The Narrative of a Warrior w/ Jake Wood of Groundswell
Today, Chris talks to Jake Wood, CEO and founder of Groundswell, an innovative new corporate giving platform that enables companies to empower employees with their own donor-advised funds.
As a former Marine sniper who received three meritorious promotions for leading combat missions in Iraq and Afghanistan, Jake shares how he overcame fear and chaos on the battlefield. And he explains how the lessons he learned in combat can help company leaders face their own fears and unleash the potential of their employees to win in the midst of chaos.
Chris and Jake cover:
- Jake’s search for a narrative that would give his life meaning and purpose through serving others
- How the storied narrative and culture of the Marine Corps transformed Jake into a warrior
- The origin of Team Rubicon, and how Jake and his team used storytelling to align donors, employees, the public, and volunteers around a shared mission
- How he and his team at Groundswell are transforming the future by writing a new narrative that unleashes generosity to change the world
And much more!
00:31 - Chris's intro
02:50 - How Pat Tillman's story changed the arc of Jake's life
04:46 - Developing the desire to serve
07:49 - Joining the military
09:59 - The storied narrative of the Marine Corps
12:07 - "Five minutes on tactics, 25 minutes on stories"
12:58 - His path through the Marines and onto the battlefield
14:10 - Becoming a sniper
16:23 - The two things that keep Marines alive
19:07 - The impact of fear
22:12 - Coming home from war
24:09 - The birth of Team Rubicon
27:55 - Building the Team Rubicon narrative and getting alignment
29:50 - Taking the organization to new heights
31:40 - The role of technology in Team Rubicon's success
33:49 - Handing over the reins of Team Rubicon
35:53 - Groundswell
38:06 - How Groundswell helps employees create social impact
40:48 - The mechanics of the Groundswell app
42:12 - The biggest challenge so far: understanding the audiences
43:14 - The challenge of selling Groundswell to companies right now
45:15 - Microsoft's impressive employee giving program
46:30 - Thriving in chaos
47:51 - How Jake's personal relationships have transformed him