September 3, 2024 • 14 mins
Kevin Nolan, President & CEO of GE Appliances | CEOs You Should Know
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome everyone to this week's edition of CEOs. You should
know I am joined by Kevin Nolan, the CEO of
GE Appliances.
Speaker 2 (00:06):
Kevin, thanks for coming in today.
Speaker 4 (00:07):
It's great to be here.
Speaker 2 (00:08):
We're excited to have you. Let's start with your journey.
Speaker 1 (00:11):
What initially really drew you to the engineering and technology field.
Speaker 3 (00:15):
Well, I think, you know, being a younger person at
the time, there was a lot of things I wasn't
that great at, but I love making things, and I
saw a couple of things I didn't see many factories.
I grew up, you know, right nearby Stafford, Connecticut, nice
and I went to Yukon too, so we got that
in common. But you know, I had all my parents
(00:36):
they were teachers. Everyone we knew his teachers and that
didn't excite me, and I knew I wouldn't be a
great teacher. But all of a sudden I met someone
that knew about engineering and math. I like math, and
once I got into it, I started to love it.
Speaker 2 (00:53):
That's awesome. And what ultimately had you end up at
G Appliances.
Speaker 3 (00:57):
Well, I started out of Yukon. I got a scholarship
from GE at the time, and there was a business
up in Plainville, Connecticut for circuit breakers. Kind of the
right place to build circuit breakers, I guess was in Plainville,
but I was up there and then I love manufacturing
and from there we had a plant in North Carolina,
(01:18):
and I went there and we were making electrical equipment,
and soon a lot of that had been transferred away,
and that's what happened. Also in Connecticut, some of that
manufacturing went away, and I went g Appliances out in Kentucky.
I knew still had a ton of manufacturing, so I
said I want to be near that and moved over
(01:38):
to that business.
Speaker 2 (01:39):
Nice.
Speaker 1 (01:40):
So tell us a little bit about g Appliances and
what's like the core mission of it. I know the
vision of the company is making good things for life
and really driving your operations right.
Speaker 4 (01:49):
Well, that's it, you said it.
Speaker 3 (01:50):
I mean, we're so focused on what do we do
to help consumers out, what do consumers want?
Speaker 4 (01:56):
And that's what's fun.
Speaker 3 (01:57):
I mean, everybody knows about appliances, you know, it's fun
to see what we work on, being in homes, getting
feedback on the things we make.
Speaker 4 (02:06):
And when you.
Speaker 3 (02:07):
Make circuit breakers, there wasn't much feedback, you know, those
you never want to actually know about them. And it's
fun being somewhere where we're in everyday life.
Speaker 4 (02:15):
You know, we're in your homes, we're in there helping folks.
Speaker 2 (02:18):
That's awesome.
Speaker 1 (02:19):
Well, it's awesome to see that you found your passion
right and you're living, breathing proof to follow that passion
and have a successful career. And I know your career
at G Appliances spans over thirty five years, right, can
you share what's been some of the evolution throughout those
thirty five years.
Speaker 4 (02:34):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (02:35):
You know, I love engineering and I love manufacturing. So
I've had all kinds of different roles, but most of
my roles have always.
Speaker 4 (02:42):
Been in engineering.
Speaker 3 (02:43):
I was the CTO before this job, and I would
say every role was very similar. It was about bringing
new products, trying to bring innovation out and so even
though I've had different roles, I feel like I really haven't.
Maybe I've grown in scope of what I do, but
I still consider myself an engineer even in my current
role of focused on how do we just bring great products?
(03:05):
End of the day, that's what the company needs to
be about.
Speaker 1 (03:07):
One hundred percent best quality products possible throughout the span.
Is there any most memorable moments or milestones that you're
most proud of.
Speaker 3 (03:15):
You know, I think when I look back, it's really
about how do you sit there and make this make
exciting products, make innovation. But also the most rewarding thing
is the teams we work with. I mean, out of
g Appliance is great group of people that have a
focus that is all about how do we make sure
good quality, good products and also how do we manufacturing?
