Meet Brad Rico, a people-focused leader who believes the strongest organizations are built by hiring talented people, empowering them to succeed, and creating a culture rooted in respect, accountability, and continuous growth.
As President of Global Sales and Marketing at Brennan Industries, Brad oversees sales and marketing across five continents. Over his 25-year career with the company, he has worked his way up from regional sales manager to executive leadership, helping guide Brennan’s continued growth while maintaining a strong focus on customer relationships, employee engagement, and organizational culture.
Brad’s leadership journey is defined by his commitment to people, his willingness to embrace challenges, and his belief that successful organizations never stop improving. From his philosophy of selling internal buy-in to his approach to empowering talented employees, Brad shares practical lessons on adapting as a leader and building teams that are equipped to succeed.
Leading a global organization requires more than establishing company values and expecting everyone to follow them. Brad explains why leaders must empower local teams, respect the expertise of people in different markets, and create a shared vision without imposing a one-size-fits-all approach. He also highlights how leadership support and collaboration can strengthen HR’s influence and help build a culture where employees feel connected to the organization’s goals.
In this episode of What’s Up at Work?, Brad joins host Sam Clyde Schroeder to discuss leadership development, building a strong workplace culture, strengthening HR’s role in business strategy, and navigating organizational change.
He also shares insights on adopting AI responsibly, retaining talented employees, integrating global acquisitions, and preparing for an increasingly competitive talent landscape. Brad explains why taking care of current employees is essential to long-term success and how empowering people to make good decisions helps organizations continue to grow.
Tune in to hear Brad’s perspective on leadership, workplace culture, employee retention, global growth, HR strategy, AI adoption, accountability, and why the strongest organizations put their people at the center of everything they do.
Episode Highlights & Timestamps
- 00:00 – Introduction & Brad’s 25-Year Career at Brennan Industries
- 03:00 – Leadership Expectations, Loyalty & the Challenge of Growth
- 05:00 – From Individual Sales to Leading Teams & Selling Buy-In
- 07:00 – AI Adoption, Navigating Change & Leading with Caution
- 10:00 – The Evolution of HR & Building a Strong Company Culture
- 12:00 – Leadership Buy-In, HR’s Seat at the Table & Shared Accountability
- 14:00 – Talent Retention, Employee Care & The Future of HR
- 16:00 – Leading Global Teams & Empowering Local Leaders
- 18:00 – Integrating Acquisitions & Building a Shared Company Culture
- 20:00 – HR Hot Seat: Sales Mentors, Cleveland Sports & Cold Calling
- 23:00 – AI Tools, Meeting Recorders & Responsible Adoption
- 26:00 – Why Brennan Industries Is a Great Place to Work
Episode Links
