SARATOGA SPRINGS — How far would you go to improve your business? CNBC’s new primetime series “No Retreat: Business Bootcamp” premiered Tuesday, March 8, and challenges business with near-impossible physical and mental tasks to realize their full potential and chart a path forward.
When bottom lines turn red, teamwork becomes toxic, and a company’s mission becomes blurry, there is one place businesses of all sizes, including Fortune 100 companies can turn: the power of nature and the transformative force of ancient Spartan philosophy set against the unrelenting mountains of Vermont. On ‘The Farm’, Spartan founder Joe De Sena proves that by pitting execs and their teams against grueling physical and mental challenges, communication improves, teamwork is galvanized, and companies emerge more resilient.
In each episode, Joe De Sena, former Wall Street broker turned serial entrepreneur and creator of the world’s leading endurance sports and wellness brand, Spartan, and his team including Skidmore College alum and Clinical Psychologist & Performance Coach Dr. Lara Pence; Entrepreneur & Growth Marketer QuHarrison Terry; as well as a number of guest CEOs and mentors, provide advice and expertise to help companies take a look in the mirror and make the difficult decisions to change and achieve success for their business.
Dr. Lara Pence holds her Doctorate Degree in Psychology (PsyD) and Master’s in Business Administration (MBA). As a licensed clinical psychologist and peak performance coach, she has consulted for some of the toughest CEOs, athletes, and entrepreneurs to optimize leadership skills and cultivate their competitive edge. Dr. Pence has over 20 years of direct clinical experience and has worked as the director for various wellness brands, including her own, LIGHFBOX, which helps individuals and teams build the superpower of self-awareness. She is best known for her direct approach to talking about mental health issues and the importance of building resilience in a society that prioritizes comfort and complacency over courage and challenge. Dr. Pence is also the Chief Mind Doc at Spartan Race and is the co-author alongside Joe De Sena of the new book, 10 Rules for Resilience: Mental Toughness for Families. She has been featured in various national publications, media outlets, and podcasts, including Good Morning America, Glamour, Vouge, WebMD, Keeping it Real with Jillian Michaels, The Art of Being Well, and Big Questions with Cal Fussman.
Each episode features a different business undergoing specifically tailored, often unorthodox, tasks and obstacles, on the elite training facility known as “The Farm”. The out-of-the-box activities manufacture adversity, identity weak links, help teams understand and overcome fear and failure, and teach mental (and physical) survival – all while highlighting business priorities and purposes.
“This is your opportunity to show that you can put the things you’re learning here into your business,” said Dr. Pence during the first episode.
Episode 1 features CNS, a commercial cleaning company out of Philadelphia, who was on the verge of defaulting on millions of dollars in loans. On ‘The Farm’ they were promised they would “know their business” after being asked important questions about their clientele while army crawling through mud; leadership was challenged in a task to lift an 800 lb. log off the ground; and they worked on their policies and procedures by navigating a leaky rowboat around a pond.
“This is exactly what happens in a business – the more you try things the better you get,” said Dr. Pence to the CNS team after two unsuccessful attempts to complete their third task.
“No Retreat: Business Bootcamp” airs every Tuesday at 10 p.m. EST on CNBC. Tune into see Dr. Pence help take a different company to the next level on March 15.
