Franchise Update Magazine Issue II, 2012 | Page 11

CEO profile:
What has inspired your leadership
style? I have had great mentors in my

life, and read widely on the subject. As
well, I have had some negative experiences that have taught me the real
world issues that can get in the way
of success.
What is your biggest leadership challenge? T ensure that I am communicating
o

your first responsibility as the leader of
an organization.

Do you socialize with your team after
work or outside the office? I enjoy that

Advice to CEO wannabes: Find some-

very much. Everyone is so busy we don’t
do enough of it.

thing you are passionate about, and give
it everything you have. Then, as you gain
mastery of the business, begin to master the craft of leadership and effective
management.
Management

How do you transmit your culture
from your office to front-line employees? That is the essence of leadership.

Describe your management style: Di-

Great ideas only happen as they move
throughout the organization. First, you
work as an organization to have a clear
vision of what you want. Second, leadership at every level walk what they talk
and hold ourselves and staff accountable.
This is what staff, franchisees, and their
employees respond to.

What does your management team
look like? Strong leaders in their own

think it’s different for each person. An
MBA can provide a huge amount of relevant information. Most important is a
persistent commitment to learning, to
growing, and to taking personal risks.

rect, supportive, and demanding.

right who are willing to disagree with
me and fight for their ideas. We have a
great blend of personalities and backgrounds, but all are smart, dedicated,
and forward-thinking.
How does your management team
help you lead? They are in many ways

smarter and better at what they do than
I am. We agree on a vision and the outline of how to achieve that. Then I try
to stay out of the way and get involved
at appropriate points.
Favorite management gurus and books:

Are tough decisions best taken by one
person? That is a final test of leadership.

The process of getting to the decision
should involve much positive collaboration. If your management structure and
trust with franchisees is good you will
have that. In the final analysis, however,
someone has to have that “buck stops
here” sign on their desk.
How do you make tough decisions? I
first seek to clearly define the problem.
Often, this is the first stumbling block.
Next, I seek to listen and understand the
pros and cons and the arguments that
buttress competing positions. Finally,
I do my own homework and seek out
counsel from wise individuals who are
not a part of the issue.

ness by Joseph Conrad, and Taking People
with You by David Novak.
What technology do you take on the
road? iPhone, iPad, and laptop.

enough at every level of the organization.

Where is the best place to prepare for
leadership: an MBA school or OTJ? I

Last two books read: The Heart of Dark-

My favorite business author is Peter
Drucker. He was a genius in understanding the dynamics and the craft of
management and leadership.
What makes you say, “Yes, now
that’s why I do what I do!” For our

business, it is when I see another instance of a story of growth and great
success by our franchisees. And that
usually means a story about the great
home care we have provided to families in need and the difference we are
making in the quality of life for the
many thousands of families for whom
we are caring.

How do you relax, balance life and
work? I love to bike, read, and travel.
Favorite vacation destination(s): Fort

Myers, Florida; Bangkok, Thailand.
Favorite occasions to send employees
notes: I like to surprise them.
Favorite company service: It’s difficult

to point to one specific thing. We provide
a myriad of valuable support services to
families and those in need.
Bottom Line
What are your long-term goals for the
company? Right at Home will be rec-

ognized as a global leader in innovative
care solutions for families dealing with
aging parents and disability. We are in
four countries besides the U.S. (the U.K.,
Brazil, China, and Canada) and expect
to be in many more as societies around
the globe deal with aging issues.
How has the economy changed your
goals for your company? The economy’s

challenges have not affected us greatly.
How do you measure success? Pro-

viding great service to our customers,
creating successful franchisees, and providing a place for employees to succeed.
What has been your greatest success?

My two daughters.
Personal
Exercise in the morning? I like to get

Do you want to be liked or respected?

it in early. My wife and I go at 5:30 a.m.

Nearly everyone wants to be liked, and
I am no exception! But the key to effective leadership is earned respect. That is

Wine with lunch? During the workday,
no. Sometimes on weekends.

What can we expect from your company in the next 12 to 18 months? We

continue to work on innovations that will
position us perfectly as health reform unfolds in the U.S., and to continue to see
strong international growth. n

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