESG, and Shareholder PowerNavigating the intricate landscape of ESG and shareholder activism requires a deep understanding of both market dynamics and investor expectations. That's why expert guidance is indispensable for companies looking to build lasting value and trust with their stakeholders.Today we're sitting down with Lyndon Park, Head of ICR Governance Solutions. Lyndon advises boards and management teams on complex corporate governance, ESG and shareholder activist event-driven issues to align clients with investor and market expectations.Before joining ICR, Lyndon was Head of Global Corporate Governance at Dimensional Fund Advisors, where he oversaw the firm's global...
2024-08-2132 minWelcome to the Arena from ICR – Conversations with Today's Innovators & Business LeadersSyed “Raj” Imteaz, Partner, Head of Convertible and Equity Derivatives, ICR – Inflation Insulation: Navigating complex capital markets with advisory expertiseIn the current macro environment with growing inflation and financial uncertainty, it's no wonder companies are actively seeking alternative solutions to safeguard their businesses. But today's guest is more than just an alternative; he's a game-changer for his clients, helping them maximize their financial outcomes.Today we're sitting down with Raj Imteaz, who serves as the Head of ICR Capital's Convertible and Equity Derivatives Advisory Team, where he focuses on complex capital markets transactions across all industry verticals. Raj advises boards and management teams on structuring and executing convertible debt transactions, convertible preferred and mandatory offerings, structured...
2024-06-1918 minWelcome to the Arena from ICR – Conversations with Today's Innovators & Business LeadersFred LeFranc, Managing Partner and Co-founder, Results Thru Strategy – The Secret Ingredient: Spicing up your strategy to succeed in hospitalityTo be a great consultant, a deep understanding of an industry is table stakes, but you also have to connect with the needs of the employees that work within it, while helping a business grow and change appropriately. It's not an easy formula to master, but today's guest has figured it out.Today we're sitting down with long-time FOICER - that stands for friend of ICR - Fred LeFranc. Fred is the Managing Partner and Co-Founder of Results Thru Strategy, a consulting firm focused on the hospitality industry. Fred and his team help companies improve their strategic p...
2024-05-2932 minWelcome to the Arena from ICR – Conversations with Today's Innovators & Business LeadersJake Karls, Co-Founder & Rainmaker, Mid-Day Squares – Bittersweet Victory: Showcasing challenges and successes in the entrepreneurial journeyIntroducing a new product into the extremely competitive snack market is not for the faint of heart. To succeed, you need more than a unique product; you need energy, creativity, and a bold approach. Today’s guest has all that in spades. We're sitting down with Jake Karls, who is the first to admit that he's a different kind of business leader, unapologetically authentic, refreshingly relatable, and completely free of bullshit. Jake is the Co-Founder and Chief Rainmaker of Mid-Day Squares, the good-for-you chocolate brand that turned a kitchen table dream into a global household name.M...
2024-04-0333 minWelcome to the Arena from ICR – Conversations with Today's Innovators & Business LeadersJared Isaacman, Founder, Shift4 and Draken International, Part 2 of 2 – The Next Frontier: Exploring the boundaries of space and innovationIf you've been to space and back, you're bound to have an amazing perspective about your own capabilities, and what humans can achieve. Our guest today knows all about that.On this episode, we're sharing part two of Morgan Brennan's interview with Jared Isaacman, recorded in January at ICR's 26th annual conference in Orlando, Florida. If you didn't catch part one last week, we highly recommend you do. Jared is an extraordinary business leader and on top of his incredible career as founder of Shift4, and Draken International, he's an accomplished pilot and an astronaut. J...
2024-03-1324 minWelcome to the Arena from ICR – Conversations with Today's Innovators & Business LeadersJared Isaacman, Founder, Shift4 and Draken International, Part 1 of 2 – Shooting For The Stars: Going beyond limits for lasting impactIn business, there's success, and there's potential. Success is nice, but true greatness lies in tapping into unseen possibilities. Today's guest has harnessed their business's potential to make a lasting impact on a global scale.On this episode, we're featuring part one of a two-part interview recorded in January at ICR's annual conference in Orlando. It's a fireside chat hosted by Morgan Brennan, who was kind enough to step in to ask all the pressing questions. Morgan is co-anchor of CNBC's Closing Bell Overtime. Over the last 10 years, she has held various on-air roles with CNBC and...
2024-03-0626 minWelcome to the Arena from ICR – Conversations with Today's Innovators & Business LeadersAnton Nicholas, Managing Partner, ICR – Revving up Consumer Relationships: How Blue Engine Merges Creativity and Strategy in PR CommunicationsToday, there are countless platforms to reach consumers, but utilizing too many outlets can also fragment a brand's image. Our guest on this episode specializes in strategic brand exposure, providing clients with guidance to target consumers, and maintain a united market presence.We're sitting down with Anton Nicholas, Managing Partner at ICR. Anton just celebrated his 12th anniversary at ICR, and he runs the corporate PR team for all of Consumer, from retail to apparel to food to restaurants to CPG. It's a big practice within ICR, but we've also added a new brand: Blue Engine, an...
2024-02-0724 minWelcome to the Arena from ICR – Conversations with Today's Innovators & Business LeadersTom Ryan, Founder & CEO, ICR – Sleigh-ing in Business: Welcome to the Arena's Year-End Holiday Wrap-UpIn a year of uncertainty, one thing is for sure: no one could accuse 2023 of being boring. On this short holiday episode, Tom Ryan, Founder and CEO of ICR, and host of Welcome to the Arena looks back on the highs and lows of 2023, shares some of his top episodes and favorite guests of the year, and his advice for businesses and strategists for a successful 2024. Happy holidays from everyone at ICR and Welcome to the Arena! Look for new episodes and more incredible guests from our team in the new year!Links:...
2023-12-2008 minWelcome to the Arena from ICR – Conversations with Today's Innovators & Business LeadersLee Pacchia and Joan Vollero, Managing Directors of Special Situations, ICR – Mastering Crisis: Navigating High-Stakes Shifts with Legal and Communications ExpertiseWhen it comes to high-stakes strategising for businesses undergoing challenging shifts, the incredible value of legal training mixed with communications expertise can't be overstated. Today's guests know all about that.On this episode, we welcome two of ICR's finest, Joan Vollero and Lee Pacchia. Joan and Lee are both Managing Directors in ICR's Special Situations practice group.Joan advises companies and individuals on a wide range of matters relating to crisis and litigation. For more than 11 years, she ran communications and external affairs for the Manhattan District Attorney's Office, where she served as the Director...
2023-07-2624 minWelcome to the Arena from ICR – Conversations with Today's Innovators & Business LeadersVijay Manthripragada, President & CEO, Montrose Environmental Group – A Greenprint for Success: A Win-Win Formula for Business and the EarthSolving today's huge environmental problems takes creativity and innovation, but it also requires businesses to build strong industry partnerships. Today's guest is doing just that. We're sitting down with Vijay Manthripragada, President, CEO and Board Member of Montrose Environmental Group, which trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol, M E G. Vijay brings significant leadership in management experience to the company. Previously, he was the CEO of PetCareRX, a high-growth e-commerce company in the pet health industry. Prior to that, Vijay was in investment banking at Goldman Sachs, and was also a director at T...
2023-07-1224 minWelcome to the Arena from ICR – Conversations with Today's Innovators & Business LeadersCyrus Vance, Partner, Baker McKenzie - The Prosecutor's Dilemma: Navigating tough decision-making in the legal sectorA great thinker once said "what is right is not always popular and what is popular is not always right." Our guest on this episode has built his legacy on difficult, but hugely influential decision-making.We're joined by Cyrus Vance Jr., best known for serving as New York County's top law enforcement officer for 12 years. As Manhattan District Attorney, he oversaw everything from white-collar fraud to cybercrime, human-trafficking, and even cold-case homicides. He's now a partner at global law firm, Baker Mackenzie, where he wears three hats, sitting in its litigation and government enforcement and global investigations...
