FMI Future Connect: Leaders Outline 'Path to the Executive Suite'
The Food Marketing Institute's first ever Future Connect Conference was held in Dallas this week and one of the highlights was a group of four c-level executives sharing the stories of how they made it to their current positions. The session, called "The Path to the Executive Suite," featured an interesting mix of two leading CPG leaders and two regional supermarket CEOs, all of whom took very different routes to the top positions at their companies.
After describing his ascension to the top of Hy-Vee, CEO Ric Jurgens gave 11 points to help the crowd of up-and-coming executives make the leap to the corner office:
- Treat your job as your last one.
- Don't separate work and home life.
- Work harder for the success of others than your own.
- Avoid negative people.
- Don't emulate your boss.
- Tell those who matter that they do.
- Treat everyone the same.
- Never be satisfied.
- Set a good example.
- Do the right thing.
- Don't take yourself too seriously.
Don Knauss, CEO of Clorox, added five key character traits of his own:
- Integrity
- Curiosity
- Optimism
- Compassion
- Humility
Steve Smith, CEO of K-VA-T Stores, and Beverly Grant, chief grocery channel officer of Procter & Gamble, added that senior executives had to be selfless and execute sound judgment.
Discussion Question: What are the key qualifications and personality traits are needed in the next generation of retail c-level executives? Which recommendations from Ric Jurgens and Don Knauss do you find most valuable?