C-Suite: Jim Sliker

Fast fact: During his decade of leadership, Central States’ annual revenue has tripled from under $265 million to over $900 million in 2023.

Which skills do you think are most important when it comes to leadership? Being entrusted as a leader is a high calling. It is bigger than driving business performance and securing financial results. It is about making a positive impact in the lives of people. Being a good leader starts with humility and authenticity. It is casting a vision, creating clarity and alignment throughout the organization, minimizing politics and bureaucracy, and maintaining a healthy culture. Most importantly, the job of a leader is to be a servant who identifies and meets the needs of people so that they can serve customers well and achieve goals.

Do you think artificial intelligence (AI) can take jobs in your industry? I believe AI will make positive impacts in most industries including ours. However, I don’t see AI as a lever to reduce jobs in our company. We are 100% employee-owned with a purpose of providing well-being and financial freedom for our employees and their families. AI brings an opportunity to have more efficient and effective business processes leading to improved customer experiences, greater growth, job generation and increasing employee-owner satisfaction.

If you had $1 million to give, what would you support? I have a passion for helping kids that have experienced especially difficult circumstances whether that be health conditions, basic needs not being met, negative influences or the like. Although money alone cannot fix all of the issues, $1 million when combined with loving service can provide many kids with support and hope.  w

What is the best business advice someone has ever given you? The best business advice I received was not spoken but lived out by my parents. They taught me to work hard, do my best in all things, be a team player, and do the right thing, even when it hurts.

How significant to you is developing a diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) culture within your organization? Organic diversity is powerful in any organization. It brings different perspectives which generate new ideas, stronger strategies and better decisions ultimately leading to greater success. One of our three company values is “acting in love,” which creates the space for everyone. We believe “love” is a verb and not the feeling. It is accepting all people right where they are and treating them with respect, kindness, compassion, patience and self-control.

If you could trade places with anyone for a day, who would it be and why? If being alive today is not a requirement, I would pick Peter, the disciple of Jesus. It would be awesome to observe, hear and feel the most influential person of all time. Otherwise, Josh Allen would be my next choice, as I am a life-long Buffalo Bills fan and still think being a professional quarterback would be my dream job.

What’s your favorite movie or television show? The first thing that came to mind was “Ted Lasso.” It is a light-hearted, feel-good series that caused me to laugh and cry, and the nice guy wins in the end.

What are your thoughts on working from home? The effectiveness of remote work is very dependent on the type of job, the capability of the individual, and the capability of the manager. In many situations all three of those conditions don’t align if the people are not in the office to communicate and collaborate. No matter the role, my bigger concern with remote work is keeping people engaged with the company, culture and other employees, which is how we continue to serve our customers with high quality and urgency.