2023-07-0530 minWelcome to the Arena from ICR – Conversations with Today's Innovators & Business LeadersDr. Marc Hedrick, President & CEO, Plus Therapeutics - The Plus Side: Making groundbreaking developments in cancer researchMillions of Americans with medical conditions spend years waiting for breakthrough treatments. Today's guest is making extraordinary advances in cancer treatment to significantly improve outcomes.Today we're sitting down with Dr. Marc Hedrick, President and CEO at Plus Therapeutics whose stock trades under the symbol PSTV. Previously, Dr. Hedrick served in a number of executive leadership roles, including President, CEO and Director of Cytori Therapeutics, and President and CEO of STEM Source. He's a trained general vascular and plastic surgeon, and former Associate Professor of Surgery and Pediatrics at UCLA. He also served as co-Director of the...
2023-06-2828 minWelcome to the Arena from ICR – Conversations with Today's Innovators & Business LeadersJohn Dowd, CEO of GoGreen Investments, and Chris Showalter, CEO of Life Zone Metals - Digging Deep: Unearthing the future of sustainable miningWhen it comes to legacy industries, it's all too common for business processes to become embedded and stagnant, but with growing technological and environmental transformation across markets, there may be no choice but to change. Today's guests are teaming up to promote a technology that could drive that change with the potential to disrupt the mining industry.Today we're talking with John Dowd, CEO of GoGreen Investments and Chris Showalter, CEO of Life Zone Metals. GoGreen is a special-purpose acquisition company combining with Life Zone Holdings Limited in a go-public transaction set to list on the New...
2023-06-2124 minWelcome to the Arena from ICR – Conversations with Today's Innovators & Business LeadersDavid Katz, Founder & CSO, and Robert Jacks, President and CEO, Sparrow Pharmaceuticals – Pioneering Relief: A prescription for changing lives and healthcareSometimes abstract thinking that can lead to real breakthroughs. The knowledge and innovative thinking of today's guests led to an life-changing solution to an ongoing 75-year puzzle. Today we sit down with David Katz and Robert Jacks; Chief Scientific Officer, and President & CEO, of Sparrow Pharmaceuticals, respectively. Sparrow has come up with a groundbreaking way to help patients who need steroid treatments. Robert was previously President & CEO of Indalo Therapeutics, a clinical-stage biotech company developing therapeutics for serious fibrotic diseases, and President, CFO, and Co-Founder of Symbiomix Therapeutics, which was sold after achieving NDA approval for Solosec®. Ro...
2023-06-1429 minWelcome to the Arena from ICR – Conversations with Today's Innovators & Business LeadersDavid Horowitz, Founder & CEO, Touchdown Ventures - Scoring Big: The power of partnerships and strategic investingBuilding partnerships and investing strategically can be key in the growth of a business. However, for big corporations, and small start-ups, creating and managing a variety of partnerships can be challenging. Today's guest created his company to help ease that process.On this episode we're sitting down with David Horowitz, founder and CEO of Touchdown Ventures. Touchdown partners with leading corporations to manage their venture capital funds, and currently they partner with Kellogg T-Mobile, Amerisource Bergen, Olympus, and Erie Insurance, Masco and Colorcon just to name a few. Prior to starting touchdown, David was founding p...
2023-06-0721 minWelcome to the Arena from ICR – Conversations with Today's Innovators & Business LeadersRobert Irvine, World Class Chef & Entrepreneur – The Recipe for Success: Cooking up a second chance, and turning setbacks into comebacksMaking mistakes is a natural part of building every business, but leaving problems unresolved for too long can be costly. Today's guest is teaching business owners that huge success can come out of grand failures - if you’re paying attention. Today we're sitting down with Robert Irvine, a world-class chef and host of Food Network's hit show 'Restaurant: Impossible', where he takes two days and under $20,000 to transform failing restaurants and give their owners a second chance.Robert's also an entrepreneur, a Royal Navy veteran, and a tireless supporter of the military. In addition to...
2023-05-3128 minWelcome to the Arena from ICR – Conversations with Today's Innovators & Business LeadersAlex Ryan, CEO, The Duckhorn Portfolio – Aged to Perfection: A generational journey in crafting brand legacyTo create a brand with a lasting legacy, owners have to set and follow clear principles from the very beginning. Today's guest has continued to strengthen and grow their brand while maintaining those key principles. Today we're sitting down with Alex Ryan, President, CEO, and Chairman of The Duckhorn Portfolio, North America's premier luxury wine company, with 10 wineries, eight state-of-the-art wine-making facilities, seven tasting rooms, and over a thousand coveted acres of vineyard spanning 32 estate properties.Their wines are available throughout the US, on five continents, and in 50 plus countries around the world. Their stock t...
2023-05-2431 minWelcome to the Arena from ICR – Conversations with Today's Innovators & Business LeadersKrishna Gupta, Chairman and Interim CEO at Presto – Driving Innovation: Using AI tools to accelerate the service industryRecently, the restaurant industry has been struggling to hire new workers and retain their current employees. Today's guest is using innovative AI technology to deliver speed and consistency in customer service, and in the kitchen. On this week's episode we sit down with Krishna Gupta, Chairman and Interim CEO of Presto, one of the largest drive-through automation technology providers in the hospitality industry. Krishna is a founder and CEO of venture firm Remus Capital which he founded as a student at MIT in 2008. Remus partners with visionary founders and management teams to build technology businesses that r...
2023-05-1728 minWelcome to the Arena from ICR – Conversations with Today's Innovators & Business LeadersSandra Campos, 3x CEO & Entrepreneur – Fashion Forward: Leading the fashion industry into the futureThe fashion industry is powered by the sometimes differing perspectives of artistic entrepreneurs and business executives. It takes an intuitive and bold business innovator to merge those visions, and lead brands into the future. On this episode we sit down with Sandra Campos, a board member, three time CEO and two-time entrepreneur and advisor. Throughout her career, she's built global lifestyle brands, and she's been instrumental in turnarounds, digital transformations, and innovative marketing campaigns, as well as international expansion as a technology-focused operator. She's the only independent board director at Fabric, a modular and headless co...
2023-05-1031 minWelcome to the Arena from ICR – Conversations with Today's Innovators & Business LeadersSean O'Scannlain, President & CEO of Fortune International – Reeling in Success: Utilizing tech to take the seafood industry globalThe food industry is a tough business that relies on tight planning and logistics, but today's guest has created a finely-tuned operation by taking advantage of tech innovations. On this episode, we're sitting down with Sean O'Scannlain, who founded Fortune International in 2001. Since then, the company has grown both organically and through numerous acquisitions into one of the country's leading processors, distributors, and importers of quality seafood, meats and gourmet products.Today, Fortune International employees over 1,300 people and is the parent company of Fortune Fish and Gourmet Fortune Imports, Chef Martin, Coastal Seafood, D'Artagnan and L...
2023-05-0329 minWelcome to the Arena from ICR – Conversations with Today's Innovators & Business LeadersTom Nolan, CEO of Kendra Scott – Bling it On: Building a Values-Driven Jewelry EmpireIn business, you have to want to win. But in addition to that, simple, honest values go an incredibly long way. Today's guest leads a company that is powered by that philosophy.On this episode we get to sit down with Tom Nolan, CEO of the jewelry and accessories brand, Kendra Scott. Tom leads the billion dollar business by balancing day-to-day functions and strategy with the integration of the brand's core pillars of family, fashion and philanthropy into every consumer touch-point. In addition to serving on the Board of Directors, Tom oversees the brand's substantial omnichannel growth...
2023-04-2630 minWelcome to the Arena from ICR – Conversations with Today's Innovators & Business LeadersJulie Smolyansky, CEO of Lifeway Foods – Gut Feeling: Building demand for probiotic foodsA business's true test of survival is based on their ability to learn from challenges. By adapting to changing times, today's guest found a sweet spot in the market for their product to thrive. Today we're sitting down with Julie Smolyansky, who became the youngest female CEO of a publicly held firm when she took over Lifeway Foods at the age of 27 in 2002. Over the ensuing years, Julie has continued the company's growth trajectory with creative product development and marketing, bringing an Eastern European product into the US mainstream. Under her leadership, the company has grown annual r...
