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His management philosophy is what he calls the “servant leader,” a hands-off approach in which the goal is to help subordinates as they try to help you.

“I respect the people I work with to the point my job is to help them understand the vision and direction we all want to move,” Press says, adding that he then tries to “get out of the way.”

He's humble, a trait that's both Japanese and Toyota-like. He frequently stops to chat about basketball with security guard Bobby Patterson, who has gotten to know Press in the past 18 years. Press invited Patterson to join him at his courtside seats for a Los Angeles Lakers game last season. “The Laker girls were right in front of us,” Patterson says.

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