Welcome to How Leaders Lead, where every week you get to listen in while I interview some of the very best leaders in the world.

I break down the key learning so that by the end of the episode, you'll have something simple that you can apply as you develop into a better leader.

That's what this podcast is all about.

Today's guest is Paul Varga, the former chairman and CEO of Brown Foreman, the largest distilling

company in the world with brands like Jack Daniels and Woodford Reserve.

They have a saying at Brown Forman, build forever.

The company started in 1890, and the way Paul sees it, it was his responsibility to steward two key parts

of the business. He wanted to continue to build their iconic brands, but he also made it a top

priority to build their people up as well. Because what a tragedy it would be if the brands

grew and the people didn't grow with it. What you're about to hear is why Paul cares so deeply about developing his people

and ultimately how that drove the success in their business.

The great leaders I know build forever,

stewarding both their brands and their people.

There's a lot for us to learn in this episode, so let's get right to it.

Here's my conversation with my good friend and soon to be yours, Paul Varga.

You know, Paul, I always like to start out at the beginning.

Can you tell us a little bit about your upbringing?

Well, sure. Very interesting to what I do today.

I grew up in Louisville, Kentucky, which is where the headquarters of Brown Foreman is.

And I grew up the son of a physician in a large Catholic family, which was pretty common in Louisville,

Kentucky, big Catholic community here, three brothers, two sisters, and all close in age. So it created the

environment, as you can imagine, of competitiveness. And we were all driven. And the family you

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