2023-04-1928 minWelcome to the Arena from ICR – Conversations with Today's Innovators & Business LeadersJohn DiLullo, CEO of LiveVox – Dialing Up Efficiency: Transforming call center communications with cloud-based techThe success of a company can hinge on clear and accessible communication with customers. Today's guest is leveraging tech to marry communication quality with the ultimate efficiency.This week, we're sitting down with John DiLullo. John is the CEO of Live Vox, which is transforming call centre communications with cloud technology. LiveVox trades under the symbol LVOX. John is a growth oriented industry veteran with a track record spanning more than 30 years in networking, telecom application delivery and cybersecurity, including 10 years experience in multi-channel contact center and enterprise voice communications.Most recently, John was the C...
2023-04-1230 minWelcome to the Arena from ICR – Conversations with Today's Innovators & Business LeadersSarah-Marie Martin, VP, Corporate Development & Capital Markets at Uber – Drivers of Growth: Changes and challenges from investment banking to early-stage companiesIt's pretty inspiring to hear from people who climb huge heights, and then go looking for even bigger challenges. And that's exactly what today's guest did.On this episode we're sitting down with Sarah-Marie Martin, who joined Uber in 2022 as Head of M&A Investor Relations and Capital Markets, after a successful 25-year career in investment banking. At Uber, Sarah-Marie helps optimize and finance the company's portfolio of businesses. Before joining Uber, she was the first CFO of Yumi, a digitally native, organic children's food company. Previously, during her time in investment banking Sarah-Marie was a partner...
2023-04-0530 minWelcome to the Arena from ICR – Conversations with Today's Innovators & Business LeadersRobert Piconi, Chairman and CEO of Energy Vault – Fuel for Thought: Creating the Preeminent Energy Storage CompanyRenewable, sustainable energy has made strides in the last 20 years with developments in solar and wind power, but much of the field still struggles to move forward from traditional fossil fuels. Today's guest has broken new ground on a uniquely clean, and extremely effective energy technology.Robert Piconi is Chairman and CEO of Energy Vault, developers of sustainable energy storage solutions. Prior to Energy Vault, Robert was founder and CEO of Pantheon Healthcare Group, and he also served as group at the Danaher Corporation. His earlier experience includes roles of increasing responsibility at Fortune 500 public companies, including...
2023-03-2929 minWelcome to the Arena from ICR – Conversations with Today's Innovators & Business LeadersDr. Eddie Sullivan, President, CEO at SAB Biotherapeutics – The Battle of Biotech: Fighting disease with a breakthrough treatment strategyIn healthcare, they say the only constant is change. Medical practices and treatments are always evolving, and today's guest is on the cutting edge of an exciting development. Today we're sitting down with Dr. Eddie Sullivan, co-founder, President and CEO at SAB Biotherapeutics. Eddie served in biopharma leadership positions for more than 25 years, and prior to joining SAB, he was CEO of Hema Tech, where he led initiatives to develop infectious disease, cancer, and autoimmune immunotherapies. A recognized thought leader in antibodies in transgenic animals, Eddie serves on the board of directors for the Biotechnology Innovation Organization, h...
2023-03-2230 minWelcome to the Arena from ICR – Conversations with Today's Innovators & Business LeadersTom Harrington, CEO at Primo Water Corporation – A Refreshing Approach: Shifting business models and designing an infallible growth strategyMaking a decision like transitioning from a successful soda brand into a water company will certainly come with its risks, but it can also open the door for commercial expansion and innovation. Today's guest was able to make that shift seamlessly.On this week's episode, we get to sit down with Tom Harrington, Chief Executive Officer of Primo Water, which trades under the symbol PRMW. Tom took the post in the beginning of 2019 and prior to that, he served as the CEO of Primo's North American Business Unit after the acquisition of DS Services in December of 2014...
2023-03-1524 minWelcome to the Arena from ICR – Conversations with Today's Innovators & Business LeadersMatthew Doctor, President & CEO at Regis Corporation – A Cut Above: Rebuilding a business model, and transitioning from corporate to franchiseAs a public company, moving into a fully franchised model isn't always easy. There are lots of challenges and misconceptions, but today's guest has come through all of that with flying colors.Matthew Doctor is President, CEO, and a Board Member of Regis Corporation, which trades under the symbol R G S. Regis is the beauty industry's global leader in salons and cosmetology education, with more than 5,500 locations worldwide operating under concepts such as Supercuts®, SmartStyle® and First Choice Haircutters® to name a few. Matt joined Regis in February of 2021, as Chief Strategy Officer, before becoming President in...
2023-03-0827 minWelcome to the Arena from ICR – Conversations with Today's Innovators & Business LeadersMei Mei Hu, CEO and Co-Founder of Vaxxinity – Taking a Shot: Chronic disease prevention and democratizing healthcare with vaccine technologyWe get to hear from a lot of smart people with incredible ideas on this show, but it's extra exciting when they also have a world-changing vision, and our guest today has just that.On this week's episode we're talking with Mei Mei Hu, CEO and Co-Founder of Vaxxinity, which trades under the symbol VAXX. Mei Mei is also a member of the Executive Committee of United Biomedical, and has overseen the launch of one of the first antibody vaccines in the world, and the successful spin out of five companies, including Vaxxinity's IPO in 2021. She currently...
2023-03-0130 minWelcome to the Arena from ICR – Conversations with Today's Innovators & Business LeadersRob Arena, Co-President of Global Atlantic Financial Group – Making 'Cents' of Wealth Management: Providing clients with strong, reliable plansFor people navigating financial planning in these shaky times, there's a great deal of comfort in the way that insurance companies can help mitigate risk and still grow wealth. Global Atlantic is one of those companies offering innovative products and solid planning.On today's show we're joined by Rob Arena, Co-President of Global Atlantic where he supports Chairman and CEO Allan Levine in operating the business and executing the company's growth strategy. Rob also leads the company's individual markets business, and oversees operations and technology.Rob has more than 25 years of experience in the financial...
2023-02-2226 minWelcome to the Arena from ICR – Conversations with Today's Innovators & Business LeadersMark Walker, Founder and CEO of Direct Digital Holdings – Finding Your Audience: Digital advertising solutions that reach multicultural audiencesSummary:Digital advertising has allowed companies to be laser-focused with their audiences, and that means a super-efficient, high-impact campaign. On this episode we sit down with Mark Walker, Co-Founder, CEO, and Chairman of Direct Digital Holdings, which trades under the symbol DRCT. Direct Digital Holdings (DDH) is a digital advertising solutions holding company consisting of three subsidiaries: Colossus SSP, Orange 142, and Huddled Masses. DDH provides programmatic digital advertising solutions with a specialization in reaching highly sought-after multicultural audiences and under-served middle market companies across the US. The company is at the forefront of dynamic and i...
2023-02-1523 minWelcome to the Arena from ICR – Conversations with Today's Innovators & Business LeadersLouis Chen, Executive Vice President and CSO of Perfect Corp – Industry Makeover: The technological transformation of beauty brandsSummary:AI and AR technologies are rapidly becoming stable stakes for any retail experience, and today's guest is leading the way there. On this episode, we're talking to Louis Chen, Executive Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer at Perfect Corp, which trades under the symbol PERF. Perfect is an AI and AR-powered beauty tech solutions provider, and Louis leads the company's corporate development, strategic partnerships, and marketing efforts. He joined Perfect when it was established back in June of 2015, starting as Vice President of Business Development and Marketing. Prior to that, Louis spent 12 years at Cyber Link, where h...
2023-02-0832 minWelcome to the Arena from ICR – Conversations with Today's Innovators & Business LeadersAndy Wiederhorn, CEO of FAT Brands – The Best Ingredients: Building a strong portfolio of restaurantsSuccess in the restaurant industry can be tricky, but today's guest has really nurtured the built-in growth opportunities in his business, with remarkable results.On this episode we're sitting down with Andy Wiederhorn, President and CEO of FAT Brands. FAT Brands is a global franchising company that acquires, markets and develops a range of casual and quick-service dining restaurant concepts.Andy made his first restaurant acquisition in 2003 with Fatburger, and went on to acquire Buffalo's Cafe in 2011, and Ponderosa and Bonanza Steakhouses in 2017. That same year, Andy took FAT Brands public. He continued FAT Brand's...
