Jessica Rovello is the co-founder and CEO of Arkadium, an online gaming company based in Ukraine and the U.S. that provides brands and publishers with interactive, brand-safe content. In early 2014, when 100 of her Ukraine-based employees were affected by the annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation, Rovello's commitment to Perseverance and putting People First was put to the test.

In her talk, Rovello walks us through a chronological series of geopolitical business challenges that nearly shut down her company. Through sheer grit and determination, Arkadium, within 18 months, went from the edge of despair to its highest year of revenue and profitability, all while solidifying its unique company culture.

Will Thorndike is an investor and author of The Outsiders, a study of eight unconventional CEOs who did an exceptional job of allocating capital in their businesses. In this presentation from Tugboat Institute Summit 2019, Will shares the essential lessons of the CEOs he profiled in his book, as well as updated insights.

For Evergreen leaders, connection with and commitment to family are essential factors that lead to and support success. In this presentation from Tugboat Institute Summit 2019, Tugboat Institute Chairperson Jeff Snipes shares parenting and leadership insights gained through his work as founder of Millennium Schools, involvement in Challenge Success at Stanford, and as a dad himself, into the epidemic of anxiety among children today and provides three key approaches to support one's children and, by extension, one's employees.

Even a legendary, 100-year-old brand like Radio Flyer — the little red wagon that's become an iconic part of the lives of millions of children — needs to work hard to ensure its continued success. "I knew we had all this great stuff about our brand," says Robert Pasin, Radio Flyer's CEO. "But I soon learned that the company was at kind of a crossroads and we have some problems."

In his Tugboat Institute Summit talk, Pasin shares the origins of his family business and his desire to continue to build upon his family's brand while developing a culture that fosters creativity and innovation. It's the company's values and mission-driven work environment that help fuel Radio Flyer's continued growth.

In business and in life, many of us fill our packs with emotional, physical, and professional weight that can impact our ability to move efficiently and in good health. Intentionally unpacking obligations, habits, and control that don't serve us can create opportunity for transformative growth—in self and in Evergreen business.

In his presentation from the Tugboat Institute Summit 2018, Joe Motz, President and CEO of The Motz Corporation, describes the pivotal, personal experience that set him on a journey of intentional unpacking and the joyful changes that process has brought to his business and his physical and emotional wellbeing.

Dennis Madsen's journey at outdoor retailer REI started in the stock room at REI's first store when Madsen was 17. Under his leadership as CEO, and later as a board member, REI grew to the national brand it is today, respected for its products, inviting stores and quality customer service. In this Tugboat Institute Summit talk, Madsen acquaints us with REI's remarkable history, its unique co-op model, his growth with the company and how REI focuses on its employees, customers and local communities.

How does ownership of a company affect its ability to compete—for better or for worse? With a professional background that spans 20 years and includes consulting roles with Fortune 500 companies, the philanthropic sector, and family businesses, BanyanGlobal Partner and Co-Founder Josh Baron is uniquely qualified to answer that question.

In his Tugboat Institute Summit 2018 presentation, Josh describes the sustainable, competitive advantage of Evergreen businesses in this century, the survival strategies that will allow Evergreens to make the most of that advantage, and why he feels these businesses can make a dent in the universe.

What is Evergreen? In this keynote presentation from the Fourth Annual Olin Family Business Symposium at Washington University in St. Louis on October 12, 2018, Dave Whorton shares the journey of discovery that led to his founding of Tugboat Institute and the Evergreen Movement.

Throughout his talk, he debunks common myths about business and contrasts them with the competitive advantage of Evergreens, and describes how Tugboat Institute is supporting Evergreen leaders and businesses today.