CEO.com | Dispatches from the frontiers of leadership Miller Ingenuity President & CEO Steve Blue
Jun 12, 2025
39:16
Welcome to another episode of our podcast! In this episode, we sit down with Steve Blue, the President and CEO of Miller Ingenuity, a global supplier of diverse technology products and systems. With 26 years at the helm, Steve has grown the company's EBITDA by seven times without using outside capital.
Join us as Steve shares his journey from being a divisional general manager to leading Miller Ingenuity, the importance of building a strong company culture, and the challenges of transforming an established organization. He also discusses the significance of cash management, the role of philanthropy in business, and how to effectively manage a board of directors.
Steve also touches on the impact of AI in manufacturing, the importance of strategic planning, and his experiences co-authoring books with Jack Canfield. Whether you're a seasoned CEO or an aspiring leader, this episode is packed with valuable insights and practical advice.
Timestamps:
00:06 - Introduction and Background
00:18 - Overview of Miller Ingenuity
01:02 - Becoming CEO
02:05 - Achievements and Growth
02:34 - Leadership and Culture Change
03:12 - Funding and Financial Strategy
04:36 - Importance of Company Culture
06:02 - Building and Sustaining Culture
09:12 - Employee Empowerment
10:31 - Hiring Process and Employee Engagement
11:26 - Profit-Driven Incentives
13:13 - Community Engagement and Philanthropy
16:44 - Typical Day as CEO
18:10 - Managing the Board
22:09 - Impact of Tariffs
24:46 - Strategic Planning and Cash Management
27:27 - Book Co-Authorship with Jack Canfield
29:33 - Unlocking Success Book Overview
32:21 - Integration of AI
34:44 - Reading Recommendations
37:13 - Final Question: Who Gave You a Chance?
Join us as Steve shares his journey from being a divisional general manager to leading Miller Ingenuity, the importance of building a strong company culture, and the challenges of transforming an established organization. He also discusses the significance of cash management, the role of philanthropy in business, and how to effectively manage a board of directors.
Steve also touches on the impact of AI in manufacturing, the importance of strategic planning, and his experiences co-authoring books with Jack Canfield. Whether you're a seasoned CEO or an aspiring leader, this episode is packed with valuable insights and practical advice.
Timestamps:
00:06 - Introduction and Background
00:18 - Overview of Miller Ingenuity
01:02 - Becoming CEO
02:05 - Achievements and Growth
02:34 - Leadership and Culture Change
03:12 - Funding and Financial Strategy
04:36 - Importance of Company Culture
06:02 - Building and Sustaining Culture
09:12 - Employee Empowerment
10:31 - Hiring Process and Employee Engagement
11:26 - Profit-Driven Incentives
13:13 - Community Engagement and Philanthropy
16:44 - Typical Day as CEO
18:10 - Managing the Board
22:09 - Impact of Tariffs
24:46 - Strategic Planning and Cash Management
27:27 - Book Co-Authorship with Jack Canfield
29:33 - Unlocking Success Book Overview
32:21 - Integration of AI
34:44 - Reading Recommendations
37:13 - Final Question: Who Gave You a Chance?