2023-02-0125 minWelcome to the Arena from ICR – Conversations with Today's Innovators & Business LeadersCindy Hess, Partner at Fenwick – Big Tech's Big Deals: Counseling the world's most influential technology companiesEven the most ingenious technologies won't go far without a solid legal foundation and a forward thinking framework that will help it scale, and this episode's guest knows all about that. Cindy Hess is a corporate partner at Fenwick and for over 10 years she's served as the co-chair of the firm's startup and venture capital group. Over the course of her practice, Cindy has counseled technology companies on a broad range of corporate transactional matters. She's worked with a wide range of high tech clients including some of the hottest and most innovative companies in mobile SaaS an...
2023-01-2526 minWelcome to the Arena from ICR – Conversations with Today's Innovators & Business LeadersMichael Pengue, CEO at ZOA Energy – Rocking the Boat: Shaking up the world of energy drinksSummary:If you're going to jump into the massive beverage market with a brand new product, you better have some incredible experience and a solid team behind you. And that's exactly what today's guest has. On this episode we're sitting down with Mike Pengue, who has been CEO of ZOA Energy since its launch in March of 2021. Prior to ZOA, Mike was Senior Vice President, General Manager for the Emerging Brands Group at Keurig, Dr. Pepper. He came to Keurig, Dr. Pepper from Bai Brands where he was Chief Strategy Officer, and was instrumental in the 1.65...
2023-01-1828 minWelcome to the Arena from ICR – Conversations with Today's Innovators & Business LeadersMolly Langenstein, President and CEO at Chico's FAS – Know Thy Customer: Building brands and revitalizing sales in the retail fashion industrySummary:To really serve your customer, you have to understand them. And that's just one of the crucial ways that today's guest has led her company into remarkable growth. On this episode, we welcome Molly Langenstein, CEO, President and Board Member of Chico's FAS. She joined the company in August of 2019 and became CEO and President less than a year later, in June 2020. Molly is a 30-year retail industry veteran with a proven track record of building multiple successful brands, and revitalizing sales and profitability in the retail fashion industry. Prior to Chico's, Molly held multiple...
2023-01-1127 minWelcome to the Arena from ICR – Conversations with Today's Innovators & Business LeadersJohn Carrington, CEO at Stem – Powering Up: Transforming the energy industry with AISummary:Extreme weather, aging grids, power storage and distribution; these are just some of the challenges that clean energy is stepping up to solve. And companies like Stem are at the forefront, with cutting edge AI-driven services. Today we hear from John Carrington, CEO of Stem. John leads the energy storage and analytics movement at the company and has more than 25 years of leadership experience in technology, energy, and industrial companies.John came to Stem from MiaSolé, the world's largest CIGS-based thin film solar company, where he was CEO and Director. Prior to that, John was t...
2023-01-0430 minWelcome to the Arena from ICR – Conversations with Today's Innovators & Business LeadersTom Ryan, Founder & CEO, ICR – Year in Review: Observations, Advice and Holiday Greetings for 2022Summary:It's been an amazing year on Welcome to the Arena, and we've heard from some of the most exciting and successful businesses and strategists in the game. On this brief episode of the show, Tom Ryan, founder and CEO of ICR, and host of Welcome to the Arena shares his reflections on 2022, and looks ahead to 2023 and the 25th anniversary of ICR. Enjoy the holidays, and look for new episodes and more incredible guests coming in January!Links:ICR TwitterICR LinkedInICR WebsiteT...
2022-12-2106 minWelcome to the Arena from ICR – Conversations with Today's Innovators & Business LeadersTodd Lachman, President and CEO at Sovos Brands – Secret Sauce: Disrupting the food aisle with premium brandsSummary:Being a disruptor in business can be as uncomplicated as putting out high quality products, in a small-but-mighty category. And that's what today's guest has done, with incredible success. On this episode we're talking to Todd Lachman, the founder, President and CEO of Sovos Brands.For 25 years, Todd's delivered growth and value creation for some of the biggest names in consumer packaged goods. He served as Global President of Mars Pet Care, President of Mars Chocolate, North America and Latin America, and Executive Vice President of Del Monte Foods Company. He...
2022-12-1429 minWelcome to the Arena from ICR – Conversations with Today's Innovators & Business LeadersKyle Kazan, Founder and CEO at Glass House Brands – High Hopes: Growing the cannabis industry in California and beyondSummary:There are a lot of things that California produces well: movies, wine, and now cannabis. Today's guest knows all about that. Kyle Kazan is co-founder and CEO of Glasshouse Brands, a vertically integrated sustainable producer of cannabis products. In 1991, he began investing in real estate, and became a manager of private equity funds. He's now launched a total of 23 funds with a current estimated value of almost $3 billion. In 2016 Kyle pivoted to the regulated cannabis industry. Since his early service as a special education teacher and law enforcement officer, Kyle's been a v...
2022-12-0730 minWelcome to the Arena from ICR – Conversations with Today's Innovators & Business LeadersManny Hilario, President and CEO at The One Group – Appetite for Growth: Redefining the restaurant experienceSummary:At a time when many restaurants are cutting back on what they offer guests, the One Group is raising the bar on the dining experience, and positioning themselves for huge success in the process.Today's guest is Manny Hilario, CEO of The One Group and long-time friend of ICR. The One Group is a global hospitality company that develops and operates upscale and polished casual, high energy restaurants and lounges. Their two primary restaurant brands are STK and Kona Grill, where they aspire to be the global leader in vibe dining, a unique combination...
2022-11-3027 minWelcome to the Arena from ICR – Conversations with Today's Innovators & Business LeadersDana Telsey, CEO and CRO at Telsey Advisory Group – Tales of Retail: Telling the story of the consumer universeSummary:You can never underestimate the power of high quality consumer research from a globally renowned team, especially when they're led with energy and heart by a top industry analyst.Case in point is today's guest, long-time friend of ICR, Dana Telsey. Dana is the CEO and Chief Research Officer of Telsey Advisory Group, which was founded in 2006. The firm has grown to be a leading equity research trade execution, investment banking and consulting firm focused on the consumer space.During her 35-year career, Dana has followed over a hundred companies. From 1994 to 2006, she...
2022-11-2330 minWelcome to the Arena from ICR – Conversations with Today's Innovators & Business LeadersNoah Glass, Founder and CEO at Olo – Changing Your Order: The digital transformation of the restaurant industrySummary:We take for granted how rapidly restaurants have gone digital in the past few years, but it's actually been a vision 20 years in the making. And it all started with today's guest.Noah Glass is the founder and CEO of Olo, a leading commerce platform powering the restaurant industry's digital transformation. Over 600 of the most recognized restaurants and C-Store brands use Olo to grow digital sales, preserve direct consumer relationships, and maximize profitability. More than 85 million consumers run their orders through the platform annually.After attending Yale and spending some time abroad...
2022-11-1631 minWelcome to the Arena from ICR – Conversations with Today's Innovators & Business LeadersGregg Nabhan, Chairman of the Americas Equity Capital Markets, Bank of America – The Wisdom of the Deal: Learning from four decades of Wall Street deal-makingSummary:It's always a pleasure to speak to a grizzled veteran who has decades of experience leading hundreds of deals that have raised billions of dollars.Here to share that wisdom is Gregg Nabhan, Chairman of the America's Equity Capital Markets, as well as Managing Director of the Consumer and Retail team at Bank of America. Gregg is responsible for the origination, IPO valuation, structuring, book-building, price discovery allocation trading, and aftermarket performance of equity transactions. Gregg has almost 40 years of experience on Wall Street. He's led over 400 deals, raising over 265 billion for c...
2022-11-0228 min
Welcome to the Arena from ICR – Conversations with Today's Innovators & Business LeadersNitin Chexal, CEO at Palladius Capital Management – Opportunity Knocks: Finding real estate opportunities in unexpected placesSummary:Sometimes, acquisitions that seem risky are actually just really smart: seeing opportunity where others don't. And in real estate, if you have the experience and a strong handle on research, undervalued assets are there for the taking.My guest this week is Nitin Chexal. Nitin is the CEO of Palladius Capital Management where he oversees all aspects of the firm, including leading a team of investment and asset management professionals focused on real estate equity and debt investments across the US. Previously, Nitin was a partner and Managing Director at Nimes Real Estate, and...