(03:37):
So for me, the proudest thing is seeing manufacturing come back.
When I went to Appliance Park, everything was going away.
And being able now to say, hey, manufacturing's back, We're
bringing this stuff back into the States makes me real proud.
Speaker 1 (03:52):
That's awesome, That's very cool, especially bringing back to the
States right. Remarkable growth. You guys have been experiencing doubling
your business since twenty six What do you contribute to
that success?
Speaker 3 (04:03):
Well, when I got into this role, it was all
about how do we focus.
Speaker 4 (04:06):
More on the consumers? You know.
Speaker 3 (04:08):
When we left GE and became part of High Air,
I think it was time to rethink a lot and
rethink a lot of what we do, what's our mission
and what are we about? And ultimately it's about bringing
out good products and that to me has been one
of the most exciting journeys we've been on. And to
do that, we've really focused on how do you take
(04:30):
power away from the top and decentralize it and put
it down to the people that are closer to the consumers.
So we have a theory of what we call micro enterprises,
and we kind of broke the company up into these
micro enterprises so they're much more focused and can react
much quicker to true consumer demands. So a lot of
it's about giving power up from a CEO. So I'd
(04:51):
say a lot of success we've had is because I've
had not everything to do with it, right, It's been
more about a team that's focused on bringing things to consumers.
Speaker 2 (04:59):
That's awesome, impac ring the people in their strengths.
Speaker 4 (05:01):
Right.
Speaker 1 (05:01):
So, I know your products are in more than half
of all us homes, and how have you been part
of the product development? I know you said that sometimes
engineering's at the core of everything you do. How do
you feel like that presence has helped you really expand
with the consumer base?
Speaker 3 (05:15):
Yeah'd say in I probably don't do my role as
many CEOs would because I still like to get my
hands into engineering. I still like to be involved in
products coming out. And so you know what I see
is we've really upped our game on innovation, on NPIs,
on new products coming out into the market. So if
you look at the rate of what we've been able
(05:36):
to do since being in this role, I do think
we've made an impact. I do think you're seeing more
innovation come out, more new products, more manufacturing coming back.
And that's that's what's so important to me.
Speaker 2 (05:47):
That's awesome. Well, the growth growth is proof of it.
Speaker 1 (05:50):
Speaking of investments, right, you guys invested about two billion
dollars into US operations. I know we talked about manufacturing
more here in the US. What are some of the
specific projects or initiative that are coming out of that investment.
Speaker 3 (06:02):
You know, a lot of it is how do we
really modernize our manufacturing because you know, in the US
we do have a problem. Things were outsourced for so
many years, So how do you bring things back and
do it efficiently and make sure you're doing it to
quality and the productivity levels we need. So it involves
a lot of technology. So you know, before I was
always involved in technology on the product, but you really
(06:24):
see what's most important is technology in the manufacturing sector.
Speaker 4 (06:28):
And that's been a problems.
Speaker 3 (06:29):
It's not that easy to all of a sudden take
a two three decade highatus from manufacturing in the US
to all of a sudden get really back into it.
So there's a lot of focus now on how do
we upscale, how do we start really modernizing these these
factories so they're the most productive places in the world.
Speaker 2 (06:48):
That's awesome.
Speaker 1 (06:49):
Well, quality of the product, I'm sure it's super important
to the consumer, and then also a lot of people
really care about it being manufactured here in the US,
so I think it's a win win situation.
Speaker 2 (06:59):
What are some of.
Speaker 1 (06:59):
The the new products or technologies that we should expect
to be developed over the next few years.
Speaker 3 (07:05):
Well, if you look at what we're seeing now is
a big focus on energy. You know, we've got a
product team out that we call our combo where washing
dry in one unit. I think people love the convenience,
but what they don't realize is how energy efficient that is.
