Garry Ridge: Human-Centered Leadership and the Power of Learning Culture

In this episode of 'The Wisdom Of' Show, host Simon Bowen speaks with Garry Ridge, Chairman Emeritus of WD-40 Company and founder of The Learning Moment. From transforming a single-product company into a global powerhouse to achieving remarkable employee engagement, Garry shares his philosophy of human-centered leadership that drives both business success and personal fulfillment. Discover his insights on creating a "tribe of learning," the power of reframing mistakes, practicing servant leadership, and building organizational cultures where people can truly thrive, learn, and contribute to something greater.

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Episode Breakdown

00:00 Introduction and Garry's leadership philosophy

05:18 The concept of "learning moments" instead of mistakes

12:36 Creating a tribe of belonging through shared purpose

18:52 Servant leadership principles in action at WD-40

25:44 Measuring success through employee engagement

33:29 Values as effective decision-making tools

38:22 Translating cultural principles into business results

45:36 Building human-centered systems that support growth

52:12 The future of leadership and continuous learning

58:43 Legacy and creating a sustainable impact beyond oneself

About Garry Ridge

Garry Ridge is the Chairman Emeritus of WD-40 Company and founder of The Learning Moment. During his 25-year tenure as CEO, Garry transformed WD-40 from a single-product company into a global powerhouse, growing its market value from $250 million to $2.5 billion while achieving an extraordinary 93% employee engagement rate.

Passionate about creating workplace cultures where people can thrive, Garry has developed and refined a leadership approach centered on learning, belonging, and purpose. His expertise in building human-centered organizations has made him a sought-after advisor for forward-thinking companies worldwide.

As a dynamic global keynote speaker and educator, Garry teaches "Culture at Work: Putting Principles into Practice" in the Master of Science in Executive Leadership program at the University of San Diego. His mission is to make the world a happier place by fostering environments where people feel valued, connected, and inspired to contribute their best.

Garry's forthcoming book, "Any Dumbass Can Do It", distills his leadership wisdom into actionable principles that any leader can implement to create extraordinary organizational cultures.

Connect with Garry 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/garryridge/

X: https://x.com/LearningMoment

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPogAomneEkNNFKJ_PLaX3g

Website: https://thelearningmoment.net/

About Simon Bowen

Simon has spent over two decades working with influential leaders across complex industries. His focus is on elevating thinking in organizations, recognizing that success is directly proportional to the quality of thinking and ideas within a business. Simon leads the renaissance of thinking through his work with global leaders and organizations.

Connect with Simon

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/simonbowen-mm/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/officialsimonbowen/

Website: https://thesimonbowen.com/

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