Miller Ingenuity President & CEO Steve Blue

Welcome to another episode of our podcast! In this episode, we sit down with Steve Blue, the President and CEO of Miller Ingenuity, a global supplier of diverse technology products and systems. With 26 years at the helm, Steve has grown the company's EBITDA by seven times without using outside capital. Join us as Steve shares his journey from being a divisional general manager to leading Miller Ingenuity, the importance of building a strong company culture, and the challenges of transforming an established organization. He also discusses the significance of cash management, the role of philanthropy in business, and how to effectively manage a board of directors. Steve also touches on the impact of AI in manufacturing, the importance of strategic planning, and his experiences co-authoring books with Jack Canfield. Whether you're a seasoned CEO or an aspiring leader, this episode is packed with valuable insights and practical advice. Timestamps: 00:06 - Introduction and Background 00:18 - Overview of Miller Ingenuity 01:02 - Becoming CEO 02:05 - Achievements and Growth 02:34 - Leadership and Culture Change 03:12 - Funding and Financial Strategy 04:36 - Importance of Company Culture 06:02 - Building and Sustaining Culture 09:12 - Employee Empowerment 10:31 - Hiring Process and Employee Engagement 11:26 - Profit-Driven Incentives 13:13 - Community Engagement and Philanthropy 16:44 - Typical Day as CEO 18:10 - Managing the Board 22:09 - Impact of Tariffs 24:46 - Strategic Planning and Cash Management 27:27 - Book Co-Authorship with Jack Canfield 29:33 - Unlocking Success Book Overview 32:21 - Integration of AI 34:44 - Reading Recommendations 37:13 - Final Question: Who Gave You a Chance?