“I think when a lot of business leaders hear me talk about play and fun, they think well, of course you would do that, you're a toy company. But I think it's so important that every culture, every team, every organization has play incorporated into their culture.”
Robert Pasin is Chief Wagon Officer (otherwise known as CEO) of
Radio Flyer.
Robert’s grandfather, an Italian immigrant, started the company out of his garage in 1917, and over the past 100 years and three generations of leadership, Radio Flyer has become an iconic American brand.
Today we’ll hear Robert’s story, including how he revived the brand and built a thriving culture at Radio Flyer.
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0:47) – What was Robert’s upbringing like?
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2:09) – How did a tour of his father’s factory change everything?
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5:13) – How did Robert’s grandfather start the business over a century ago?
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7:45) – Did Robert’s father expect him to take over the family business one day?
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9:37) – What does Robert do to balance continuity with innovation at Radio Flyer?
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12:38) – How does Robert bring in fresh perspectives and ideas?
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15:02) – Why is culture so important to Robert? And how does he build a good culture?
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18:49) – Why is play important?
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20:24) – How is Robert talking about succession with his own kids?
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22:49) – What is Robert’s ”why”?
What is The Road to Why?
From start-up entrepreneurs to multi-generational family business owners, most founders are driven to succeed for reasons well beyond making money. Whether it’s a passion for reshaping their industry, building a family legacy or advancing the causes they care most about — or, in many cases, all of the above — exploring the larger “why” of their life’s work offers insights into how successful leaders operate and what is really important to them.
On The Road to Why, host Eric Czepyha, Director of Business Services at Northern Trust, speaks with business owners, entrepreneurs and visionaries about business, family, wealth and legacy and shares advice and life lessons from those who have found success in ways expected and unexpected.