It is really groundbreaking on that's awesome and its efficiency,
but you're going to see we've got water hot water
heaters doesn't sound very sexy but they use a lot
(07:29):
of energy. And we were the first to bring a
hybrid unit into the US. We got new ones coming out,
So I think it's how do you get customers great products,
but at the same time, how do we save energy?
Speaker 4 (07:39):
How do we bring more convenience?
Speaker 1 (07:41):
Well, you guys are the number one you're aiming to
become the number one ecosystem company in America, so that
vision aligns with that.
Speaker 2 (07:47):
What's next within that space?
Speaker 3 (07:49):
You know, if you look at we have a real,
real feeling that we need openness. Right the consumers. They
don't want to just have one thing in their home.
They want to have whatever they want, and we don't
want to here's how you have to use things or
what it is. So we're very open and being open
means we got to work with others. We got to
work with partners. So you look at products, they're connected,
(08:10):
but why do we want connected products?
Speaker 4 (08:12):
You know?
Speaker 3 (08:12):
And I think what we really focus on what are
the consumers looking for? And if you have all kinds
of different brands, different things in your home that are smart,
we just want to be part of that in the
way that you want. So that's what we mean on
ecosystem of how are we part of your home the
way you want us to be part of it.
Speaker 4 (08:29):
We don't want to dictate that for you.
Speaker 2 (08:30):
That's awesome.
Speaker 1 (08:31):
Well it's flying technology, but it's also fine with the
consumer wants, which is ultimately probably one of the most
important things. So a lot of positivity, right, a lot
of great work in the manufacturing space, a lot of growth.
What are some of the challenges you guys are currently
facing during this time.
Speaker 3 (08:45):
Well, you know, appliances is it's a cyclical industry. So
if you see the economy go up and down, you
see the housing market, it's difficult at times. And you know,
you look back two thousand and eight for example, in
the appliance industry, big housing crisis. Those things affect us,
but it's at different times. Consumers want different things, So
it's how do you react quick enough? If you start
(09:08):
seeing right now, it's a big replacement going on, so
you don't see a lot of toll kitchen rebuilds, et cetera.
So how do you make sure you got the right
products at the right time for what the country, the
economy is going through. And that's a challenge because things
change quickly and how and how quickly. Manufacturing can react,
product development can react. It's it's a tough thing because
(09:30):
we are a short cycle business.
Speaker 1 (09:32):
Yeah, to your point, right with the housing market, probably
a lot of people are doing remodeling, so appliance is
a probably very top of mind for a lot of
consumers right now.
Speaker 3 (09:40):
Yeah, whether it's it's funny, different cycles, different things.
Speaker 4 (09:42):
If there is a housing shortage in the US.
Speaker 3 (09:45):
I'm just seeing today that interest rates are starting to
go down on mortgages.
Speaker 4 (09:49):
That's a good thing for us.
Speaker 3 (09:50):
Yeah, So these things affect our business and affect you
know what we're going to start seeing the next three
four months, six months ahead.
Speaker 2 (09:56):
That's awesome.
Speaker 1 (09:57):
What what advice would you give to emerging lea, especially
in the technology and manufacturing space.
Speaker 3 (10:04):
I think if you look at you know, from a
technology standpoint is you've got to realize that all the
ideas are not inside your company, they're outside. We have
a fundamental belief in co creation, and I think the
way a lot of companies innovate, you know, they're very
closed door, they're secretive. We've turned that on their head.
We have a thing called first Build. It's a business
we started. It really takes innovation to a whole different
(10:26):
path of innovating with your consumers and stop having secrets,
stop working in things that you don't know whether consumers
are alike or not. And I think that means you've
got to give up some power. And I think most CEOs,
if you're more humble and if you're more focused on
being serving people instead of trying to keep all the
(10:47):
power at the top, you'll have success. And I think
that's the main thing that's driven our business. And you
know you talked about the results. It's trusting your people
and trusting your people to be in touch with the consumers.
