Published on 03-24-2025
Alumnus Marshall Larsen first learned leadership skills as a student at the U.S. Military Academy and later honed those skills as president, CEO and chairman of Goodrich Corp. Through the Daniels School’s Larsen Leaders Academy, established in 2018 by Larsen and his wife Susan, he is giving back to his alma mater to ensure business school students learn similar leadership skills that prepare them for the future.
In a recent discussion with academy students, Larsen detailed his leadership style and career with Goodrich, which he joined as a financial analyst after graduating from Purdue with a Master of Science in Industrial Administration degree.
Larsen described his approach to developing leadership within a large organization, emphasizing the need to build a strong pipeline by empowering and developing people at all levels of the organization rather than relying on a small executive team. To build leadership at scale, he established an executive development program and changed the incentive system for the company, focusing on corporate results and business unit incentives instead of individual goals. This allowed employees to showcase their talent and focus on building talent within their business unit
“My leadership philosophy is based on building the right culture, enabling people to do the right things, properly incentivizing them and adhering to ethical standards,” he said. “I also believe that starting early is crucial for making a difference in the world of leadership. Volunteering for assignments at work can help you keep up with your organization’s activities. I also encourage new graduates to join the Purdue Alumni Association, which provides a good way to network with alumni.”
In addition, Larsen offered advice to new employees on how to cultivate leadership in their organizations and set themselves up for long-term success. “Work in the office rather than remotely and meet as many people in the leadership chain as possible to make a difference in the company,” he said. “It’s also important to keep an open mind and move on if you find the company you work for to be unethical or unfulfilling.”
Larsen's expectations for general managers include being accountable and responsible for the business unit and owning the balance sheet and results. He advises that everyone should make decisions in an ethical way and that they should be aware of the consequences of their actions.
“If someone wants to do something wrong and thinks they will get away with it, it is not a question of if they get caught, but when,” he said. “There will be a paper trail, a human trail and an electronic trail, and one of them will get you every time.”
Participating students came away with valuable lessons. “Marshall Larsen serves as a testament as to what it means to lead with integrity,” said Jonathon Putman, a Daniels School senior majoring in marketing. “Our conversation gave me insight into how to successfully lead an organization through challenges while never compromising on values.”
“At the end of the day, it is the trust of your team that is the runway for organizational success,” added Olivia Reynolds, a senior accounting major. “Marshall Larsen is a living example of what it means to have a ‘people-first’ mindset and through our conversation, I was inspired to embrace the same mindset as I prepare to begin my career.”
