Owner of Savannah Bananas, Creator of Banana Ball, Author of Fans First & Find Your Yellow Tux, Keynote Speaker
The inspiration behind the Savannah Bananas is not from the sports industry. It's from the greatest in the Entertainment Industry. Often businesses look at best practices in their industry to help grow their business. But with Savannah Bananas and Banana Ball we never looked at the baseball industry, we constantly look at the best of the best in the Entertainment Industry. From Saturday Night Live, to Disney, to MrBeast, to WWE to the Grateful Dead, we are obsessed with learning on how they've been able to entertain in unique ways and create fans all over the world. To truly stand out, and become the ONLY in your industry, you need to step away from what everyone is in doing in your field. By combining the ideas from some of the most loved brands and putting them together you can create a truly unique experience. Most importantly, you will be looked upon differently by your customers and fans and will not have to compete on the same metrics that everyone else does. Stand out, be different, and never stop learning.
I am inspired by Jesse Cole, who has an extraordinary ability to bring together ideas that might seem unrelated and transform them into something entirely new. His creative and agile approach drives him to reimagine what’s possible while staying deeply rooted in inclusivity and collaboration—both internally with his team and externally with the fans. Jesse’s remarkable talent for uniting ideas and turning them into extraordinary outcomes doesn’t just spark innovation; it has the potential to transform workplaces and elevate employee engagement across any organization. It’s not just about the bottom line. It’s about honoring the people who do the work and the fans who show up. When you can align all three—profitability, employee satisfaction, and unforgettable superfan experiences—it creates something truly magical. Imagine what would happen if this kind of forward-thinking leadership existed in just a few more organizations around the world... 💯 I'm giddy just thinking about the possibilities. 😊
I love this guy. Northwestern University - Kellogg School of Management if you haven't already...KSM should strongly consider incorporating business cases on YellowTuxJesse and the Bananas into the curriculum.
Jesse Cole you should take over the Seattle Mariners. I would love to see you running a MLB club. Bringing that amazing banana ball showmanship and style to a sport that can frequently be very stuffy. I love the Mariners and MLB, but It sucks when your team is losing a lot. I think your brand of baseball offers a lot because it offers something fun to be a part of even if the team is losing.
I grew up in the era of the customer is always right and it seems to now have shifted to it is what it is, deal with it. I love that your focus is so centered on the fans/customers. A customer that is heard doesn't have to be right and a company that listens changes for the better!
and this is why I tell EVERYONE in my industry (outdoor recreation and racing) to follow you. Disruption - and looking outside the box for ideas - is the only way to innovate in a saturated field. You're writing the book, and I love reading it.
Any successful person I have met has talked about how they use every experience in their life, both work related and personal to better themselves. This is a more specific example and I absolutely love it. Reflecting back on my upbringing, it's easy to see where I have applied learnings from experiences and interests that have no relation to what I do professionally.
"Stand out, be different, and never stop learning" is such a powerful mindset—and it’s exactly what drives real innovation. The Savannah Bananas & Jesse Cole's approach shows that stepping outside your industry to learn from the best can transform how you connect with your audience. True growth comes when you break the mold and create something no one else can replicate.
It was a pleasure having you on our stage at The Gathering Summit, Jesse. What a great discussion!
We want to be the only.. that will stick with me. ONE GOOD RIDE FROM START TO END, I’D LIKE TO TAKE THAT RIDE AGAIN