The Abundant Growth Group was founded by long-time friends, Jim Watt and Jim Stoeppler, to help businesses strengthen and achieve their growth ambitions.
Following successful careers in both public and private start-ups, scale-ups, and Fortune 500 Companies operating in North America, Europe, and beyond, the founders have gained invaluable experience and insight into how businesses strengthen and grow. Their progressive paths as contributing junior team members, middle managers, and senior leaders have enabled them to develop a unique skill set and hands-on expertise across a broad array of business functions including C-suite leadership, sales, marketing, advertising, finance, operations, supply chain, engineering, and technology.
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Gradually, their weekly coffee conversations became sessions of introspective reflection, observations, and discussion regarding future opportunities. They asked themselves where they could be of the most service and how they could deliver the greatest impact. They debated the myths and merits of stakeholder capitalism based on their collective experience implementing, practicing, and refining its concepts over the course of their careers. They researched and reviewed other relevant case studies. And they contemplated its potential. ​
With an expanding awareness and commitment to the stakeholder capitalist movement, the founders saw three things as they considered how they can help companies make strides toward this vision:
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The movement has become isolated versus integrated into overall company strategy.
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The approach has become confusing and intimidating for middle market companies that want to drive profitability and force for good agendas. Initiatives like ESG, DEI, B Corp Certification, and others have taken on an identity that threatens to replace the core intentions of the business.
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The ingrained purpose of business to deliver long-term value and shareholder returns was being defined as an either/or proposition versus a demonstrated force for good strategy that delivers on both.
OUR STORY
OUR NORTH STAR
Purpose
Our core purpose is to help companies achieve enduring growth and relevance while contributing to a more equitable, sustainable, and inclusive world for all.
Vision
We envision a future where private enterprise serves as the leading institution in building a better world. A future where private enterprise excels as both an economic engine and a force for good. And a future where private enterprise is admired, respected, and celebrated by all.
Mission
Our mission is to educate, empower, and inspire companies to achieve this vision. We do this by focusing on people first strategies, integrating a robust system of quantifiable metrics and reporting, and building a bridge from shareholder to stakeholder returns. Thus, delivering exceptional value, enduring success, and abundant growth in ever-changing and increasingly dynamic workplaces and marketplaces.
OUR FOUNDERS
Jim Stoeppler
Co-Founder
Jim has a long history of success building brands, leading high-performing teams, and delivering superior business results.
Having accumulated a wealth of experience across a variety of organizations, industries, and nations, he has learned the most successful businesses are those who are genuinely focused on people first strategies. Those who take care of their customers, employees, partners, communities, and the planet are destined to deliver superior financial results for their owners/investors.
He first experienced this while working at Rodgers Townsend, a St. Louis based advertising agency, where he led high performing teams to deliver award-winning, brand building campaigns. He helped RT routinely punch above their weight in terms of new business wins, their ability to attract top talent, and the support and recognition they received from industry peers and community leaders, including a Spirit of St. Louis Award from the Mayor. Jim helped RT more than double in size during his seven-year tenure which ultimately led to a profitable exit by the founders.
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He then experienced it at scale while leading high performing marketing teams at Enterprise Holdings, a privately held entity operating in 100 countries with more than 80,000 employees generating $30 billion in annual revenue. It was here that he honed his people first philosophy and learned the power of a strong corporate culture with an unwavering commitment to take care of all your stakeholders. Jim was promoted four times in 14 years, ultimately as the Vice President of European Brand Marketing where he built and led a team to grow the business in Europe, the Middle East, and Australia. In addition to his marketing responsibilities, Jim held executive leadership roles with the EH Cultural Compass Committee, the EH European DEI Strategy Committee, and the BBC Children in Need Charity.
Outside of work Jim treasures his time with family and friends, including his wife, Dina and their three children, Adam, Halle, and Sydney. He loves to travel, connect with diverse cultures, and grow through new experiences. He's also a massive European football fan who considers Liverpool the best club in the world…YNWA!
Jim Watt
Co-Founder
Jim has been part of or led the building of outstanding companies in both the public and private sectors across a spectrum of industries and company sizes. In both team leader and executive leader roles, Jim has had the direct and indirect responsibilities of building exceptional organizational growth as well as customer, employee, and shareholder value. He has done this through a thoughtful combination of the following:
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Exceptional team development and empowerment.
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Accelerated acquisition and organic growth strategies.
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Managing portfolio company executional excellence.
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Coordinated service, product, and project optimization that engages all internal, supplier and customer stakeholders.
With an engineering and MBA education, Jim believes in developing strategic business plans that are consistently monitored and adjusted based on metrics that drive personal, professional, and organizational continuous improvement.
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The opportunity to help champion other organizations to achieving not only a greater purpose but greater performance is not born of a textbook or a movement but from Jim’s experience, passion and privilege to lead in this manner over the last 18 years as C-suite leader of four PE backed companies. These companies scaled and achieved outstanding performance by passionate, sustainability driven, and transparent business leaders. Building a culture that is committed to giving back and fostering future business leaders has remained a key driver and for Jim very much a privilege with every leadership challenge.
A self-proclaimed sports nut, Jim has found his other passions in snow skiing, road cycling, scuba diving and triathlons and has enjoyed pursuing these interests with several of his family members both locally and in some amazing locales.
Jim has an amazing wife, Brenda, and four outstanding children, Nick, Alex, Kristin, and Sophie.