A relationship-focused leader, Jay Richardson, New Belgium Brewing’s head of east coast operations, guides his company from employee-owned into acquisition by a multinational company.
Jay Richardson leads New Belgium’s east coast operations in Asheville, NC. In addition to pragmatism, clarity and passion, the core of his leadership philosophy is nurturing trusting relationships with those he encounters. Joining New Belgium in 2003 as the IT Director and member of the senior leadership team, Jay has become familiar with many aspects of the business. He served as the steward of New Belgium’s strategic planning process and as Production Director, prior to accepting the honor of piloting New Belgium’s second facility in Asheville. Before joining the New Belgium family, Jay gained 11 years of IT consulting, management and leadership experience with Hewlett-Packard, Mrs. Smith’s Bakeries, and Andersen Consulting. He graduated Mississippi State University with an honors bachelor degree in electrical engineering and a minor in mathematics.
3 Key Points
- Instead of transferring culture when expanding, focus on transferring values.
- Employees are the best judges of their own needs—give them the support to find fulfillment.
- Empathize with those you lead and serve. Take care of them and they’ll take care of you.
Quote
“My success as a leader is not about me. It’s about [the success of] the group of people in my charge.”
What We Talked About
In this episode, you’ll learn:
- 01:00 – How do you lead a company from employee ownership to acquisition by a large corporation?
- 05:30 – On “the right kind of business” to acquire an employee-owned company
- 06:40 – How do you maintain consistent company culture while expanding?
- 08:45 – On values, purpose, and the importance of modelling
- 10:30 – On the hiring process
- 13:12 – Do you focus on self-leadership when you hire?
- 15:40 – How do you define your own leadership?
- 18:21 – Are there particular ways you cultivate your leadership skills?
- 20:32 – What is New Belgium’s impact?
- 22:35 – On employee satisfaction
- 24:48 – What have you learned from times of major change that apply to the response to COVID-19?
- 29:30 – On the balance between short- and long-term thinking
Actionable Tips
- Listen to understand, not just to respond.
- Continuously learn how to serve others.
- Search for knowledge from those around you.
Resources Mentioned
- Reach out to Jay at jrichardson@newbelgium.com
- Jay’s company: New Belgium Brewing
- Book mentioned: A Stake in the Outcome by Jack Stack
- Article mentioned: Reactions to New Belgium’s Sale from the National Center for Employee Ownership
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Ursula Jorch, Host of The Impact Interviews
Ursula Jorch is a business coach, speaker, and podcaster who shows women leaders how to turn their businesses into profitable agents for lasting change, global impact, and a force for good in the world.
