An extraordinary story of kindness and a reminder of the impact that kindness can have on both the giver and the receiver.
MLK’s words continue to resonate in new ways year after year. This MLKDay, I’m sharing a quote that provides a much needed reminder of our shared humanity, and thus, our shared fate.
I get to meet a lot of interesting people in my line of work, but this was a new one for me! Daniel Puder (undefeated MMA fighter) came by this week to discuss how to instill kindness and empathy in the next generation – and to teach me some new moves! 
As I told our team at our NY holiday party last night, what makes me so proud of the KIND Snacks team is not just what they’re building, but how they are doing it. From the passion that the team brings to their work and the care that they demonstrate for one another, I feel grateful to learn from them each day.
I got to kick off my week with a visit with the Empatico team. In case you’re not familiar with it, Empatico, an initiative of The KIND Foundation, is a new free tool for teachers to connect their classrooms with other classrooms around the world. It is the most important thing that I’ve been involved in founding because it has the potential to impact tens of millions of children. Through Empatico interactions, kids learn how to celebrate what they have in common as well as their differences. Armed with the tools to work with people who are different from them, these kids will be better off – but moreover, our world will be a better world. I’m so proud of what this team is building, and they’re just getting started.
As a Mexican immigrant, and as the son of a Holocaust survivor who was liberated by American soldiers, I have a deep appreciation for our democratic process. I do not take this right for granted.
Best Halloween Costume goes to the team at Backman Elementary of Salt Lake City School District. They dressed up as KIND Snacks to encourage kindness in their community. I love it! And a big shoutout to Keith McKeown for his craftsmanship.
I loved comparing notes on the highs and lows of entrepreneurship with one of the best – Ron Shaich, founder of Panera Bread. We found so many parallels in our journeys.