Speaker 1 (10:58):
You talked about your people a lot throughout the interview, right,
like trusting in them, making sure that they're passionate and
have the experience there. For other CEOs that are trying
to build good culture within the organization, what's some advice
you would give them?
Speaker 3 (11:10):
You know, I think it's why do you want to
be a CEO? You know, what's your real objective? You know,
it's something I never truthfully, I don't I never wanted
to be you know, I want.
Speaker 2 (11:18):
To be an engineer.
Speaker 3 (11:20):
But I think there's a lesson in that of what's
driving you is is the position driving you because the
seat you're sitting on, or how you can have an
impact into the company and how you can impact into
whoever you're serving. And I think if you can keep
focused on what's really important, that's the advice I would
give is keep humble, keep curious, and focus on what
(11:41):
the mission of the company's really about.
Speaker 2 (11:43):
That's awesome.
Speaker 1 (11:44):
That's a great mindset and advice for anyone that's tuned in, Right,
what are some of your personal and professional goals? What's
next for the next few years?
Speaker 3 (11:51):
You know, to me, it's how do we keep innovating,
how do we keep making products that excite our consumers?
Speaker 4 (11:58):
And it's a challenge, right, It's it's.
Speaker 3 (12:00):
One where we have large factories mass manufacturing. But to me,
it's how do you make mass manufacturing nimble and how
do you make it so it can change quickly with
preferences and desires of consumers. So as I see as
we modernize that manufacturing, I think our ability to do
that is going to get.
Speaker 4 (12:18):
Better and better.
Speaker 3 (12:19):
And that's what I hope the future is and that's
what I'm pushing for.
Speaker 2 (12:22):
That's awesome.
Speaker 1 (12:23):
Well, it's awesome to hear that you found your passion right,
and you've been able to continue to do so and
do such great work for the organization and for your team,
and really for consumers out there. We covered a lot
about g appliances. Do you feel like there's anything we
might have missed that you want to let our listeners know?
Speaker 3 (12:37):
You know, I think it's about where things are going,
and you know, how we think and how we work
is if you look at this country, you know it's important.
Manufacturing is important, and I think one thing we focus
on a lot is education. And as an engineer, I'd
say a big shortage we have in this country is
engineers right now.
Speaker 4 (12:58):
So anyone out there.
Speaker 3 (12:59):
That's children or you know, if you're listening and you're
thinking what I want to do, take a look at
engineering because I think it's a great career. The future
for that is going to be bright. You look at
AI and all the things that are going. Having ability
to use tech to understand tech, I think is going
to be more and more important going in the future.
So encourage people, Encourage people to get into that line
(13:21):
of work.
Speaker 1 (13:22):
It's awesome, it's great industry. So how can our listeners
stay up to date to everything that's going on in
the developments with Ge Appliances.
Speaker 4 (13:29):
Well, I think you know, we have social out there.
There's a lot of things that we post.
Speaker 3 (13:33):
One fun thing is if you want to see the
cutting edge of what's going on is First Build. So
First Build's got a YouTube channel and you can see
what we're thinking about, what people are thinking about, and
also get involved in our product development. So if you
want to have some fun, tune into that channel. And
it's pretty cool to see what they're what they're doing
down there.
Speaker 2 (13:51):
That's awesome. We got to tune in.
Speaker 1 (13:52):
We'll put that We'll put the link in the in
the video so everybody could click over it right over there. Well, Kevin,
it was great having you on. Thank you so much
for taking us through your journey, telling us a little
bit more about Ge appliances and really sharing all the
advice with our listeners today.
Speaker 4 (14:05):
No, it's a pleasure to be here and thanks for
the time.
Speaker 1 (14:07):
Yeah, it was a pleasure having you. Thank you guys
for tuning in. It's tune in for next week's edition
of CEOs.
