Growing Through Grit: David Lopez on Leadership, Culture, and Scaling Through Change

Growing Through Grit: David Lopez on Leadership, Culture, and Scaling Through Change

July 16, 2026 · 24 min · Episode 50

About this episode

David Lopez discusses leadership, culture, and strategies for scaling a business through change.

In this episode of CEO & Executive Thought Leadership, host Jennifer Kluge sits down with David Lopez, President and CEO of American Gaming Systems (AGS), to discuss what it takes to lead a company through rapid growth while keeping people at the center of the business. David shares his experience leading acquisitions, taking the company public, partnering with private equity, and navigating complex organizational change. He discusses why building a culture of trust, humility, and teamwork has been just as important as achieving business results. From hiring the right leaders and eliminating organizational politics to fostering transparency and empowering employees, David offers practical leadership lessons for executives leading through transformation. Whether you're scaling a business, integrating acquisitions, or developing your leadership team, this episode provides valuable insights on creating sustainable growth without sacrificing culture.

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