Garry Ridge
Former CEO of WD-40 and globally recognised authority on leadership, culture and people-first organisations
*Fees are a guide only. Exact cost will be dependent on requirements and are subject to change.
About Garry Ridge
During his tenure at WD-40, Garry championed a culture rooted in care, curiosity and accountability, guided by the belief that people do their best work when they feel safe, valued and empowered. Inspired by Aristotle’s idea that “pleasure in the job puts perfection in the work,” Garry shows leaders how to create workplaces where people feel part of something bigger, are encouraged to learn, and are trusted to lead with values.
Alongside his executive career, Garry is an Adjunct Professor at the University of San Diego, where he has taught the principles and practices of corporate culture and leadership on the Master of Science in Executive Leadership programme. His ability to translate leadership theory into practical action makes him a highly sought-after speaker for senior leaders and boards.
Garry is the co-author of Helping People Win at Work, written with Ken Blanchard, which outlines his people-first leadership philosophy, famously described as “Don’t Mark My Paper, Help Me Get an A.” His most recent book, Any Dumb-Ass Can Do It, became a USA Today Top 10 bestseller, sharing timeless leadership lessons grounded in empathy, curiosity and accountability.
Born in Australia, Garry holds a certificate in Modern Retailing and a Master of Science in Executive Leadership from the University of San Diego. Today, he speaks to organisations around the world, helping leaders build healthy, high-performing cultures where people thrive — and businesses win.
To book Keynote Speaker Garry Ridge, contact The Speakers Agency on +44(0)1332 810481 or email enquiries@thespeakersagency.com
Signature Keynote
It’s All About the People
It’s often said, with nods of wise agreement, that any organisation is nothing without its people. Over many decades, countless books and courses on leadership addressed this well-known and accepted axiom.
Then why are nearly 70% of all employees in the U.S. disengaged at work? Clearly, the conferences, books, and courses are insufficient to make a difference.
This session by Garry Ridge, The Culture Coach and Chairman Emeritus WD-40 Company, will be a look “under the hood” of one of the world’s most recognized brands, where employee engagement is above 93%, 98% say they “love to work at WD-40 Company”, and 99% say that their “opinions and values are a good fit” for WD-40 Company.
Garry will share his “learning moments” over the course of his career efforts to transform company culture. Lessons and principles covered include:
Audience takeaways:
- The personal journey of every servant leader and why that philosophy is critical.
- The emotional connection of a greater purpose that creates high engagement.
- The role of a leader as a coach, not a manager
- How to carefully and consciously choose values that will be embedded in all aspects of leadership and employee development.
- Why investing in people who invest in themselves is a secret to succession planning and greater organizational capability.
- The difference between a “team” and a “tribe”
- How company performance results are directly connected to its focus on people
Here you can find links to books by Garry Ridge. For bulk book orders for your event please speak with a member of the team.
