Enrico Galasso: The Power of Empathy

In this conversation, Chris Schembra interviews Enrico Galasso, the CEO of Peroni, an iconic Italian beer brand. They discuss Enrico's new book, “Per I Prossimi 175 Anni”, the importance of empathy and meaningful connections in leadership, and the challenges and opportunities of managing a brand with a long history. Enrico emphasizes the need for leaders to be adaptable, to learn from both successes and failures, and to create a culture of connection and psychological safety. They also explore the value of investing in a premium experience and the role of emotions and experiences in building a brand.Enrico talks about Peroni's efforts to translate the Italian lifestyle into a global success, focusing on rugby and Ferrari as partnerships that embody the brand's values. He emphasizes the importance of empathy in leadership and shares his personal journey of becoming more empathic. Enrico's purpose is to leave a better place for future generations and to give his children the opportunity to be happy. The conversation highlights the power of authenticity, simplicity, and connection in leadership.Support Enrico’s New Book HEREhttps://www.store.rubbettinoeditore.it/catalogo/per-i-prossimi-175-anni/ TakeawaysLeaders need to be adaptable and learn from both successes and failures.Creating a culture of connection and psychological safety is crucial for fostering innovation and engagement.Investing in a premium experience and building a brand that evokes emotions and experiences can differentiate a product from a brand.The world is moving towards premiumization, where people are willing to spend more for products and brands that offer value and a sense of accomplishment.Success in the long run requires investing in people's well-being and creating a culture that attracts and grows talent.Empathy is a crucial trait for leaders, and being intentional about connecting with people in an empathic way can have a significant impact.Enrico's purpose is to leave a better place for future generations and to give his children the opportunity to be happy.Authenticity, simplicity, and connection are key elements of effective leadership.Success and happiness come from being true to oneself and serving others.Taking small steps, such as asking people how they feel instead of how they are, can lead to more meaningful connections and better understanding in the workplace.Leaders should strive to be consistent in their awareness of who they are and be open to learning and growing.Changing one person's whole world is a powerful way to make a positive impact.The Italian culture embodies a commitment to tradition and innovation, honoring history while dreaming of the future. Sound Bites"Sometimes you also need to be looking at the positives even when something doesn't go well. Everybody can be somebody you can learn from.""Peroni is a historical icon, but every icon has to be relevant in the moment. To be relevant in the moment, it has to look at the future to ensure that when the moment comes, it is ready.""When you look back too much, it becomes a form of nostalgia. It's not something you actually look for to find your strengths.""We are here for a legacy. We always need to think what the new people of Peroni and the new Italians and consumers worldwide will think of us in 20 years, in 25 years.""Successes of the past can be a fuel for future success, or they can be a weight that should hold you back.""Excellence is something that changes every year. Whatever helped you have success yesterday, probably it's not going to be enough.""You need to learn from your failures, but also from your successes because there is always an inch that you can gain and be faster in what you do.""In an organization, the ability to deliver a plan, to build a strategy cannot be of one person. Whatever strategy you are building is going to be old tomorrow.""You need people that don't feel like they have a hierarchical barrier in front of them or they need to feel like they have the courage to actually talk and express what they think.""The more you realize that with the impact you can do good, then you can be much more intentional in doing good at being empathic with people."Chapters00:00 Introduction and Earthquake01:10 Welcoming Repeat and New Listeners03:36 Enrico's Book and Peroni's History04:15 Expressing Gratitude to Enrico's Father07:18 Remembering Challenging and Great Moments in Peroni's History10:15 Understanding the Present Moment and Building the Future12:25 Learning from Successes and Failures13:24 Managing Ambiguity and Elevating Excellence15:35 Creating a Culture of Connection and Horizontal Leadership19:10 Avoiding Excuses and Investing in People21:22 Investing in a Premium Experience and Building a Brand23:25 The Shift Towards Premiumization25:18 Investing in People's Well-being and Talent25:45 Translating the Italian Lifestyle into Global Success26:42 The Power of Rugby and Ferrari in Peroni's Brand31:36 The Importance of Empathy in Leadership41:24 Leaving a Better Place for Future Generations45:34 Authenticity, Simplicity, and Connection in Leadership