Dickson Inspires Students to Follow God's Will One Scoop at a Time During Oct. 14 Business Forum

October 15, 2022

Ricky Dickson, CEO and president of Blue Bell Creameries, delivered an inspiring message to students and others in attendance during OBU’s Business Forum Oct.14. The lecture took place in Tulsa Royalties Auditorium inside Bailey Business Center. The Business Forum was hosted by the Dickinson School of Business and took place during The Weekend, OBU’s annual homecoming celebration.

The business forum started by introducing Dickson, who currently serves as CEO and president of Blue Bell Creameries and oversees the organization's overall management and strategic direction. Dickson's lecture was entitled "Following God's Will...One Scoop At A Time."

Dickson graduated from Baylor University with a BBA in marketing and journalism. He talked about how he was once tasked with an assignment where he had to follow a company on how they relate to the consumers. He did the assignment on Blue Bell and thought the company was unique. After graduation, he was hired to work for Blue Bell.

Dickson began his career with Blue Bell on Jan. 1, 1981, as a territory manager in Dallas, Texas. In 1982, he moved to Fort Worth to become a sales manager and, in 1984 was promoted to branch manager in San Antonio. Dickson transferred to Oklahoma City when a new branch was opened. Here he received a call to attend a meeting where he was given a page and a half of notes on how to make improvements. This evaluation showed him that it's not about him but about what God wants.  

In 1994, Dickson was named Midwest division manager. Four years later, he became general manager of the Broken Arrow plant yet remained involved in sales, particularly with the Wal-Mart account. He was named general sales manager in 2003. In 2010, he was appointed to vice president of sales and marketing, as well as to serve as a director on the Blue Bell Board of Directors.

Dickson talked about the 2015 Blue Bell Listeria outbreak and the seven years following that helped remind them to “stay humble, get back to business and that God will guide you through.” In 2017, Dickson was promoted to president and in 2019 he was elected CEO and president of the company.

He gave 4 lessons to apply to life: “trust when God’s leading you even if it doesn't make sense; remember God’s timing and don’t get ahead of him; go with passion and believe in what you are doing; and dream and dream big.” Dickson ended the forum by saying “listen to God’s voice and go one scoop at a time”

Learn more about the Dickinson School of Business at OBU.