toCommitting Leadership

Bob Oberosler Shares the Secrets of His Success

By Jacque Brittain, LPC

Being a leader is not simply someone you are, it is something you do. It is not a person you become when you reach a certain pay grade or position. It is something seen and experienced through your actions as well as your words, building trust, influencing others, and inspiring a vision others want to follow.

In asset protection, our leaders come in all forms. It is the diversity of this leadership that has brought us to where we are—not based on who we are, but the way we approach the world around us. Diversity of thought is inspired by those with the courage and fortitude to move us in new and exciting directions. It is something we strive for in ourselves, something we admire and appreciate in those around us, and something we celebrate when reflecting on those who helped set the tone for the industry.

Bob Oberosler has always been one of those individuals. Having recently celebrated forty-seven years in the industry, Bob has evolved through the days of “security” to today’s asset protection focus, serving as a partner in the development and profitability of the retail business. Beyond holding several leadership positions in asset protection over his career, he has held several non-AP positions that have provided the ability to view the profession from a broad business perspective.

As a forward-thinking leader, Bob has always brought incredible energy and focus to his work. He built strong, passionate teams that delivered results consistently, and took pride in mentoring talented leaders. He brought that same passion as a board member with the Loss Prevention Foundation, contributing ideas, challenging the status quo, and encouraging others to look at things globally while elevating performance to a higher standard. Bob recently announced his retirement from the industry. But before we let him move on to the next chapter in his life, we asked him to spend some time sharing his perspectives on leadership, lessons learned, and all things asset protection.

Jacque Brittain: What are the changes to the industry during your tenure that you feel have had the greatest impact on the way the profession operates and is perceived?

Bob Oberosler: When you look at the hastened pace and volume of information that we must deal with on a regular and consistent basis, the “things that never happen” keep happening—and LP always seems to be in the inner circle of how to respond. The willingness to embrace innovation and creativity, coupled with the networking that takes place across the industry, can make a tremendous difference. These are the kinds of things that have the greatest impact on our success and the way we are perceived.