{"type":"rich","version":"1.0","provider_name":"Transistor","provider_url":"https://transistor.fm","author_name":"Grow Good ","title":"Community as a Growth Strategy: Lara Dickinson, Co-Founder of One Step Closer","html":"","width":"100%","height":180,"duration":2743,"description":"What does growth look like when the standard playbook no longer works?In this episode of Grow Good, Anne Oudersluys sits down with Lara Dickinson, co-founder of One Step Closer (OSC), to discuss how founders can grow profitable businesses without sacrificing mission, values, or long-term resilience.Drawing from decades in the natural products industry, Lara explains why many traditional paths to scale—venture funding, acquisition, or bootstrapping alone—often create hidden costs. She shares how OSC was built as an alternative model: a peer network where purpose-driven CEOs collaborate on shared business challenges, tackle industry-wide problems like packaging and climate, and build trust as a competitive advantage.They also explore why brand is created through lived experience, not just messaging; how regenerative thinking can improve decision-making; why multi-generational businesses may be today’s most overlooked innovators; and how founders should sequence purpose initiatives as they scale.A practical conversation for leaders trying to grow responsibly in complex markets.WHAT YOU’LL LEARNWhy many founders feel trapped between bad growth options: raise capital, sell, or struggle aloneHow CEO peer communities can accelerate better decisions and reduce isolationWhy trust inside a business network creates real operating leverageThe shared challenges purpose-led companies face beyond direct competitionHow OSC turned collaboration into action through packaging and climate initiativesWhat “regenerative thinking” means in practical business termsWhy the best strategic decisions often begin by returning to a company’s founding essenceHow brand is shaped through experience, relationships, and consistency—not slogansWhy multi-generational companies may be better positioned for today’s volatilityHow founders should sequence impact goals instead of trying to do everything at onceWhy focus matters equally in growth strategy and purpose strategyHow long-term stakeholder...","thumbnail_url":"https://img.transistorcdn.com/4_W9iNxov8TbmJi0hwOHIXG4gxg89YSz70tugMNyhMg/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:400/h:400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS9kZjEy/ZjJiMmJhNTdiZTI0/MGU1YzdmNzdmOGZk/ZjlhMS5wbmc.webp","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_height":300}