Using Pizza To Help Small Businesses And Local Communities

02/23/21 • 30 min

The popular mobile app Slice had already been helping small businesses survive by giving them access to digital tools that only larger chains had the money to develop for themselves. But when COVID-19 hit, Slice’s commitment to local restaurants helped them not only survive but actually thrive when everyone needed them most.

Jacqueline Meyer, the CPO at Slice, joins the Survive & Thrive podcast. She discusses her journey with the company, how they’ve managed to adjust to life during the coronavirus pandemic, and how Slice has helped small businesses and communities through new initiatives.

Act 1: Joining Slice and getting thrown into a crisis

Jacqueline Meyer introduction (1:07)

Jennifer introduces Jacqueline and talks about how they met at Accenture.

Versatility (2:23)

Working in human resources, Jacqueline has been able to help people navigate major changes.

What is Slice (3:10)

Jacqueline talks about how Slice helps small restaurants stay relevant in a digital age by giving them access to online tools larger brands have built for themselves.

Starting at Slice (5:13)

Jacqueline began working at Slice early in 2020 before the pandemic officially became a pandemic. She talks about her role in the company and how both she and the company were impacted by COVID-19.

The difficulties of international business (7:14)

Though Slice’s customer base is in the United States, they have offices throughout Macedonia. The scattered offices presented some unique challenges for Jacqueline as Slice began working from home.

Act 2: Commitment to help small business

A commitment to small businesses (9:28)

One thing Jacqueline loves about Slice and is working to retain is the company’s drive to help small businesses thrive. From the product itself to the workers both in the United States and Macedonia, Slice as a company is helping small businesses meet the growing demand for takeout.

Re-investing (11:37)

One of Slice’s newest initiatives is an accelerate program that allows small businesses to apply for a $15,000 investment to get access to digital tools to improve their companies.

Thriving through partnership (12:34)

Shops that partner with Slice have seen massive increases in order value and re-order rates, helping small businesses survive. Slice is continuing that by partnering with some shops to help them with marketing, logistics, and more so they can grow even larger and thrive.

Act 3: Adapting and growing

Helping front-line workers (15:02)

Jacqueline discusses Slice’s creative campaign called “Pizza vs. Pandemic” to help small businesses connect with front-line workers. Through user donations, local businesses could deliver pizza to the country’s front-line workers to help during the pandemic.

How can they adapt (17:57)

Jacqueline believes it’s through a sense of purpose that Slice is able to so quickly pivot and adapt to help those in need.

Reflecting back (19:48)

With the sudden halt in the norms of daily life throughout the pandemic, there has been an opportunity for introspection. Jacqueline notes that reflecting back has allowed her to identify her motivation and inspiration triggers in order to better use them now.

Act 4: Resiliency through a crisis

Surprises and staying resilient (21:42)

For a person who has been a part of quick pivots and handled crises throughout her career, the pandemic has offered some surprises according to Jacqueline. She opens up about the things that have shocked her, including the resiliency of people.

How to become and remain resilient throughout crisis (24:24)

Jacqueline provides some examples of things people can do to help become and stay resilient throughout a crisis like the COVID-19 pandemic -- From taking the time to take walks and have virtual coffee dates to giving people a forum to share feedback freely. Jacqueline also talks about how she believes these difficulties will spawn new innovations in both business and personal life.

Personal hurdles (27:07)

Wrapping up the interview, Jacqueline explains some of her own personal hurdles she’s had to battle throughout the pandemic.

Links:

Jacqueline Meyer - LinkedIn

Slice’s Pizza vs. Pandemic - Website

Ilir Sela - Twitter

Ilir Sela - Instagram

Act 1: Joining Slice and getting thrown into a crisis

Jacqueline Meyer introduction (1:07)

Jennifer introduces Jacqueline and talks about how they met at Accenture.

Versatility (2:23)

Working in human resources, Jacqueline has been able to help people navigate major changes.

What is Slice (3:10)

Jacqueline talks about how Slice helps small restaurants stay relevant in a digital age by giving them access to online tools larger brands have built for themselves.

Starting at Slice (5:13)

Jacqueline began working at Slice early in 2020 before the pandemic officially became a pandemic. She talks about her role in the company and how both she and the company were impacted by COVID-19.

The difficulties of international business (7:14)

Though Slice’s customer base is in the United States, they have offices throughout Macedonia. The scattered offices presented some unique challenges for Jacqueline as Slice began working from home.

