Do what you gotta do and do not compromise it

How I learned to value my business

If there is one word I would use to describe Lee Greene, the owner of Faithful Foods it would be self confidence. 

LEE GREENE Owner, Faithful to Foods, Inc. and Scrumptious Pantry.  Lee is the founder of Scrumptious Pantry, a brand for packaged heirloom foods from the Midwest and beyond. The unique branding concept, which highlights the farmers on the front label, creates a new level of transparency in grocery retailing. Before launching Scrumptious Pantry, Lee was the Managing Director of a biodynamic vineyard in Tuscany. As a consultant for integrated marketing strategies at one of the leading German communication agencies she has worked for international cooperation such as Henkel and Wal-Mart. Lee holds a Master’s Degree in Economics and Political Science from the University of Cologne/Germany, and an MBA from SDA Bocconi School of Management, Milan/Italy.

When I met her on the panel I had a lot of question and most of them concerned supply chain and how to find suppliers that would work with me.

My assumption has always been that I would have to go out there on my knees in order to get a supplier to support me in the beginning because my purchasing numbers will be low. She told me something I won't forget: " If they do not want to work with you and do not believe in you or your idea than don't work with them" and " If they come crawling back looking for your business once you grow, smack them down because if they didn't want your business before they do not get it now that you made it"

I believe someone who is developing a business idea and from there on the company will need a portion of this self understanding. Knowing that what you do is the right thing to do and trust in your self is what inspires other people. As a leader within your company it is therefore imminent that one has the same trust in ones person in order to inspire your employees.

 

6.  How does this connect with the characteristics of a good leader?

7.  How does this change the type of leaders you inspire to be?

 

LEE GREENE Owner, Faithful to Foods, Inc. and Scrumptious Pantry.  Lee is the founder of Scrumptious Pantry, a brand for packaged heirloom foods from the Midwest and beyond. The unique branding concept, which highlights the farmers on the front label, creates a new level of transparency in grocery retailing. Before launching Scrumptious Pantry, Lee was the Managing Director of a biodynamic vineyard in Tuscany. As a consultant for integrated marketing strategies at one of the leading German communication agencies she has worked for international cooperation such as Henkel and Wal-Mart. Lee holds a Master’s Degree in Economics and Political Science from the University of Cologne/Germany, and an MBA from SDA Bocconi School of Management, Milan/Italy.