CEO Stories: The Can-Do Attitude of American Capitalism

Under Erik’s leadership, the company has expanded its national footprint from 120 locations to 150, and he anticipates growth that will lead to 50 more in the near future. Mobile Mini has annual revenue in excess of $500 million. Listen to the podcast below to learn more about Erik Olsson and his thoughts on capitalism in America today.

The Appeal of Capitalism

For Swedish native Erik Olsson, the lure of capitalism, freedom, and choice was too strong to ignore. First as a university student and then when he started his career in a Swedish company, he found himself frustrated by the complacency that was borne of Sweden’s socialist economy and lack of incentives for personal achievement. His homeland was a stark contrast to the U.S., which he describes as the “icon of capitalism, entrepreneurship, and innovation.” To Olsson, these differences are apparent in both people’s personal lives and their attitude toward their jobs. In the U.S., people are motivated to do their best because of the promise of reward – which in his mind, fosters a better relationship between employees and employers.

Steady Growth

Under Olsson’s stewardship, Mobile Mini has grown in size and profitability – results of Olsson’s refocusing of the business to be less cyclical, more reliant on national accounts, and increasingly customer-centric. He takes great pride in Mobile Mini’s Net Promoter Score – a measure of customer loyalty and likelihood to recommend the company. The company has higher scores than such well-known and admired brands as Apple, Costco, Starbucks, and Amazon.

Measure for Measure

Technology has played a major role in Mobile Mini’s ability to provide superior customer service and be the premium-priced player in the mobile storage market. Customers can manage their relationship with the company online, but just as important to Olsson is the ability to measure the Net Promoter Score down to the branch level, giving a high degree of visibility into each employee’s contributions to the company. In turn, the company can pinpoint areas for improvement and provide the appropriate resources.