Welcome to Episode 206 of Building My Legacy.
Sometimes an entrepreneurial journey can take some challenging twists and turns, as we learn in this podcast with Bew White, the chairman of the board of Gabriella White, a premier manufacturer of luxury outdoor furniture. Bew was a fourth-generation member of the family-owned textile manufacturing company Avondale Mills. He left the family business at age 28 to start a series of companies and earned, as he calls it, “an MBA in failure.” His fascinating entrepreneurial journey — and ultimate success starting with the “Summer Classics” brand — holds valuable lessons for all of us.
So if you want to know:
- The six critical traits of an entrepreneur
- The importance of passing along responsibility to your staff
- How focusing on building a culture and something that’s sustainable is more important than focusing on money
- The value of relationships in business — with your suppliers, employees and clients
About Bew White, III
Bew White, III is the chairman of the board of Gabriella White and its brands, including Summer Classics, which designs and manufactures luxury outdoor furniture. Bew was the fourth generation to work in Avondale Mills, a textile manufacturer started by his great grandfather in the 1800s. He left the family-owned company at age 28 to start Vista Corporation, specializing in selling outdoor furniture. Eventually he started multiple companies with the goal of building a national brand. Summer Classics was created to offer “modern classic” products that were consumer driven and would not go out of style. Bew has been named Entrepreneur of the Year by the Society of International Business Fellows and, in 2021, received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the International Casual Furnishings Association. His recent collaboration with author Christopher Taunton produced the well-received biography A Summer Classic: The Bew White Story, which is available on Amazon. More information about the book and Bew’s company is available at www.summerclassicshome.com
About Lois Sonstegard, PhD
Working with business leaders for more than 30 years, Lois has learned that successful leaders have a passion to leave a meaningful legacy. Leaders often ask: When does one begin to think about legacy? Is there a “best” approach? Is there a process or steps one should follow?
Lois is dedicated not only to developing leaders but to helping them build a meaningful legacy. Learn more about how Lois can help your organization with Leadership Consulting and Executive Coaching:
https://build2morrow.com/
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Mike Saunders, MBA
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