Speaker 2 (14:12):
You should know
Welcome everyone to this week's edition of CEOs. You should
know I am joined by Kevin Nolan, the CEO of
GE Appliances.
Speaker 2 (00:06):
Kevin, thanks for coming in today.
Speaker 4 (00:07):
It's great to be here.
Speaker 2 (00:08):
We're excited to have you. Let's start with your journey.
Speaker 1 (00:11):
What initially really drew you to the engineering and technology field.
Speaker 3 (00:15):
Well, I think, you know, being a younger person at
the time, there was a lot of things I wasn't
that great at, but I love making things, and I
saw a couple of things I didn't see many factories.
I grew up, you know, right nearby Stafford, Connecticut, nice
and I went to Yukon too, so we got that
in common. But you know, I had all my parents
(00:36):
they were teachers. Everyone we knew his teachers and that
didn't excite me, and I knew I wouldn't be a
great teacher. But all of a sudden I met someone
that knew about engineering and math. I like math, and
once I got into it, I started to love it.
Speaker 2 (00:53):
That's awesome. And what ultimately had you end up at
G Appliances.
Speaker 3 (00:57):
Well, I started out of Yukon. I got a scholarship
from GE at the time, and there was a business
up in Plainville, Connecticut for circuit breakers. Kind of the
right place to build circuit breakers, I guess was in Plainville,
but I was up there and then I love manufacturing
and from there we had a plant in North Carolina,
(01:18):
and I went there and we were making electrical equipment,
and soon a lot of that had been transferred away,
and that's what happened. Also in Connecticut, some of that
manufacturing went away, and I went g Appliances out in Kentucky.
I knew still had a ton of manufacturing, so I
said I want to be near that and moved over
(01:38):
to that business.
Speaker 2 (01:39):
Nice.
Speaker 1 (01:40):
So tell us a little bit about g Appliances and
what's like the core mission of it. I know the
vision of the company is making good things for life
and really driving your operations right.
Speaker 4 (01:49):
Well, that's it, you said it.
Speaker 3 (01:50):
I mean, we're so focused on what do we do
to help consumers out, what do consumers want?
Speaker 4 (01:56):
And that's what's fun.
Speaker 3 (01:57):
I mean, everybody knows about appliances, you know, it's fun
to see what we work on, being in homes, getting
feedback on the things we make.
Speaker 4 (02:06):
And when you.
Speaker 3 (02:07):
Make circuit breakers, there wasn't much feedback, you know, those
you never want to actually know about them. And it's
fun being somewhere where we're in everyday life.
Speaker 4 (02:15):
You know, we're in your homes, we're in there helping folks.
Speaker 2 (02:18):
That's awesome.
Speaker 1 (02:19):
Well, it's awesome to see that you found your passion
right and you're living, breathing proof to follow that passion
and have a successful career. And I know your career
at G Appliances spans over thirty five years, right, can
you share what's been some of the evolution throughout those
thirty five years.
Speaker 4 (02:34):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (02:35):
You know, I love engineering and I love manufacturing. So
I've had all kinds of different roles, but most of
my roles have always.
Speaker 4 (02:42):
Been in engineering.
Speaker 3 (02:43):
I was the CTO before this job, and I would
say every role was very similar. It was about bringing
new products, trying to bring innovation out and so even
though I've had different roles, I feel like I really haven't.
Maybe I've grown in scope of what I do, but
I still consider myself an engineer even in my current
role of focused on how do we just bring great products?
(03:05):
End of the day, that's what the company needs to
be about.
Speaker 1 (03:07):
One hundred percent best quality products possible throughout the span.
Is there any most memorable moments or milestones that you're
most proud of.
Speaker 3 (03:15):
You know, I think when I look back, it's really
about how do you sit there and make this make
exciting products, make innovation. But also the most rewarding thing
is the teams we work with. I mean, out of
g Appliance is great group of people that have a
focus that is all about how do we make sure
good quality, good products and also how do we manufacturing?
