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What does it actually take to turn a little known company with 15 employees into the dominant player in North America, and what role does culture really play in getting there? According to John Rose, leaders create the culture, and the culture creates the results.
In this episode of the Strategy and Leadership Podcast, Anthony C. Taylor speaks with John Rose, former President and CEO of Nuheat Industries, advisor, investor, and board director, about what 16 years at the helm of a market leader taught him about culture, alignment, and building a company people are proud to work for. John took Nuheat from 15 staff, three computers, and humble beginnings to the North American industry leader in electric radiant floor heating, with 120 full time employees and roughly 4,000 distribution partners before its sale to Pentair in 2015.
Anthony and John explore why culture is a precondition for performance rather than a perk, how celebrating 24 nationalities on staff galvanized the team, why alignment is the most important thing a leader can build, and how to define what winning actually looks like. The conversation also goes deep on family business succession, the relationship between an executive and their board, and the two interview questions John used in nearly every hire at Nuheat.
What You Will Learn in This Episode
- How John transformed Nuheat from 15 employees into the North American market leader
- Why culture is a precondition for performance, not a perk
- How celebrating 24 nationalities on staff galvanized the team and drove results
- Why alignment is the most important thing a leader can build
- How to define what winning looks like for your organization
- Why hope is not a strategy and how accountability keeps a plan alive
- How to structure family business succession so the next generation can lead
- Why an executive should own the conversation with their board
- The two interview questions John used in 90% of his hires
About John Rose
John Rose believes that a strong corporate culture is the key ingredient for an organization's long-term success. Leaders create the culture, and the culture creates results.
John worked in a family business alongside his father for 13 years. The company, Kirkland and Rose, was a manufacturer and distributor to the bakery and grocery industry across Western Canada, and was sold in the early 90s to an international Dutch company. John brought the key elements of a successful family business with him to Nuheat Industries, where he served as President and CEO for 16 years.
His focus on culture at Nuheat earned the company significant external recognition. They were awarded Platinum Status as a 10 time winner within Canada's Best Managed Companies Program, received a Cultural Diversity Award for employing staff from 24 countries, and were acknowledged as one of BC's Best Places to Work as well as BC Exporter of the Year. The company grew from 15 staff and little recognition to become the North American industry leader in electric radiant floor heating, with a manufacturing facility in Richmond BC and US sales offices in Chicago and Millburn New Jersey. Nuheat employed 120 full time staff across North America and had approximately 4,000 distribution partners before it was sold in 2015 to a strategic American buyer, Pentair.
Beyond his work life, John is an engaged community leader. He was a Director of Canuck Place Children's Hospice for two years and later served as its Chair for six years. He was also Chair of the Board of Mackay CEO Forums. John currently works with companies on Leadership, Succession, and Transition, and sits on the Boards of VanAir Design, Highgate Senior Living, Travelers Financial Group, and Tap & Barrel Restaurants. He has previously served on the boards of Precision Mounting Technologies, Frost Fighter, Mormak, and The Woods Foundation.
Connect with John Rose
Website: https://www.johnroseconsulting.com
Instagram: @johnrose1
About the Strategy and Leadership Podcast
The Strategy and Leadership Podcast is hosted by Anthony C. Taylor, a strategic advisor to mid-market leadership teams ($30M to $300M) across North America.
Anthony works directly with CEOs and senior leaders to help them align their teams, clarify priorities, and execute strategy effectively in complex organizations.
On this show, he interviews founders, executives, and industry leaders about what actually works when strategy has to survive execution.
Strategy Resources for Leaders
Work with a Strategic Planning Facilitator https://www.smestrategy.net/strategic-planning-facilitator
Connect with Anthony Taylor on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthonyctaylor604/
Produced by Rednyne Productions https://www.rednyne.com