Act 2: Commitment to help small business

A commitment to small businesses (9:28)

Re-investing (11:37)

One of Slice’s newest initiatives is an accelerate program that allows small businesses to apply for a $15,000 investment to get access to digital tools to improve their companies.

Thriving through partnership (12:34)

Act 3: Adapting and growing

Helping front-line workers (15:02)

How can they adapt (17:57)

Jacqueline believes it’s through a sense of purpose that Slice is able to so quickly pivot and adapt to help those in need.

Reflecting back (19:48)

Act 4: Resiliency through a crisis

Surprises and staying resilient (21:42)

How to become and remain resilient throughout crisis (24:24)

Personal hurdles (27:07)

Wrapping up the interview, Jacqueline explains some of her own personal hurdles she’s had to battle throughout the pandemic.

Links:

Jacqueline Meyer - LinkedIn

Slice’s Pizza vs. Pandemic - Website

Ilir Sela - Twitter

Ilir Sela - Instagram

Previous Episode

Using Business to Create Social Change - LXMI

How can businesses create a better world? Anna-Maja Björkenvall, the CEO of LXMI, discusses how their business model and supply chain are helping end global poverty and save the environment at the same time.

Anna’s story is an empowering one, starting when she came to the United States with nothing but a suitcase to eventually becoming the CEO of LXMI after founder Leila Janah passed in 2020. She also details some of the difficulties she’s faced stepping into a new role at the same time the coronavirus pandemic hit, as well as how businesses should take a more focused approach to create social impact.

Show Highlights:

Anna-Maja Björkenvall introduction (0:44)

Jennifer introduces Anna, the current CEO of LXMI.

Coming to America (2:02)

Anna came to the United States with little more than a suitcase and a dream. After living in England and Rome, Anna had a conversation with a stranger that prompted her to move to Miami despite having never been to the city or knowing anyone there.

Joining LXMI and meeting Leila Janah (3:54)

After earning a degree in psychology and marketing and earning her green card, Anna worked at a few companies before another life-changing move to New York. It’s there that Anna met and became friends with LXMI founder Leila Janah.

Leila Janah’s background (4:44)

Sadly, Leila passed away in 2020 at the age of 37, but she lived an impressive life. Jennifer talks about some of Leila’s remarkable accomplishments and Anna discusses Leila’s battle with cancer and ultimately her passing.

Becoming LXMI’s CEO (7:10)

As Leila went through treatment, Anna stepped in to run the company. Upon Leila’s passing, she was asked to remain and become the new CEO with Leila’s blessing. She explains her feelings on both Leila’s death and her own journey.

New troubles: COVID-19 (8:05)

A month after Leila passed away, Anna was hit with another career- and life-defining moment: The coronavirus pandemic. Anna shares the fears she had of trying to fill Leila’s shoes and the difficulty of handling everything in such a short timespan.

Being open and authentic through a crisis (9:09)

With so much turmoil in such a short period of time, Anna could have easily retreated or faked her way through. Instead, she was open and emboldened her team to be authentic and to share their emotions and thoughts during unprecedented times.

The impact of the pandemic (9:45)

Part of what makes LXMI such a unique brand is how they source and produce their products. LXMI’s supply chain comes directly from the source in places like Uganda, where they aim to end global poverty by paying at least three times the average local wage. But the pandemic created new challenges for those workers. Anna talks about what they’ve learned about those workers and the importance of creating sustainable jobs in those locations.

Giving back the right way (11:22)

Philanthropy can be a real game-changer for developing countries but it also has a downside. Anna explains how doing things like building wells or schools are great but can actually further divide these areas due to income inequality. That’s where LXMI tries to change things by providing job opportunities for marginalized communities in an effort to eliminate poverty.

Uplifting people and protecting the environment (15:34)

Not only does LXMI’s mission help bolster impoverished communities and empower women, but it’s also benefitting the environment as well. Anna believes providing high-paying job opportunities to these regions provides a financial incentive for conservation as well.

Using the pandemic to provide a societal impact (19:11)

The coronavirus pandemic and social justice concerns have impacted the world over the last year. But it has also made consumers hungry to see businesses do more to improve society. Anna believes people want to see businesses take the next step and truly embrace social change beyond gimmicky marketing campaigns.

