IRU: What advice would you give someone who is just starting out their career? Kasbar: Work is generally going to be delegated to you. So, the most important thing is really the simplest—to do as good a job as possible on that work. In many cases, that work would have been previously done by the person who is delegating it to you. And they have their view of how it should be done. It’s your job to get it done as completely, quickly, and efficiently as possible. And if you’re showing innovation and doing that work better than they did, then you’re going to progress in your career. But overall, the most important thing, no matter where you are in your career, is to keep moving. Always be looking ahead. Don’t look back. And stay open-minded.
IRU: How do you balance the competing demands of your per- sonal and professional life? Kasbar: Tis is a real challenge because I am known to work at all hours of the day and night. But my view is that you need to enjoy what you’re doing. I get energized by the positive things that happen at work, and that puts me in a good position to maintain my energy in my personal life. With modern technol- ogy and videoconferencing, we’re able to achieve so much more these days, and that provides more opportunity to enjoy a little bit more personal time.
IRU: What aspect of investor relations do you find the most valuable? Kasbar: Our investor base is one of our most critical stakeholder communities. Good ideas come from everywhere and their outside perspective is essential. Direct engagement with our investors is a huge opportunity to get consultative input because not only are our investors our owners, but they want what is best for the com- pany—they are often our biggest cheerleaders! Because of recent investor feedback, we added a seasoned professional to lead our investor relations and communications functions, Elsa Ballard, in mid-2023. And we are planning our first comprehensive investor day in over a decade this year. So, it is really this connection to investors that informs our strategy—which I’m looking forward to sharing more about at our investor day.
IRU: How can IR add the most value to your leadership team? Kasbar: Great IROs are strategic partners to the leadership team, and IR’s insight about the competitive landscape, market conditions, and investor sentiment is essential to my decision- making as CEO. Elsa is also our 24/7 pulse-check on how the World Kinect brand and messaging is resonating with investors
niri.org/ irupdate
Direct engagement with our investors is a huge opportunity to get consultative input because not only are our investors our owners, but they want what is best for the company—they are often our biggest cheerleaders!
and the external market. As we just went through a rebrand and name change last year, IR ensures our executive management team is sensitized to investor feedback and understands how our company is perceived externally.
IRU: What are the key ingredients to a compelling investor nar- rative? Kasbar: It’s about being as clear as possible so that investors understand who you are, what you’re doing, and why you exist. Tat you say what you do—and do what you say. Simplicity is key.
IRU: What’s the one thing you take with you on every business trip? Kasbar: My iPad and noise-cancelling earphones. Tat means wherever I am, I’ve got the ability to interact with my team, and I’ve got everything I need with me. So, there isn’t anything that is going to interrupt either my productivity or my ability to re- charge—which I do by listening to music or audiobooks, or by watching something online—anything from documentaries to comedy or drama to sports.
IRU: If you weren’t CEO, what would you be doing? Kasbar: I have an ongoing fantasy that I would be a musician. I’d be writing songs and performing them. I didn’t stick with my musical passions as a young person, and I always wonder where I’d be today if I had! I also love engineering because I like under- standing how things work. I’m curious by nature and I’ve always been fascinated taking apart and putting things together—just to see how they run.
IRU: Where is your happy place? Kasbar: Pretty simple—being outside, doing something active. I love cycling, skiing, hiking, and playing golf—really anything that is outdoors with my family, friends, or colleagues, and enjoy- ing this wonderful world we live in. IR
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