What can a smart business leader learn from a softball field to build a thriving, multi-million-dollar company?
If you’ve ever wondered how to build a resilient company culture, lead with decisiveness, and navigate the messy beauty of running a family business, this episode is for you. Derek Volk, third-generation CEO of Volk Packaging, shares unfiltered stories and hard-earned leadership lessons drawn from the softball diamond and decades in the corrugated box industry. Whether you’re in manufacturing, family business, or just looking to lead with more clarity, you’ll find yourself nodding along.
By the end of this episode, you’ll walk away with:
- A powerful mindset shift around decision-making that could change how you lead under pressure
- A fresh take on company culture rooted in loyalty, trust, and “no bureaucracy” empowerment
- Real strategies for growing a family-owned business without losing your soul—or your sanity
Hit play now to discover how to lead like a coach, build a team that thinks like owners, and create a business your customers love doing business with.
Episode Highlights for the Smart Business Leader
If you’re a smart business leader looking to grow a resilient, values-driven company, these ten moments from the episode are packed with insight, humor, and real-world advice. Here’s your timestamped guide to the best takeaways:
[03:12] – Starting in the Box Business
Derek Volk shares how his grandfather launched the family into the box industry during the Great Depression—selling stationery to GE, then pivoting into corrugated packaging. A smart business leader will appreciate how one big client sparked a three-generation legacy.
[07:45] – Weathering the Labor Storm
Derek talks about the ongoing labor shortage and how today’s workforce expectations are shifting. A smart business leader listens close: this is where operations and culture intersect.
[11:20] – What Makes Volk Packaging Different
In a commodity market like boxes, differentiation is tough. Derek explains how trust, responsiveness, and ease-of-business set Volk apart. For a smart business leader, this is a masterclass in customer experience.
[16:01] – Empowering Frontline Employees
Instead of bottlenecking decisions at the top, Derek empowers his team to act. A smart business leader knows this is how you scale without sacrificing agility.
[21:36] – Leadership Lessons from Softball
From bunting to base stealing, Derek’s coaching mindset turned into a business playbook. The “Go For Third” mentality shows how sports analogies teach high-stakes leadership in relatable ways.
[25:08] – Equal Isn’t Always Fair
Derek explains why treating everyone fairly doesn’t mean treating everyone equally—especially in a multi-generational business. Smart business leaders will nod in agreement: tenure and trust still matter.
[30:45] – Don’t Swing a Bat That’s Too Heavy
This metaphor about sales reps overpromising is both funny and dead-on. Smart business leaders should steal this story—it’s memorable and applies to every department.
[36:10] – Transitioning Leadership Without Sacrificing Growth
Derek shares the real math behind choosing machinery over an ESOP. Smart business leaders weighing growth vs. exit will get a rare, honest take on how to balance both.
[43:55] – Setting Goals That Actually Matter
A 10-year goal isn’t just about revenue. Derek questions whether chasing a bigger number serves the business, employees, or customers. Smart business leaders will love the reflection on why we grow.
[50:40] – Boxes with Purpose: Finding the “Why”
Even in a seemingly unglamorous business, Derek ties back to impact—boxes for medical devices, food, and more. A smart business leader understands that meaning at work starts with knowing who you serve.
About Derek Volk
Derek Volk is the owner of Volk Packaging Corporation, a third-generation family-owned and operated corrugated box manufacturer in Biddeford, Maine, and Volk Paxit, a contract packaging fulfillment center in Sanford, Maine. He released his second book, Go for Third: Leadership Lessons from the Softball Field to the Workplace in 2024. Derek has been working at Volk Packaging since high school and has been running the company for over 20 years. Derek is a Maine businessman, best-selling author, former radio personality, and nationally recognized public speaker. He is a grateful supporter of veterans’ organizations and created the Volk Packaging Heroes Wall as a way to honor members of the US Armed Forces, past and present. Derek was named the 2015 Spurwink “Humanitarian of the Year.” That same year, Maine Biz named Derek to their NEXT List, recognizing him as one of Maine’s business trailblazers. In 2020, Derek was inducted into the Manufacturer’s Association of Maine’s “Manufacturer’s Hall of Fame.”