Ted Audio Collective

Hey everyone, it's Adam Grant. Welcome back to Rethinking, my podcast on the Science

of What Makes Us Take. I'm an organizational psychologist and I'm taking you inside the

minds of fascinating people to explore new thoughts and new ways of thinking.

My guest today is Hamdi Ulukaya, founder and CEO of Chobani. He built the company from

the ground up and turned it into the top Greek yogurt brand in America. I've long admired

his anti-CEO playbook, which includes profit sharing and paid parental leave for employees

and his extensive efforts to hire and help refugees. He has a lot to teach us about leadership

and resilience.

Hamdi, how are you? How are you? Good to see you. Same, it's been a while, great to see you.

I know. I don't even know how long ago last I saw you. I just have a complete blackout

of timing.

Yeah, no, I know exactly how long it's been. It's been too long.

Too long? Let me start by saying for anyone who doesn't already know, your life story

is just incredible. There are just aren't that many people who have taken such a long journey

to become successful entrepreneurs. Can you talk a little bit about what your early life

was like and how you landed where you are? Like you said, it's been a journey and sometimes

have to pinch myself and say, am I in the dreams and the mountains of Turkey or this is happening?

I was born in the north eastern part of Turkey, Kurdish tribe. My lifestyle or my parents

or the parents of the parents is really tribal where you would stay in the village or town

during the winter time, which can be extremely cold. And then in the spring, actually spring

when the sheep have their babies and lambs and in a couple of months later, there's no

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