CEOInterviews.AI
Start App
Try: AI strategy tariffs earnings guidance layoffs interest rates growth

Brian Beckstead

Founder & Chief Marketing Officer, VF Corp

Search every verified Brian Beckstead interview, podcast appearance, and on-the-record quote — each transcript cross-checked by AI and human review to confirm speaker identity. Brian Beckstead, co-founder of Altra Running, appeared on two podcasts in late September 2026 to discuss the brand's origins and his personal history with the company. On the RUNcensored Podcast, he described Altra's early growth as a "gradual grind" rather than a single breakthrough moment, noting that employees, retailers, and consumers who bought into the brand's philosophy created a snowball effect over 10 to 15 years. He also said the hardest part of building the brand was not consumers but traditional retailers, who were reluctant to move away from established shoe categories. On the Small Lake City Podcast, Beckstead said he was initially "disappointed by the running industry" while investigating his own injuries, which led to questions about why injury rates had not declined despite new shoe technologies. He credited investor Joe Morton with providing initial capital in 2009 after the recession, when funding was otherwise difficult to obtain. Beckstead also shared personal details in both interviews. He said he has not had a running injury in 17 years since starting Altra, and he described suffering severe blisters during the Wasatch 100 race before the brand's shoes arrived. He mentioned that he plans to attend UTMB next year and that he spends most of his time in Heber Valley with his family, referring to Altra as his "fourth child." He also noted that he is active on Instagram under the handle Brian_Altra.

Recent appearances

  • Altra Changed the Running World. Co-Founder Brian Beckstead Explains How | EP85 RUNcensored Podcast

    October 05, 2026 · 📺 RUNcensored and SportsShoes.com

    Brian Beckstead, co-founder of Altra, joins RUNcensored for a proper deep dive into one of running’s most distinctive brands. And yes, he’s apparently flown all the way from the US for it. We’re still fact-checking that one. We welcome Brian the only way we know how: with Premier League football. He’s somehow “randomly” chosen a new team to support, which makes one of the lads very happy and the other extremely suspicious. Then we get onto the serious stuff. Brian takes us back to the humble family beginnings of Altra, how the brand grew from scratch and the ups and downs of building a compl…

    Watch on YouTube ↗

  • How Altra Went From a Toaster Oven to a Global Running Brand With Founder Brian Beckstead

    September 29, 2026 · 📺 Small Lake City Podcast

    How did Altra Running go from experimenting with running shoes in Utah to becoming one of the biggest names in the running world? 🎁 WIN A PAIR OF ALTRA SHOES! We’re giving one viewer a pair of Altra shoes! To enter: Subscribe to the Small Lake City YouTube channel. Comment on this video, your favorite part of the episode, your favorite Altra shoe, your favorite place to run… whatever you want! We’ll pick a winner one week after this episode goes live. Good luck! 🏃 Brian Beckstead, co-founder of Altra Running, joins the Small Lake City Podcast to tell the story behind the Utah-born running…

    Watch on YouTube ↗

  • Brian Beckstead | Altra co-founder on shaking up the running shoe industry

    August 07, 2025 · 📺 Canadian Running Magazine

    This week on The Shakeout Podcast we bring you a conversation between Brian Beckstead, founder of pioneering low and no-drop running shoe maker Altra, and Canadian Running staff writer Marley Dickinson. Brian joins the show for a conversation about his own journey in the sport, recapping how his years-long struggle with recurring injuries and decade-plus of experience in the run specialty retail world combined to form the kernel of Altra’s innovative approach to shoe design. From their origins creating a shoe that emphasized natural movement through their signature low-drop, natural toe-box…

    Watch on YouTube ↗

  • Altra Lone Peak 9+ with Altra co-founder Brian Beckstead. Runners Series - Episode 3

    January 16, 2025 · 📺 Running Warehouse Australia

    Running Warehouse Australia Community Runners Series. Join Nathan and Altra co-founder Brian Beckstead as they chat about the new Altra Lone Peak 9+. Brian talks about the history of Altra and the Lone Peak, his ideal 3 shoe Altra line up, and hear his thoughts on Tim Tams, Vegemite plus more.

