The equine world is rich with history and prestige, especially regarding Arabian horses, prized by royalty and nobility for their beauty and intelligence. Young Greg Knowles, after being fired from his disc jockey job, surprised his mother when he decided to become a horse trainer. She was horrified. 

“You’re my baby and now you’re a bum,” she told him in heartbreak. “What do I tell your grandma, ‘Here’s my son the horse trainer?’ I want my money back.”

Yikes!

Without any prior experience or connections in the Arabian horse industry, Greg achieved the miraculous: he amassed extensive knowledge, became a globally recognized judge, and traveled the world, never feeling like he was working a day in his life. Today, Greg leads sales and marketing for Royal Arabians, a global breeding program. 

Listen to the full podcast episode here. 

Mentorship in the Workplace 

Like many legacy leaders, Greg had a challenging path. Much of what he learned was from observation and on-the-job training. He began working at a friend’s family farm, cleaning stalls and handling horses. This ignited his passion for Arabian horses. 

Cultivating relationships was crucial to Greg’s success. His humble beginnings required him to ask questions, form friendships, and develop new skills. His experience made a connection that changed his career. Working with his mentor, he learned processes and gained insights that could have taken him years on his own. 

In both the corporate and equine worlds, mentorship is crucial. But what do you do when you lack experience and don't have anyone to turn to?

You do what Greg did: find your own way.

Great leaders like Greg don’t happen overnight–they find mentors they trust and build their skills over time. 

Greg knew that making it in this elite industry would be a challenge. He worked grueling hours as a groom and then an apprentice, staying curious but also questioning the head trainer’s methodology. Once he realized that he had a different approach to training horses, he took that as a sign to move on with his career and open his business Arabian Expressions. 

This often happens in the corporate world. A good mentor wants you to outgrow them and will appreciate their time with you rather than hold you back. 

Building Your Reputation

Greg worked tirelessly until Arabian Expressions became profitable. Although the days were long, his passion fueled him. During our conversation, he highlighted the importance of loving the work that you do and navigating the culture of your industry. While every industry is different, there are unofficial rules to learn. 

The Arabian horse world is no exception. Many enthusiasts are legacy equestrians with generations involved in the community. Because of this, the industry can appear schmoozy to outsiders. Despite this though, Greg cultivated a brand of excellence with his integrity setting him apart. 

“I’m not built that way,” he said when I asked how he built his legacy. “My father wasn’t built that way. He was honest.” He laughed, recounting a story about his father watching his brother’s baseball games. “[Like my dad], I’m a guy who will tell the truth…I’m not going to schmooze you. I’m here to do a good job.” 

If you’re new to an industry, it can be difficult to learn the ropes. It takes time to build trust and form your own opinions as you gain experience. But leading with integrity? That will always be noticed. 

Greg's honesty and integrity have earned him a reputation as one of the top experts in the world. His reputation was so strong that he was pulled out of retirement to work for one of the top farms in the world, and is hosting an Arabian Halter/Breeding and In-Hand Judging Masterclass in 2024. 

Lessons for Corporate Leadership

On the surface, the Arabian halter horse and corporate worlds look completely different. Commitment to excellence, however, is essential in both industries. These results-oriented standards produce results and are key skills for corporate leaders. 

Whether you’re an experienced leader or earlier in your career, it’s important to cultivate relationships and build a reputation that cements your legacy. Great leaders not only continuously hone their skills, but they pass them on to the next generation like Greg is today. 

Through a combination of passion, business savvy, failure, and stubbornness, Greg has carved an unconventional path for himself and created a legacy. His journey offers invaluable lessons for aspiring leaders, including:

1. Overcoming Impostor Syndrome: Greg's determination, despite his initial lack of experience, was crucial to his success. Leaders must overcome self-doubt and commit to putting in the work to achieve greatness.
2. Forging Your Own Path: Spoiler alert! Greg’s mother eventually embraced his unconventional career path. Following your own vision rather than conforming to others' expectations is innovation at its finest. 
3. Staying True to Your Values: Greg's straightforward and honest approach underscores the importance of integrity. Leaders must stay true to their values, as authenticity and honesty build lasting trust and credibility.

Tune in here to listen to our conversation and subscribe to the Jolt Your Career private podcast for access to this and all previous episodes.