Episode 86

full
Published on:

2nd Oct 2024

New York: Ex-Sysco President & Successful Entreprenuer, Mike Pilkington, on The Formula to Build, Scale, & Sell a Business

This week on the Titans of Food Service podcast, Nick Portillo speaks with Mike Pilkington, CEO of KEY Sparkling Water, to discuss his diverse career journey from corporate management at Sysco Foods to entrepreneurship with Death Wish Coffee and now, KEY Sparkling Water. Mike shares insights on leadership, and resisting unionization, and underlines the importance of “beginning with the end in mind”. Listen this week as Nick and Mike discuss how strategic transitions within a company can lead to significant career advancements for entrepreneurs and the importance of surrounding oneself with like-minded and skilled individuals.

Quotes

  • "In entrepreneurship, bet on yourself, as the days of corporate loyalty are dwindling." -Mike Pilkington


  • "To me, experiencing success is the first stage to be able to bring other people along with you." -Mike Pilkington



TIMESTAMPS

(00:00) Mike Pilkington's Journey from Cisco to KEY Sparkling Water

(04:41) The Journey to Sobriety and Its Unexpected Challenges

(10:00) From HR to Sales Leadership at Sysco

(12:12) Leadership, Change, and Personal Growth in Business

(20:12) Entrepreneurial Journey from Coffee to Sparkling Water

(28:18) Entrepreneurial Success Through Community and Self-Belief



RESOURCES

Portillo Sales



CONTACT 

Nick: nick.portillo@portillosales.com

Show artwork for Titans of Foodservice

About the Podcast

Titans of Foodservice
Nick Portillo shares with you the things he has learned on his own journey of building a successful business in the food service industry.

About your host

Profile picture for Seth "Creek" Creekmore

Seth "Creek" Creekmore

Seth Creekmore, or “Creek,” as he is known by most of his friends has been studying the Enneagram for almost 10 years now. Having completed training under Lynda Roberts & Nan Henson, he continued learning the Enneagram through a smattering of other teachers and books and eventually completed the Awareness to Action program. He was one of the original founders of the popular Fathoms | An Enneagram Podcast and now serves as the resident Millennial for the Awareness to Action Podcast. He creates Cinematic Folk music under the name Creekmore and enjoys, hiking in cold places, cooking in warm places and traveling to all the places.