Food for Thought: Revisiting Food Maven's Impact with CEO Ben Deda

In this episode of CXO Conversations, host Michael Mitchel revisits an insightful interview with Ben Deda, CEO of Food Maven, and co-founder of Denver Startup Week. This conversation dives deep into Food Maven's mission to combat food waste by revolutionizing the distribution model, prioritizing sustainability, efficiency, and community impact.

Ben shares his personal journey transitioning from tech to CEO, and provides insights into the inception and growth of Denver Startup Week, highlighting its format, impact, and key lessons learned.

Join Michael and Ben as they explore sustainable business practices, community-building, and visionary leadership, offering a compelling exploration of the challenges and opportunities in driving positive change. Plus, stay tuned for the next episode, where Ben shares updates on Food Maven's journey over the past four years.

Key highlights include:

• Fighting Food Waste: Ben Deda discusses Food Maven's mission to transform food distribution, focusing on sustainability and community impact.
• Tech-Driven Solutions: Food Maven's platform connects surplus food with buyers, reducing waste and supporting local suppliers.
• CEO Journey: Ben shares his transition from tech to CEO, highlighting leadership and collaboration.
• CEO Focus Areas: Ben outlines key areas of focus for CEOs, shaped by influential roles in his career.
• Denver Startup Week: Ben explores the origins and impact of Denver Startup Week, sharing valuable insights and lessons learned.

Timestamps

• Introduction of Ben Deda - (00:00:00)
• Overview of Food Maven's Mission and Operations - (00:01:42)
• Addressing Food Waste Challenges - (00:03:22)
• Tech Integration and Business Model Evolution - (00:04:39)
• Transitioning to CEO Role and Leadership Insights - (00:06:05)
• Mentors, Board Management, and Succession Planning - (00:08:28)
• CEO Preparedness and Learning from Experiences - (00:10:26)
• Ben's Key Focus Areas as CEO - (00:13:42)
• Influential Roles in Ben's Career Journey - (00:15:31)
• Advice for Aspiring CEOs - (00:16:09)
• Co-founding Denver Startup Week - (00:19:04)
• Evolution and Impact of Denver Startup Week - (00:23:26)
• Lessons Learned from Organizing Denver Startup Week - (00:25:15)
• Transition from Day-to-Day Operations to Board - (00:28:13)
• Temperature Adjustment in Warehouse Setting - (00:29:20)

Resources

• Ben Deda’s LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjamindeda/
• Ben Deda ́s original episode: https://ocns.co/ceo-ben-deda-changing-industries-and-building-communities/

Thank you to ACG Denver for being a sponsor of CXO Conversations Podcast. Association for Corporate Growth in its role as the hub of the middle market business community for quality networking, education and events. Connections are made, deals are formed and thought leadership is exchanged.

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