#213: Erika Ayers Badan, CEO of Food52 and former CEO of Barstool Sports – Acknowledge the tough stuff

How Leaders Lead with David Novak

When Erika Ayers Badan became the CEO of Barstool Sports, they didn’t even have a P&L. Eight years later, they’re a media empire and a household name worth over $550 million.

Listen to this conversation to get an inside look at how Erika led that effort, and what she’s up to now as the CEO of Food52.

You’ll also see how Erika leads with honesty and directness. She doesn’t shy away from the tough stuff, and that’s important if you want to build trust, solve problems, and get people working together toward a big vision.

You’ll also learn:

• The strategy every upstart brand can use to beat the big guy
• How to get the most out of your creative team members
• What it takes to build an engaged online following
• Advice for women who work in male-dominated industries