2022-10-1928 minWelcome to the Arena from ICR – Conversations with Today's Innovators & Business LeadersJoe Ennen, CEO at SunOpta – Milking the Market: Sustainable food products and the plant-based milk revolutionSummaryA growing number of food companies are investing in sustainable product development, but only a handful are really getting it right. Joining me to talk about doing sustainability successfully is Joe Ennen. Joe is CEO and a director at SunOpta, which trades under the symbol S T K L. The company sources, processes, and produces organic, natural, and non-GMO plant and fruit-based food and beverage products. SunOpta sells to retail customers, food service distributors, branded food companies, and food manufacturers. They have 14 processing facilities, mainly in North America. Joe has over three d...
2022-10-1226 minWelcome to the Arena from ICR – Conversations with Today's Innovators & Business LeadersTJ Jiang, CEO at AvePoint – Ahead in the Cloud: Riding the huge growth in the Saas software industrySummaryIn an industry that's seen incredible growth in the last few years, lots of Saas companies are exploding. But Saas software vendor AvePoint was on the scene long before the industry took off, and their strategic vision of the cloud's potential has helped secure their own extraordinary long-term growth.Back in March we chatted with AvePoint's Chief Brand Officer, Dux Raymond Sy about building brands, so I'm excited to learn more about this growing company with today's guest, AvePoint's CEO, Dr. TJ Jiang.TJ co-founded AvePoint in 2001, and he's served...
2022-10-0529 minWelcome to the Arena from ICR – Conversations with Today's Innovators & Business LeadersScott Hart, CEO at StepStone Group – Flywheeling High: Creating a niche in private markets investment and growing on your own momentumSummary:Private markets investment is a giant field, and finding a unique place in the business isn’t easy. But when you pay close attention to timing, the needs and wants of your clients, and building a solid team, you can make a definitive mark in the industry. Joining me to talk about how that's done is Scott Hart, CEO of StepStone Group, a private markets investment firm. Since its founding in 2006, StepStone’s seen steady growth, and that’s been fueled by their customized investment solutions and advisory and data services. With 23 offices...
2022-09-2128 minWelcome to the Arena from ICR – Conversations with Today's Innovators & Business LeadersMeaghan Montegari, Managing Director at ICR — ICR Industry Reports: Investor AccessSummary:In an ever-changing market, consistent communication and messaging is essential to building up stakeholder trust. Corporate access is key when it comes to developing relationships between companies and investors, but access strategy can be difficult to navigate without the right experience. Joining me on this episode of ICR Industry Reports is Meaghan Montegari, Managing Director and Head of Global Investor Access. Meaghan recently joined ICR with over a decade of experience in all facets of corporate access and institutional equity sales. While on the sell side with companies like BofA Merril, S...
2022-09-1422 minWelcome to the Arena from ICR – Conversations with Today's Innovators & Business LeadersJohn Mancini, Partner at Mayer Brown — Investing in your IP Strategy : The importance of protecting your intellectual propertySummary:In today's knowledge-based economy, your intellectual property is your competitive advantage and it needs to be protected. My guest this week is John Mancini, partner at Mayer Brown and a member of the firm's global intellectual property practice, which was named IP practice group of the year in 2017 and 2020 by Law360. John's practice focuses on litigating copyright, trademark, trade secret, and patent disputes across the country, and he has successfully tried high-profile intellectual property cases as lead council, representing both public and private companies in a wide range of industries. Hi...
2022-09-0728 minWelcome to the Arena from ICR – Conversations with Today's Innovators & Business LeadersHenry Nassau, CEO at Dechert — On Firm Footing : How law firms play an essential role in the corporate landscapeSummary:Given the legal complexity of just about every aspect of running a company, lawyers are nearly ubiquitous in the corporate world. So, it should come as no surprise that a lifetime in corporate law amounts to an incredible wealth of knowledge and insight that can extend a lawyer's value far beyond just providing legal advice.My guest this week is Henry Nassau, CEO of global law firm, Dechert. First joining Dechert in 1987 and returning in 2003 after a stint as in-house general counsel (and briefly COO) at Internet Capital Group, Henry served as chair...
2022-08-3130 minWelcome to the Arena from ICR – Conversations with Today's Innovators & Business LeadersJoe Folkman, Co-founder and President at Zenger Folkman — The Data on Distrust : Building and maintaining trust as a leaderSummary: My guest this week is co-founder and president of Zenger Folkman, a leadership development consultancy, Joe Folkman. For more than 30 years, Joe has been assessing and studying top leaders in a variety of industries and is a world-renowned psychometrician and leadership development expert. If you're not familiar with his unusual job title, a psychometrician creates psychological tests to measure employees' knowledge, skills, and abilities. Joe is also a prolific writer and has contributed to the Harvard Business Review, Forbes, and Business Insider. His research has also been featured in Business Week, The New Y...
2022-08-2430 minWelcome to the Arena from ICR – Conversations with Today's Innovators & Business LeadersScott Sanborn, CEO at LendingClub — Bank on It: Innovative lending for better financial futuresSummary:According to recent surveys, 43% of Americans expect to add to their debt in the next six months in order to make ends meet. Most will use credit card debt to bridge the gap, but high interest rates could see this put the financial futures of many Americans at risk. Innovative solutions to help manage that debt can make all the difference.Today's guest is Scott Sanborn, CEO of LendingClub, the only full-spectrum FinTech Marketplace Bank that has helped more than 4 million Americans save billions of dollars with no plan to slow down any...
2022-08-1732 minWelcome to the Arena from ICR – Conversations with Today's Innovators & Business LeadersJim Barr, CEO at Nautilus — Don't Sweat It: The home fitness trend is here to staySummary: While gyms were closed, and most of the population was stuck at home during the pandemic, the home exercise equipment category saw a huge boom in sales. With this came increased consumer appetite for connectivity and consolidation of their fitness experience across all the products in their home gyms.Today's guest is Jim Barr, CEO of the iconic fitness brand Nautilus Inc. Also falling under the Nautilus umbrella are well-known brands like Bowflex and Schwinn. Before joining Nautilus, Jim was Group President of Richie Brothers, a global leader in sales of used industrial e...
2022-08-1029 minWelcome to the Arena from ICR – Conversations with Today's Innovators & Business LeadersGreg McDowell, Partner at ICR — ICR Industry Reports: Technology Investor RelationsSummary:Tech companies are having to work harder than ever to prove their resilience in an increasingly noisy market. For investors, the pandemic has highlighted the need for sustained growth and detailed future planning when choosing where to put their capital, and communicating these avenues of value to investors needs to be a part of every company's core strategy. Joining me today on this episode of ICR Industry Reports is Partner Greg McDowell, Head of Technology Investor Relations. Greg has spent the last 25 years fully immersed in software, spending 10 years at Oracle as an A...
2022-08-0318 minWelcome to the Arena from ICR – Conversations with Today's Innovators & Business LeadersDave Prokupek, CEO at Ideal Image — The Beauty Business is Booming: The rapid rise of the aesthetics industrySummary:The 'Fountain of Youth' was first mentioned in the writings of Herodotus in the 5th century BC. The world may have changed a lot since the Ancient Greeks, but our desire to look better, look younger, has not. Fast forward to today, Tiktok "beauty hacks" and YouTube videos promising to help us "look younger in seconds" flood the internet. The human obsession with youth and beauty has been alive and well for thousands of years, so it shouldn't come as a surprise that the aesthetics category is giant, and continuing to grow.
2022-07-2722 minWelcome to the Arena from ICR – Conversations with Today's Innovators & Business LeadersJeff Fischer, President at Longhorn Vaccines & Diagnostics — Passing the Test : How this small company made a big difference in the fight against COVID-19Summary:Testing the population is a vital step in the pursuit of disease control. During the COVID-19 pandemic, when the biotech industry was challenged to rapidly adapt and produce safe, effective testing at an almost unimaginable scale, businesses were forced to adapt and re-think the way diagnostic tests are designed, distributed, and safely conducted in order to keep up with demand. Today's guest is Jeff Fischer. Jeff is the co-founder and president of Longhorn Vaccines & Diagnostics LLC, an industry leading biotechnology company that has been on the frontlines of the battle with C...
