This week on the podcast, Brent sits down with Nathan, Adam, and John Rutledge from First Security Bank. All three, along with their father, are alumni of the Sam M. Walton College of Business at the University of Arkansas and have made a significant impact in the state of Arkansas through their involvement with First Security Bank. During the episode, the brothers touch on the Rutledge family's history of growing the community bank throughout Arkansas since their father and grandfather first took over the bank in Searcy in 1977. The bank's asset size has grown from $46 million in 1977 to $7.5 billion today. They also discuss their focus on relationships and local communities while thoughtfully adapting to industry changes. The discussion offers a window into a multigenerational family business that is rooted deeply in communities across Arkansas.
Podcast Episode
Episode Transcript
Adam Rutledge 0:00
You know, you need to think about those things that you don't want people to remember
about you as well, while you're in college, because you might be trying to do business
with them at some point in time as well.
Brent Williams 0:10
Welcome to the be epic podcast, brought to you by the Sam M. Walton College of Business
at the University of Arkansas. I'm your host, Brent Williams. Together, we'll explore
the dynamic landscape of business, and uncover the strategies, insights, and stories
that drive business today.
Today, I have with me, the trifecta from First Security Bank, I've got John, Nathan, and Adam Rutledge. And so all of you thanks for for joining me today.
Nathan Rutledge 0:47
Glad to be here.
Brent Williams 0:48
Well, I'm excited to have these three because they're proud U of A, Walton College
alum and making a cool impact in the state. And so, you know, I might maybe just start
a little bit with those that are listening that many are probably familiar with First
Security Bank, but maybe not everybody, you guys are a bank really focused on Arkansas.
John, give us just a little bit of maybe the history of First Security and what the
footprint looks like?
John Rutledge 1:17
Sure. You know, First Security Bank was started in 1932. If you think about the majority
of the time, this existence, you know, banking regulations and laws in the state of
Arkansas pretty much meant that every town in the state of Arkansas had a state chartered
bank, a national chartered bank, and a savings and loan. And First Security Bank was
the state charter bank in the town of Searcy you know, I think about 1932, in the
depression, that's when most community banks were kind of kick started from scratch.
And it was just a, you know, a capital raise in the community and, and gathered around
business people that know that, you know, a bank is needed for a healthy economy and
a local community. And so anyway, fast forward quite a bit of time our family got
involved, our grandfather and dad got involved in 1977 with the bank. There's definitely
an entrepreneurial background with both, both of our grandfathers on both sides of
your mother and dad. And so this idea of, you know, having an opportunity to own a
small bank and in a great small town in Arkansas, came to fruition in 77, we were
all born there. And, you know, if you go through the decades, if you will, since dad
and our grandfather got involved with the bank directly, you know, there's a lot of
change and evolution in banking, and most of that, in hindsight turned out to be a
great opportunity for First Security Bank, predominantly having to do with just the
opening up of competition being able to grow across the state, which is what led us
to Northwest Arkansas back in 97-98, branching laws were changing. And really through
that period gave us an opportunity to move from what had been an acquisition mindset
of local community banks around the state, slowly but surely just kind of one at a
time, to an opportunity to really growing a brand and being able to kind of spread
that across the state. So if you've asked for all the way today, we're, for the most
part, kind of, we look like a funnel, if you were to layer a funnel over the state
of Arkansas, the bottom of that would be kind of Hot Springs, Garland County, moving
into Saline and Little Rock, Saline County, Little Rock, Pulaski County, then it moves
over to Northeast Arkansas into Jonesboro, through Searcy where it all began. And
then kind of moves across the northern part of the state down I-40 and up to Northwest
Arkansas. And, you know, the company was I think 46 million in assets when dad and
our grandfather bought the bank in 77. And we're about seven and a half billion in
assets today. Asset size is how you kind of measure bank. There's a lot of other factors
as well. But that that's kind of the way people talk about banking. And it's been
it's been a neat opportunity for us to get involved. And you know ultimately the kind
of core of who we are is a whole network of community banks, the focus on local community,
still, kind of to the spirit of what the bank's purpose was in 1932 in Searcy but
then at same time, I think you kind of mentioned family and I think family's, part
of the reason we're here today,
Brent Williams 4:21
Yeah.