(03:37):
So for me, the proudest thing is seeing manufacturing come back.
When I went to Appliance Park, everything was going away.
And being able now to say, hey, manufacturing's back, We're
bringing this stuff back into the States makes me real proud.
Speaker 1 (03:52):
That's awesome, That's very cool, especially bringing back to the
States right. Remarkable growth. You guys have been experiencing doubling
your business since twenty six What do you contribute to
that success?
Speaker 3 (04:03):
Well, when I got into this role, it was all
about how do we focus.
Speaker 4 (04:06):
More on the consumers? You know.
Speaker 3 (04:08):
When we left GE and became part of High Air,
I think it was time to rethink a lot and
rethink a lot of what we do, what's our mission
and what are we about? And ultimately it's about bringing
out good products and that to me has been one
of the most exciting journeys we've been on. And to
do that, we've really focused on how do you take
(04:30):
power away from the top and decentralize it and put
it down to the people that are closer to the consumers.
So we have a theory of what we call micro enterprises,
and we kind of broke the company up into these
micro enterprises so they're much more focused and can react
much quicker to true consumer demands. So a lot of
it's about giving power up from a CEO. So I'd
(04:51):
say a lot of success we've had is because I've
had not everything to do with it, right, It's been
more about a team that's focused on bringing things to consumers.
Speaker 2 (04:59):
That's awesome, impac ring the people in their strengths.
Speaker 4 (05:01):
Right.
Speaker 1 (05:01):
So, I know your products are in more than half
of all us homes, and how have you been part
of the product development? I know you said that sometimes
engineering's at the core of everything you do. How do
you feel like that presence has helped you really expand
with the consumer base?
Speaker 3 (05:15):
Yeah'd say in I probably don't do my role as
many CEOs would because I still like to get my
hands into engineering. I still like to be involved in
products coming out. And so you know what I see
is we've really upped our game on innovation, on NPIs,
on new products coming out into the market. So if
you look at the rate of what we've been able
(05:36):
to do since being in this role, I do think
we've made an impact. I do think you're seeing more
innovation come out, more new products, more manufacturing coming back.
And that's that's what's so important to me.
Speaker 2 (05:47):
That's awesome. Well, the growth growth is proof of it.
Speaker 1 (05:50):
Speaking of investments, right, you guys invested about two billion
dollars into US operations. I know we talked about manufacturing
more here in the US. What are some of the
specific projects or initiative that are coming out of that investment.
Speaker 3 (06:02):
You know, a lot of it is how do we
really modernize our manufacturing because you know, in the US
we do have a problem. Things were outsourced for so
many years, So how do you bring things back and
do it efficiently and make sure you're doing it to
quality and the productivity levels we need. So it involves
a lot of technology. So you know, before I was
always involved in technology on the product, but you really
(06:24):
see what's most important is technology in the manufacturing sector.
Speaker 4 (06:28):
And that's been a problems.
Speaker 3 (06:29):
It's not that easy to all of a sudden take
a two three decade highatus from manufacturing in the US
to all of a sudden get really back into it.
So there's a lot of focus now on how do
we upscale, how do we start really modernizing these these
factories so they're the most productive places in the world.
Speaker 2 (06:48):
That's awesome.
Speaker 1 (06:49):
Well, quality of the product, I'm sure it's super important
to the consumer, and then also a lot of people
really care about it being manufactured here in the US,
so I think it's a win win situation.
Speaker 2 (06:59):
What are some of.
Speaker 1 (06:59):
The the new products or technologies that we should expect
to be developed over the next few years.
Speaker 3 (07:05):
Well, if you look at what we're seeing now is
a big focus on energy. You know, we've got a
product team out that we call our combo where washing
dry in one unit. I think people love the convenience,
but what they don't realize is how energy efficient that is.