2022-07-2025 minWelcome to the Arena from ICR – Conversations with Today's Innovators & Business LeadersBrad Cohen, Managing Partner at ICR — ICR Industry Reports: Proptech, Real Estate & LodgingSummary:As a public company, building strong relationships with investors is vital. In a down market, the strength of those relationships relies more than ever on honest, reliable communication. No matter what's happening in the market, your company always has a story to tell. Telling it genuinely builds trust, and your investors will thank you for it. My guest today is corporate communications expert and ICR Managing Partner, Brad Cohen. At ICR, Brad leads the PropTECH, Real Estate, and Lodging group, covering a broad range of industries. A former sell-side analyst and hedge fund m...
2022-07-1318 minWelcome to the Arena from ICR – Conversations with Today's Innovators & Business LeadersJoseph Antoun, CEO at L-Nutra — Food for Thought: Turning sick care into health care with science-based nutritionSummary: We live in the era of the most advanced medical technologies the world has ever seen, but are we really that much healthier for it? According to the CDC, 6 in 10 adults in the US are living with at least one chronic disease, 4 in 10 have two or more. In the wake of the pandemic, those numbers look primed to keep going up. Modern health care systems treat these illnesses after the fact, but what if healthcare began long before we got sick? And what if the best preventative medicine starts with so...
2022-07-0627 minWelcome to the Arena from ICR – Conversations with Today's Innovators & Business LeadersJerry Morgan, President & CEO at Texas Roadhouse — Serving Up Success: The key ingredients? Great value and 'legendary' serviceSummary:When inflation goes up, and disposable incomes shrink, consumers approach their spending with increased scrutiny. Despite tighter budgets, however, people are still social and they still need to eat, and restaurants that consistently provide great value to their customers will come out on top. Today's guest is Jerry Morgan. Jerry is President and CEO of Louisville, Kentucky-based Texas Roadhouse, trading under the symbol TXRH. With 35 years of food service experience, including time at Bennigan's and Burger King, Jerry is an industry expert with a ton of institutional knowledge. He began his c...
2022-06-2926 minWelcome to the Arena from ICR – Conversations with Today's Innovators & Business LeadersNino Ciappina, CEO at PARTS iD — Standing Apart: Finding success through differentiationSummary:The automotive industry is changing. Shifting consumer behavior, increased demand for sustainability, and macro shifts towards digitization, automation, and new business models could see companies that are unable to keep up get left behind. For companies ready to embrace these changes, however, there are new opportunities for significant growth.Today's guest is Nino Ciappina, CEO of PARTS iD. PARTS iD is a digital commerce company, trading under the symbol ID, that is responding to evolving consumer needs and showing the aftermarket parts and accessories industry what an ideal customer experience looks like in 2022...
2022-06-2229 minWelcome to the Arena from ICR – Conversations with Today's Innovators & Business LeadersJames Foster, CEO at ZeroFOX — Heading Off Hackers : Why external cybersecurity is not just a defensive sportSummary:As threat volume and complexity grows, cyber attacks are quickly becoming one of the biggest concerns facing companies today. When the pandemic accelerated the shift towards digital, and employees around the world began logging in to work from anywhere, the threat of data being compromised only deepened. This is a big problem, not only for businesses, but for the stakeholders who put their trust in them. Cybercriminals are getting bolder, and cyber risks are always evolving. To protect your organization, you need a solution that evolves alongside the threat. Today's guest is d...
2022-06-1627 minWelcome to the Arena from ICR – Conversations with Today's Innovators & Business LeadersKyle Kostesich, Executive Creative Director at ICR — ICR Industry Reports: Branding + Creative PracticeSummary:Your brand is your promise. It's how you signal to stakeholders who you are and what you stand for. With so much on the line, it's no wonder that a messy brand can have a huge impact on your business.Joining me for this installment of ICR Industry Reports, the mini-series where we profile some of the industry leaders within ICR, is Kyle Kostesich. Kyle is the Executive Creative Director for ICR's Branding + Creative practice, having spent the last 15 years leading ICR's creative teams in the areas of branding, marketing, digital media, web...
2022-06-0820 minWelcome to the Arena from ICR – Conversations with Today's Innovators & Business LeadersMarc Silverberg, Partner at ICR — ICR Industry Reports: Energy, Sustainability & Modern MobilitySummary:This week: the next of our ICR Industry Reports. In this mini-series we profile some of ICR's industry experts, and hear about what they're observing at the frontlines of their fields.My guest today is Marc Silverberg, Partner and head of ICR's Energy, Sustainability & Modern Mobility investor relations practice. His team specializes in working with companies across the ESM ecosystem, with focus areas including electric vehicles, battery technology, and renewable energy among others. Marc joined ICR in 2015, bringing with him over 17 years of experience in the capital markets industry. Before coming...
2022-06-0115 minWelcome to the Arena from ICR – Conversations with Today's Innovators & Business LeadersRussell Fleischer, General Partner at Battery Ventures — Supporting CEOs: How investment partners with firsthand operations experience can helpSummary:Growth through M&A can be hit or miss. Studies show that nearly half of these transactions fail to see value creation as a result of acquisition. Why is that? Well, one reason may be that M&A is disruptive to stakeholder relationships. The challenge for investment firms is to strike the ideal balance between creating enough change to see accelerated growth in the companies they acquire or invest in and preserving the brand and core values of those companies so that key stakeholders feel secure. Great investment partners are able to look beyond the...
2022-05-2528 minWelcome to the Arena from ICR – Conversations with Today's Innovators & Business LeadersFarah Soi, Partner at ICR — ICR Industry Reports: Consumer, Retail & Digital CommerceSummary:This week is the first in a new mini-series profiling some of ICR's leading industry experts: ICR Industry Report. Alongside our usual content, this series will feature observations and analysis of what ICR's leaders are seeing in the market, and what trends they anticipate are coming up next in their verticals. These bite-size segments will be jam-packed with useful information to help you better understand the fields you're playing in.My guest today is Farah Soi, Partner in ICR's Consumer, Retail & Digital Commerce group. Since joining ICR in 2010, Farah has helped retailers and...
2022-05-1818 minWelcome to the Arena from ICR – Conversations with Today's Innovators & Business LeadersConor Flynn, CEO at Kimco Realty — Realty Reality, Post Pandemic: Responsible REITs are more than just landlordsSummary:Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) can be pretty misunderstood as investment opportunities, particularly amongst younger investors. Their slow-and-steady pace and relative lack of volatility can lead investors looking for quicker action to focus on other asset classes. However, REITs have historically produced long-term capital appreciation and high, consistent dividend income at relatively low risk. For growth-oriented investors, they should be worth consideration. Conor Flynn is the CEO of Kimco Realty, and my guest on this episode of Welcome to the Arena. Kimco is a real estate investment trust listed on the New Y...
2022-05-1133 minWelcome to the Arena from ICR – Conversations with Today's Innovators & Business LeadersEli Manning and Drew Sheinman, Partners at Brand Velocity Group — Pro Sports and Private Equity: A differentiated approach to managing PE portfoliosSummary:A company culture where you win together or lose together as a team gives everyone an incentive to perform at their best. It also creates supportive environments where strategic risk-taking is encouraged, opening the door to new opportunities. In private equity, a lot of scrutiny goes into every investment decision, but there's one factor that has historically been overlooked: human capital. However, there's been a shift in recent years. Companies ahead of the curve in recognizing value in the human element in their portfolio companies now have a chance to pull ahead in what...
2022-05-0425 minWelcome to the Arena from ICR – Conversations with Today's Innovators & Business LeadersBrian Kelsey, Voice Actor and Host of Ten Minutes With — Take it from a Talk Show Host : Building a brand from the bottom upSummary:Before there was Apple, or Amazon, or Disney, or Google, there was a person with an idea, who was willing to put in the work to see that idea come to life. Across industries, there are common lessons to be learned from the stories of the entrepreneurial-minded people who have built successful brands from the bottom up. One such person is my guest today, Brian Kelsey, a 25-year veteran of the television, radio, and voiceover industries. He's been a radio host on some legendary stations, has worked on The Howard Stern S...