John Rutledge 4:21
Yeah, we've had a wonderful opportunity to kind of not only be a family business,
but also, you know, have a culture of family inside our company. And then that opportunity
to really think family and really serving our local communities is ultimately at the
heart of who we are.
Brent Williams 4:34
Well, yeah, you know, tremendous growth and and a real focus on Arkansas. You mentioned,
you know, you mentioned a broad coverage of the state, but you guys have chosen really
specifically to focus on the state and your role in the state. Which, which I think
is a wonderful part of the story. You know, well, you mentioned family, so I'm going
to play off of that probably and and maybe Adam ask you, you know, so all three of
you are involved, your dad's still involved, why is it so important for the three
of you to have stayed involved in, in this business?
Adam Rutledge 5:15
Well, you know, it's, it's important for the three of us to be involved, because,
you know, the foundation that our grandfather and dad have set before us, and, you
know, just getting an opportunity to work alongside them, and just learn from them.
And, at the same time work along, you know, your brothers and your siblings. You know,
we were, we're very fortunate to be close as, as a family and close as brothers. And,
you know, it's just a natural fit, going back to dad's initial opportunity, coming
from a small town in South Arkansas, Smackover, to the University of Arkansas, and
the Walton College. And, you know, I think that opportunity for him, and the relationships
that he gained through that is what drives his passion for the state and this college
and this, you know, university. So that opportunity, and, you know, he gives a lot
of credit to that, just the relationships that he got here. And, you know, he still
credits those today. I know, he didn't get to make it up here today, but he was going
to be with some of those friends today matter of fact. But just, you know, a family
business is fun, you know, getting to brainstorm and solve problems together. You
know, we are in different parts of the state, which probably makes it a little easier,
we're not quite on top of each other's toes. But we have been intentional about getting
together, at least twice a month. And, you know, one of those meetings is pretty formal.
The other is whatever agenda we want it to be.
Brent Williams 7:00
Okay.
Adam Rutledge 7:00
And we haven't always done that. But as, as the company's become more dynamic, and
opportunities have arisen, we've had to set aside that time to be strategic, to have
those discussions that are important. It's a lot of fun.
Brent Williams 7:15
Yeah, well, it seems like a lot of fun being around you guys is certainly a lot of
fun. And, you know, you know, Adam, you mentioned the U of A as a as a core part of
your dad's story in building his network. But Nathan, all three of you have attended
the Walton College. And, and I just kind of wondered what it's meant to you all personally,
I know maybe I'll go to everybody on that.
Nathan Rutledge 7:43
I think we all have kind of our own story with it, the just thinking back to our dad's
story and kind of his connection with it. Just in conversation, if you were to bring
it up, or have him talk about his story, and kind of how it all connects from South
Arkansas, all the way to being in banking in Searcy, when he gets to the portion of
the U of A, and the connections and the friends and the relationships. I mean, you
can just tell that, so much of everything that he has become ties back to the relationships
that he developed here and what he learned here, obviously, as well. And so, to me,
that's fun to see in him because you can over the years his passion for for the Walton
College and the University comes out in lots of ways, whether it's calling the hogs
or whether it's trying to work on connecting the dots between people he's met through
the university, and each of us tied back to the family business side of things. None
of us ended up in the bank, on purpose or on some long term strat strategic plan.
