Episode 22: Aligning Core Values & Employee Engagement 

Guest Bio

Garry has 25 years of experience as Chairman and CEO of WD-40 Company. He is also an adjunct professor at the University of San Diego, where he teaches the principles and practices of corporate culture in the Master of Science in Executive Leadership program. Garry’s philosophy on company culture is based on Aristotle’s quote – “Pleasure in the job puts perfection in the work.” Turning that into action, he believes that all leaders can create a workplace where you go to work each day, make a contribution to something bigger than yourself, learn something new, feel safe, are protected, and are provided freedom by a set of values and go home happy! He is passionate about the learning and empowering organizational culture he has helped establish at the WD-40 Company. In 2009, he co-authored a book with Ken Blanchard outlining his effective leadership techniques, titled “Helping People Win at Work: A Business Philosophy Called ‘Don’t Mark My Paper, Help Me Get an A.” A native of Australia, Mr. Ridge holds a certificate in Modern Retailing and a Master of Science in Executive Leadership from the University of San Diego.

Recap & Takeaways

• [00:11 – 01:02] Introduction to Garry, “Life’s a gift”
• [01:06 – 03:37] An Australian in the US, running WD-40 Company as CEO
• [03:41 – 06:58] A 25-year apprenticeship, happiness and contributing to something larger
• [07:00 – 08:46] COVID and the numb state
• [08:46 – 13:02] Employee engagement, empathy, and ego
• [13:21 – 17:25] Deeper moments and memories, reflecting on the values of an organization
• [17:28 – 19:46] Core behaviors and sharing, doing the right thing
• [19:59 – 22:45] Innovation in all aspects of business, not just product
• [23:20 – 24:19] Ethnology and listening to end users
• [24:21 – 25:19] Outsourcing, R&D, and collaboration
• [25:22 – 27:05] Values alignment in collaboration
• [27:17 – 28:21] Integrating values into quarterly conversations
• [29:34 – 31:22] Excitement about seeing other companies adopt WD-40’s model for success
• [31:29 – 34:08] The ESG movement and recognizing employee contributions
• [34:12 – 36:45] What a future with AI looks like, better data processing
• [37:51 – 40:18] Creating better outcomes in rehabilitation
• [40:41 – 41:56] Bravery and extinction