This CEO saved Jamba Juice from Bankruptcy with James D. White

17 snips

Jan 23, 2026

James D. White, transformational leader and former CEO who reinvented Jamba Juice into a global health brand. He discusses designing culture with clear pillars, rapid six-month turnarounds under time pressure, scaling systems as teams grow, recruiting for curiosity and hunger, and how AI and lifelong learning reshape leadership and talent development.

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ADVICE

Institutionalize Top Performers' Playbooks

Institutionalize the best practices of top performers so the organization isn't dependent on individuals.
Document how they prepare, what they focus on, and train the rest of the team to replicate their play.

ADVICE

Hire For Attributes, Not Just Skills

Recruit for cultural fit and the personal attributes you need, like curiosity and storytelling.
Use personality tools selectively to distill attributes that predict success in guest-facing roles.

INSIGHT

Five-Year Focus Builds Expertise

Deliberate, multi-year focus on a topic builds deep capability and influence.
James applied five-year spans to master board governance and culture work.

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James D. White is a transformational leader with more than three decades of experience operating at the highest levels of the consumer products, retail, and restaurant industries. Best known for leading the turnaround and reinvention of Jamba Juice, James guided the company’s evolution from a made-to-order smoothie concept into a globally recognized, health-focused lifestyle brand. Across executive roles at companies including Gillette, Safeway, Nestlé Purina, and Coca-Cola, he developed a deep operating playbook rooted in brand leadership, disciplined execution, and long-term value creation.

Beyond the CEO role, James is one of the most sought-after board leaders in modern business, having served on more than 20 public and private boards including Panera Bread, The Honest Company, Simply Good Foods, CAVA, Affirm, and Medallia. In 2020, he co-founded Culture Design Lab to help CEOs and executive teams intentionally design organizations built for performance, resilience, and purpose. He is also the co-author of the national bestseller Culture Design: How to Build a High-Performing, Resilient Organization with Purpose, published by Harvard Business Review Press — a practical framework shaped by decades of real-world leadership and boardroom experience.

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My other podcast:

Home Service Expert ⟶ https://open.spotify.com/show/4WHQ3ldGThHsP1cfzNF33G

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https://homeserviceexpert.com/questions
Learn more about James: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-d-white-086ab2153

00:00 The Essence of Leadership

03:06 Transforming Company Culture

05:49 Navigating Challenges at Jamba Juice

08:57 Recruitment and Team Dynamics

12:08 The Importance of Continuous Learning

15:09 Balancing Personal and Professional Life

18:12 The Role of Technology in Leadership

20:50 Building a Leadership Pipeline

23:46 The Impact of AI on Business

27:05 Lessons from Boardroom Experiences

29:58 Final Thoughts on Leadership and Culture