When Jo-an Lantz took a minimum wage entry-level job at Geiger (asi/202900), she expected her time at the Top 40 distributorship to be temporary – a starter gig in the real world. Fast forward a few decades, however, and Lantz is the first non-Geiger family member to be CEO/President of the 142-year old company.

Jo-an Lantz

What’s more, Lantz has become a deeply respected and influential leader in the global promotional products industry. For all that, she’s Counselor’s 2020 Person of the Year. And in this podcast with Counselor Executive Editor Christopher Ruvo, she discusses everything from how to lead effectively, to dealing with the impact of COVID-19, to ways forward for the promo industry, to why empathy, making mistakes and perseverance are essential to success.

Podcast Chapters
2:18: How Lantz and Geiger have tried to navigate COVID-19 challenges.
6:13: A firsthand international perspective on how promo is faring globally amid the pandemic.
8:29: Leading during challenging times.
12:43: Lantz’s rise from an entry-level, minimum wage position at Geiger to CEO/president.
15:05: Influencing an industry.
19:20: What’s it like to be the first non-Geiger family member to be CEO/president of the company in its 142-year history?
22:14: Looking ahead to longer-term goals.
24:13: The importance of considerate, empathetic leadership and how promo can get collectively better.