Several years ago, I had the unique opportunity to visit Fossil's headquarters in Dallas during the early days of smartwatch development. As someone developing apps for wearables at the time, I was particularly interested in their custom Android smartwatch project.

The tour through their facilities was fascinating, but what really caught my attention was getting to see the office of the famously private CEO, Kosta Kartsotis. And yes, the stories are true - there was indeed a mannequin sitting in his chair, complete with a striped tie, which I learned was often used as his stand-in for photo shoots.

What makes this visit particularly interesting is the unique culture at Fossil. The company's CEO, Kosta Kartsotis, is known for his unusual approach to leadership. Despite leading a major public company, he hasn't taken a salary, bonus, or stock options for many years. His reasoning? As stated in company proxy statements, he believes "his primary compensation is met by continuing to drive stock price growth."

The headquarters itself reflects this humble approach. Kartsotis's workspace is a small, glass-walled office sitting right in the middle of the building. It's a testament to their philosophy of reflecting a team rather than a single visionary. This approach dates back to 1993, when Fossil went public and made Forbes' list of 200 Best Small Companies in America at #3. Since then, both Kosta and his brother Tom (the founder who retired as chairman in 2010) have maintained their media-shy stance.

During my visit, I got to see firsthand how this philosophy translated into their approach to innovation. The Android smartwatch project I was there to discuss represented Fossil's adaptation to the changing landscape of wearable technology. It was fascinating to see a traditional watch company embracing digital transformation while maintaining their core identity.

The most memorable quote about Fossil's origins comes from Tom Kartsotis himself, who explained his motivation for starting the company in his garage: "I didn't want to be a 30-year-old ticket scalper." That straightforward, no-nonsense attitude permeated the company culture under Kosta's leadership.

Interestingly, last year marked the end of an era as Kosta Kartsotis was replaced by the board. His tenure was marked by a unique approach to leadership and fostering a highly creative environment that helped transform Fossil from a traditional watch company into a pioneer in the wearable technology space.