EP 105: How Giving Back Shapes Great Leaders with Snooze COO Brianna Borin

Update: 2025-09-08

Description

Philanthropy can change the way we think about business when it’s treated as part of the culture rather than an afterthought. How does a company grow stronger when it gives back to the community that supports it? And how can service outside of work shape the kind of leader someone becomes?

Sarah Lockwood talks with Brianna Borin, Chief Operating Officer of Snooze A.M. Eatery, about the lessons she has learned from nearly two decades of weaving community impact into her work. Brianna shares how Snooze’s early days of volunteering at the Denver Rescue Mission set the tone for a company-wide approach that now includes programs like the Changemaker initiative and long-term partnerships with organizations such as Urban Peak. She also reflects on her own leadership development through board service, youth mentorship, and global volunteer experiences that have deepened her sense of personal satisfaction and purpose.

Listeners can learn more about supporting youth experiencing homelessness through Urban Peak’s Urban Nights Kicks & Culture Sneaker Ball at urbanpeak.org/urban-nights. Brianna also recommends Tommy Spaulding’s books, The Heart-Led Leader and The Gift of Influence, which have shaped her vision of philanthropy and leadership. Her story and these resources show how integrating service into business not only builds stronger communities but also creates deeper fulfillment for leaders and their teams.

Episode Breakdown:

00:00 Philanthropy and Service as a Business Value

02:03 Brianna Borin’s Journey with Snooze A.M. Eatery

06:57 Community Impact Through Grassroots Service

08:50 Partnering with Urban Peak to Support Youth

12:44 The Changemaker Program and Local Giving

18:36 Leadership Development Through Philanthropy

28:45 Lessons from the Global Youth Leadership Academy

34:03 Time, Treasures, and Talent as a Service Framework

Connect with Brianna Borin:

Snooze A.M. Eatery

Connect with Brianna on LinkedIn