We recently had a great chat with Bristol President Joe Cardini, the guiding force behind our dedication to service and innovation. Joe is passionate about adaptability and is committed to keeping Bristol focused on its main purpose, serving others. His inspiring vision influences how we connect with clients & their relocating employees, support our associates, and stay flexible in a fast-changing industry.
Below, we invite you to take a behind-the-scenes look at Joe’s perspective!
Bristol has long believed that our culture should be experienced by everyone we work with, not just our internal team. Why do you think that matters so much?
A company culture can never fully manifest or achieve its full impact if those who engage with us fail to receive an experience that not only matches but also amplifies and reinforces it.
Bristol’s culture is rooted in service to others. Fellow associates, corporate clients, relocating employees, and our supplier-partners all experience the impact of our culture and are often key contributors as they embrace it.
What are some surprising ways the pineapple people have shaped big business decisions at Bristol?
I think a few come to mind:
- Our courage to adopt a work-from-home environment. While many companies were uncertain, or work-from-home didn’t mesh with their more autocratic, command-and-control management and culture, Bristol was able to lean into our culture and shift to work-from-home work as smoothly as anyone could have ever dreamed.
- Our hiring practices, which continue to become more refined and effective, are entirely aligned with our culture. So, we are bringing in only those associates who are a cultural match.
Work is changing fast, so how do you see Bristol remaining true to its purpose while embracing change?
I don’t ever see our culture shifting away from our essential purpose and core focus of service to others. That said, there have been, and will continue to be, forces within our business and personal universes that have the potential to augment how we invest in our culture.
Work-from-home is certainly one of the largest dynamics we’ve encountered post-COVID. Given that our organization largely operates outside an office, with our people carrying out their roles alone and with no other Bristol associate within earshot, maintaining and enriching our culture has become significantly more complex. I’m excited to see the many ways our company has intentionally and creatively developed mechanisms, systems, and processes to keep our associates constantly connected.
I believe that in the years to come, Bristol will continue to see increased associate engagement in culture-strengthening activities and greater participation across all platforms, committees, and groups designed to keep everyone connected!
How do you approach the balance between honoring Bristol’s traditions and adopting modern practices?
Well, if I characterize “modernity” with the increased use of technology, I would say this: strictly with respect to business, I believe it’s imperative for Bristol to remain hyper-aggressive in exploring all forms of technology that can offer the following benefits:
At the same time, it’s even more imperative that we never lose sight of who we are as individuals and as an enterprise. We must always embrace our “why,” our purpose, and our core focus of serving others. So, underpinning our quest to adopt the most appropriate technologies is our culture!
Who is on Joe’s Mount Rushmore of leadership?
I have many people and things that routinely inspire me. My tendency is to seek inspiration from thought leaders who specialize in people and relationships, as well as from those who have overcome adversity. Here are a few:
- Foundational examples of servant leadership that shaped my faith
- Brené Brown
- Arthur Brooks
- Andrew Lounsbury (the namesake of our employee of the year award)
- Organizations like B1G1 (our sustainable giving partner)
- And a long nameless list of people I’ve encountered throughout my life journey, who in their own unassuming and humble ways inspire me to be a better human
Is there a personal experience that has had a lasting impact on how you lead?
There are too many to describe in detail here. However, all the personal stories that have shaped me both as a human and as a leader have a consistent theme: stories of an underdog overcoming great odds to find peace, joy, and “success.” And success is not always measured in monetary terms.
My own life journey is among these stories!
If you could send a memo back to young Joe, what leadership wisdom would you share?
Never allow yourself to become something you don’t believe in. The business world will always drag you into situations and positions that provide character tests. How you react and treat others in those moments should never be a source of regret. Hold firm to your personal “why?”
You’ve often said there’s no such thing as work-life balance, only life. How do you put that philosophy into practice?
Yes, as you’ve heard me say for so many years now, there is no such thing as a separation of work and life … there is just life. So, since we all need to work, let’s accept the fact that work is an essential component of our lives. Just as you would devote yourself to being the best you can be in your non-work roles (wife, husband, partner, friend, sister, brother, son, daughter), you should likewise be committed to being the best professional in your chosen career.
Non-work events can bring us joy and happiness (weddings, graduations, birthdays, anniversaries, etc.), as well as stress and heartache. The same is true for work events. Rather than try to construct a wall between our non-work and work lives, the real goal should be to seek harmony, adopting a perspective and approach to our lives that allow us to be the best we can be during the times we are working, just as we do when we are enjoying our non-work moments!
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