2022-04-2026 minWelcome to the Arena from ICR – Conversations with Today's Innovators & Business LeadersJoth Ricci, CEO at Dutch Bros Coffee — One Cup at a Time: How a simple model and strong mission can drive growthSummary:With Covid-19 mandates relaxing and consumers eager to rejoin the real world, the beverage industry has been bouncing back over the last year. However, the landscape is not exactly what it used to be, and while doors are open, there are some new challenges to face. Changes in consumer habits as a result of the pandemic, along with the much-discussed supply chain issues, have forced many in the industry to reconsider best practices. 2021 even saw industry giant Starbucks close nearly 400 of their sit-down locations in favor of simplified, pick up and takeaway options. They're...
2022-04-0626 minWelcome to the Arena from ICR – Conversations with Today's Innovators & Business LeadersAndy Rothman, Investment Strategist at Matthews Asia — Investing in China: Why misperceptions might have you missing outSummary:In America, there are a lot of misconceptions about many aspects of Chinese culture and economic policy. These have become especially apparent over the last two years during the Covid-19 pandemic. However, many investors are curious about the opportunities to be found in China’s fast-growing market but while factors like the country’s political structure, ongoing trade wars with the US, and regulatory differences shouldn’t deter investment, it is important to understand the risks involved when it comes to investing in China.Here to give us an insider’s perspect...
2022-03-1629 minWelcome to the Arena from ICR – Conversations with Today's Innovators & Business LeadersDux Raymond Sy, Chief Brand Officer at AvePoint — Business' Brand New Era: Building brand visibility and reputation post-pandemicSummary:In 2021, the average person was estimated to encounter between 6000 and 10 000 ads every single day. And, with eyes more glued to screens than ever before, digital marketing, finding its way to us via smartphones and computers, accounts for a great deal of that ad consumption. Customers are constantly bombarded with messaging telling them to “buy now,” but in increasingly crowded markets of near-identical competitors, how can you convince them to not just “buy now,” but buy you. That’s where brand (your company’s unique identity and reputation) comes in.This week’s guest, Dux Ray...
2022-03-0928 minWelcome to the Arena from ICR – Conversations with Today's Innovators & Business LeadersDave Tayeh, Head of Private Equity North America at Investcorp — Investing in Relationships: The people side of private equitySummary:The private equity industry has a reputation for being, well, pretty private. That’s been changing over the course of the last decade and where PE firms used to keep their cards close to their chest, they are increasingly championing transparency. That shift allows investors to form more informed assessments, and businesses looking to sell are able to have a better understanding of who they’re working with and how their interests align.Relationships are an important factor to evaluate in investment decisions. Dave Tayeh, Head of Private Equity North America at I...
2022-03-0326 minWelcome to the Arena from ICR – Conversations with Today's Innovators & Business LeadersTroy Swope, Co-founder & CEO at Footprint — Reduce, Reuse, Revenue: The positive impact of plant-based plastic alternativesSummary:It’s 2022, and what’s good for the planet is becoming increasingly good for business. The warning bells scientists and environmentalists have been ringing for decades are getting too loud to ignore, and the market is reflecting it. Consumers want better, more responsible options, and with sustainable alternatives becoming more cost competitive than ever, companies with strong environmental standards are making a big impression on investors.One such company is Footprint, helmed by co-founder and CEO Troy Swope. Recently announcing that they will go public via merger with SPAC Gores Holdings VII, Foot...
2022-02-2327 minWelcome to the Arena from ICR – Conversations with Today's Innovators & Business LeadersLyndon Park, Partner & Head of ICR Governance Solutions — Embracing ESG: Finding value in your company's valuesSummary:In recent years, ESG has become a hot button topic for almost all companies, public and private alike. As conversations around environmental and social issues continue to gain momentum, opportunities can present themselves for companies willing to stop playing defense with ESG and start using it as an offensive tool. Investment stories and ESG stories are quickly merging and with disclosures on ESG factors becoming standardized and related shareholder activism continuing to rise, companies who are not prepared may be left behind.There to give them a boost is Lyndon Park, Head...
2022-02-0928 minWelcome to the Arena from ICR – Conversations with Today's Innovators & Business LeadersStan Chia, CEO & Board Director at Vivid Seats — Winning a Seat at the Table: Entering established marketsSummary:Breaking into a market controlled by prominent players can be daunting, but competition breeds innovation and when newcomers are successful it usually means big benefits for consumers and investors. Vivid Seats (online ticket marketplace), led by CEO Stan Chia, is one of those success stories.Vivid Seats has carved out a space for themselves in an industry that has historically been dominated by big names like TicketMaster and StubHub by focusing on customer service and consumer engagement. Despite the hit live events and ticketing took from cancellations and postponements brought on by...
2022-02-0227 minWelcome to the Arena from ICR – Conversations with Today's Innovators & Business LeadersSteve Glenn, CEO of Plant Prefab — Building Better Businesses: Efficient and eco-conscious constructionSummary:Here’s a quick word association. What comes to mind when you hear the word, “construction.” Your first thought probably wasn’t “efficient,” but CEO Steve Glenn and his company, Plant Prefab, are trying to change that. Plant Prefab creates architect-designed custom homes held to the highest environmental standards and, because they fabricate structural pieces at production facilities simultaneously to onsite construction, they operate much more efficiently than companies using traditional methods.The construction sector is vast, with every niche having multi-billion dollar potential. Companies that can set themselves apart through innovation have a lot t...
2022-01-1931 minWelcome to the Arena from ICR – Conversations with Today's Innovators & Business LeadersChris Rondeau, CEO of Planet Fitness — It Works Out in the End: The future of fitnessSummary:When businesses were forced to shut down during the Covid-19 pandemic, gyms found themselves particularly vulnerable. One company that managed to weather the storm (without losing a single location) and is now poised to come back stronger than ever is Planet Fitness. In this episode, we hear from the CEO of Planet Fitness, Chris Rondeau.From working the front desk of a single location in New Hampshire, to CEO of a public company with 2000+ locations, Chris Rondeau takes us through the evolution and success of Planet Fitness in his almost 30 years with the...
2022-01-1230 minWelcome to the Arena from ICR – Conversations with Today's Innovators & Business LeadersJason Kelly, Bloomberg Quicktake— Good News: How the media can help your businessSummary:With fast-growing private and public companies, you’re often juggling a lot of stakeholders: management, employees, board members, investors. But there’s one key stakeholder that’s often forgotten: the media. But ignore them at your peril. They control a huge portion of the narrative and public image of your company—and if you haven’t established the relationships and trust to tell your story, then they’re going to tell it for you.Fortunately, there are journalists like Jason Kelly. Jason has spent almost 20 years reporting on business at Bloomberg in...
2022-01-0541 minWelcome to the Arena from ICR – Conversations with Today's Innovators & Business LeadersBrian Gonick, Co-CIO of Senvest — Diamonds in the Rough: Finding the value that everyone else ignoresSummary:Investing in stocks that the market has passed by is certainly risky, but that's right where Co-Chief Investment Officer Brian Gonick and his team at Senvest find value. Through strong understanding of management, a discerning eye, and techniques adopted from the CIA, Senvest find stocks with the potential for exponential long-term growth.Brian Gonick highlights how Senvest look to invest over an extended period of time, showing how important they view their horizons. To be part of the Senvest journey, you need to understand a thing or two about community. Developing strategies...
2021-12-1532 minWelcome to the Arena from ICR – Conversations with Today's Innovators & Business LeadersPaddy Spence, CEO & Amy Taylor, President of Zevia — Can-do!: The benefits of being nimble in the beverage industryCarbonated beverages and health don't often go hand in hand, but Zevia intends to change that. By using plant-based ingredients and all-natural sweeteners, Zevia eliminates sugar, GMO's and artificial ingredients from the equation. They deliver drinks that fly off the shelves, both in-store and online; they rank as the number-one sold beverage on Amazon. But their commitment doesn't stop at great taste. CEO Paddy Spence and President Amy Taylor are passionate about consumer health and eliminating plastic waste. Together, the two of them have developed a company that goes way beyond the can.During the COVID pandemic...
