The Future of the Flat White w/ Nick Stone, CEO and Founder of Bluestone Lane (Bonus Episode) [S1.E7]

Welcome to a bonus episode of Scaling Up season one – I recorded
this while on the road recording season 2, but it feels like it
has a natural home, with the other amazing Australian growth
stories told in the previous season.


Nick Stone is the CEO and founder of BlueStone Lane. This story
starts in an underground coffee shop in New York City, where an
ex AFL player, turned investment banker decides he was missing
the authentic Australian coffee experience and sets up a side
hustle to his main banking gig. Fast forward just 8 years, and
Blue Stone lane is at the pointy end of the American premium
coffee scene, with over 50 stores in 8 markets across the
country. What is evident is Nick’s passion for the mission, his
intelligence in how he thinks about the world and applying it to
how he is trying to overcoming major scaling challenges in the
US.


Interestingly,  Nick beautifully articulately what he
learned from his time as an elite athlete, his vision for
building Starbucks of the next generation, and how he thinks
about building teams and culture in the tough American
hospitality industry.


I felt so connected to Nick and his journey, and I think this
shines throughout the podcast.


This is a story that is ever changing,  and at the moment,
changing by the day. There is a fuller footnote and timestamp at
the end of the episode that you must listen to to give context to
Nick's comments, but even in the two week turn around time
between recording and releasing this episode, the world has
changed. Even the best laid plans can come undone by the
extraordinary. Everyday of strict government protocols around
containing the spread of Covid-19 in the US, is another page in
the Blue Stone book.


That though is not going to stop me telling you the inspirational
 story of Nick Stone and Bluestone Lane.


Season two is only weeks away, so stay posted....!