It all just sort of kind of happened its own way. And I would say the same goes for
the university, we we all just sort of ended up here. Now we had lots of connections
here with family in Northwest Arkansas, coming to Razorback games and having fun up
here. But we were never encouraged or forced to come to the University of Arkansas,
it was always just something that each of us made our own decisions. So I think just
from a parenting style, it was kind of it's kind of fun to look back and think about
how we really were given encouragement to go and work hard and be successful. And
don't be lazy and get up every day and go to work. But the University of Arkansas
was always something that I think they knew that they would like for us to go to but
the only really encouragement was just if you're going to work in Arkansas, whatever
you do, the relationships that you build at the University of Arkansas are going to
pay dividends, I promise. So if you plan on staying in Arkansas, that's where we kind
of got a little bit of encouragement, but we all were, I feel like, given free reign
to kind of think through that decision on our own. Which being the youngest son I
think is probably a little different. John and Adam both might have different stories
with that but
Adam Rutledge 9:58
I have a little bit I have a little I have different memory, primarily from the standpoint
that, you know, if dad was going to pitch in any towards my further education, and
I wasn't smart enough to get scholarships, so I didn't have too many options that,
you know, there wasn't, if I was able to get into the University of Arkansas, that
was where he was going to contribute to my education. Outside of the state, for the
most part, you know, I was gonna have to figure that out on my own through student
debts and other things. But I do remember that encouragement and to echo Nathan, you
know, if you plan on doing business in the state of Arkansas, it's sure important,
you're a step ahead of your competition, if you already had those, that foundation
of relationships that you gain while you're on campus.
Brent Williams 10:45
And, John, I assume that, you know, I mean, you, you said, I think you said something
like You're a, like this network of community banks sort of quilted together into
First Security Bank. Community banking is remarkably relationship driven in here.
So so I'm sure that's part of the key advantage.
John Rutledge 11:06
Yeah, no doubt, I think. I mean, ultimately, the like I said, hindsight is such a
great way to kind of view things. And even though you may have gotten there, by mistake,
or by some natural path, and not in some strategic plan, you know you can look back
and really appreciate certain influences, right. And one thing's for sure, being in
the family business now. You know, raising our own kids now, and just with all that's
going on, across the state, and we're all in different markets, we overlap some but
not always, we have these bonds that kind of you know keep us together. A it's work
right, then it's family. But we also have this tie of, to the university and to the
Walton College, and growing up Razorback fans, and there's just, there's something
about all that that helps pull you together. And instead of dividing you or maybe
feeling disconnected, and I can't imagine what it would be like honestly, thinking
about it, just listen to everybody talk, what would have been like if one of us went
somewhere else, and would have felt like that kind of left out, outsider, honestly.
Whereas now, you know, we're all thinking about the Razorback game this weekend, or
we're all thinking about what's happening with a recruiting class, or what's the Walton
College doing? Or, you know, how's it growing? Everybody cares about that because
we are all connected to it.
Brent Williams 12:27
Yep.
John Rutledge 12:27
And as family I think it's more about what keeps you connected as you start raising
your own kids than it is about the things that maybe divide you or make you independent.
Brent Williams 12:37
Yeah, well, I, you know, that that point of connectedness I talked to our students
about all the time, I mean, you know, when you think about what you what you get out
of a college experience, certainly what you're learning and what's happening in the
classroom, critical, internships, work experiences, but I encourage our students not
to underestimate the power of building a network while they're here. Because it is
maybe the best asset that they can build, in my opinion.
John Rutledge 13:08
Yeah. And one of the advantages, you know, that we've had is that if you go from the
beginning of my time here to, you know, through Adam's time, and Nathan's time, and
there's some overlap through there, but you know, that's, that's several years probably
covers almost a decade of time, where one of us was here with a connection to, to
different groups of people. So now that we're all on the same team working everyday
together, if you will, you know, between the three of us, there's about a decade of
Walton College students that we probably have a connection with, which is kind of
a neat advantage in Arkansas.
Brent Williams 13:42
Absolutely. And, you know, in Arkansas', kind of a unique place. Right. I mean, the,
the degrees of separation in Arkansas are very, very few. You know, it's, it's a,
it's a tight, close knit state. And I think that's what makes it so fun to be a part
of not only the state, but the business community.
Adam Rutledge 14:02
Absolutely. I had lunch with a guy yesterday. First, first time, we've really met
face to face and discuss, you know, life and work and everything in between. And,
you know, he crossed John and I here and here, and at Walton College, and the university,
and the connections were just, you know, profound in a matter of an hour lunch of,
you know, just across the board of how many common folks we know, and it was kind
of surprising we've never really know, known or met each other.
Brent Williams 14:33
Yeah.
Adam Rutledge 14:33
But going back to, you know, it is a small state. And it's amazing how you can those
relationships really cross up.
