Company Profiles
Walgreens Sidebar: In My Own Words: Greg Wasson
Walgreens President and CEO elaborates on his sources of inspiriation, perspectives on life and motivating factors.
Worst job ever It’s a tie. One was having to cut firewood with a buzz saw for days on end. And I don’t think anyone has worked until they’ve baled hay.
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E-mailThe work story I find myself telling most often at cocktail parties When I opened the first Walgreens in Las Vegas in 1996. I’d been a district manager for 12 years, so management knew I was bringing some experience, and they gave me enough rein to open Las Vegas. That became our No. 1 new market ever. It was one of the most enjoyable parts of my career because I was empowered by a VP who believed in me. I tell the story not to brag about my accomplishment but to encourage managers to match the right people to the right opportunity — to not constrict or restrict what stars in the making do.
Favorite hobby Water sports — waterskiing and boating in particular.
Scariest moment When my daughters were young, I thought we’d have a Gilligan’s Island experience on Lake Mead. While living in Las Vegas, I had bought a deck boat, and one weekend we camped out on an island. But in the middle of the night, a monster storm came up, with high winds and eight-foot waves. I threw the kids and the dog on the boat and got out of there. I was very glad I’d taken a Coast Guard safety class — the walls of water were like cliffs.
