Photo courtesy of Aileron
The news is filled with headlines of billionaire CEOs caught in scandals, but we also need to celebrate CEOs who are making the right choices and using business as a force for good. Recently, we lost one of these icons, Clay Mathile, the former CEO of Iams – the global leader in premium pet food. I was fortunate to work with and learn from Clay Mathile and the entire Mathile family for over a decade and wanted to share lessons I’ve learned from the family’s unique philosophy on business, philanthropy and family. As we enter a new year, I hope these takeaways inspire you to make some new year’s resolutions or goals.
Business & Culture – “A vision is a dream with a plan.”
Clay was a voracious reader who founded Iams University to help employees attain their educational goals. He later started Aileron, a small business accelerator in Dayton, Ohio, to pass on what he learned through its research-based process, the DOC model, a systematic way to run a business. I have been lucky enough to attend their Course for Presidents, which was helpful as I built Social Impact Architects. Now, I’m honored to serve on Aileron’s board. From a business perspective, there is so much I have learned and continue to learn from my involvement with the Mathile family and Aileron, but here are my top takeaways:
- Participative Leadership – Clay deeply believed that Iams was owned by everyone who contributed to its success. Practicing “management by walking around,” he was connected with employees at all levels and believed he could learn something about the business from every employee. At a time when many CEOs were still stuck in hierarchical roles focused on policies and procedures, Clay was pioneering a new leadership style. He believed in hiring the right people and empowering them to make the right decisions. This type of leadership is known to generate higher productivity through an improved sense of employee ownership and belonging.
- Shared Values – We have written a lot about the importance of company values. Clay not only ensured that the company had core values, but that it lived those values. When starting Iams, Clay developed the four main ingredients to the company’s success: customer, culture, product and people. These values were more than words on a wall; they guided all decisions. They later became known as “The Iams Way,” which was taught to every new employee. As Clay often said, “When values drive decisions, success follows.”
- Planning as a Discipline – Many leaders are so busy “in the business” that they don’t stop and work “on the business.” Moreover, they don’t surround themselves with enough feedback loops to know if business decisions are truly working or need to be modified. Although it is difficult to find the time and energy to develop a plan, it is well worth the effort. Clay taught me that success comes not only from creating the plan, but also in developing the focus, flexibility and intellectual honesty to work the plan and course correct along the way.
Community & Philanthropy – “I believe everyone should spend a third of their life learning, a third [doing] and a third giving it away.”
Clay made a practice of writing down his dreams for his business and the community and sharing them with others for support and accountability. His dreams for the community included: 1) using his resources to help the less fortunate achieve their potential, and 2) supporting the Great American Dream by helping small businesses be even more successful. Clay, along with his amazing partner and wife, Mary, created The Mathile Family Foundation to steward their philanthropic investment primarily in their hometown of Dayton, Ohio. Through their foundation and philanthropic efforts, they are bringing their business mindset to creating high-impact and high-performance social solutions. Additionally, Clay’s detailed “Founder’s Vision,” which guides the board’s decisions at Aileron to this day, has left a powerful legacy.
Here are my top takeaways from working with the Mathile family in their amazing community work:
- Quality Matters – At Iams, their mantra was: “Quality is everything.” The Mathiles brought this mindset into their nonprofits as well and ensured that the best talent and resources were available to create a quality experience and results for clients and employees.
- Data and Stories Reveal Truths – In a data-driven world, it is easy to focus on data alone. While the Mathiles, especially Clay, used data to answer the big questions, it was always married with narrative storytelling. By insightfully combining data and storytelling, Clay unlocked patterns and insights that were a powerful force for change.
Family & Private Life – “Dream no little dreams, for they have no magic to move men’s souls.”
As a lifelong entrepreneur, I am drawn to and deeply connect with other entrepreneurs. Clay was no exception. There is nothing like the drive and ambition of another entrepreneur. The difference with Clay is that he brought that drive and ambition to his personal life as well and now, through Aileron, has encouraged business leaders to do the same. Some of my takeaways from his private life are:
- Run Your Business, Don’t Let it Run You – It is easy to create an identity that is almost exclusively your business (or nonprofit). We have even elevated business leaders who “sacrifice it all” for their business. But Clay – through his best accountability partner, Mary – never forgot what was truly important. In his autobiography, Dream No Little Dreams, he notes, “Your biggest accomplishment isn’t making a pile of money, but earning and keeping the love and respect of your family, your friends, and those who worked with and for you.”
- Decision-Making Is the Key – We make decisions all the time, and they are the key to achieving life goals. But most people make decisions based on their gut, which is often susceptible to bias. Clay was an advocate of teaching balanced decision-making where the head, heart and gut are aligned (e.g., Does the data support this choice? Is this aligned with my values and goals? What does my intuition tell me?) He also surrounded himself with people who challenged him. His autobiography shares countless stories where his trusted friends and advisors offered truths that he took to heart to become a better person. He constantly asked himself: “How can I grow? How can I help others?” This growth mindset was one of the secrets of his success.
As we enter a new year, I hope these takeaways inspire you to turn your dreams into reality. Clay Mathile’s legacy now lives on in his family, employees, and all who are touched by Aileron and The Mathile Family Foundation. I would love to hear from you about which takeaway most inspired you.
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