Joseph Gorder on career
From Valero Energy's CEO, JOE GORDER, address to the Alliance of Men in San Antonio · · JimBerg
“The phone rang immediately and it was Mike S. Kowski calling to offer me a job at Valero ... that lifted me out of a real mess and I was so grateful.”
On , Joseph Gorder, Executive Chairman at Valero Energy, spoke about career during Valero Energy's CEO, JOE GORDER, address to the Alliance of Men in San Antonio on JimBerg.
About Joseph Gorder
In an October 2017 address to the Alliance of Men in San Antonio, Valero Energy's President, CEO, and Chairman Joseph Gorder spoke about his Christian faith and its role in his career. He described his relationship with the Lord Jesus as a constant in his life and recounted periods of spiritual and professional difficulty, including a "dark period" when he felt he was not being spiritually fed. Gorder attributed positive changes in his circumstances to events outside his control, such as Valero's acquisition of Ultramar Diamond Shamrock, which he said altered the company's culture, and the appointment of a new pastor at his church. Gorder also discussed his leadership philosophy, stating that his job is to serve everyone in the company and that he cringes at the behavior of CEOs who think they are above it all. He advised the audience to avoid isolation, to be accountable to other men, and to treat every day as game day. He described email as "terribly disruptive" and recommended putting it in a junk folder. Gorder concluded by saying that when he trusts God, his path is straight, but when he does not, he "zigged and zagged and bounced off the guardrails."