In Depth With Graham Bensinger Season 7 Episode 10 Arthur Blank: NFL Owner, Home Depot Co-Founder
- November 21, 2016
- 21 min
In this episode of In Depth With Graham Bensinger, we hear from Arthur Blank, the owner of the NFL's Atlanta Falcons and co-founder of Home Depot. Blank discusses his early life growing up in New York City and how his parents instilled in him a strong work ethic and the value of education. He goes on to talk about his experience as a young man working at his father's pharmacy and eventually starting his own retail business.
Blank then delves into his involvement in founding Home Depot, which began as a small hardware store in Atlanta and grew into a retail giant with over 2,000 locations worldwide. He explains the challenges he faced in starting the business and his philosophy on leadership, which emphasizes the importance of empowering employees and putting customers first.
The conversation then turns to Blank's ownership of the Atlanta Falcons, a team he purchased in 2002. He discusses his initial hesitations about buying a sports team and how he has worked to build a winning culture within the organization. Blank also talks about the importance of using his platform as a team owner to give back to the community through initiatives such as the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation.
Throughout the episode, Blank emphasizes the importance of building strong relationships both in business and in his personal life. He also shares insights into his leadership style and the qualities he looks for in employees and colleagues. Overall, this episode offers a fascinating glimpse into the life and career of one of America's most successful businessmen and sports team owners.