Brent Williams 14:40
Yeah, the word seems to be getting out that this is a great place to live and a great
state to do business and we've certainly seen that, you know, in the growth of the
college. Well, you know, I wonder, you know, as you guys are looking forward, the
banking industry is, is one that has changed, you know, John, I think you started
off, you mentioned, you know, being in a regulated business, you know, as you've talked
about some of the growth. So I know regulation is something I'm sure that's changing.
The way I'm sure you're connecting with your customers digitally is changing. So I
guess as you guys are looking forward, you know, over the next, I don't know, you
know, 5, 10 years of the bank, what's some of the things that you've got on your mind
about how the industry is changing? And how you're adapting to that?
Adam Rutledge 15:32
It's a tough question.
Nathan Rutledge 15:35
I would say just that it is changing. And so I've kind of come up a little bit behind
John and Adam, the thing that I when the conversation around any particular type of
service or connection point comes up, it seems like we always end up with kind of
the both and conclusion, which is, we want to be able to continue to maintain kind
of the same customer service, the same connections with our customers in person. But
we got to figure out how to meet them where they want to be met at the same time,
but we don't want to just be there. We want to be there in person as well. So I think
we're always trying to, to kind of figure out what's the both and? And then one of
the challenges we face is that kind of the banking industry's been around for a long
time. So a lot of the providers that we have great relationships with, vendors or
what have you, they've been around for a long time. So the technology that they have,
is big, because it's had to grow over time. But it might not be as nimble. And so
we're always kind of battling conversations around trying to meet the needs of our
customers now, but we have these legacy relationships that are not easy to change,
do we, do we want to jump into that right now? Or do we want to be more patient because
it might take some of our partners a little longer to get there, and there's different
phases that we're able to move through where we can solve that on our own, we might
choose to be patient to get there. Or there's other things that we're able to go kind
of challenge our team to go be creative and find a different vendor, find someone
else that can make it fit and make it work, so that we can meet our customers where
they want us to be now even though we hadn't gotten there. So another thing that's
fun is just you know, with all year, the governor, the prior governor talked a lot
about coding and development, we've kind of had a little bit of fun trying to see
an experience of what is what would somebody like that on our team be like, what problems
could we solve? And so trying to kind of think through that and trying to create our
own solutions has been a fun experience, just the past few years.
Adam Rutledge 17:43
I think about some meetings and discussions we've had over the last, you know, 12,
24 months. And, you know, this is kind of strategy related, not as much industry related,
but it kind of goes hand in hand about, you know, who we are. And we find ourselves
from a size standpoint, much smaller than our big regional competition that are that
are Arkansas based, but larger than, you know, just, you know, a few market, but community
banks, that that think more like we do, and, you know, so we really want to focus
in, in the future, remembering what got us here.
Brent Williams 18:26
Yeah.
Adam Rutledge 18:27
And the steps that took to be successful. And but at the same time, you know, we've
got to be able to bring in added technology, and, you know, so, so the term that comes
to mind, we've got to be a kind of that big little bank, you know, we still got to
be nimble and function and, and, you know, provide that, you know, that quick service,
quick answers to our customers. But we're able to do some, some bigger stuff as well,
due to our size. So, you know, I think that's important for us to, to remember our
past as we think about the future, and the direction we want to go. And, you know,
with with the three of us pretty close to the past, I think that's something that
three of us can can make sure that we stay grounded in that past but yet really focused
about the future and what we can be as a bank, for the state of Arkansas.
John Rutledge 19:23
My, if I, if I could add in,
Brent Williams 19:25
Yeah.
John Rutledge 19:25
In my way of thinking about it from a technology perspective, and just how fast things
have, I mean, it's ultimately been changing our business since the day we all started
working on it, right, but but there's been a real rapid pace lately. And then there's
been, you know, really behavior changes of things like COVID and work from home and
all these other things that have really put the accelerator on some of that. But ultimately,
if you look at it really in our business, and specifically, I think that technology
is your ticket in the game, right, is is the ticket that you need to stay in the game
changing? Yes, constantly. But it is not determining who wins. And I think there's
so many industries where technology has an opportunity to come in and be such a disrupter
that it literally determines the winner and loser. Banking is so relational. There's
just no way to really cookie cutter majority of what we do in our communities across
Arkansas, that we really feel like our secret sauce or our competitive advantage is
not necessarily the technology, it's it's a lot of other things. But we got to make
sure we got to take it in the game to have a chance. Right?
