Soles4Souls with Buddy Teaster

From bankruptcy to billion-dollar impact: Nashville nonprofit leader Buddy Teaster shares how Soles4Souls transformed simple shoe donations into life-changing opportunities across 130 countries.

When Buddy took over as CEO in 2012, Soles4Souls was losing $2.5 million annually and facing devastating press coverage. Today, they're on track to achieve one billion dollars in global economic impact by 2030. Their innovative model sells donated shoes and clothing to entrepreneurs in developing countries while providing new items to children experiencing homelessness.

In this inspiring conversation, Buddy reveals the TEAM values framework that rebuilt their culture, explains their groundbreaking For Every Kid program serving 250,000 children annually, and shares how partnerships with DSW, Famous Footwear, and Zappos revolutionized donation convenience.

Whether you're leading a team, running a business, or simply want to make a difference in Middle Tennessee, this episode offers powerful insights on creating sustainable impact from crisis.

Key takeaways include the importance of starting with "why," making giving convenient, and how something as simple as shoes can restore dignity and confidence to children and entrepreneurs worldwide.

Ready to get involved? Learn where to donate shoes locally and how just $20 can provide new sneakers for a homeless child in our community.

Links: 

• https://soles4souls.org
• https://www.dsw.com/en/us/category/donation-program
• https://soles4souls.org/race-for-every-kid/
• https://www.zappos.com/zappos-for-good

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