Episode 245: Brewing Success: The Journey of Green Coffee Company with Cole Shephard, the founding partner of Legacy Group and the Green Coffee Company; Medellín, Antioquia, Colombia

Disruptive CEO Nation

In this episode, we delve into the fascinating world of coffee and business intersectionality with Cole Shepard, the founding partner of Legacy Group and the visionary behind Green Coffee Company, Colombia's largest coffee producer. Cole shares his journey, from merging asset management with agriculture to building a vertically integrated coffee empire emphasizing that it's the people that matter when it comes to building a successful enterprise

Cole also highlights emerging opportunities in Latin America, particularly in Mexico and Argentina, offering valuable insights for business leaders eyeing an expansion in the region.

Here are the highlights of our talk:

-The Birth of Green Coffee Company: Cole shares the genesis of Green Coffee Company, highlighting its evolution from an asset management venture to Colombia's leading coffee producer. With a focus on consolidating coffee farms and enhancing infrastructure, Green Coffee Company has transformed into a vertically integrated powerhouse in the coffee industry.

-Navigating Colombian Terrain: Cole's transition from a career in financial services to entrepreneurship in Colombia was met with skepticism. However, his keen eye for opportunity and the untapped potential of Colombia's coffee sector propelled him to leap despite initial challenges and language barriers.

-Challenges and Triumphs: Building Green Coffee Company from the ground up was no easy feat. Cole reflects on the early struggles, from capital constraints to operational hurdles, and emphasizes the importance of perseverance in entrepreneurship. Despite the setbacks, strategic hiring and a relentless pursuit of excellence paved the way for success.

-Impact on Local Communities: Green Coffee Company's expansion brought both excitement and skepticism among local communities. Cole shares anecdotes of how the company's investments in infrastructure and formal employment opportunities have transformed small towns like Salga, Colombia, offering residents new avenues for growth and prosperity.

-Traceability and Sustainability: In an increasingly conscious consumer market, traceability and sustainability are paramount. Cole discusses Green Coffee Company's commitment to transparency, tracing coffee origins from farm to cup, and embracing sustainable practices to meet evolving consumer demands.

Cole Shephard is the founding partner of the alternative investment firm, Legacy Group, and the founder and a board member at the Green Coffee Company, Colombia's largest coffee producer. With over 3,000 hectares of farmland, Green Coffee Company owns and operates 39 farms and manages over 11.5 million coffee trees. Cole is a PwC alum having worked in accounting, advisory, M&A and consulting across the United States, Bermuda, Hong Kong and Beijing, Cole is an expert in emerging markets and understanding the capital movements of high-net-worth investors.

Legacy Group is a leading investment firm in Latin America with a strict focus on high-quality LATAM businesses for international high-net-worth & accredited investors that can produce outsized returns.

Connect with Cole:

Website: www.gcc-coffee.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cole-shephard-67b1a51a/

Instagram: @gcc.colombia

Connect with Allison:

Feedspot has named Disruptive CEO Nation as one of the Top 25 CEO Podcasts on the web and it is ranked the number 10 CEO podcast to listen to in 2024! https://podcasts.feedspot.com/ceo_podcasts/

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

Website: https://www.disruptiveceonation.com/

Twitter: @DisruptiveCEO

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