Brent Williams 19:25
Yeah.
John Rutledge 19:25
So we spent, I would say we're very conscious of it, we had a lot of conversation
around it, we've got teams focused on it, we want to make sure we're not getting left
out. But there's a huge effort towards let's talk about what determines who wins.
And it's a lot of other stuff.
Brent Williams 20:57
What a good point, I don't want to I'm gonna recap what I think I heard there, but
don't let me put words in your mouth or react to this. So I think what what you're
saying is yes, you know, technology, your technology as a bank is going to have to
evolve with with customers. And, you know, that range of customers you serve, you
know, looks very different, right? Some are much more technologically driven than
others. But, but no matter what, no matter if we're talking about, a new college graduate,
you know, that is borrowing money or opening a checking account to, you know, your
most experienced business owner, you know, that you're servicing still relationship
is key to competitive advantage.
Adam Rutledge 21:42
Absolutely.
John Rutledge 21:43
Right.
Adam Rutledge 21:44
You know, it's relationships with our fellow bankers too we're extremely fortunate
to have a great, great team across the state. You know, you almost wish you had more
time, sitting in my seat, and we had a lender summit over the last, you know, 12 months
that we had three different sessions. You know, it would be, it's so fun to get together
as big groups, different markets all in one spot and spend some time together, brainstorm
strategizing. And it's something that's, you know, as we've grown, it's hard to do,
when you find time to be out of the office all at once. And, and we had to do it in
three different sessions. But it just, it reminded you, man, I wish we could do that
more often.
Brent Williams 22:25
Yeah,
Adam Rutledge 22:25
You know, going back to connection, you know, connection, not just in your community,
your customers, but within your team.
Brent Williams 22:32
I'm really interested, you know, in banking, if you're going to be relationship driven,
and or that's your competitive advantage. And you're still I think you said, I think
you said, you know, we're gonna be a big little bank. that means you've got to be
able to attract really good people into those markets. And that's not easy. Right?
You know, I'm sure there's a lot of competition for those people. How do you guys
think about attracting and and retaining talent throughout your organization?
John Rutledge 23:04
Never stop working on it. I think it's always part of the conversation.
Nathan Rutledge 23:09
That I just that it is, it's I think we've had some conversations and been forced
to have some conversations over the past couple of years, about people and kind of
what's our planning process? And how does all that work? And are we on it? Are you
are you doing enough? Do you have a good plan? And our response has always been a
we, we kind of all do it all the time, we're always thinking we're always talking.
But as far as just moving forward, I don't know that we have any great brilliant ideas
on how we attract the people that we've got. But we've got wonderful people, I think,
yesterday that I stepped in real quick to a little training session that we had in
Searcy on customer service, and I just snuck into the last hour and kind of sat in
the back to see how it was going. And the last hour was a fun little hour that I actually
ended up in making comments about I should have come all day, all those things were
basic, but I needed to hear everything y'all were learning. And there's a fun little
video that our training team had put together that facilitated that day worth of training.
And it was lots of little interviews of all of our different people talking about
lots of the different things that we want to train and incorporate. And they all were
asked what makes what's the difference in First Security and our training marketing
group that kind of did the video said it was awesome to hear the answers to these
questions and we got to that one. Everyone said the people that's what makes a difference
here at First Security. So as far as our plan to hire the best people moving forward,
we're always thinking about it. But, but I would say probably the people we have already
are who are helping us attract more good people. And so that was just a fun little
instance, where getting everybody in one room, love seeing everybody, they all had
good stories, they were all sharing good things. And then to hear that last video
kind of cap off about, they all said it's the people that makes the difference. And
I would say it's probably the people that are helping us continue to attract good
people.
Adam Rutledge 25:20
Absolutely.
