A CEO’s Perspective: Harmonizing Legacy and Innovation with Campbell Soup Company
Mark Clouse entered Campbell Soup Company in 2019 as its 14th CEO in the company’s 153-year history. Recognizing the upheaval that the food industry has been undergoing for the last decade and the need for a fresh strategic direction in a rapidly evolving business landscape, Mark sought to define a new, resonant purpose that would guide the company's decisions and inspire employees, customers, and stakeholders alike.
But as a long-lived company, it was vital for the purpose to evoke Campbell’s legacy while shaping a new chapter of the iconic company’s story.
We invited Mark Clouse to share the journey behind Campbell’s purpose: “Connecting people through the food they love.” Accompanied by a set of new and compelling values, the purpose has become the driving force behind the company’s recent transformation – from their steadfast commitment to their hometown in Camden to its new employee value proposition. Through this lens, Campbell has embarked on a transformative journey that builds off the company’s impact over the last 150+ years.
Listen for C-level insights on:
- Being a steward for a legacy company
- Absolutes and direction for re-shaping a purpose
- How purpose enables a company to simultaneously create sustainable shareholder value and better society and the environment
- AI and its role in business today
Resources + Links:
- (00:00) - Welcome to Purpose 360
- (00:13) - Campbell's
- (01:46) - Meet Mark Clouse
- (05:00) - Being a Steward
- (06:56) - Campbell's Purpose
- (10:01) - 'Through Food', Not 'To Food'
- (11:22) - Purpose vs. Mission vs. Vision
- (13:22) - Absolutes for Purpose
- (15:07) - The Five Cs
- (18:00) - Camden and Full Futures
- (23:24) - Volunteerism
- (24:12) - New Employee Value Proposition
- (26:30) - E, S, and G Pillars
- (29:14) - Accountability
- (30:49) - Integrating AI
- (32:53) - Mark's Last Word
- (34:36) - Wrap Up