Lessons from People First Cultures
What are the key characteristics and practices of companies that share space on the touted "best to work for" lists? How do you craft a culture to support and develop your team, sustain your company's growth, and make a difference in your community? How does a thriving business support inclusivity today?
In this talk from Tugboat Institute® Summit 2021, Dave Petersen, President and CEO of O.C. Tanner, shares his insights into these key questions. As the Evergreen® leader of a company dedicated to creating employee recognition and reward solutions that help cultures thrive, which is itself repeatedly recognized as a Best Companies to Work For®, Dave has unique insight into this topic. This presentation offers valuable wisdom around culture and the challenges today's leaders face as they consider how their companies can create a positive and lasting impact for their employees and the communities they serve.
It's Not About the Bag, It's Where You Take It
In 2005, Conni Reed left a 16-year corporate career to launch her company, Consuela. In the wake of what she describes as “an early mid-life crisis,” Conni felt called to live an authentic, meaningful life and build a business that would make a difference in the lives of women and Mexican artisans. In the years since, she has poured her passion and creativity into Consuela, a handbag and accessories company based in Texas that vibrantly reflects the joy and beauty–her “magic”– she wants to contribute to the world.
In this talk from Tugboat Institute® Summit 2021, Conni shares her story of personal and professional Perseverance – a journey that led to her current success and her ongoing mission to support and celebrate women who impact the world in positive ways.
Strong Roots, Strong Branches
When Michael Spraggins, CEO of Spraggins, Inc., made the decision to step into his family’s home flooring business, he realized pretty quickly he was facing some significant challenges. The company his father founded was a commodity business with a concentrated customer base that operated in Florida’s cyclical boom-bust construction industry—a tough combination.
Despite those challenges, Michael had a vision for building a large, diversified company, and he committed to doing just that. In this talk from Tugboat Institute Summit 2021, Michael shares the milestones—and notable failures—along the path to growing a global business and a nonprofit organization and the personal fulfillment of creating a legacy for his family.
Generation Z: Key Learnings In A New Workforce Generation
Tugboat Institute® Advisor Roberta Katz holds a PhD in anthropology as well as a law degree and was previously the General Counsel of McCaw and then Netscape. For 13 years, she served as the Associate Vice President for Strategic Planning at Stanford University and is currently a Senior Research Scholar at the Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences (CASBS) at Stanford University.
In this talk from Tugboat Institute Gathering of Teams 2021, Roberta shares insight into the three years of research she engaged in with her co-authors to write the book, Gen Z, Explained. The presentation provides scientific insight and context into the newest workforce generation—invaluable and practical tools for Evergreen® leaders and anyone in a management role.
Where Will You Find Your Next Great Hire?
The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated upheaval in the US and in the workforce, specifically, widening the opportunity gap and leading to job losses that have disproportionally affected low-income individuals, minorities, and women. At the same time, this period has seen the acceleration of automation and digital technologies, creating a need for millions to transition to new jobs.
In this talk from Tugboat Institute Summit 2021, Steven C. Preston, President and CEO of Goodwill Industries International, describes how Goodwill is working to close the opportunity gap by providing skills training, support resources, and career path mapping for people who may just be your next great hire. Steve notes, the time is now for Evergreen® leaders to open the aperture on talent and make a difference by seeking diverse, motivated employees whose lives can be transformed by the opportunity of fulfilling work.
The Power Of Changing How We Think
When Tom Rosztoczy’s father, Ferenc, arrived in the US from Hungary in 1957 with a degree in chemistry and applied for a job as a chemist, he learned that without a degree from a US university, he would be paid less than the standard salary for the role. Presented with such a clear message about the value of a US education, Ferenc went on to earn a PhD from University of California before taking on the role of President at his father-in-law’s company, Stotz Equipment.
Today, Tom leads that same company, which includes Stotz Equipment, a John Deere dealership with 25 stores in eight western states, Stotz Dairy, and Stotz Farms. When Tom and his wife, Jill, considered how they could partner in a philanthropic effort to benefit their community, the value of a college degree—so central to the family’s story—shaped their mission.
Together, Tom and Jill founded The College Promise program, a partnership with local public schools, which has transformed the lives of students and families. In this talk from Tugboat Institute® Summit 2021, Tom shares the story of his and Jill’s effort and the life-changing results.
Foreign Market Entry To Power Sustained Growth
Before he earned a PhD and began pursuing research in the field of sustained growth, Dr. Gary Kunkle worked in 38 different countries as the founder and CEO of an international trade and investment agency and as a senior manager of international trade and investment for KPMG.
Dr. Kunkle’s professional experience and his academic research have provided him unique insight into factors that lead to successful geographic expansion—one of six key variables necessary for sustained business growth. In this talk from Tugboat Institute® Summit 2021, Dr. Kunkle offers key tactics for Evergreen® leaders considering expansion into new markets and provides advice on common pitfalls they may face.
Securing Your Legacy: Paths From Founder To Evergreen
Family ownership of a business is complex, and, in many cases, questions around succession and leadership transition can present founders and next-generation leaders with significant challenges.
Jennifer Pendergast, Executive Director of the John L. Ward Center for Family Enterprises at Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University, has deep knowledge of the dynamics facing multi-generational family businesses. In this talk from Tugboat Institute Summit 2021, Jennifer shares insight into how families committed to an Evergreen® horizon can successfully navigate leadership transitions to ensure long-term success for their company.
The Moment Of Divergence
When Tugboat Institute® CEO Dave Whorton began his career at Kleiner Perkins, he was presented a “playbook”—a guide that defined early venture capital (VC) investment as a strategy focused on profitability and sustained growth. In 1995, with the historic public offering of Netscape, that playbook was thrown out and VC entered a new era. Get big fast.
In this talk from Tugboat Institute Summit 2021, Dave shares his personal experience of witnessing that “moment of divergence” and how that seismic shift in VC investment shaped the way companies are built, scaled, financed and exited along with how that deviation impacted CEOs, employees, customers, suppliers and communities. Dave also describes how private Evergreen® companies offer leaders, teams, and society an alternative model of doing business—one that recognizes the role of business as a force for good.
The Future Of Work And Workplace
How and where we work has changed in the wake of the pandemic, and questions related to the future of workspace continue to rise to the surface. How will leaders and companies adapt and evolve to meet employees changing needs and expectations? What are the key steps in a “return-to-work” strategy? How will shifting and expanding roles impact the workplace? What are the key components of effective workspace design that nurture collaboration and creativity?
Lisa Picard, President and CEO at EQ Office, a commercial real estate company that designs spaces to maximize human potential, has a unique perspective into these questions. In this talk from Tugboat Institute Summit 2021, Lisa shares her experience with this dynamic topic that continues to create challenges and opportunities for employers and employees.
