G reg Folts, president and CEO of Marshall Institute, believes continuous improvement and doing what’s right are the foundations of his success. BIC Magazine recently sat down with Folts to learn about his climb through the ranks leading to his current prominent role at Marshall Institute.
Q: What led to your position at Marshall Institute?
A: I started my career as an electrician who just wanted to be the best at my trade. The mindset of wanting to be the best unexpectedly led to many turning points in my career. When I voluntarily joined learning groups and projects during the beginning of my career as an electrician, I never expected these actions to further my rank in the company. I was simply trying to become better at my trade. My attitude led to valuable skills that indirectly helped me land my position at Marshall Institute. At the institute, I had the same mindset, which eventually led to becoming president.
Q: What is the most important part of your position?
A: Supporting the team and keeping focused on strategy, improvement and execution are the key components of my position as a leader. Strategy is important to keeping the organization focused on the future. I have to support my team so they understand I have their best interest at heart. Improvement is essential at all levels of an organization. Most importantly, I lead the precise execution of plans and initiatives. My job is to provide the tools, systems and training to promote allaround company success.
Q: What is your biggest lesson learned?
A: My lessons learned were abundant: the importance of passion, persistence and patience.
Persistence is required to overcome the many obstacles and roadblocks in day-to-day life working in a plant. Patience is required to give people time to absorb, process and internalize change. The right balance between persistence and patience is required to drive sustainable change. Thirdly, I learned to do all things with passion. Without passion, my role is not as impactful as it could be. I learned that with position, people might comply; but with passion, integrity and credibility, they will follow.
Q: What has been the most pivotal moment of your career?
A: There were multiple pivotal points. I think the core philosophy of learning, improving and a willingness to take on additional responsibilities continuously lead to career-changing opportunities. Even though my career has changed several times, I never sought a change in career.
When I was an electrician, I found each job had “gray spaces” that needed to be filled, which were parts of the job not required of me to do. For example, in 1980, programmable logic controllers (PLCs) started showing up to provide logic control for equipment. Many of the electricians did not want — nor were they required — to learn the new technology. I dove into it headfirst.
PLCs and robotics became my new career path. In the late 80s, my employer started forming continuous improvement teams. Again, it was an optional project for an electrician, but it provided new learning opportunities and a chance to improve myself. In 1992, continuous improvement became my new career.
Q: Do you have a favorite quote?
A: “It is not the critic who counts; the credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who comes short again and again. There is no effort without error and shortcoming, but who does actually strive to do the deeds.”
The quote embodies my approach to being a leader. I will always strive to do the right thing, no matter what anyone says.
