# How I Built Resilience: Father Gregory Boyle of Homeboy Industries

- Show: [How I Built This](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this)
- Published: 2020-11-19
- Length: 25m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2020-11-19-how-i-built-resilience-father-gregory-boyle-of-homeboy-industries

## Summary

Father Gregory Boyle, founder of Homeboy Industries, explains how the Los Angeles-based gang intervention and rehabilitation program evolved from a parish initiative into a network of nine social enterprises, including Homeboy Bakery, Homegirl Cafe, and Homeboy Recycling. He discusses the organization's financial structure, noting that while half its $22 million budget comes from these businesses, the other half must be raised through donations, and highlights the failure of Homeboy Plumbing as a lesson in evaluating new ventures. Boyle also details how the organization pivoted during the pandemic by securing contracts with World Central Kitchen to deliver 200,000 meals, allowing them to retain all staff despite the economic downturn.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2020-11-19-how-i-built-resilience-father-gregory-boyle-of-homeboy-industries#t=0) Introduction: Father Gregory Boyle and Homeboy Industries
- [1:40](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2020-11-19-how-i-built-resilience-father-gregory-boyle-of-homeboy-industries#t=100) Origin Story and Social Enterprises
- [4:10](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2020-11-19-how-i-built-resilience-father-gregory-boyle-of-homeboy-industries#t=250) Business Philosophy and Quality
- [10:56](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2020-11-19-how-i-built-resilience-father-gregory-boyle-of-homeboy-industries#t=656) Financial Model and Sustainability
- [12:36](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2020-11-19-how-i-built-resilience-father-gregory-boyle-of-homeboy-industries#t=756) Evaluating New Ventures and Failures
- [16:42](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2020-11-19-how-i-built-resilience-father-gregory-boyle-of-homeboy-industries#t=1002) Pandemic Response and Meal Delivery
- [21:52](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2020-11-19-how-i-built-resilience-father-gregory-boyle-of-homeboy-industries#t=1312) Leadership, Kinship, and Grief

## Topics

- [Validation & product-market fit](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/validation-and-product-market-fit)
- [Pricing, margins & unit economics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pricing-and-unit-economics)
- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)
- [Fundraising & investors](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/fundraising)
- [Leadership, teams & culture](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/leadership-and-culture)

## Most relevant to

companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- Homeboy Industries (company)
- Homeboy Bakery (product)
- Homegirl Cafe (product)
- Homeboy Recycling (product)
- Homeboy Silk Screen (product)
- Homeboy Plumbing (product)
- World Central Kitchen (company)
- U.S. Bank (company)
- Newman's Own (company)

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- [Janie's Life-Changing Baked Goods](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2021-05-24-janies-life-changing-baked-goods) (The Startup CPG Podcast)
- [Founder Fundraising Journey: Victor Guardiola, Bawi](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2026-08-01-founder-fundraising-journey-victor-guardiola-bawi) (The Startup CPG Podcast)
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- [024: Aligning passion & business with Terry Lin of Forever Home Blankets](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2016-10-25-024-aligning-passion-business-with-terry-lin-of-forever-home-blankets) (Product Startup)

## Citing this page

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