Rob Barker – The importance of rational optimism

Nottingham Business School Business Leaders

Nottingham Business School’s Business Leaders’ Podcast

Episode 63

SUMMARY

Rob Barker – The importance of rational optimism

Rob Barker is an entrepreneur, adviser and investor in the international fitness industry. He started his career as a sales rep with Precor – one of the world’s largest suppliers of gym equipment – rising to the rank of President.

He then led the team that sold Precor to American fitness giant Peloton for $420m. Rob is now an investor in, among others, billion-dollar fitness tech company EGYM.

In Episode 63 of the Nottingham Business School’s Business Leaders’ Podcast, Rob tells Visiting Honorary Professor Mike Sassi how he stays optimistic, leads by example… and tries to improve his performance by 15 per cent every year!

INTRODUCTION

• Rob Barker grew up in Maidenhead and was the first member of his family to go to university. He graduated from Nottingham Trent in 1988.

• In his teens and 20s, he was an international-standard rower.

• Rob started with American fitness equipment company Precor as a sales representative in London.

• He went on to hold various leadership roles, including European Managing Director and eventually President of Precor, overseeing global operations and spearheading innovation in fitness and commercial gym equipment.

• In 2020, Rob led Precor’s acquisition by Peloton for $420 million. He served as a senior executive at Peloton post-acquisition.

• In 2022 he left Peloton to start a new career as investor in, and advisor to, multiple health and fitness technology firms.

• He currently works closely with Munich-based EGYM, a billion-dollar fitness tech company integrating AI into health clubs. He also supports Holmes Place, a premium European health club chain.

• Rob has relocated to Portugal with his family and is still an enthusiastic endurance athlete, participating in Ironman triathlons

LEADERSHIP TAKEAWAYS

Leadership takeaways from Episode 63 of the NBS Business Leaders’ Podcast, with entrepreneur, investor and leisure industry leader Rob Barker.

1. Rational optimism is a leadership mindset…

"Rational optimism was the phrase I used all the time – and still do. You need to see things for truly what they are. No sugar coating. But at the same time, always be optimistic that tomorrow is going to be better because of your actions today."

2. Make sure you are surrounded by strong people…

"The more senior I got, the more I realized that all of my success was actually in the agency of others... Most successful leaders will surround themselves with people that are better than them – and feel comfortable about it."

3. Candid communication is important…

"One thing that was missing at Peloton, is that that didn’t have a culture of candidness that would allow others to come up with a different opinion."

4. Be aware of potential opportunities…

"I was working at a leisure centre that had the first gym in Maidenhead. Olympic gold medallist Steve Redgrave opened it… and it was just a squash court, but it was packed! I thought, ‘I'll tell you what the next big wave is in this industry. It's going to be around working out indoors, on machines. I need to get into that.’"

5. Leaders embrace continuous learning…

"I created my own training plan, just like a rowing coach would... I started reading marketing books, put myself on the Charter Institute of Marketing, spoke to people and found the gaps [in my learning]."

6. Hard work matters as much as raw talent…

"You can always ‘out-work’ people. Including 95% of the people you compete with for jobs.”

7. Successful leaders are visible – and lead by example…

"As a leader, you’re always on deck. Your behaviours, your approach, and your actions will always be observed. And the more senior job you get, the higher the radio tower. But you have to start with your own personal performance."

8. Don’t let fear stop you taking big opportunities…

"I turned down a job in my earlier career because I was too scared that I might fail. Even though things turned out great, I promised myself I’d never do that again."

9. Always be striving to improve, even when you’re successful…

"A lot of people take their foot off the gas when they get to about 30… but if I worked it out that if I just got better 15% every year, [by now] I’d be 268 times better."

10. And Rob’s advice for would-be leaders?

"Stay humble. Respect everyone. Seek mentorship – and coaching. But [most of all] be optimistic. Be rationally optimistic! "

RELATED LINKS

• Rob Barker is an investor, entrepreneur and advisor to the international fitness industry. His LinkedIn profile is here…

• As President of Precor, Rob Barker gave a long and detailed YouTube interview about the challenges facing the fitness industry, post-COVID…

• Rob Barker’s recent guest lecture at Nottingham Trent is here…

If you enjoyed this episode NBS Business Leaders’ Podcast with Rob Barker, listen to previous episodes with…

• the Managing Director of Seiko UK David Edwards

• the Chief Marketing Officer of Boots UK Pete Markey

• the former VP of Manufacturing at Toyota Europe Marvin Cooke OBE