EPISODE 4 - FOREVER A GOLDEN BEAR - BENGT BARON

In this episode of Forever a Golden Bear (co-hosted by Cal backstroker and Olympian Ryan Murphy) we follow the remarkable journey of Bengt Baron, who won his first Olympic gold medal (in the backstroke) at age 18. We track the importance Bengt placed on attending UC Berkeley; to his formative development as management consultant with McKinsey & Co., to exploring the wisdoms Bengt gleaned from holding senior management roles for multinational firms over more than two decades, beginning in his early thirties. Those roles included President of Kodak and Coca Cola Sweden; CEO of V&S Group and its former brand Absolut Vodka (which Bengt founded, and later sold); and CEO of the global confectionery company Cloetta. In this masterclass on general management, Bengt advocates broadening one’s skills early; how curiosity drives performance in both sports and in business; and how a posture of patience, horizontal functional know-how, and empathic human interest, is critical to effective leadership of high-performing teams.

Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcasting platform by searching ‘Forever a Golden Bear.’