Today, Chris talks to Jake Wood, CEO and founder of Groundswell, an innovative new corporate giving platform that enables companies to empower employees with their own donor-advised funds.
As a former Marine sniper who received three meritorious promotions for leading combat missions in Iraq and Afghanistan, Jake shares how he overcame fear and chaos on the battlefield. And he explains how the lessons he learned in combat can help company leaders face their own fears and unleash the potential of their employees to win in the midst of chaos.
Chris and Jake cover:
- Jake’s search for a narrative that would give his life meaning and purpose through serving others
- How the storied narrative and culture of the Marine Corps transformed Jake into a warrior
- The origin of Team Rubicon, and how Jake and his team used storytelling to align donors, employees, the public, and volunteers around a shared mission
- How he and his team at Groundswell are transforming the future by writing a new narrative that unleashes generosity to change the world
And much more!
ABOUT JAKE
Jake Wood is the founder and CEO of Groundswell, a software company that enables companies to make philanthropy an employee benefit. Groundswell launched in 2021 after raising $15 million in venture capital led by Google Ventures.
Prior to launching Groundswell, Jake served as the founder and CEO of Team Rubicon, a disaster response organization that is widely considered one of America’s leading nonprofits. Since 2010, Team Rubicon has recruited over 150,000 volunteers and responded to nearly 1,000 disasters and humanitarian crises. Team Rubicon has become widely recognized for its strong corporate culture, which has been recognized numerous times as a “best places to work in America,” and its technological innovation via partnerships with companies like Microsoft, Twilio, Palantir, and others. Jake remains Team Rubicon’s chairman.
Prior to Team Rubicon, Jake served four years in an elite Marine Corps scout-sniper unit, leading Marines in combat in Iraq and Afghanistan. He graduated at the top of his class at boot camp, the School of Infantry, and the Marine Scout-Sniper Course. He received three meritorious promotions, with one in combat, and is the recipient of the Navy-Marine Commendation Medal for Valor.
Jake is a sought-after thought leader on topics of organizational culture and leadership, frequently speaking at corporate and industry events. Notable corporate clients include Goldman Sachs, Intuit, Farmers Insurance, Travelers Insurance, Facebook, and Carhartt.
Jake’s memoir, Once A Warrior, was an Amazon best-seller and Tom Brokaw stated that “it’s the book America needs right now.” He is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin with a dual degree in Business and Political Science and played four years of varsity football for the Badgers.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
- Jake’s Book Once a Warrior
- Pat Tillman (Wikipedia)
- Leading Like a Marine | Jake Wood, CEO of Team Rubicon (Ivy University on YouTube)
- Microsoft’s employee giving program
