How WD‑40 Built a Thriving Culture: Gary Ridge on Leadership That Works

Discover the leadership philosophies that helped turn WD‑40 into a globally admired organization. In this episode of Mastering Workplace Culture, hosts S. Chris Edmonds and Mark S. Babbitt sit down with Garry Ridge, former CEO and Chairman Emeritus of the WD‑40 Company — widely known as a Culture Architect. Garry shares the principles that helped expand WD‑40 into 176 countries while building a culture grounded in trust, accountability, belonging, and values that guide behavior and performance. From authentic care to the concept of positive attrition, he explains how leaders can cultivate workplaces where people feel safe, connected, and motivated to do their best work. You'll learn: How values‑based leadership fosters engagement and trust Why accountability is an act of care — not punishment How belonging drives performance What "positive attrition" really means How WD‑40 sustained its values through the pandemic How to maintain a strong culture across global teams Perfect for leaders, HR pros, culture strategists, and anyone passionate about building people‑first workplaces. ⏱️ Episode Chapters 00:00 Introduction  00:31 Meet Garry Ridge  02:44 Garry's Journey with WD‑40  03:46 Building a Global Culture  05:46 Values‑Based Leadership  09:34 The Tribe Philosophy  11:22 Challenges & Resistance  23:41 Accountability that Works  28:02 Overcoming Obstacles with Values  29:39 Why Values Matter in Business  30:18 Thriving During the Pandemic  31:13 Employee Engagement & Safety  32:58 The Power of Belonging  36:26 Global Expansion & Cultural Differences  38:16 Values in Divisive Times  50:28 Addressing Toxic Behavior  53:51 Final Thoughts & Resources 👍 If you enjoyed this episode, like the video  💬 Comment below: What value most influences your workplace culture?  🔔 Subscribe for more insights on leadership and workplace culture  📤 Share this episode with a leader or HR professional! #Leadership #WorkplaceCulture #GarryRidge #WDCOMPANY #ValuesBasedLeadership #EmployeeEngagement #OrganizationalCulture #PsychologicalSafety #BusinessLeadership #MasteringWorkplaceCulture