Beating The Family Business Odds
May 13, 2025
“How do you build a business around something as volatile as player performance?” the Journal asks. His answer is one that applies, in our opinion, to any industry: “What we have to do is control what we know we can control. That means recognizing that we’re in businesses other than winning baseball games.”
Those other businesses include running a stadium and maximizing when it’s empty. Baer says the team is also getting into the real estate business, and plans to build a community of offices, apartments and shops on team-owned land.
There is also a lot of talk these days about building a culture of innovation, without which there is no success. The blog Innovation Excellence discusses in a post that the first step in achieving a culture of innovation is to make culture everybody’s responsibility.
The step is one of 5 lessons inspired by Etsy, a peer to peer group that is planning an IPO this year. “The key to Etsy’s remarkable growth strategy is its distinctive culture, attracting and retaining devoted employees and customers,” Tim Leberecht, the post’s author, said.
Both the Giants’ and Etsy’s culture align well. Baer calls culture “working together around a common mission and doing it in a selfless way.” A great example of that is that all Giants’ employees are receiving a championship ring. “The person who was the assistant in the marketing department is treated just like a member of the team. And I think it gets everybody pulling on the same rope,” Baer told the Journal.
Recommendation for CEOs
Having an executive leadership meeting specifically around your company’s culture. Ask your direct reports to define it, and then to tie it to achievement of company goals. Then ask your employees the same question and compare the answers.
Baseball Champions’ CEO on Creating a Culture of Success
A Culture of Innovation at IPO-Bound Etsy
Chief Executive Group exists to improve the performance of U.S. CEOs, senior executives and public-company directors, helping you grow your companies, build your communities and strengthen society. Learn more at chiefexecutivegroup.com.
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1:00 - 5:00 pm
Over 70% of Executives Surveyed Agree: Many Strategic Planning Efforts Lack Systematic Approach Tips for Enhancing Your Strategic Planning Process
Executives expressed frustration with their current strategic planning process. Issues include:
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2:00 - 5:00 pm
Female leaders face the same issues all leaders do, but they often face additional challenges too. In this peer session, we will facilitate a discussion of best practices and how to overcome common barriers to help women leaders be more effective within and outside their organizations.
Limited space available.
10:30 - 5:00 pm
General’s Retreat at Hermitage Golf Course
Sponsored by UBS
General’s Retreat, built in 1986 with architect Gary Roger Baird, has been voted the “Best Golf Course in Nashville” and is a “must play” when visiting the Nashville, Tennessee area. With the beautiful setting along the Cumberland River, golfers of all capabilities will thoroughly enjoy the golf, scenery and hospitality.
The golf outing fee includes transportation to and from the hotel, greens/cart fees, use of practice facilities, and boxed lunch. The bus will leave the hotel at 10:30 am for a noon shotgun start and return to the hotel after the cocktail reception following the completion of the round.
