Podcast
215: Marvin Carolina P1
Results-driven. Focused. Prepared. Resilient. Principled.
These are the qualities that helped Marvin Carolina succeed as an athlete, a corporate employee, and an entrepreneur—building the leadership skills necessary to rise through the ranks in sales and marketing with Oscar Mayer and eventually branch out on his own through Carolina Beverage Distributing.
Today Marvin serves as the founder and CEO of Team Carolina, a full-service training and consulting company with a focus on diversity and inclusion, small business development and entrepreneurship. This venture grew from his work with JE Dunn Construction, where he led a national team responsible for diversity and inclusion as well as market development. There, he developed JE Dunn’s Minority Contractor Business Development program and the Professional Development Workshop Series, a collegiate initiative that empowers diverse students in construction-related majors with professional development and internship opportunities. Marvin has a Master of Arts in Community Development from North Park University, and he has been named to the list of Business and Community Leaders Top 40 in Their 40’s.
In part one, Marvin shares his journey as an athlete, playing high school sports at Shady Side and college football for the legendary Bill Curry at Georgia Tech. He explains how the skill set he learned as an athlete translated to corporate America, allowing him to take on leadership positions early on and earn promotion after promotion with the sales and marketing team at Oscar Mayer. Listen in and learn about Marvin’s first entrepreneurial venture—and how treating people right led to a big opportunity.
Key Takeaways
[04:41] Marvin’s insight around smartphones
- Got through college without one, now can’t leave house
- Depends on as parent to track teenage sons
[07:28] The skill set Marvin learned playing sports
- Learned focus, teamwork
- Driven by results
- Show up prepared
- Use resilience as tool
[12:42] Marvin’s experience at Shady Side
- High academic expectations (i.e.: summer reading)
[13:45] What Marvin learned from Coach Curry at Georgia Tech
- Sincere, up front throughout recruiting process
- Stood on principles, sent home starters who missed curfew
[18:17] Marvin’s first job after college
- Sales/marketing for Oscar Mayer in Portland
- Aggressive first manager like college coach
[20:48] Marvin’s first leadership position
- In charge of in-store resets
- Willingness to step up
[22:28] The big lessons Marvin learned in five years at Oscar Mayer
- Value of tracking
- Focus on profit
[26:05] How Marvin profited from treating people right
- Partnered with beverage distributor who needed sales help
- Collected commission based on sales
- Opportunity to launch own bottled water distribution company
- Gave partner all client info rather than using himself
- Former partner introduced to juice, soda distributors
- Expanded business to include other beverages
Connect with Marvin Carolina
Resources Mentioned
The No BS Marketing Show is brought to you by Larrimors Men’s and Women’s Designer Clothing. Free shipping. Free returns. Shop men’s and women’s designer clothing, shoes, accessories, jewelry and more online at larrimors.com or in-store, downtown Pittsburgh.
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