Pandemic: How does a business survive when demand drops to zero? – Peter Guyer, Athena Foods

USC IBEAR Business Class

Business Class begins a series of interviews to explore the effects of the Covid-19 Pandemic. In this episode, Peter Guyer, Founder of Athena International Foods gives insight on the effect the virus has had on his business, his supply chain and his sector. What can a business do to prepare for this kind of event? What lessons from past experience have helped guide him? Is there a way to prepare for such a unique business disruption? Peter discusses resilience - a term from biology - in terms of how a business can survive and maintain viability. In terms of leadership, he notes that this is a time when customers and employees get a good look at who they are working with and for and that, “people have long memories.” Peter Guyer is a 1992 graduate of the USC IBER MBA program. To maintain social distancing, this interview was recorded via the web.