So Ambitious 205. Grown from Ground Up: Shannon Allen's Culinary Venture with a Purpose
Profound and enduring impact lies at the intersection of entrepreneurship and advocacy - and there is no better testament to this than the story of Shannon Allen.
Shannon Allen is the visionary founder of Grown, a healthy fast-casual restaurant franchise that has not only disrupted but redefined the culinary landscape in Miami. Shannon's story goes beyond entrepreneurship; it is a powerful testament to the transformative potential when business acumen meets a deep commitment to positive change.
In this episode, Shannon shares her journey from growing up in an entrepreneurial family in Connecticut to becoming an advocate for diabetes awareness and healthy eating. She recounts the life-changing moment her son was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes and how it propelled her into becoming an advocate, raising awareness and funds for diabetes research. Shannon also discusses the inception of Grown and her vision to scale it as a healthy alternative to traditional fast food.
Join in on the conversation as Shannon's resilience, determination, and commitment to making a positive impact shine through, serving as an inspiration for aspiring entrepreneurs and advocates.
KEY POINTS
- (2:02) Shannon’s family background and their entrepreneurial roots
- (5:36) Shannon on her initial resistance to entrepreneurship and owning a business
- (9:08) How motherhood changed the way Shannon viewed legacy
- (12:24) The origin story of Grown: Shannon’s venture into advocacy & revolutionizing the food industry
- (23:56) Wearing both hats of entrepreneur and advocate
- (28:34) Doing it anyway: How Shannan overcame obstacles & naysayers when building her business
- (36:24) Shannon’s definition of success and the future of Grown
- (41:51) Shannon on dealing with public closures, learning from losses, and loving risks
- (48:42) What’s next for Shannon and the future of Grown?
QUOTABLES
“Having black ambition is so key because it's so easy to believe that we don't belong here. It's so easy to fall into this belief system that there are limits on what we can accomplish, and it's so easy to forget who we really are.” - Shannon Allen
“Of all the venture money that's raised in this country. We know the numbers - only 2% of those dollars ever even touch women's hands. And Black women, we don't even get to sniff it.” - Shannon Allen
“I think true entrepreneurs are not risk averse. We love risks. We are like, throw me out of the plane and I'll build the parachute on the way down.” - Shannon Allen
RESOURCES
Shannon Allen
IG | @swalkerwil
IG | @grown
IG | @lunchology.co
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IG | @feleciahatcher
IG | @blackambitionprize
So Ambitious is produced by EPYC Media