#350 Mike Smith, Founder and CEO of Zero Co, on how to build a tribe of loyal customers, creating a better world through business, and personal growth

“We built this school. And then over the next 12 months, we ended up building two more schools in other, other villages around. And it completely changed my perspective on what meaningful work is.”   In this episode of The Inner Chief podcast, I speak to Mike Smith, Founder and CEO of Zero Co, on how to build a tribe of loyal customers, creating a better world through business, and personal growth. 🎧👉  chiefmaker.com/350  👂   INFLUENCE DIFFICULT STAKEHOLDERS USING THIS STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE: chiefmaker.com/stakeholders   Mike’s travels around the world exposed him to the devastating effects of plastic pollution, particularly in remote areas. Inspired to find a solution, he founded Zero Co, an Australian company he launched in 2019 to eliminate single-use plastics in everyday household products by facilitating consumers to switch to eco-friendly, refillable alternatives. Mike’s background was in advertising and marketing, and bringing products to market and he worked with some of the world’s largest brands, including Coca Cola. He then co-founded, launched and sold Hot Chip, a surfing technology start-up developed in collaborations with some of the world's best surfers and Billabong. He was also the Co-Founder of Cake Wines, a disruptive winery that aimed to make wine fun again, which he scaled and sold to one of the biggest wine brands in Australia. Mike is committed to broader environmental change, advocating for responsible production processes and raising awareness about the impact of plastic pollution on the planet.   In this CEO Masterclass, we talk about: ✅ How to build a tribe of loyal followers for your organisation. ✅ On why a social enterprise can help you to balance meaningful work with making money. ✅ The evolution of Zero Co’s operating model from a buy-return-refill model to a circular economy model, and ✅ The immense work he has done on self awareness and personal growth. Stay epic, Greg   Connecting with Mike Smith You can connect with Mike via LinkedIn. Similar Episodes on building culture Rory Hunter, Founder and CEO of MODEL, on Spearheading the build-to-rent movement towards sustainability, seeking solitude and healing on the ocean, and the adventure of a lifetime after buying an island in his twenties Rochelle Courtenay, Founder and MD of Share the Dignity, on Leading volunteer armies, witnessing female trauma inside prison and eradicating period poverty Juliette Wright, founder and former CEO of GIVIT, on Revolutionising misguided charitable giving, having a million conversations, and leaning into anxiety Follow Chief Maker 📝 Subscribe to the Finish Strong monthly newsletter and podcast drops 👍 Follow Chief Maker on LinkedIn 📈 Join the waitlist for the Chief Maker MiniMBA 🎓 Take one of the Chief Maker Academy courses 🍏 Give The Inner Chief podcast a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts 🎵 Give The Inner Chief podcast a 5-star rating on Spotify 🎬 Subscribe to the Chief Maker YouTube channel 🤝 Connect with the Chief Maker