Today we’d like to introduce you to Buddy Teaster.
Hi Buddy, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Like most people, it’s not been a straight path…very little that’s happened is what I would have imagined growing in rural West Virginia and Pennsylvania or suburban Washington DC. I’ve been lucky to have amazing friends and family, an incredible wife, and two terrific daughters. Professionally, I wouldn’t change a thing as it’s all led to this moment, where I have the chance to serve as President and CEO at Soles4Souls, a global not for profit, based in Nashville, creating opportunity for people through shoes and clothing.
I’ve also been really fortunate to have a career that’s played out in both the for profit and not for profit worlds. They are not as different as many people think, and I have had the chance to work with, be part of, and lead teams and organizations that changed my life. But when I joined Soles4Souls in 2012, I realized this organization gave me the most incredible opportunity to bring all those things together and I have never loved my work more. What we do lines up with my values, gives me purpose, creates opportunities for all kinds of people, and is good for the planet.
Since I came to S4S, we’ve evolved from a charity that primarily gave away shoes to people affected by natural disasters to a global social enterprise that helps people create jobs, keeps millions of pounds of textiles out of landfills, and gives kids experiencing homelessness in the U.S. brand-new shoes they can be proud of. That was quite a journey, with some of the most amazing people I’ve ever met, and in May 2025, I was able to publish a book called From Tailspin to Tailwind that captures what we learned along the way.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Who wants smooth sailing J While at times it was really challenging, it has been deeply meaningful. When I joined Soles4Souls, the organization was in a “rebuilding” phase (so much nicer than “tailspin” but not as accurate)—earning back trust, strengthening systems, and redefining success. We had to shift from counting how many pairs of shoes we gave away to asking how to measure the impact that we were having and did it matter to our partners and those we serve. Coming out of that soul-searching, we set a goal of having $1 billion in economic impact by 2030 and I’m proud to say we’re on track!
The biggest lesson I’ve learned is that clarity beats certainty. You’ll never have all the answers, but if you’re clear about your purpose and values, people will follow you through hard times.
We’ve faced our share of challenges—losing key teammates, navigating a pandemic, balancing global growth—but those tough moments forced us to grow stronger and more focused. Looking back, the rough patches were where the real transformation happened. As I often say, we need to be clear on why and flexible on how.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Soles4Souls is built on a simple idea: each of us can make a difference by donating the shoes and clothes we no longer use. That can be us as individuals clearing out our closets or doing a shoe drive at work or school. It can be a business that instead of destroying its excess inventory, can donate it and create job opportunities for people in places where there aren’t may. We take shoes and clothing that might otherwise end up in landfills and use them to create jobs, fight poverty, and protect the planet.
Our work runs through four main programs:
4Opportunity, which helps entrepreneurs in developing countries earn income by selling donated shoes.
4Relief, providing new shoes and clothing to people in crisis.
4EveryKid, giving brand-new athletic shoes and socks to children experiencing homelessness in the U.S.
Solutions4Good, which diverts millions of pounds of textiles out of landfills every year.
My favorite part of our model is that we’re not just a charity—we’re a social enterprise. We blend heart and business sense to create sustainable, measurable impact while using business discipline to make sure we’re here to serve for the long term. While we still have to raise money and always welcome financial donations, our model leverages those dollars so they can go further. To date, Soles4Souls has distributed more than 112 million pairs of shoes and pieces of clothing across 139 countries. We are headquartered here in Nashville, but we are warehouses and distribution centers across the world.
How do you define success?
Purpose, meaning, connection, progress, those all play a role but I guess what gets me going every day is recognizing how much more there is to do! Looking back and seeing how much meaningful progress we’ve made—seeing people, ideas, and communities move forward— is what brings me the most joy.
That said, I’m happiest outdoors—running, hiking, kayaking—where things slow down and perspective returns.
I also find tremendous support and love with my family—my wife Becca and our two daughters—and the joy of sharing this life together. Those moments remind me that purpose and happiness are deeply connected.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://soles4souls.org
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/soles4souls
- Facebook: https://Facebook.com/soles4souls
- Twitter: https://x.com/soles4souls
- Youtube: https://YouTube.com/soles4souls
