Curious Leadership with Dominic Monkhouse E112 | How WD 40 Company Is Making Life Better with Garry Ridge
Everyone’s heard of WD 40 company, it’s been a dependable staple of every garage and DIYer for over 50 years. The distinctive blue can with its yellow label and red cap has been oiling and lubricating homes across the globe for half a century, creating memories and lasting relationships.
But it isn’t the spread of this product that CEO and chair of WD 40 company board, Garry Ridge, is renowned for.
Yes, when Garry took over as CEO he transformed the business from an American manufacturer of WD 40, to a global supplier and manufacturer of all things oil and lubricant. But he’s also known for building a workplace that people are queuing up to work for. For bringing out the best in his team. For placing such a high value on core values.
“I think one of the biggest opportunities we have at the moment is to really get a message across to leaders that it's all about the people. If we can create environments where people go to work every day, they make a contribution to something bigger than themselves, they learn something new, they feel safe, and they go home happy.”
On today’s podcast:
- Why Garry’s view of company culture is rare
- Garry’s algorithm for culture
- Why WD 40 company have managers not coaches
- Hire first for values
- The journey from WD 40 to creating memories
- What WD 40 company learned from COVID
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