On a sunny Saturday in July, Bob McKinney and Will Schuler met for the first time at a house on Walloon Lake in Michigan and forged an immediate connection. Both are members of the same Indiana chapter of YPO, a global community of more than 30,000 chief executives. Bob, 97, is YPO’s oldest member. Will, 21, is currently the youngest.
A former financial services CEO, Bob retired long before Will, a construction entrepreneur, lost his first tooth. But despite the generational divide, the duo discovered that they hold similar beliefs on life, leadership and the impact of the extraordinary network they share.
A place for leaders to grow
Bob and Will come from families that prioritized hard work and community engagement, an ethos that has shaped them, professionally and personally.
Before joining YPO, Bob earned an engineering degree from the United States Naval Academy, a JD from the University of Indiana Law School (now the Robert H. McKinney Indiana University School of Law, named in his honor), served in World War II and the Korean War, practiced law, served as Chairman and CEO of First Indiana Bank and The Somerset Group, and was a founding partner of the law firm Bose Mckinney and Evans.
Despite his success, Bob craved professional support and opportunities for growth.
“I needed YPO,” he says, pointing to his lack of formal business education. “I needed people to talk to about business; I didn’t have that resource.”
A friend introduced him to YPO, and he came to love it, quickly getting involved in leadership roles.
Getting involved became a through-line in Bob’s career. As a civic leader, he helped shape the revitalization of the city of Indianapolis in the ‘70s and ‘80s, helping solve housing issues to create a better community for all. Later, U.S. President Jimmy Carter would appoint him Chairman of the Federal Home Loan Bank and a director of Fannie Mae.
“I think you get much more out of something when you’re the leader,” says Bob, admitting he enjoys himself more – and garners greater benefits – from being a participant rather than an observer.
A source of invaluable connections
Will says he has always lived by the adage, “Surround yourself with wise counsel.” Coming from a farming family, at age 16 he started Will Power Excavation, a company specializing in earthwork and utilities for commercial, civil, and residential projects in central Indiana. By his senior year of high school, he had earned a million dollars in revenue. To date, Will has 75 employees working in the field and operates at a pace of approximately USD25 million annually, owning 60+ pieces of earthmoving equipment. He is the sole owner and has built a capital and asset intensive business solely through a traditional bank partnership and cash flow.
Having forgone college to focus on his company, Will saw YPO as an opportunity to connect with other entrepreneurs and industry peers to find support, troubleshoot business issues, and continue learning. Prior to joining, he served as a moderator and board member within Entrepreneurs’ Organization (EO), and now he’s excited to explore opportunities within YPO to also practice service leadership.
Sharing one of his favorite quotes, Will says, “five years from now you are the same person as you are today except for the books you read and the people you meet.” Fittingly, he has found the most value in YPO’s member directory, which he uses to build relationships with peers around the world across different industries.
“There’s a sense of instant intimacy when someone reaches out from YPO,” says Will. “There’s a level of common ground and respect.”
Bob also harnessed YPO’s global network throughout his career, admitting he was never shy about reaching out to anyone. He met some of his dearest friends through his chapter and forum group, and YPO is now a family affair for him, as his daughter and son in-law are also members.
“As the world has changed with virtual everything, real relationships and real connections are still at the core of everything,” says Will. “YPO has been an opportunity for me to surround myself with wise counsel, good friendships and people I look up to and respect in the business world and in their personal lives.”
A community to turn to during challenging times
The year Bob joined YPO – 1968 – was a particularly tumultuous time. Social and civil unrest reached new heights as the U.S.’s involvement in Vietnam deepened. Businesses – across all industries – had to navigate a changing marketplace.
The same could be said for 2023, the year Will joined YPO. The 2020s brought new challenges – from COVID-19 and its aftermath, inflation, supply chain issues, and again, social, civil and political unrest.
In unprecedented times, just as other leaders have done for 73 years, both men found solace in the YPO community.
“Being a leader has been lonely, especially as sole owner of my business. There have been countless 30-hour continuous workdays and constant sacrifices personally, socially and financially,” Will admits. “To shoulder and face the challenges of reaching my fullest potential, I need an army of people smarter than I am to turn to, to reap wisdom from, and call friends.”
YPO’s community offers a safe, trusted environment for leaders to support one another and share the burden of their roles by exchanging ideas and sharing their personal and business experiences.
— Bob McKinney, YPO’s oldest member share
Bob tapped YPO early in his membership to help him strengthen the organizational systems of the two businesses he was juggling. Through YPO, Bob was introduced to Harold Geneen, who famously diversified International Telephone and Telegraph through acquiring shares of companies ranging from the Sheraton Hotel chain to the Hartford Insurance Company. Geneen’s methodology improved Bob’s business strategy and allowed him to expand to six companies.
YPO connections have also helped strengthen Will’s day-to-day work and organization. Shortly after a brief conversation about operating systems with a fellow member, that member mailed Will a book that he used to implement organization strategies at Will Power Excavation.
Will is also harnessing YPO to address one of his bigger challenges, the labor shortage in construction. He is working with his peers to find solutions that will benefit not only him but the industry at large.
Both men agree that paramount to their success are the face-to-face connections and relationships they have built with other leaders. That’s the value of YPO.
“Life is an interesting adventure and YPO is a foundation for all of it,” says Bob.
Before they wrapped up their conversation, Will asked Bob for any parting words of advice on his journey.
“Doesn’t look like you need much,” he said with a laugh.
