The Strategy Skills Podcast: Strategy | Leadership | Critical Thinking | Problem-Solving

555: How a Billion-Dollar CEO Thinks and Leads (with Bill Canady)

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May 28, 2025

Bill Canady, CEO of OTC Industrial Technologies and Arrowhead Engineered Products, discusses his military discipline and strategic mindset in leading billion-dollar companies. He emphasizes the importance of 80/20 thinking to stabilize businesses and why doing fewer things with intent drives growth. Canady shares insights on organizational success through a leadership triangle and the necessity of saying no to good ideas for greater outcomes. He also highlights how AI can assist leaders in focusing on critical areas while valuing human judgment.

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INSIGHT

Technology Bridges Remote Work Gap

Remote work accelerated due to COVID but works because technology bridges the distance gap.
AI advancements in communication tools enhance collaboration like real-time translation in Zoom.

ADVICE

Boost Digital Communication Skills

Develop skills in remote communication and using digital tools to stay relevant.
Use AI to speed tasks like speech writing and translating, enhancing productivity significantly.

ADVICE

Leverage AI and Focus on Priorities

Use AI to get quick insights and empower your team to make decisions independently.
Focus on the critical few tasks that generate 80% of results to maximize impact.

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Your company's next breakthrough isn't about doing more, but doing less with purpose.

In this episode, I speak with Bill Canady, CEO of two major industrial companies (OTC Industrial Technologies and Arrowhead Engineered Products), a former U.S. Navy officer, and author of From Panic to Profit, about the operating system he's used to turn around billion-dollar businesses and lead through uncertainty.

Bill brings a rare blend of military discipline, private equity strategy, and grounded human leadership. With more than 3,600 employees and $1.5 billion in revenue under his care, he shares what really drives growth, and why focus, not frenzy, is the secret to long-term results.

We talk about:

How Bill used 80/20 thinking to stabilize a struggling company during the pandemic
Why "doing everything" is the death of momentum and how to identify your critical few
The real reason most teams fail to deliver (hint: it's not effort)
How AI is helping leaders focus on what matters and where human judgment still matters most
Why you may need to say no to good ideas to unlock great outcomes
The leadership triangle: visionary, operator, and prophet, and how to build teams that thrive

Bill also shares personal reflections on learning through failure, navigating high-stakes decisions, and how he's applying his own advice as a continuous learner and leader of leaders.

Whether you're in a turnaround, scaling up, or simply trying to get more focused in your business or career, this episode offers both strategic clarity and deeply practical tools for creating profitable, people-centered growth.

Bill Canady is the CEO of both OTC Industrial Technologies and Arrowhead Engineered Products (AEP). With over 30 years of experience, he specializes in driving organizational growth, cutting costs, and boosting profitability. At OTC, he led a 43% increase in revenue and an 80% rise in earnings, with annual sales now exceeding $1 billion. At AEP, he oversees more than 3,600 employees and $1.5 billion in sales. A U.S. Navy veteran, Bill holds an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business and a BS in Business Administration from Elmhurst University. His Profitable Growth Operating System (PGOS) has helped countless organizations overcome challenges and seize new growth opportunities.

Get Bill's book here: https://rb.gy/3a4mou

From Panic to Profit: Uncover Value, Boost Revenue, and Grow Your Business with the 80/20 Principle

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