2021-12-0833 minWelcome to the Arena from ICR – Conversations with Today's Innovators & Business LeadersKatherine Fogertey, CFO at Shake Shack — Grabbing a Byte : Innovation, digitalization and experience in the new age fast-food industryHighlights:Learning within the fast-food industry (4:36) Digital transformation of the company (5:46) Enlightened hospitality and commitment to service (6:54) Creating a stellar experience for the customer (8:22) Importance of digital channels (10:02) How the company values its people, both customers and employees (15:45) Menu innovation (18:51) Cold-beverage innovation (21:22) Logistics of company balance sheets (23:15) Intention of digital ecosystem regarding promotions and user engagement (24:03) Links:ICR TwitterICR LinkedInICR WebsiteShake Shack WebsiteKatherine Fogertey LinkedInShake Shack LinkedInShake Shack Mobile App...
2021-11-3029 minWelcome to the Arena from ICR – Conversations with Today's Innovators & Business LeadersSyed Raj Imteaz, ICR — Convert Operations: Why (and how) you should use convertible securitiesHighlights:How Raj found himself in equity derivatives (0:35)What makes a convertible instrument more complex than debt or equity (2:36)Why you need advice if you’re going to attempt a convert (4:58)Convertible language that could hurt you down the road (9:45)Why the market for converts is so hot (11:38)Raj’s sell-side convertible pitch (16:55)When Raj saved a company millions (20:09)How convertibles can help you rethink capital return (24:05)Links:ICR TwitterICR LinkedInICR WebsiteICR Capital WebsiteICR...
2021-11-1730 minWelcome to the Arena from ICR – Conversations with Today's Innovators & Business LeadersEric Yunag, Convergint — Connecting the Dots: Making your technology work togetherHighlights:How Convergint is applying the technology they have at their disposal (2:51)The next technological revolution (5:37)How organizations can implement new technologies in physical world applications (7:44)How society is using "computer vision" to navigate itself (9:38)People should begin using technology as a visual intelligence platform (14:55)The power of gaze detection (16:52)How Convergint provides strategic guidance (17:42)Giving service that feels like an experience (19:44)How technology can improve workplace safety in the wake of the pandemic (23:34)Alternative lenses to reframe how you view technology (28:07)Links:ICR TwitterICR LinkedInICR Website...
2021-11-1033 minWelcome to the Arena from ICR – Conversations with Today's Innovators & Business LeadersRuss Wheeler, BBQGuys — In Your Grill: A look at the innovative platform that's changing the outdoor gameHighlights:Intro to community surrounding BBQGuys (2:46)How private equity actually attracted Russ to the company (5:01)How BBQGuys are getting employee buy-in (7:10)How BBQGuys found gaps in the market for their own brand (10:45)Creating a professional customer base (12:43)Defining the addressable market (15:30)Creating a content platform (17:33)How investors should read into acquisition costs (19:51)Why Russ is excited about getting acquired by a SPAC, Velocity Acquisition Group (22:24)Insight into senior team of the company (25:47)Links:ICR TwitterICR LinkedInICR WebsiteRuss Wheeler LinkedInRuss Wheeler Twitter...
2021-10-2727 minWelcome to the Arena from ICR – Conversations with Today's Innovators & Business LeadersMiguel Martin, Aurora Cannabis — High Times: An exploration of the ever-evolving cannabis industryHighlights:Introduction of the 4 key areas (1:08)The pathway to SG&A profitability (4:19)What it takes to succeed in medical (6:25)The importance of building relationships with regulators (9:47)The future of cannabinoids (14:50)Dynamic nature of the cannabis market (18:21)Breakdown of the science and innovation unit of Aurora (19:55)The pathway to EBITDA profitability (24:02)Aurora's next steps (26:07)Links:ICR TwitterICR LinkedInICR WebsiteMiguel Martin LinkedInAurora WebsiteAurora LinkedInAurora TwitterFeedback:If you have questions about the show or...
2021-10-2030 minWelcome to the Arena from ICR – Conversations with Today's Innovators & Business LeadersHarold Edwards, Limoneira — Freshly Squeezed: Creating an agile, sustainable business that lastsHighlights:The asset base and background context on Limoneira (3:57)How the company dealt with challenges brought by the pandemic (10:43)How the pandemic changed supply-demand dynamics (13:10)Limoneira's secret weapon (15:46)Why there is increased emphasis on company balance sheets and Limoneira's plans for capital structure moving forward (20:33)How the company is integrating technology to provide a better brand experience (26:31)Limoneira's technical transformation (29:56)What investors need to understand when they look at the company (32:08)Links:ICR TwitterICR LinkedInICR WebsiteHarold Edwards LinkedInCalavo Growers WebsiteCalavo...
2021-10-1332 minWelcome to the Arena from ICR – Conversations with Today's Innovators & Business LeadersRob Sharp, Ramy Brook — Both Sides of the Check: Lessons from Private Equity and ManagementHighlights:The benefits of diplomacy in the private equity world (8:08)What Rob looked for in his initial meetings with management teams (11:45)The personal nature of business and private equity (16:42)The origins of Ramy Brook (17:47)The power that comes from people (19:42)You can't be too detailed: what Rob has learned moving from private equity into management (23:06)The importance of your team (25:40)How Rob uses the complexity of his business to drive value (27:20)Links:ICR TwitterICR LinkedInICR WebsiteLaird Bieger LinkedInBaron FundsBaron Capital...
2021-10-0630 minWelcome to the Arena from ICR – Conversations with Today's Innovators & Business LeadersBob McCooey, Nasdaq — After IPO Day: A look into securities exchange and the logistics of foreign marketsHighlights:Bob's change of career from brokerage to Nasdaq (5:06)The modern services Nasdaq provide (5:52)How Nasdaq provides an exceptional experience to listed companies (10:39)Consolidation and trends among the exchanges (14:17)A look at some of the companies that Bob has counseled (18:39)Next steps in building Nasdaq brand globally (24:18)How Nasdaq approaches the SPAC market (26:52)Bob's personal assessment of SPACs (28:50)Links:ICR TwitterICR LinkedInICR WebsiteBob McCooey LinkedInBob McCooey TwitterNASDAQ WebsiteNASDAQ LinkedInNASDAQ Twitter...
2021-09-2932 minWelcome to the Arena from ICR – Conversations with Today's Innovators & Business LeadersDon Duffy, ICR — SPACs: the ongoing evolution of Special Purpose Acquisition CompaniesHighlights:Looking at the impact of SPACs and recent history of the market (0:41)When the market 'pivoted' and institutions changed their transactional approach (4:06)The changes of structure relating to transaction negotiation (5:52)Don's opinion on regulation (13:30)The benefits of buying SPACs for investors (15:35)Sponsor and target relations (23:29)Media strategy difference between IPO and SPAC (28:02)How to deal with the threat of short-sellers (30:32)Links:ICR TwitterICR LinkedInICR WebsiteDon Duffy LinkedInFeedback:If you have questions about the show or topics you'd like discussed...
2021-09-1537 minWelcome to the Arena from ICR – Conversations with Today's Innovators & Business LeadersLaird Bieger, Baron Capital Group — Eyes on the Buys: What the Buy-Side Looks for When InvestingThe buy-side has analysts that know your industry, so why don't you know the universe of buyers? Asset managers have different strengths and different strategies. Knowing the players will help you find the best investment partner for your business. It also helps to know what they're looking for. On this episode, Laird Bieger, Vice President and Portfolio Manager of the Discovery Fund at Baron Capital, gives us a peek behind the curtain of a successful fund. What makes them confident enough to invest in a business, and how can you position yourself to receive that investment?Highlights:
2021-09-0127 minWelcome to the Arena from ICR – Conversations with Today's Innovators & Business LeadersNicole Miller, Piper Sandler — Food for Thought: Sell-Side Analysis & the Restaurant UniverseEffective sell-side analysts have to be well-versed in their industry. The best are experts on every aspect: consumer behavior, competitive landscape, and industry trends. Nicole Miller is one of those experts. As Senior Research Analyst at Piper Sandler, she has been conducting sell-side analysis for over 15 years, and is an authority on the restaurant and hospitality universe. We sat down with Nicole to talk how the restaurant industry drove value by adapting to COVID, what factors into her picks, and where she thinks equity research is headed.HighlightsHow the restaurant industry has adapted during...
2021-08-1826 min