Most Innovative Companies

Duolingo’s freemium subscription model, beloved brand and strategic investments have allowed it to execute its educational mission and become a cultural touchstone. Matthew Skaruppa, CFO of Duolingo, is one of the rising financial stars who are helping to bring their businesses to the next level. Since he joined the company in 2020, Duolingo has grown its base of monthly active users by more than 80%. Each month, 75 million users hone their language skills on the Duolingo app. In this podcast, part of the SAP-sponsored Growth Agents series, Skaruppa discusses how his analytical background has allowed to him to be a more strategy-oriented CFO. For him, that has meant balancing big aspirations and finite resources, and turning the uncertainties of tomorrow into action today.

What do Chanel, Heinz 57, and Coors Light all have in common? They’re all brands that have built a connection with their consumers. On today’s episode, we’re looking at our company’s ‘Brands That Matter’ recognition program with ‘Fast Company’ senior staff editor Jeff Beer. Not only is it about building connections, but also developing culturally relevant messaging, making an impact through social causes, and communicating their mission and values clearly. We also chat about peak marketing nostalgia and, specifically, how Kraft Macaroni & Cheese is re-releasing SpongeBob shapes, which seems like a perfect example of a brand keying into what millennials miss about childhood.‘Are you ok with being in the shadows?’ Bobby Kim, aka Bobby Hundreds, talks about how he started his streetwear brand, The Hundreds, 20 years ago. Every year, there’s always a debate about what streetwear is—some people say it’s not cool anymore because of elitism and snobbery within subcultures. To get around this, Hundreds says you need young people discovering it for first time, as well as seasoned veterans weighing in, for a brand to have lore and build a legacy. Most streetwear brands are built to be ephemeral, but Hundreds said what helped his company was sticking to its core values: honesty, communication, and being personable. “People never go out of style.”Check out @bobbyhundreds and The Hundreds’ Substack ‘Monologue’: https://bobbyhundreds.substack.com/p/the-importance-of-diversity-and-representation

Lego's recent sustainability announcement is seen as an excuse rather than a true commitment. The tension between company promises and realistic delivery is highlighted. The podcast also features discussions on adapting video games into successful movies, the impact of strikes on Blumhouse, AI in the creative process, a crisis for parents, and the truth behind veneers on TV.

Since we’ve got our Innovation Festival going on this week, here’s a quick roundup of business and tech news: United Auto Workers (UAW) deal—the 32-hour week likely not to be a part of it UN General Assembly meets this week: there was a huge climate change protest on Sunday Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s visit with President Biden: to ask for help on a 10-point peace proposal and address the food security crisis Drew Barrymore apologized for her decision to resume production despite the ongoing Writers Guild of America strike and reversed her decision TikTok Shop is the latest social media platform to pivot to e-commerce Orcas are attacking people now . . . ? Or still. But now it might not just be playing and could be actual hunting And then we chatted with Chip Wade, CEO of Union Square Hospitality Group. He told us how he grew up in the hospitality industry and his tips for staying cool in a hot kitchen. USHG operates Gramercy Tavern, Union Square Cafe, and Blue Smoke, among other restaurants.

Check out this roundup of interviews from the past year! We're highlighting some of our favorite interviews at this year's Innovation Festival. Tune in for marketing advice from e.l.f and SKIMS and learn how Seth Rogen turned a hobby into a company.

Morgan Clendaniel explains the exponential increase in CEO pay and its role in income inequality. Michelle Khare shares her experiences of trying various jobs and the importance of challenge and failure for personal growth. They discuss the need for better management training in corporate America.

Daniel Humm, Eleven Madison Park chef and owner, talks about running a fine-dining restaurant during the pandemic and making the menu plant-based. Mark Sullivan discusses the major players in the AI industry and Congress's role in regulating AI. Walmart's search for a new CEO with healthcare experience is also discussed.

On this episode of “Lead Through Disruption,” we step into the shoes of Greg Schwartz, Co-Founder, President, and Chief Operating Officer of StockX, a $3.8 billion online marketplace for sneakers, apparel and collectibles. As a leading disruptor of the online resales market, discover Greg’s proven perspectives on the power of targeting innovation to customer pain points, the value of promoting transparency across partnerships and teams, and the impact of building a rich and vibrant community around your brand.

Lead Through Disruption continues with Part Two of Deb Golden’s conversation with author and entrepreneur Andy Dunn, as we go deeper into the challenges that disruption can bring to bear on our mental health. In this episode, Andy explores the delicate relationship between wellbeing and entrepreneurship, the highs and lows that can attend even the peaks of the journey, and the importance of normalizing (and prioritizing) a proactive approach to mental health.

Opening up about his journey through entrepreneurship and mental health, this special two-part conversation with Deb Golden and Andy Dunn reveals why resilience in the face of disruption is essential for growth in both business and life. In Part One, we uncover Andy’s path to pioneering digital fashion commerce in the 2000s, the advantage of showing up in service to a vision, and the art of navigating risk on the road to success.