E43: Leading Change in Legacy Brands: How Welch’s Blends Tradition, Innovation, and Purpose

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What happens when you try to drive innovation inside a company with 150 years of history and 600 family farmers as your owners? In this episode, Dr. Bobbi Wegner sits down with Christine Kinahan and Amanda Raymond from Welch’s to uncover how they balance honoring deep-rooted traditions with the relentless push for modernization. From stories of harvest-season hustle to navigating transformation as an operating model, discover why the “power of we” isn’t just a value, it’s their competitive edge. Whether you geek out over organizational culture or just love a good behind-the-scenes story, this episode will make you see grape juice (and peanut butter & jelly) in a whole new light.

Amanda Raymond, Director of Talent Development at Welch’s, specializes in leadership development and talent programs that help teams thrive in a rapidly changing workplace. With experience at Jobcase, DataRobot, and the TJX companies, Amanda brings a passion for growing resilient, purpose-driven teams in legacy organizations.

Christine Kinahan is the Chief People Officer at Welch’s, where she champions innovation while honoring the cooperative’s commitment to its growers. She carefully balances risk and resources, making bold yet strategic decisions that put Main Street ahead of Wall Street. Christine ensures that every change serves both the market and Welch’s customers, reflecting her dedication to meaningful progress within the cooperative model.

KEY TOPICS

1. How Welch’s cooperative model puts family farmers at the heart of the business [00:06:06]

2. The balance of honoring tradition while driving innovation in a 150-year-old brand [00:01:33]

3. Why leadership at Welch’s centers on empathy, resilience, and "the power of we" [00:11:35]

4. Strategies for uniting legacy employees and new talent through transparent communication [00:19:56]

5. Why effective organizational change starts with empowerment, overcommunication, and upward feedback [00:22:14]

Todays guest, Amanda Raymond, can be found online at:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amandaraymondma/

Todays guest, Christine Kinahan, can be found online at:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christinenacnodovitz/

Your host, Dr. Bobbi Wegner, can be found online at:

Groops: https://www.joingroops.com/

Harvard Extension School Faculty Spotlight: https://youtu.be/zwLai-lu-pk?si=GpKNhtxVvTrS3-pu

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bobbiwegner/