Mike Fata is a founder, investor, health advocate, and builder of movements. After losing 100 pounds, he co-founded Manitoba Harvest and grew it into a $100M+ hemp foods powerhouse, later guiding its $419M sale to Tilray. He’s now the CEO of Fata & Associates, host of the Founder to Mentor podcast, and an advisor to world-class natural product brands. Whether he’s mentoring founders or plunging into ice baths, Mike is all about growth - with purpose.

He joins Jeff to talk about the discipline behind transformation, how to pitch in 60 seconds, why personal branding matters more than ever in 2025, and what it really means to live with purpose after the exit. From health to storytelling to deep work, this conversation goes way beyond business.

We cover:

• Why discipline > motivation
• Building your personal brand without faking it
• The power of a 60-second pitch
• Letting your story sell
• Sleep, hydration, and health as your unfair advantage
• What burnout taught him after the $100M exit
• How to find your purpose (and stop lying to yourself about it)
• And so much more!

Connect with Mike:

• LinkedIn
• mikefata.ca
• Book: Grow
• Podcast: Founder to Mentor

Chapters

00:00 Intro
04:10 The Importance of Storytelling
09:24 Flipping the Switch: Discipline Over Motivation
14:20 Spiritual Growth and Healing the Self
20:01 Abundance, Flow, and the “Treasure Hunt” Mindset
23:36 Rest, Recovery, and the Myth of Busy
26:32 Life After Exit: Redefining Freedom and Fulfillment
31:12 How to Actually Find Your Purpose
34:32 Building a Healthy Body: Sleep, Hydration, and Movement
39:09 Daily Routines, Electrolytes, and “Showering the Inside”
42:52 Business Lessons: When It Is Personal
46:28 Disrupting the Hemp Industry: From Niche to Mainstream
48:06 Building a Personal Brand in 2025
53:51 Connection, Community, and Showing Up Online
55:34 The 20-Year Dream: Restoring His Westfalia Van
57:18 Growth, Grit, and What He’d Tell His 13-Year-Old Self

Connect with Jeff Abracen on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffabracen/]

If you are or know a disruptive influencer who would make a great guest, we'd love to hear from you.

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Cover art by Daniel Devoy
Music by Stephen Voyce

©2024 The Disruptive Influence Podcast - Jeff Abracen