Dixon Thayer, Leadership and Strategy

There are people who are in business.  And then there are people like Dixon Thayer, who are REALLY in business.  Dixon was a key player in the merger between Kimberley Clark and Scott Paper.  He led a New Business Operations for Ford Motor Company then led a leveraged buyout of that division.  He was then called in to become the CEO of i-Trax, a struggling solutions provider in the health care sector which he turned around and sold to Walgreen’s, a major drugstore company in the US. And he leads his own advisory business, AB3 Resources.

So this is a man with serious, high powered business experience, and some great stories to tell.  That’s why it’s such a rich interview, and in it he shares:

• A business challenge in Mexico opened up Dixon’s imagination to what was possible (and why he went in the opposite way than people expected)
• The power of “positive disrespect”
• The three things on his leadership score card and the three fundamental elements of a strategic plan
• His 90 Day Top 5
• And why a company leader needs to identify and navigate paradoxes

Listen to my interview with Dixon Thayer

0:16 Michael introduces Dixon Thayer

2:31 A business challenge in Mexico opened up Dixon’s imagination to what was possible (and why he went in the opposite way than people expected)

10:04 The power of “positive enthusiasm”

11:40 The three things on his leadership score card and the three fundamental elements of a strategic plan

13:57 Why a company leader needs to identify and navigate paradoxes

15:24 Keeping focused on Great Work

16:51 His 90 Day Top 5

21:04 Dixon’s insight on Great Work

21:56 How to find out more about Dixon Thayer

22:48 Michael closes the interview

If you enjoyed this post, you'll also like:

1. Great Work Interview: Dixon Thayer, turnaround guy
2. Stewart Friedman, Total Leadership
3. Kevin Cashman, Leadership from the Inside Out
4. Ed Cohen, Leadership Without Borders
5. Kevin Eikenberry, Remarkable Leadership