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Matt Thiel on Leadership, Culture, and Employees First
Employees First: Matt Thiel on Leadership and Company Culture
Matt Thiel shares leadership lessons from becoming President of AUMA North America, discussing mentorship, company culture, industry leadership through VMA, and why putting employees first drives long-term success.
Episode Summary
Matt Thiel shares his journey from electrical engineer to President of AUMA North America and discusses the leadership philosophy that shaped his career. We explore mentorship, employee-first leadership, and how strong company culture develops through listening and continuous improvement. Matt also discusses the importance of industry associations, leadership development, and balancing business success with family life.
GuestMatt Thiel, AUMA
HostGilbert Welsford Jr., ValveMan
Published2026
ThemeEmployees First
Topics
Leadership, mentorship, company culture, employee engagement, VMA leadership, work-life balance
Show Notes
Topics
- Matt Thiel’s career journey
- Engineering to executive leadership
- Mentorship and leadership development
- Employees first philosophy
- Building company culture
- Employee surveys and feedback
- Valve Manufacturers Association leadership
- Growth at AUMA
- Leadership advice
- Balancing family and career
Key Themes
- Employees first leadership
- Mentorship shapes careers
- Culture evolves through listening
- Industry relationships matter
- Family comes first
Featured Quotes
"Employees first, customers second, shareholders third."
— Matt Thiel
"People deal with people."
— Matt Thiel
"It's an evolution, not a revolution."
— Matt Thiel
"Family is first."
— Matt Thiel