How Anna is holding up (22:14)

With the pandemic creating unique challenges and the recent anniversary of Leila’s passing, it has been a difficult time for Anna. She discusses how she’s coped with those hurdles and come out on the other side stronger.

What Anna’s learned (24:00)

Like most, Anna has discovered she’s not alone through all these difficulties and there is so much support. The challenges of the last year have empowered Anna to be a better leader by being authentic with those around her.

Seeing positivity (25:43)

When feeling overwhelmed, Anna looks at LXMI and the lives the company has changed. Whether it’s the financial independence and female empowerment the company has helped cultivate in its supply chain and customers, Anna is able to lean on the good she and LXMI have done.

How companies can t...

Next Episode

The Importance Of Organizational Culture And Its Impact On Your Business

Creating an organizational culture that fosters meaningful relationships, creativity, and creates motivation in business can be difficult in the best of times. But as the coronavirus pandemic has made clear, it can be even harder to do during a crisis. If your people weren’t questioning the value of their involvement in your company before, they’re certainly doing it now.

Jennifer is joined by Steve Van Valin to talk about the importance of work culture and the impact it can have on things like production and retaining and acquiring talent. Steve is the author of the “Culture Narrative Strategy” and “Amplify,” which have helped guide leaders to motivate their teams through purpose and creating meaningful work. He shares some of his insight and tips on creating and improving your organizational culture.

Act 1: Understanding and cultivating an organizational culture

Steve Van Valin’s background (2:05)

Jennifer introduces Steve, who talks about what he’s done throughout his career to cultivate a better work culture.

What does organizational culture mean? (3:39)

Steve and Jennifer each break down what they believe work culture actually means and what it looks like in an organization.

Tending your work culture like a garden (5:32)

Steve likens creating and nurturing an organizational culture to planting and harvesting a garden. You can’t simply state what your work culture is and have it blossom. It takes a real commitment and hard work to truly get the results you’re looking for.

Act 2: The impact COVID-19 has had on work culture

Weathering the storm (8:31)

With the pandemic creating a whole host of new challenges, work culture was one of the first things to go for many businesses. Steve talks about what he’s seen from an organizational culture perspective as employees have been working from home and personal connections have been missing.

The challenges of an ongoing pandemic (10:09)

Jennifer shares some of the things she’s done at Concinnity to help improve employee connections, including virtual cocktail hours. Steve and Jennifer talk about how the ongoing pandemic and lack of personal connections have created weariness that is beginning to impact organizational culture.

Act 3: Using COVID-19 to audit and improve your organizational culture

Combating “Zoom Gloom” and re-energizing (12:22)

Steve and Jennifer share some valuable tips for leaders to build and improve relationships and combat Zoom fatigue, which will improve your organizational culture.

Using the pandemic to create/improve your organizational culture (17:52)

As Jennifer points out, COVID-19 has, in some ways, made us more human. Our emotions are more powerful as positive things mean just a little bit more and negative issues impact us harder. Steve explains that now is the time to think about your work culture once again -- whether you need to create one or if your current organizational culture needs an audit to create a better future.

Feeling the effects of a good or bad work culture (21:51)

As Steve notes, people are really recognizing what an organization’s culture truly is during these times -- for good or bad. Moving forward, how a company performed during this crisis will have a major impact on things like finding and retaining talent.

Act 4: What you can do right now to improve your work culture

Patterns in work culture (24:05)

Steve discusses some of the patterns and core values he’s seen in work culture across all businesses. He believes getting back to the basics can make a major impact and help guide people out of a rut.

Guiding employees through a crisis (27:16)

Jennifer and Steve discuss how just asking the right questions can improve things. Steve shares some of the simple questions a business owner can ask their employees that provide empathy, creates respect, and a clearer direction of what needs to be improved to form a better work culture.

Have empathy (30:28)

Jennifer shares an example where she recognized a team member was going through something that was impacting her mood, and how just asking what they were going through created an important dialogue.

Creating small goals and small wins (31:21)

Steve breaks down how forming small goals during a crisis creates small wins, which can energize people and build confidence. He breaks down some of the ways leaders can identify those moments and connect with staff to help them without micromanaging.

Respect (33:12)

Jennifer stresses the notion of respecting your partners and staff. It can be as simple as respecting each other’s personal needs and letting people dictate their own schedules in order to foster a better environment while still getting work done well.

Acronyms for COVID (34:56)

Steve shares his own experiences with COVID-19 and how the nonstop talk about the pa...