John Rutledge 25:22
Yeah, it's we got to really, we're fortunate to have a really strong culture, we're
fortunate have some amazing people that are ultimately the ones who are supporting
and holding up to that culture, and living that out daily in all our markets. And
so, when it comes to, you know, the idea of adding new people to the team, I think,
you know, it seems like making sure there's a great fit, because that person fit our
culture. And, and more importantly, we better make sure they know what they're getting
themselves into. Yeah, but more times than not what Nathan said is exactly right.
We have the opportunity to add them to our team, because they already know our people,
and they already know our culture. So it's really just, it's the work that everybody
else is doing holding this high standard that we're just trying to make sure we don't
mess it up.
Brent Williams 26:07
Great people attract great people.
John Rutledge 26:08
They really do.
Brent Williams 26:08
Yeah, that's exactly right. Well, before before this started, we were all kind of
reminiscing, you know, about what the what the university looked like, when when you
guys were here, when I when I came here for the first time. So it makes me think I
might close with a question. I love all all of three of you to weigh in on, you know,
put yourself back, I don't know how ever long ago it was that you're, you know, a
Walton College student ready to graduate or middle of middle of you know, you kind
of got through the freshman, sophomore year, you're starting to figure out what you
want to do. Knowing what you know now, what's one piece of advice, you know that you
would give one of these 8000 undergraduate students or so that's a part of the Walton
College today.
John Rutledge 26:58
I think ultimately, it's get to know the people you're in class with. And get to know
your instructor. Predominantly, though, it's the person sitting to your right and
your left. And I think sometimes, you know, obviously, in college, there's so much
fun to be had. And I can think of lots of days, I couldn't wait to get out of class
and go go enjoy some of that. But, you know, you really will be amazed looking back
where the people are sitting left and right of you and in that class with you where
they might end up and where your paths might cross again. And I think if you had the
perspective of knowing that I'm going to have a high likelihood of running into these
people again. And there's an opportunity to possibly even do business with, I literally
have a cold call this week from a guy that I was in college with, the Walton College,
calling me about an opportunity. And I have not seen him in over 20 years. And I don't
know how he got my cell phone. But he did. And he was persistent. And it was a great
conversation just to catch up. And so to me, it's just really be aware of the fact
that you're sitting in a class with a bunch of people that you'll probably do business
with, or have an opportunity to.
Brent Williams 28:11
You know, John building on that. It was a couple nights ago that I got to talk to
about 400 freshmen sitting in an auditorium. And, and one of the things that I told
him, I walked to one side of the auditorium and said, there's somebody sitting here,
that if you go across the room that's going to get to know somebody across the room,
they don't know, and there's going to be a relationship that's going to impact their
career, they're going to do business together, you know, something's going to happen,
because those relationships, I couldn't agree more. He took a good one, Nathan and
Adam.
Adam Rutledge 28:44
He did.
Brent Williams 28:44
How are you gonna follow that up?
Adam Rutledge 28:45
The only thing you can do is just kind of piggyback off of that.
Brent Williams 28:50
Okay.
Adam Rutledge 28:47
Really, obviously, the academic side of it's important. And, and I was one that I
needed to be sitting on the front row, and I was encouraged by my father to sit on
the front row. And so I remember that still to this day. So I would pass that along,
as well as being in class and sit on the front row. Because the academics are important,
but their relationships are equally as important. And to piggyback on what John said,
is, is not just the potential of doing business with somebody in that room. But, you
know, I was 18, did some stupid things. You know, I was 21, did some stupid things.
You know, you need to think about those things that you don't want people to remember
about you as well, while you're in college, because you might be trying to do business
with them at some point in time as well. And so, just just thinking back, I didn't
think about that while I was in college that you know, some of those things I did
in college that might be what I'm remembered by somebody I'd like to do business with
today, so.
What a good point. You know, I don't think I've heard that one exactly what I've asked this question to podcast guests. Take care of your reputation.
Absolutely.
Brent Williams 30:00
From from the act,
Adam Rutledge 30:01
That's all you got. And it's hard to when you lose it, it's hard to get it back. So,
you know, I just, I think about that, and I did like to have a good good time in college.
