In early June, Winnebago Industries Inc. president and CEO Mike Happe traveled to Monaco to represent the United States at Ernst & Young’s World Entrepreneur of the Year competition. While there, he vied with entrepreneurs from 47 countries for the competition’s top honor. Though he didn’t take home the World Entrepreneur of the Year designation, Happe left Monaco with a new perspective on running an American business.
Happe was recognized as Entrepreneur of the Year for the Heartland region last June and then went on to clinch the U.S. title in November. Still, he had difficulty calling himself an entrepreneur worthy of the accolades he’s received as the leader of a 66-year-old company. “I didn’t start this great company,” Happe said. “I’m not putting my mortgage on the line, my financial security on the line–the way startup entrepreneurs do.”
But over the last year, he began to embrace EY’s definition of entrepreneurship, which included “transformative performance and leadership,” he said. “Our company looks dramatically different today than it did a decade ago. And the fact that we’re building a premium portfolio of brands and products–we’re chasing quality not quantity, an aspirational aspect, and I think people appreciated that story.”
Happe may not have claimed the title of World Entrepreneur of the Year (India’s Vellayan Subbiah did that with his lending organization, Cholamandalam Investment and Finance Company Limited), but there were certainly takeaways he’ll be bringing back to Winnebago Industries and the wider Minnesota business community.
“The whole process has been an opportunity for us to tell the Winnebago Industries story,” Happe said. “Hopefully by doing so, others can take away some nuggets to help their business as well.”
The privilege of building an American business
For Happe, one of the most memorable connections he made at the event was with Silvano Gelleni, Venezuela’s entrepreneurial representative and chairman of battery and plastics manufacturer Acumuladores DUNCAN.
Gelleni’s journey went beyond the common American trope of “pulling oneself up by the bootstraps;” he also had to navigate his business through a tumultuous political, economic, and social landscape, which included a temporary takeover by the government. Happe said he was inspired hearing how the Venezuelan entrepreneur overcame strife to lead a successful business.
“He was able to secure control back of the business,” said Happe, “through good relationship development with a more autocratic government.” Fortunately, it’s something that Happe and other local entrepreneurs don’t have to do.
The conversation with Gelleni and other competitors left Happe with a deep sense of gratitude for the business climate in the U.S.
“When you compare our challenges here in the U.S. to challenges that entrepreneurs face in some other countries, particularly non-first-world countries, it reminds you of how blessed we are,” he noted.
Conscious business leadership
The EY World Entrepreneur of the Year event included many panel speakers, roundtable forums, and “wisdom” sessions all centered on running a business. To be sure, leaders around the world are facing uncertain market conditions, said Happe. “It’s not a straight line to build something special. You have highs and lows and zigs and zags–that was a common theme.”
When it comes to being a “resilient” entrepreneur, Happe said he found a common theme in sustainability. “There was an immense acknowledgment and appreciation for building sustainability, and integrating sustainability into everyone’s business models,” he said. For him, it’s all about “how we create a successful business, but in a very conscious way.”
Like pretty much every business these days, Winnebago Industries has long been hunting for more sustainable means of operation. That includes an all-electric RV, among other things.
Risk is a positive word
Among the beautiful sights in Monaco and the many conversations with leaders from all over the globe, the EY event also served as a competitive reminder for Happe. “It’s a big world out there, and there’s a lot of great stories being built across the world,” he said. “It didn’t matter whether it was a multibillion-dollar company or a multimillion-dollar company, the passion from all the entrepreneurs was very similar. They were they were there because they earned it, but they were also there because they cared.”
This energy was contagious for Happe, and left him eager to embrace change. “I don’t want us to feel 66 years old; I want us to feel six years old,” he said. “I want us to feel like we’re at the beginning of creating an exciting future.”
Happe added: “What’s the right way to turn risk into a positive four-letter word to empower our employees with the entrepreneurial freedom to make strong business decisions?” As he sees it, risk is ultimately what creates new lines of revenue and new opportunities.
Currently, Happe is barely a month out from the Monaco event and is still catching his breath. Although he doesn’t have any immediate plans to partner with companies from other countries, Happe said there were many mutual invitations to visit each other and stay connected.
“Candidly, it’s been a surreal experience,” he said. “There are very few times in your life where you get to represent your country in anything. To get to understand that others appreciate the work of thousands of employees here at Winnebago Industries as we’ve tried to strengthen this company over the last eight years–the recognition is humbling, and we’re very grateful for that.
