Ep. 539 What To Do As A First Time CEO – Ron Swidler, CEO of The Gettys Group
After 35 years at Gettys Group, CEO Ron Swidler shares what it took to step into leadership, bring a siloed organization together, and build a culture grounded in trust and clear communication. Hosted by Kevin Edwards, this conversation explores the realities of becoming a first-time CEO—from turning long-held opinions into action to navigating complex organizational change. Ron explains how Ted Lasso shaped his leadership philosophy, why trust depends on credibility, reliability, and strong relationships, and how regular conversations with senior leaders helped him listen, build alignment, and follow through. Ron also shares how he approached a major reorganization, why he waited until he had more than a year in the role before making significant changes, and how an outside advisor helped assess the company’s skills against future needs. He discusses his personal advisory board, the value of input from a company board of directors, and how Gettys Group is putting AI to work—from building custom procurement software to speeding up design renderings and testing brand concepts. Whether you’re a new CEO, an experienced executive, or a leader guiding a team through change, this episode offers practical lessons on building trust, adapting to a shifting market, and leading with curiosity and self-awareness.
