High Stakes Growth

Hector Hughes is the co-founder and CEO of Unplugged, a company offering tech-free cabin stays that help people disconnect from their phones and reset in nature. 


Expect to hear about:

– Origin Moment: How a 10-day silent retreat in the Himalayas in 2019 pushed Hector to quit his job and start Unplugged just weeks later.

– The Hard Part: Why it took 5 years to truly figure out the unit economics and revenue model, and his lessons from asset-heavy scaling.

– Who It’s Really For: Why 80% of guests are couples, and how three days offline can reshape (or end) relationships.

– Betting on Brand: How betting on brand marketing in 2025 created "brand heat" and cut CAC by 30-40% in a matter of months.

– Founder Evolution: Hector’s shift from fear-driven hustle to a more sustainable, long-term approach to leadership and life.


Find Hector on:
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/hector-hughes-10082195/

What is High Stakes Growth?

High Stakes Growth® takes you inside the boldest decisions behind today’s most exciting consumer brands. We bring you candid conversations with the founders and CMOs who built them—unpacking the high-stakes moments, tough calls, and game-changing strategies that made these brands what they are today. No fluff. No surface-level insights. Just real stories from the leaders who made it happen. Hosted by Forest Bronzan and Leah Lloyd, they bring a combined four decades of consumer brand expertise to these conversations.