It is really groundbreaking on that's awesome and its efficiency,
but you're going to see we've got water hot water
heaters doesn't sound very sexy but they use a lot
(07:29):
of energy. And we were the first to bring a
hybrid unit into the US. We got new ones coming out,
So I think it's how do you get customers great products,
but at the same time, how do we save energy?
Speaker 4 (07:39):
How do we bring more convenience?
Speaker 1 (07:41):
Well, you guys are the number one you're aiming to
become the number one ecosystem company in America, so that
vision aligns with that.
Speaker 2 (07:47):
What's next within that space?
Speaker 3 (07:49):
You know, if you look at we have a real,
real feeling that we need openness. Right the consumers. They
don't want to just have one thing in their home.
They want to have whatever they want, and we don't
want to here's how you have to use things or
what it is. So we're very open and being open
means we got to work with others. We got to
work with partners. So you look at products, they're connected,
(08:10):
but why do we want connected products?
Speaker 4 (08:12):
You know?
Speaker 3 (08:12):
And I think what we really focus on what are
the consumers looking for? And if you have all kinds
of different brands, different things in your home that are smart,
we just want to be part of that in the
way that you want. So that's what we mean on
ecosystem of how are we part of your home the
way you want us to be part of it.
Speaker 4 (08:29):
We don't want to dictate that for you.
Speaker 2 (08:30):
That's awesome.
Speaker 1 (08:31):
Well it's flying technology, but it's also fine with the
consumer wants, which is ultimately probably one of the most
important things. So a lot of positivity, right, a lot
of great work in the manufacturing space, a lot of growth.
What are some of the challenges you guys are currently
facing during this time.
Speaker 3 (08:45):
Well, you know, appliances is it's a cyclical industry. So
if you see the economy go up and down, you
see the housing market, it's difficult at times. And you know,
you look back two thousand and eight for example, in
the appliance industry, big housing crisis. Those things affect us,
but it's at different times. Consumers want different things, So
it's how do you react quick enough? If you start
(09:08):
seeing right now, it's a big replacement going on, so
you don't see a lot of toll kitchen rebuilds, et cetera.
So how do you make sure you got the right
products at the right time for what the country, the
economy is going through. And that's a challenge because things
change quickly and how and how quickly. Manufacturing can react,
product development can react. It's it's a tough thing because
(09:30):
we are a short cycle business.
Speaker 1 (09:32):
Yeah, to your point, right with the housing market, probably
a lot of people are doing remodeling, so appliance is
a probably very top of mind for a lot of
consumers right now.
Speaker 3 (09:40):
Yeah, whether it's it's funny, different cycles, different things.
Speaker 4 (09:42):
If there is a housing shortage in the US.
Speaker 3 (09:45):
I'm just seeing today that interest rates are starting to
go down on mortgages.
Speaker 4 (09:49):
That's a good thing for us.
Speaker 3 (09:50):
Yeah, So these things affect our business and affect you
know what we're going to start seeing the next three
four months, six months ahead.
Speaker 2 (09:56):
That's awesome.
Speaker 1 (09:57):
What what advice would you give to emerging lea, especially
in the technology and manufacturing space.
Speaker 3 (10:04):
I think if you look at you know, from a
technology standpoint is you've got to realize that all the
ideas are not inside your company, they're outside. We have
a fundamental belief in co creation, and I think the
way a lot of companies innovate, you know, they're very
closed door, they're secretive. We've turned that on their head.
We have a thing called first Build. It's a business
we started. It really takes innovation to a whole different
(10:26):
path of innovating with your consumers and stop having secrets,
stop working in things that you don't know whether consumers
are alike or not. And I think that means you've
got to give up some power. And I think most CEOs,
if you're more humble and if you're more focused on
being serving people instead of trying to keep all the
(10:47):
power at the top, you'll have success. And I think
that's the main thing that's driven our business. And you
know you talked about the results. It's trusting your people
and trusting your people to be in touch with the consumers.
