Earned, Not Given: Jim Forrest on Leadership, Grit, and Building Great Companies

In this episode, Jim Forrest shares his journey from bagging groceries at age six to becoming Chairman of multiple high-performing companies. He reflects on formative lessons from his father, early career missteps, and the customer-first mindset that shaped his leadership style. Jim discusses building great teams, the importance of process and strategic focus, and his role in mentoring rising leaders while helping shape a lasting culture of performance and accountability.


Chapters:

• 00:00 Introduction
• 06:14 Customer Focus & Early Lessons
• 12:35 Leadership & Process Thinking
• 18:13 Culture, Boards & Mentorship
• 22:18 Strategy Starts with the Problem
• 30:37 What Makes a Great Company


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You'll also find other Microcap Moments episodes, alongside our series Everyday Heroes and Bigger. Stronger. Faster., highlighting the people and stories that make the microcap space unique.


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