Company: Radio Flyer, Chicago, IL
Company Description: Radio Flyer, maker of the Original Little Red Wagon™, is the world's leading producer of wagons, tricycles, pre-school scooters and other ride-ons. Radio Flyer has more than 100 award-winning products available around the globe. Since 1917, the family-owned company has created icons of childhood, building a legacy of high quality, timeless and innovative toys that spark imaginatation.
Nomination Category: Thought Leadership Categories
Nomination Sub Category: Thought Leader of The Year - Consumer Products
 Nomination Title: Robert Pasin, Chief Wagon Officer
- Which will you submit for your nomination in this category, a video of up to five (5) minutes in length about the achievements of the nominated organization since January 1 2021, OR written answers to the questions for this category? (Choose one):
Written answers to the questions
- If you are submitting a video of up to five (5) minutes in length, provide the URL of the nominated video here, OR attach it to your entry via the "Add Attachments, Videos, or Links to This Entry" link above, through which you may also upload a copy of your video.
N/A
- If you are providing written answers for your submission, you must provide an answer to this first question: Briefly describe the nominated individual: history and past performance (up to 200 words):
Total 200 words used.
Robert Pasin is Chief Wagon Officer of Radio Flyer, maker of the Original Little Red Wagon® and the world’s leading producer of ride-ons, including wagons, tricycles, scooters, go-karts, Tesla children’s vehicles and other award-winning products. Trusted & loved by families since 1917, the business was founded by his grandfather and is closely tied to many cherished childhood memories representing high-quality, timeless and innovative toys that spark imagination.
Robert works with a team of “FUNomenal Flyers," whose mission is to create products that bring smiles to kids of all ages and create warm memories that last a lifetime. He is devoted to making his company a best place to work and cultivating a culture infused with fun that drives innovative, award-winning results. Robert reinvented the business, which now expands well beyond wagons, offering its first adult product offering, FLYER™ electric bikes (eBikes.) His commitment to making Radio Flyer FUNomenal has led to breakthrough business outcomes and the launch of the largest number of products in its 106-year history.
His leadership has landed Radio Flyer recognition as a Certified B Corp. The company tops multiple best places to work lists and, most recently, Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies in the US.
- If you are providing written answers for your submission, you must provide an answer to this second question: Outline the nominee's thought leadership achievements since January 1, 2021 that you wish to bring to the judges' attention (up to 250 words):
Total 250 words used.
In 2021, Robert embarked on his biggest innovation yet - Flyer™, an adult eBike line designed with families in mind. As a leader in designing world-class products for hauling kids & cargo, Robert leveraged his team’s expertise to develop the best eBike for families on the go. Half a year after the launch of Flyer™, Robert combined forces with sustainable auto-titan, Tesla, to introduce an electric all-terrain toy for kids, the Cyberquad.
In addition to these innovations, over the past 20 years, Radio Flyer has donated over 15,000 fan-favorite wagons to the Starlight Children’s Foundation, a non-profit dedicated to delivering happiness to children in hospitals. In 2022, Robert’s award-winning design team took it a step further by introducing the Hero Wagon, a uniquely designed wagon that allows children under medical care to feel like kids, even within the walls of a hospital.
Robert has been trailblazing sustainability efforts spanning product design, manufacturing, and operations. On top of developing Flyer™ as a sustainable transportation solution, Robert has proactively invested in building a LEED Platinum-certified office, reducing single-use packaging for Radio Flyer products and increasing the recycled materials used in packaging. These efforts have earned the brand a certification from B Corp as a leader in the global movement for an inclusive, equitable, and regenerative economy.
His visionary leadership resulted in Best Place to Work recognitions from Inc, Fast Company and Fortune and has earned him executive awards from Best in Biz, Family Magazine, and employee-nominated rankings like Glassdoor Top CEO.
- If you are providing written answers for your submission, you must provide an answer to this third question: Explain why the achievements you have highlighted are unique or significant. If possible compare the achievements to the performance of other players in your industry and/or to the nominee's past performance (up to 250 words):
Total 250 words used.
Aligned with his grandpa’s vision for the legacy brand, Robert knew the Flyer™ eBike needed to include accessories that provided ways for parents to replace car trips with bike rides. In response, Robert and his team made the one-of-a-kind Kid & Cargo™ Carrier, revolutionizing how families transition from traveling with kids to picking up groceries.
Robert believes that profits follow purpose. To bring smiles to children under medical care, Robert reengineered the brand’s traditional wagon for hospital use – adding folding capabilities, a patent-pending IV pole bracket, soft, high walls made with medical-grade fabric, and seat belts to ensure both comfort and safety for its smallest passengers. After launching the program nationally and donating 1,000 Hero Wagons, Radio Flyer received Starlight’s Excellence in Innovation Award.
As the leader of a family-owned brand, Robert has always understood the importance of protecting the planet for future generations and the value of giving back to the community. Radio Flyer’s sustainability efforts established them as the first toy company to join Science Based Targets and publicly commit to science-based emission reduction goals. This move paved the way for others in the industry as Radio Flyer earned the first global toy and eBike manufacturer to receive B Corp recognition and the Real Leader’s Top Impact Company title.
Robert also takes action to cultivate an actively anti-racist community. He creates opportunities for employees to volunteer and support the community, and the brand has also awarded scholarships to various schools to support students in underserved communities.
- You have the option to answer this final question: Reference any attachments of supporting materials throughout this nomination and how they provide evidence of the claims you have made in this nomination (up to 250 words):
Total 146 words used.
Robert’s thought leadership has resulted in new innovative products and executive and company-wide recognitions. Robert's compassionate and thoughtful approach to running the company reflects the respect he has for his grandpa’s vision for the business. We have included examples of these resources and other supplemental material in the application. Additional resources include:
- FLYER press release – FLYER™ launch announcement
- TinyBeans, AutoEvolution – Media coverage of FLYER™ highlighting family-oriented accessories
- B Corp website/press release – B Corp announcement
- Forbes, Earth911 podcast and CleanTechnica – Media coverage of B Corp recognition
- Hero Wagon website/press release – Hero Wagon announcement
- Starlight Excellence in Innovation – Recognition from a partner organization, Starlight Foundation
- Inc, Toy Book, local stories – Media coverage of Hero Wagon
- Best in Biz, Glassdoor, Family Business Magazine – Recognition of Robert’s leadership
- Best Place to Work awards – Recognition of the corporate culture cultivated by Robert
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