Building Growth: From the Front Line to Private Equity CEO with Robert Guice

How do you take an unknown service business and turn it into a global leader? In this episode of the Air Supply Podcast, host Joshua O'Connor sits down with Rob Guice, a seasoned executive with two successful private equity exits under his belt, most recently as CEO of North American hygiene leader, Citron.

Rob’s journey is anything but typical. From leaving school at 17 to navigating post-apartheid South Africa at 29, Rob shares the moments that shaped his "build-it" mentality. He dives deep into the world of Private Equity (PE), offering a rare look at how to drive rapid organic growth in unglamorous but essential sectors like secure shredding and period dignity.

In this episode, we explore:

• The PE Muscle: What it’s really like to run a business under private equity ownership, how to align with investors, and why you should never talk about the "exit strategy."
• The Microscope & The Telescope: Rob’s framework for balancing big-picture strategy (where to play, how to win) with the granular data obsession required to execute.
• Creating Purpose in the "Unsexy" Sectors: How to recruit and retain top talent in service industries by transforming "drivers" into "security personnel" and "service delivery experts."
• The CEO’s Best Tool: Why Rob believes the most important work happens outside the office and why every leader should spend time on sales calls and service trucks.
• A Call to Business Leaders: Why modern, "de-layered" businesses are failing the next generation of talent and how we can bring back internal career development.

Whether you’re an aspiring executive or a seasoned leader, Rob’s advice is a masterclass in leading from the front and the power of "customer obsession."

Connect with Robert https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-guice-0a5b99/

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