The Secret to Radio Flyer’s Strategic Success with Rita McGrath & Robert Pasin

In this week’s Thought Sparks Podcast episode, Rita McGrath, a Columbia University Business School Professor, C-Suite strategist, business founder and best-selling author, speaks with Robert Pasin, Chief Wagon Officer at Radio Flyer. They take a deep dive into the history of the iconic wagon brand and the three generations of Pasin’s family that have helmed the brand. Covering everything from the e-commerce revolution that transformed how retail operated to shutdowns that threatened the brand as a whole, they share strategic insights applicable across sectors.

00:00 Meet Robert Pasin: Chief Wagon Officer & 4th Generation Leader of Radio Flyer

01:16 The 5-Year-Old's First Day at Work: A Magical Factory That Changed Everything

02:09 From Italy to Chicago: The Immigrant Carpenter Who Built an American Icon

03:46 The Mystery Behind the Name "Radio Flyer" Finally Solved0

4:41 The 45-Foot Giant That Launched a Brand at the 1933 World's Fair

06:03 When a 100-Year Company Almost Died: The Early 90s Crisis

07:31 The Plastic Revolution That Blindsided Radio Flyer

09:24 From "We Make Wagons" to "We Create Warm Memories"

11:36 The Bank Meeting That Taught a Young CEO About Cash Flow13:03 The Tricycle That Never Existed (But Everyone Remembered Having)

14:38 Becoming CEO at 28: "Nobody Else Wanted the Job"

18:59 "Plant a Lot of Seeds": How to Innovate Without Betting the Farm

20:07 Inside Radio Flyer's Prototype Shop: Where Ideas Become Reality

22:40 Why Radio Flyer Thinks "Quarter Century, Not Quarter"

29:12 The Day They Shut Down the Factory: A Leadership Test

38:04 From Toys"R"Us to Amazon: Adapting to Retail's Revolution

41:47 Why Focus Groups Lie: The Power of Observing Real Behavior

49:06 The 360 Feedback That Changed Everything

52:50 Electric Bikes and the Next Chapter: Hauling Kids for Another 100 Years

56:47 The One Leadership Skill That Matters Most

58:20 Why Teenage Kids Are the Ultimate CEO Reality Check

Thought Sparks are the brainchild of Rita McGrath. They are insightful actions, strategic ideas, actionable suggestions and innovative approaches that help organizations and leaders master the future with less fear and more confidence. New episodes of the Thought Sparks Podcast are released every other Tuesday at 11am Eastern.

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