Acquired

Acquired is the number one show on Apple Podcasts across all categories. Holy.

My top book recommendation of the year is…. a podcast!!! Hear me out—I love a good book. I also love Guild's tradition of sharing our executive team's top book recommendations each year and inviting each Guilder to buy a book and expense it. That said, this year when the time came to add my book recommendation to the list, I found myself without a clear frontrunner. So instead, I went back to the basics and reminded myself that sometimes rules are worth thoughtfully amending. We do our annual book list because great books aren’t just great gifts; they’re invitations to think differently, learn deeply, and start meaningful conversations. The reality is that this year, podcasts have been my primary mode of knowledge consumption. It was important to me to lead with integrity and authenticity, and instead of choosing a book to check the box, I shared a podcast episode that left a lasting impression on me. In an approximately three-hour episode, the Acquired podcast dives into the fascinating story of Costco Wholesale’s rise from modest beginnings to becoming one of the most admired retailers in the world. The hosts explore key decisions behind Costco's success—like its membership model, streamlined product selection, and a strong commitment to employees— offering valuable lessons wrapped in an engaging narrative. I encouraged Guilders to listen, reflect, and consider how we might apply these lessons to elevate our daily work. Check out the attached post for our executive team's full list of recommendations. Oh, and don't worry—I also recommended a book—it was just a children's book that taught valuable lessons on entrepreneurship and business 😊 . Also, I would be remiss if I didn't recommend every Acquired podcast. They are sooo good.

Only in the 60s...

Mars Inc had 14% revenue growth... for a century. Truly rarefied air.

Great ad. If NASA puts you on the official menu for astronauts, lean into it as hard as you can.

Amazing graphic from our friends at Quartr showing the brands Mars owns + the rest of the industry. This is a couple years old... insane Mars quietly eclipsed Coca Cola in revenue last year!

So confusing. If you listened to the Mars episode, at least you now know why.

We are currently in peak chocolate-eating season. Ho ho ho! 🎄

When you hear "Mars," you might think of M&M's, Snickers, or Twix, but surprisingly, their biggest business isn't candy – it's pet care. From pet food to veterinary services, the segment makes up ~60% of their total revenue, and together with Nestlé, they control about half of the pet food market. Our friends at Acquired just released their final episode of the year – covering the incredible story of Mars. Go check it out.

When you hear "Mars," you might think of M&M's, Snickers, or Twix, but surprisingly, their biggest business isn't candy – it's pet care. From pet food to veterinary services, the segment makes up ~60% of their total revenue, and together with Nestlé, they control about half of the pet food market. Our friends at Acquired just released their final episode of the year – covering the incredible story of Mars. Go check it out.