Nixon Lauridsen is the founder and retired CEO of the Lauridsen Group, Inc. (LGI), a dynamic and growing corporate family that spans six companies and employs over 3,000 people. Headquartered in Iowa, his enterprise operates more than 60 manufacturing and sales locations worldwide, including cutting-edge research facilities in Spain and Denmark, positioning the company at the forefront of agriscience.
Under Nixon’s leadership, LGI includes Proliant Dairy Ingredients, a company specializing in high-quality dairy ingredients that serve as essential building blocks for food formulations. He also oversees Boyer Valley Company, which produces and distributes a range of products including ingredients for pet foods, aquaculture, organic fertilizers, animal feed, and renewable fuels. The Lauridsen legacy began with Lauridsen Creamery, founded in 1916 in Dedham, Iowa, which initially produced eggs, butter, and poultry for local markets. Nixon joined the business in 1975, helping it evolve into the innovative global enterprise it is today.
Nixon Lauridsen holds a Bachelor of Science in finance from the University of Wisconsin and earned his Juris Doctorate from the University of Iowa.
What is your typical day, and how do you make it productive?
Though I retired from the day-to-day operational CEO role at LGI in 2019, I still enjoy supporting the businesses by traveling to meet teams at production sites around the world. I make time each day for a long walk and enjoy spending time with my dogs and my family. I love art and culture, and if I can see an opera performance, it’s an especially good day.
How do you bring ideas to life?
My philosophy is one of sharing success. By empowering others around me, I enjoy seeing them work hard and shine.
What’s one trend that excites you?
My wife Virginia inspired me to love opera. She is a talented and accomplished opera singer. I’m excited about the success of Des Moines Metro Opera, which has taken its place as a major American summer opera festival and is one of the Midwest’s largest performing arts organizations. This year DMMO was selected as a finalist in the Festival of the Year category for the 2024 International Opera Awards. I’m a proud Iowan and proud to see us excel in anything.
What is one habit that helps you be productive?
Spending a lot of time thinking.
What advice would you give your younger self?
Make time for family and hobbies.
Tell us something you believe almost nobody agrees with you on?
Reading a thick biography or autobiography.
What is the one thing you repeatedly do and recommend everyone else do?
Spend time outdoors.
When you feel overwhelmed or unfocused, what do you do?
Get a bottle of whiskey.
What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business or advance in your career?
Focus on understanding the basics of production and thinking constantly about how to improve. For example, if our LGI team wants to use one type of filtration method, I ask many questions about potential alternatives.
What is one failure in your career, how did you overcome it, and what lessons did you take away from it?
I left the stability of a career in law to take over a failing production plant. It was a lot of work and created uncertainty for my family. I gave it all I could, and the hard work paid off.
What is one piece of software that helps you be productive? How do you use it?
Audible, I listen to books while I walk.
Do you have a favorite book or podcast you’ve gotten a ton of value from and why?
I recently read The Snowball about Warren Buffet and enjoyed learning about how the compounding of his intellect and wisdom has made him sharp and successful well into his 80s & 90s.
What’s a movie or series you recently enjoyed and why?
Yellowstone because it’s about a family that mostly works together as a team. I also enjoy the beauty and culture of Montana.
Key learnings
- Hard work and discipline wins.
- Empower others to do their best.
- Spend as much time as you can with your family and pets.