Larry Culp: The Grey Matter Behind One of the Greatest Turnarounds in Modern History

Larry Culp is one of the most private and respected CEOs in the world. Over seven years, he orchestrated what many call the greatest turnaround in modern business, rescuing GE from $140 billion in debt and splitting it into three independent world-class companies—GE Aerospace, GE HealthCare, and GE Vernova. In this rare conversation, Larry reveals how he did it: by slowing the game down, embedding a culture of continuous improvement, and choosing ruthless focus over comfortable synergy.

In this episode, you’ll hear Larry address:

• How growing up in his grandfather's welding shop and learning "you either get better or worse, but you don’t stay the same," on the basketball court defined his approach to leadership.
• The early months at GE, when every decision carried existential weight, and why his first move was to slow the game down and focus on operational control.
• How the discipline of Kaizen — continuous improvement — became the foundation for GE's transformation.
• His conviction that focus creates strength, and how splitting GE into three independent companies, GE Aerospace, GE HealthCare, and GE Vernova, created three world-class leaders.