{"podcast":{"title":"The Strategy and Leadership Podcast with Anthony C. Taylor","slug":"the-strategy-and-leadership-podcast-with-anthony-c-taylor-325713","podcast_index_feed_id":325713,"rss_url":"https://rss2.flightcast.com/bi6r13fwwecrpryrpynyq9xy.xml","website_url":"https://www.smestrategy.net/strategy-and-leadership-podcast","image_url":"https://files.flightcast.com/workspaces/ythfce9fd2fs3qpa2fheu2aj/podcasts/bi6r13fwwecrpryrpynyq9xy/azf85g98sqftm10ki93kmh4m.jpg","author":"SME Strategy Consulting INC","episode_count":365,"summary":"The Strategy and Leadership Podcast with Anthony C. Taylor explores strategic planning, strategy execution, and executive leadership in complex organizations. Hosted by Anthony C. Taylor, Founder & Principal of SME Strategy, the show features conversations with CEOs and senior leaders on business strategy, organizational alignment, leadership development, and change management. Episodes examine real trade-offs, decision-making, and the practical structures that turn strategic plans into measurable results and sustained team performance. Designed for CEOs and executive teams responsible for making strategic plans work in the real world. Learn more: https://www.smestrategy.net Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthonyctaylor604/","last_synced_at":"2026-07-31T02:17:25.531894+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-strategy-and-leadership-podcast-with-anthony-c-taylor-325713"},"episode":{"title":"Selling Zico to Coca-Cola and Buying It Back | Mark Rampolla","slug":"selling-zico-to-coca-cola-and-buying-it-back-mark-rampolla","published_at":"2026-06-09T23:44:10+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-strategy-and-leadership-podcast-with-anthony-c-taylor-325713/selling-zico-to-coca-cola-and-buying-it-back-mark-rampolla","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-strategy-and-leadership-podcast-with-anthony-c-taylor-325713","url":"https://episode.flightcast.com/yv7418bk6f4w4e79a1zldv5g.mp3","audio_url":"https://episode.flightcast.com/yv7418bk6f4w4e79a1zldv5g.mp3","summary":"What happens when you build a global brand, sell it for $200 million, and realize it's not what you want? According to Mark Rampolla, the real lesson isn't about the exit or buyback. It's about understanding that growth isn't something you do. It's something you become. In this episode of the Strategy & Leadership Podcast, Anthony C. Taylor speaks with Mark Rampolla, founder and CEO of ZICO Coconut Water, co-founder and managing partner of GroundForce Capital, and author of An Entrepreneur's Guide to Freedom. Mark spent nine years building ZICO into one of the fastest-growing beverage brands in the world, sold it to Coca-Cola in 2013, and later bought it back for a fraction of the sale price when the company was divested. What Mark has learned from backing nearly 100 companies at GroundForce Capital, sitting on 40+ boards, and helping raise over $1 billion in capital changes how you think about what separates founders who break through from those who don't. Anthony and Mark explore why self-reflection and curiosity are the most powerful indicators of future success, why the founder to CEO transition breaks most people, and what it really means to treat people the way they want to be treated. What You Will Learn in This Episode Why growth is an inside job and what that means for founders The surprising pattern across nearly 100 companies that separates high performers Why strategy and execution matter far less than people think How to spot real indicators of someone's future success What Mark learned building Zico twice and why the second time was different The founder to CEO transition and what determines who makes it How to identify the niche that makes your brand resonate Why the platinum rule changes how you lead What a $600 million asset management firm looks for i…","meta_description":"What happens when you build a global brand, sell it for $200 million, and realize it's not what you want? According to Mark Rampolla, the real lesson isn'…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":1604,"processing_state":"not_requested","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/the-strategy-and-leadership-podcast-with-anthony-c-taylor-325713/episodes/selling-zico-to-coca-cola-and-buying-it-back-mark-rampolla/transcription-requests","description":"Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode."},{"name":"read_markdown","method":"GET","url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-strategy-and-leadership-podcast-with-anthony-c-taylor-325713/selling-zico-to-coca-cola-and-buying-it-back-mark-rampolla.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}