Osmundson CEO Heather Bruce on Leading a Fifth-Generation

Heather Bruce leads the fifth-generation Osmundson Manufacturing Company, a firm with over 120 years of history. In an interview with the National Association of Manufacturers' "Forge Your Path" series, she outlined her leadership approach and the company's future plans, which include investing in a new manufacturing site.

Bruce stated that a core lesson is honoring a legacy without being bound by it. She explained that every generation of the family business survived because someone was willing to change, arguing that growth and preservation are not opposites. "Sometimes the best way to protect a legacy is to be willing to change it," she said.

Leadership Philosophy and Influences

Her guiding mantra is "Brick by brick, my fellow citizens, brick by brick," which she connects to the idea that meaningful change requires patience and persistence. Bruce emphasized that her role is not merely to preserve the company but to make it stronger for the next generation, which involves making difficult decisions and changing long-standing practices.

She cited the principle "leaders eat last,\" praising Haruka Nishimatsu, the former CEO of Japan Airlines, for exemplifying it during a crisis by cutting his own pay and eating with employees. Bruce tries to embody this, stating that if she asks her team to embrace change or control costs, they should see her doing the same and more.

Proudest Accomplishments and Future Vision

Bruce said her proudest achievement is that Osmundson has endured through major historical and economic challenges without losing its identity. The company has handled events from the Great Depression to recent supply chain disruptions by evolving its products, processes, and markets while maintaining its craftsmanship.

Looking ahead, the next five years are focused on applying the company's core competencies in metallurgy, heat-treating, and engineering to new wear applications and markets. Bruce wants Osmundson to be known as a solver of difficult wear problems, not only a maker of agricultural wear parts.

A key part of this strategy is geographic expansion. "That means expanding beyond our traditional markets, investing in another manufacturing location, developing our people and taking the...craftsmanship we are known for into new wear applications and markets," Bruce told the NAM. Growth aims to create employee opportunities, strengthen customer relationships, and diversify the business.

Recommended Leadership Resources

Bruce recommended three books to other leaders, noting a common theme of simplicity in leadership. The titles and her reasons are summarized below:

She concluded that leadership boils down to clear communication, accountability starting at the top, and caring for employees, with the ultimate goal of handing the next generation a better company than the one she inherited.