Academics

Dick’s Sporting Goods executive discusses priorities, leadership

Andre Hawaux, executive vice president, chief operating officer and chief financial officer of Dick’s Sporting Goods, left, answers a question from Charles H. Whiteman, John and Becky Surma Dean of the Smeal College of Business, during an Executive Insights session in Struthers Auditorium in the Business Building. Credit: Jonathan Beightol. All Rights Reserved.

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- Andre Hawaux, executive vice president, chief operating officer and chief financial officer of Dick’s Sporting Goods, spoke to a nearly full audience in the Struthers Auditorium of the Business Building on April 10 as part of the Penn State Smeal College of Business Executive Insights series.

Hawaux talked about the competitive sporting goods industry and how Dick’s balances brick-and-mortar store sales with online offerings. He also talked about Dick’s commitment to integrity with its sports-themed Rules of the Game, which is similar to Smeal’s Honor Code.

For full video coverage of the discussion, visit http://video.smeal.psu.edu/podcasts/executive-insights-video/andre-hawaux.

Some additional points made by Hawaux during the session:

On his day-to-day priorities“We talk about four things as an organization that we should be focused on. One thing I try to do is to make sure I’m spending a good portion of my time on those four things.

“We have to improve the productivity of our stores. We want to drive more revenue on a square footage basis.

“The second part is our ecommerce sales. There’s a lot of business being done in brick-and-mortar, but there’s a lot more being done by e-commerce.

“The third part is we’ve launched a new specialty concept — Field and Stream. It’s a new concept for us.

“The last part is … to focus on talent. We need people. We need quality people.”

On integrity“One of the things I think you have to be as a leader is to have integrity in a way that can’t be challenged. I think integrity in a leader is really important.”

On leadership“I think being a humble leader and being a servant leader to the people you support is really, really important.

Being in a leadership position is not a right that’s given to you it’s a privilege you receive. I think leaders need to surround themselves with folks who are as imaginative, as smart, or smarter, than they are. And I think they need to respect diversity from a standpoint of style and culture.”

On sustainability“Most companies today have a real focus on that because it’s not only the right thing to do, it’s also really good for business. It’s good for the community, it’s good for the environment and it’s good for the bottom line.”

Advice for students“There are four things I look for in students but more importantly in the people I hire. Be really good at what you do. Perfect your craft. Get to know your company’s business model. Do what you do with some degree of passion. Please be patient. Be patient and good things will happen.”

Last Updated June 26, 2015