Speaker 1 (10:58):
You talked about your people a lot throughout the interview, right,
like trusting in them, making sure that they're passionate and
have the experience there. For other CEOs that are trying
to build good culture within the organization, what's some advice
you would give them?
Speaker 3 (11:10):
You know, I think it's why do you want to
be a CEO? You know, what's your real objective? You know,
it's something I never truthfully, I don't I never wanted
to be you know, I want.
Speaker 2 (11:18):
To be an engineer.
Speaker 3 (11:20):
But I think there's a lesson in that of what's
driving you is is the position driving you because the
seat you're sitting on, or how you can have an
impact into the company and how you can impact into
whoever you're serving. And I think if you can keep
focused on what's really important, that's the advice I would
give is keep humble, keep curious, and focus on what
(11:41):
the mission of the company's really about.
Speaker 2 (11:43):
That's awesome.
Speaker 1 (11:44):
That's a great mindset and advice for anyone that's tuned in, Right,
what are some of your personal and professional goals? What's
next for the next few years?
Speaker 3 (11:51):
You know, to me, it's how do we keep innovating,
how do we keep making products that excite our consumers?
Speaker 4 (11:58):
And it's a challenge, right, It's it's.
Speaker 3 (12:00):
One where we have large factories mass manufacturing. But to me,
it's how do you make mass manufacturing nimble and how
do you make it so it can change quickly with
preferences and desires of consumers. So as I see as
we modernize that manufacturing, I think our ability to do
that is going to get.
Speaker 4 (12:18):
Better and better.
Speaker 3 (12:19):
And that's what I hope the future is and that's
what I'm pushing for.
Speaker 2 (12:22):
That's awesome.
Speaker 1 (12:23):
Well, it's awesome to hear that you found your passion right,
and you've been able to continue to do so and
do such great work for the organization and for your team,
and really for consumers out there. We covered a lot
about g appliances. Do you feel like there's anything we
might have missed that you want to let our listeners know?
Speaker 3 (12:37):
You know, I think it's about where things are going,
and you know, how we think and how we work
is if you look at this country, you know it's important.
Manufacturing is important, and I think one thing we focus
on a lot is education. And as an engineer, I'd
say a big shortage we have in this country is
engineers right now.
Speaker 4 (12:58):
So anyone out there.
Speaker 3 (12:59):
That's children or you know, if you're listening and you're
thinking what I want to do, take a look at
engineering because I think it's a great career. The future
for that is going to be bright. You look at
AI and all the things that are going. Having ability
to use tech to understand tech, I think is going
to be more and more important going in the future.
So encourage people, Encourage people to get into that line
(13:21):
of work.
Speaker 1 (13:22):
It's awesome, it's great industry. So how can our listeners
stay up to date to everything that's going on in
the developments with Ge Appliances.
Speaker 4 (13:29):
Well, I think you know, we have social out there.
There's a lot of things that we post.
Speaker 3 (13:33):
One fun thing is if you want to see the
cutting edge of what's going on is First Build. So
First Build's got a YouTube channel and you can see
what we're thinking about, what people are thinking about, and
also get involved in our product development. So if you
want to have some fun, tune into that channel. And
it's pretty cool to see what they're what they're doing
down there.
Speaker 2 (13:51):
That's awesome. We got to tune in.
Speaker 1 (13:52):
We'll put that We'll put the link in the in
the video so everybody could click over it right over there. Well, Kevin,
it was great having you on. Thank you so much
for taking us through your journey, telling us a little
bit more about Ge appliances and really sharing all the
advice with our listeners today.
Speaker 4 (14:05):
No, it's a pleasure to be here and thanks for
the time.
Speaker 1 (14:07):
Yeah, it was a pleasure having you. Thank you guys
for tuning in. It's tune in for next week's edition
of CEOs.
Speaker 2 (14:12):
You should know
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