A seasoned executive with experience in manufacturing, engineering, and business restructuring, Barry Ruffalo currently serves as Founder and Managing partner at Twisted Oak Capital, where he focuses on private equity investments, corporate strategy and operational adjustments. He has also worked in leadership roles at various other companies. From 2019 to 2023, Barry Ruffalo served as the CEO of Astec Corporation, where he oversaw changes to the company’s operations, business structure, and market approach. During this time, Astec adjusted its pricing strategy, introduced new products, and made supply chain modifications. Before joining Astec, Mr. Ruffalo served as the group president of global engineered support structures at Valmont Industries from 2016 to 2019. In this role, he managed business operations and worked on corporate strategy and acquisitions. His work involved refining market strategies, coordinating business functions, and adjusting product positioning to align with industry trends. Mr. Ruffalo holds a master of science degree in industrial engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. His career has focused on operational management, restructuring efforts, and business strategy across various industries. Mr. Ruffalo actively supports his wife’s involvement with Global Partners in Hope. His hobbies include hunting, fishing, and hiking.
What is your typical day, and how do you make it productive?
My day typically begins early, with a focus on current events and news, followed by organizing my daughters for school. After they leave, I dedicate time to exercise. I’ve found that maintaining my health enhances both my personal and professional life, as well as my mental acuity.
I tackle the day with a clear list of tasks, but also remain flexible for unexpected requests. I also make it a point to connect with colleagues, whether through office visits or quick calls, which helps me stay connected, grounded, and open to fresh ideas. Most importantly, this allows me to prioritize relationships with people.
How do you bring ideas to life?
My process for developing ideas typically involves gathering perspectives from a variety of sources. These sources include experiences, discussions with knowledgeable individuals, and in-depth research. Once an idea is well-formed, I seek external evaluation to validate its potential and implications.
As a change agent, I assimilate these ideas in real-time. Validated concepts are either integrated into my “to-do” list or developed into actionable plans with allocated resources. I’m also mindful that I do not divert my attention or others with anything that is not the priority at hand and remain focused on moving the needle.
What’s one trend that excites you?
AI offers a unique chance to integrate with our everyday experiences. For example, AI tools can help evaluate ideas and offer insights on pressing questions.
I’ve always found it beneficial to “trust but verify,” so I use a variety of inputs to get solutions and then use common sense and other resources to confirm the results. This approach helps to kick-start my thought process and make the most of my time.
What is one habit that helps you be productive?
I avoid creating long to-do lists, as I believe procrastination hinders productivity. I strive to address important tasks promptly while proactively planning for future events.
Recognizing the value of everyone’s time, I make it a priority to communicate and respond quickly. My goal is to help maintain productivity and prevent unnecessary delays.
What advice would you give your younger self?
Putting yourself in uncomfortable situations can be beneficial. The experiences you gain from stepping outside your comfort zone can be valuable and better prepare you for future opportunities.
Tell us something you believe almost nobody agrees with you on?
I was born and raised in Wisconsin, and the Green Bay Packers are obviously America’s team. For some reason, not everyone agrees that is the case.
What is the one thing you repeatedly do and recommend everyone else do?
It’s essential for team members to leverage their instincts, experiences, and innovative thinking to develop concepts and to be generous in allowing others to receive recognition for those ideas. It’s equally vital to support colleagues in these endeavors and provide assistance if their efforts don’t succeed as planned.
When you feel overwhelmed or unfocused, what do you do?
I find that spending time outdoors helps me clear my head and refocus on my priorities. This allows me to calm my thoughts and concentrate on the tasks that truly matter.
What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business or advance in your career?
To enhance your communication skills, always be open to learning from others, treat everyone with respect, and remember that effective listening is key. As the saying goes, you have two ears and one mouth for a reason, so focus on listening well.
What is one failure in your career, how did you overcome it, and what lessons did you take away from it?
When I first developed a strategic business plan, I lacked the confidence to infuse it with my personal insights. Instead, I leaned heavily on a large group for direction.
I learned that too many opinions can muddy the waters, leading to ineffective and unfocused plans. I realized the importance of prioritizing the critical few actions that truly drive progress, rather than trying to accommodate everyone’s preferences.
What is one piece of software that helps you be productive? How do you use it?
I’m finding ChatGPT to be an increasingly valuable tool. It’s become my go-to resource for gaining an initial understanding of various ideas and issues.
Using it as a first point of reference has not only saved me time but also enhanced my creative thinking, especially when I’m exploring unfamiliar areas.
Do you have a favorite book or podcast you’ve gotten a ton of value from and why?
Jim Collins’ book Good to Great offers one perspective on what good leadership looks like. However, I believe that leadership is primarily an innate quality, rather than something one can learn solely from books or classes. Being able to use acquired tools within the right context and situations will help every leader improve.
What’s a movie or series you recently enjoyed and why?
As someone who has always dreamed of being a rancher and appreciates entertainment as a form of escapism, I’ve thoroughly enjoyed watching the Yellowstone series and its prequel series. I want to clarify that the fictional extremes portrayed in the series would not be part of my actual ranching operations!
Key learnings
- Treat people right and you will build a good team and culture.
- Learn to identify and prioritize the actions critical to achieving your objective.
- Be curious as you grow and push yourself to learn new perspectives.
- Use new tools to maximize learnings and personal efficiency.