I recently went one-on-one with Gary Edwards, CEO of Arthur Murray Dance Studios.
Adam: Thanks again for taking the time to share your advice. First things first, though, I am sure readers would love to learn more about you. How did you get here? What experiences, failures, setbacks, or challenges have been most instrumental to your growth?
Gary: My love of dance started young. My mother ran large dinner dance events in London, and I wasn’t about to be left at home while my brother went. So, I learned to dance, and it quickly became a passion. At my first competition, I won the Blackpool British Open in both Ballroom and Latin American in the same week. From there, I dove into 10-dance competitions and grabbed on to every chance to perform. All of those experiences taught me discipline, resilience, and the value of seizing opportunities. Who knew that they would be lessons that would be crucial when I became CEO of Arthur Murray. The first month on the job took me by surprise. Clarion Capital Partners had partnered with me to acquire Arthur Murray, and almost immediately, my inbox was filled with messages from franchisees. That’s when I realized leadership here wasn’t just about strategy – it was going to be about listening, building relationships, and making sure every franchisee felt valued. I also learned, the hard way, the importance of understanding the inner workings of a business before trying to lead it. That lesson of balancing vision with operational knowledge has shaped how I approach every decision and challenge today.
Adam: In your experience, what are the key steps to growing and scaling your business?
Gary: Planning. Relentless, detailed planning. I’ve learned that it’s so important to map out every step, track progress, and make sure that all the bases are covered, especially when it comes to your team. The best way to grow and scale your business is to surround yourself with the right team, and then constantly plan, track, and adjust when needed.
Adam: What are your best tips on the topics of marketing and branding?
Gary: Beyond having a clear brand message, being consistent and authentic, the key to effective marketing and branding is staying current with technology. Trends, platforms, and tools are constantly evolving. If you want to really connect with your audience, you must be able to adapt quickly to the ever-evolving world of technology. If you focus on those things, your marketing will resonate and drive results.
Adam: What do you believe are the defining qualities of an effective leader?
Gary: I always like to say that I’m a leader, not a boss. To me, an effective leader is someone who leads, not just gives orders. Similar to dance, leadership is about knowing when to lead and when to follow. Effective leaders listen, guide, and inspire their team while moving in sync toward the same goal.
Adam: How can leaders and aspiring leaders take their leadership skills to the next level?
Gary: With today’s technology and access to information, there really are no excuses for not learning and growing as a leader. Knowledge is literally at your fingertips. But I think that to take leadership skills to the next level, the best thing you can do is listen. Really listen. There will be people who have viewpoints that you don’t agree with or ideas that don’t resonate with you. But I make it a point to hear everyone’s perspective. You don’t have to take all the advice, but you should listen to it all with the intent of understanding.
Adam: What are your three best tips applicable to entrepreneurs, executives, and civic leaders?
Gary: 1. Have a vision, but stay flexible. I had a clear vision and stuck to it, but I was always open to adjusting along the way. Ironically, everything I wanted, I eventually achieved.
2. Own your decisions. You have to be comfortable with yourself and the choices you make. Responsibility stops with you, and there will always be opinions or questions from others. Trust your instincts and stand behind them.
3. Be patient and confident. If you need constant validation, executive life may not be for you. But if you can stay patient and confident in your vision when things get tough, you’ll find real fulfillment.
Adam: What is your best advice on building, leading, and managing teams?
Gary: The best advice I can give is pretty simple: communication and respect. Listen to your teams, keep everyone informed, and treat everyone with respect. No one benefits or learns from gatekeeping. A team that feels heard and valued will perform at its best and stay committed to achieving goals.
Adam: What is the single best piece of advice you have ever received?
Gary: It may sound cliché, but it’s to never give up. It’s taken me a long time to sit in this chair, and along the way, I’ve learned to always believe in myself. I didn’t always take the route I expected. I’ve had to cross the street instead of staying in my lane at times. But I always believed I could get there.
Adam: Is there anything else you would like to share?
Gary: When I first stepped in as the Arthur Murray CEO, I was wearing every single hat. There wasn’t an internal infrastructure to help operate and grow the business. I quickly realized that one of the most important responsibilities of being a leader isn’t doing it all yourself, but building a strong team. Leadership isn’t just about making decisions. It’s about showing up, being present, and guiding people through uncertainty. It’s knowing your vision but staying open to new ideas and having the courage to make hard choices while keeping your team inspired and supported along the way.