And you know, I think it's important that reputation and your last name you need need
to protect it.
Brent Williams 30:18
What a good point, how are you gonna follow that up, Nathan?
Nathan Rutledge 30:20
Oh, I I guess I'll take a different angle a little bit and point out something that
that may be relevant or may not. But thinking about just myself in college and other
people that I knew in college, you kind of had opposite ends of the spectrum, you
had some they were just in college, they were gonna get through, but they're gonna
have fun, they weren't really worried about life. They knew they'd figured out eventually,
they might kind of pick a college, but they didn't really know why. And you had others
that whether they were able to be focused and knew their path, but still have fun
or not have fun, not participate, because they knew their path, you have people that
didn't know their path and did. And they just kind of went along their way. I feel
like things that I've gotten involved with just in communities, thinking about workforce
development, economic development in small town, Searcy, thinking about high school
kids thinking about different types of job opportunities, whether it's college bound,
or whether it's getting into the workforce, out of high school. Regardless, I think
about how so many people just don't know what they're good at. They don't know what
to do, you just hear that so much, even from people that I know my age now still feel
like they stumbled around and I had somebody willing to work in that cruise in Little
Rock kind of suggests maybe going to do some aptitude testing. And really, I just
thought it might be fun. Just because I know John and Adam and I are going to work
together for the rest of our lives, it might be kind of fun to know a little bit of
where I should lean, I guess I could be a little bit of the stubborn one in the family.
So I kind of thought there's a chance I might lean one direction, out of being stubborn.
And that's really not how it was designed. So I spent a little time going through
this little aptitude testing and found a really interesting thought it was good for
me. And since then I've always just thought back of kind of how the high school path,
the college path. Regardless, if you want to get serious at life now or whether you
want to kind of get through but have a lot of fun, probably a good idea to just have
a little bit of a little bit of a thought of kind of how you're designed and what
you might want to lean towards. So that could sort of guide you. So to me, I think
it was a fun, a fun opportunity to kind of learn a little bit about how I was designed,
I think it might be good for others to think about, and I wish it was done more. And
then regardless, if you're the type that's head down, and I'm working hard through
college, or you're making your grades, but you're having a lot of fun, it's going
to set you on the path that is probably going to help you get to where you want to
go. So I would encourage folks to think about that.
John Rutledge 32:57
To make sure I echo what he's saying is he got Adam and I to do it as well.
Brent Williams 33:02
Yeah.
John Rutledge 33:03
And yeah, I found it really helpful.
Brent Williams 33:07
Yeah.
John Rutledge 33:07
And what's been awesome, not only did it help the three of us kind of have a better
feel for each other, it's helped me communicate things with people I'm responsible
for at work today. And in ways that just really helps them see things a little different,
then, you know, most of the world is so much more clear cut. And this, you know, this
kind of mindset really kind of opened someone's mind to some new way of thinking and,
Brent Williams 33:34
I agree and it gives you a little bit of a language to talk about, right? You know,
it kind of it helps you understand yourself, helps you understand others. And then
it kind of gives you a common language that you can use like oh okay, now I know what
that means when I'm seeing this person act this way, or this is how they respond in
in periods of stress and all those sorts of things. Well, I wanted to say thank you
all for being willing to spend this time today and be on the Be Epic podcast. It's
kind of a rare opportunity for me to get to sit down with three brothers that are
involved in, in in a big business throughout Arkansas. So thanks for what you're doing
in state and thank you for what your family has done for the Walton College and for
the University of Arkansas we're, we're certainly proud of all of you and what you're
doing. So thank you.
Adam Rutledge 34:25
You bet. Thank you and to the University and the Walton College for what you've done
for our family.
Brent Williams 34:29
Absolutely. On behalf of the Walton College thank you for joining us for this captivating
conversation. To stay connected and never miss an episode, simply search for Be Epic
on your preferred podcast service.
Brent D. Williams is the Dean of the Sam M. Walton College of Business at the University of Arkansas.
With a deep commitment to fostering excellence in business education and thought leadership,
Dr. Williams brings a wealth of experience to his role, shaping the future of the
college and its impact on students and the business community.
