What’s the mistake too many young leaders make?

🚫 Skipping steps. 🚫 Skipping the struggle.

This week’s episode of The Business of Joy podcast features Andrew K. Smith, Managing Partner and Co-Founder of Savory Fund!

From cleaning kennels at 14 to co-founding a $500M fund, his story is a playbook for gritty, joyful leadership.

We talked about:

💸 The truth about today’s fundraising climate—and where opportunity still lives

🔄 What legacy brands can learn from emerging ones

🌟 “Don’t be a know-it-all. Be a learn-it-all.”

🌱 How restaurants (and leaders) can be the light others lean toward

💡 Why he believes positivity breeds success

What struck me most? His ability to dream big and stay grounded.

🎧 One of my favorite conversations yet. Packed with perspective, wisdom, and unforgettable one-liners.

And BTW—we even talk favorite bands and music. So cool.

Here were two of the bands that Andrew mentioned:

Zola Blood: https://www.youtube.com/@ZOLABLOOD/videos

Washed Out: https://www.youtube.com/@realwashedout/videos

❌ Innovation by committee.

❌ Waiting for approval.


❌ Endless alignment meetings.

It’s not working. And Rita McGrath, C-suite strategist, professor at Columbia Business School and Founder of Valize, says it’s time to stop pretending it is!

In our latest Business of Joy episode, she breaks down what happens when teams go permissionless—and why it leads to:

✅ 75% faster execution


✅ Smarter, more motivated teams


✅ Strategy that actually keeps up with reality

We also dug into Gen Z, leadership blind spots, and how small changes (just 2% better!) lead to big reinvention.

If you're clinging to hierarchy, you’re already behind!

Rita's Website: https://www.ritamcgrath.com/

Her Thought Sparks Podcast: https://www.ritamcgrath.com/podcast/

Velize: https://velize.com/

Rita's YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/rgmcgrath

Her Current Bedside Book: https://www.amazon.com/Wiring-Winning-Organization-Slowification-Simplification/dp/1950508420

From flipping pancakes to flipping strategy—this episode goes where most interviews don’t. 🎙️

Today on The Business of Joy, I’m joined by Julia Stewart, CEO and Founder of Alurx. You may know the highlights: starting as a 16-year-old server at IHOP, leading one of the largest restaurant acquisitions in history, and launching a bold second act in health tech.

But in this episode, we go deeper. Julia shares untold moments from her journey: what it really takes to reinvent, take risks, and lead with relentless curiosity. Just a few of the many highlight moments:

🍽️ Read the table. What she learned at IHOP when she was 16 years old still applies in boardrooms today—it starts with reading the table, trust, and connection.

🛣️ Don’t stay in your lane. Julia didn’t wait for permission to pivot. She chased the experience she knew she needed.

🔄 Reinvention doesn’t have a retirement age. Her second act isn’t a side project, it’s bold, future-facing, and deeply personal.

🌟 Leadership is about giving people hope. Because you never know when your words will be the ones they remember.

🎁 BONUS:

1️⃣ After the official interview, we kept talking, then decided to hit record again. Don’t miss the 8 extra minutes of never-before-shared stories.

2️⃣ And yes… we’re posting the full video for this one and the full episode! Remember..... 💛 Joy is a choice we make—and a business we build. Keep investing in joy.