    Watch on YouTube ↗

  • Brian Beckstead: Entrepreneur & Founder Altra Footwear - Episode 378

    December 19, 2023 · 📺 Human Performance Outliers Podcast

    Additional Resources: https://zachbitter.com/hpo-episode-378 - Show Notes & Links - Sponsor Discounts/Details - Transcript.

    Watch on YouTube ↗

  • A Cup Of Joe | From Trail Running to Trailblazing: A Conversation with Brian Beckstead | EP 10

    November 13, 2023 · 📺 A Cup of Joe Podcast

    In Episode 10 of A Cup of Joe, your host, Joe Morton, engages in a fascinating conversation with Brian Beckstead, a seasoned executive with a remarkable journey in the run and outdoor specialty retail space. After 11 years in the industry, Brian co-founded Altra Footwear, playing a pivotal role as VP of Sales and later as President. He spearheaded the brand's early years, managing diverse responsibilities, including revenue, margin, P&L, and overseeing departments such as Operations, Sales, Marketing, Product, and International. Brian's expertise was crucial in the transition of Altra from I…

    Watch on YouTube ↗

  • Interview with Brian Beckstead - Altra Co-founder

    November 10, 2023 · 📺 TRAILRUNNINGReview

    Interview with Brian Beckstead - Altra Co-founder We spoke with Brian Beckstead, co-founder of Altra Running, a brand with a very particular philosophy in search of the most natural running possible. TRAILRUNNINGReview Media partner of the European Outdoor Conservation Association (EOCA) FOLLOW US ON: Web: http://www.trailrunningreview.com Newsletter: https://bit.ly/Newsletter_TRAILRUNNIN... Instagram: / trailrunningreview Podcast: https://bit.ly/SpotifyTRR Twitch: / trailrunningreview Twitter: / trailrunningrvw Facebook: / trailrunningreview

    Watch on YouTube ↗

  • Altra Co-Founder Brian Beckstead on Brand Building and the All-New AltraFWD Experience

    October 02, 2023 · 📺 BelieveintheRun

    At a time when every shoe was over 10 mm in drop, Brian Beckstead and Golden Harper came along and took an idea from zero to, well... zero drop. Since then, Altra has become a staple brand in the running, walking, and hiking scenes, known for its footshape shoes and focus on a natural running lifestyle. However, everything has changed with the all-new 4 mm drop AltraFWD Experience. Does it matter? We ask Brian about that, the history and future of the brand, and what it's like to fly fish in South America. Check out Altra: https://www.altrarunning.com/ Read the review of the AltraFWD Experi…

    Watch on YouTube ↗

  • We try to fix broken runners. Brian Beckstead, ALTRA cofounder

    August 31, 2023 · 📺 La Bolsa del Corredor

    Watch on YouTube ↗

  • Believe X Altra | Conversation w/ Brian Beckstead, Altra Co-Founder

    May 12, 2020 · 📺 BelieveintheRun

    Thomas sits down and talks with Brian Beckstead, Altra Running Co-Founder and all-around cool dude. Brian talks about the past, present, and future of Altra, and answers a ton of viewer questions about what we can expect from the company known for its adherence to zero-drop shoes. At one time a peculiarity, his vision is now a standard in the running shoe industry. We have a Patreon! Check it out: http://bit.ly/BITR-PATREON Subscribe to The Drop 💧➡ http://bit.ly/THEDROP Follow Us! ➡ FACEBOOK:   / bintherun   ➡ INSTAGRAM:   / believeintherun   ➡ TWITTER:   / bintherun   ➡ WEBSITE: https://B…

    Watch on YouTube ↗

  • Brian Beckstead Presents Altra and Altra IQ Smart Shoe

    September 25, 2015 · 📺 Runners Of Norway

    Brian Beckstead presents Altra at Löplabbet 01.09.15. Also present is one of the world's best ultra trail runners, Sondre Amdahl, who talks about his experiences with Altra. Here you will also get a demo of the new Altra IQ Smart Shoe that arrives in 2016. Pictures from the session: http://www.runnersofnorway.no/artikle...

    Watch on YouTube ↗

Other executives at VF Corp

The summary and quote tags on this profile are produced with AI assistance from verified, first-person interview transcripts, then checked by our team to confirm the speaker's identity and the accuracy of every quote. See how we verify →