From Crisis to Comeback: How Patrick Wright (and his team) Pivoted AdvoCare Against All Odds

What do you do when years of hard work finally pays off and you're promoted to CEO, only to have your company's business model ripped to shreds TWO DAYS into your new job?!?!

That’s exactly what happened to Patrick Wright, former CEO of AdvoCare. In this week’s episode of Unlocking Moves, Kurt Wilkin sits down with Patrick for a raw, behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to lead through chaos.

On his SECOND day as CEO, Patrick was hit with a bombshell: the Federal Trade Commission ruled that AdvoCare’s business model had to go. Patrick and his AdvoCare team was given 60 days to completely overhaul their sales strategy from muli-level-marketing to direct-to-consumer -- or risk losing everything!

From making gut-wrenching announcements to long-time distributors and employees, to building a new direct-to-consumer strategy under extreme pressure, Patrick shares how he leaned on authenticity, quick decision-making, and a clear vision to lead through it all.

You’ll hear the real story behind the pivot: the sleepless nights, the tough calls, and the bold bets that helped keep the business—and hundreds of jobs—alive.

Whether you’re a founder facing change or a leader managing through uncertainty, this episode is packed with lessons you can use right now!

About Patrick Wright - Patrick is an accomplished CEO with over two decades of expertise in B2C marketing and sales management, and e-commerce. He specializes in organizational restructuring and business transformation, and his behind-the-scenes stories about AdvoCare's pivot read like an HBR case study.

About Kurt Wilkin - Kurt is a connector - of dots, ideas, and people. For over 30 years, he has advised high-growth companies, starting his career with Ernst & Young, and today in his roles as chairman of HireBetter and managing partner of Bee Cave Capital. He's a serial entrepreneur with multiple successful exits and has helped hundreds of entrepreneurs and CEOs build their companies.

🎧 Unlock the full episode on your favorite platform:

• Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/unlocking-moves
• Spotify: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/unlockingmoves

(00:00:00 ) The Hardest Day of His Career: Facing the FTC

(00:02:00 ) Meet Patrick Wright: Guitars, Growth, and Getting Creative

(00:05:04 ) Unlocking Early Career Moves Through Initiative

(00:10:37 ) Sponsor – Chinook Seedery: The Best Seeds Ever

(00:12:46 ) FTC Forces a Radical Pivot at AdvoCare

(00:20:17 ) Eliminating MLM: The 60-Day Scramble to Reinvent

(00:28:00 ) E-Commerce Lessons and Lean Startup Execution

(00:34:06 ) Authentic Leadership and Emotional Intelligence in Crisis

(00:44:59 ) Do You Wanna Know Who's Your Mike? Take the Quiz Here