Elevate with Robert Glazer Elevate Classics: Adam Coffey on GE, Building Great Cultures and More
9 snips
Feb 12, 2026 
Adam Coffey, Army vet and former GE leader turned CEO and bestselling author, shares big ideas about leadership, culture, and private equity. He reflects on military teamwork, GE’s leadership training, scaling via buy-and-build, and how private equity can help founders grow while preserving culture.
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From Enlisted Private To CEO
- Adam Coffey credits his Army enlisted experience with teamwork, discipline, and leadership that propelled his career from the bottom to CEO.
- He says starting in the trenches taught him to connect with line employees and value culture in service businesses.
Hire Globally, Measure Outcomes
- Embrace remote work where it widens your talent pool and lets you hire world-class executives without forcing relocation.
- Be flexible, but hold people accountable to outcomes not inputs.
Remote Companies Trade At High Multiples
- Buyers now accept virtual companies and pay high multiples, but diligence looks different without bricks and mortar.
- COVID accelerated a broader acceptance of what defines a workplace and company value.
