Leadership Advice From an Experienced Tech Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) CEO

Hosted by Nana Bonsu of Infinite Horizons

Nana is joined by Russ Hawkins, the President and CEO of the leading data technology company, Agilence. Russ has spent over 35-years in the tech industry, helping established organizations and small start-ups reach their full potential by driving change from the "inside." He’s here to give you leadership advice in the Tech Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) field.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• One of the most important things you need to have when it comes to leadership in technology is a goal or series of goals. These can be long or short-term, but they’re needed because you can’t move in the right direction if you don’t know where you want to go.
• A strategy business owners can use to avoid getting stuck in the day-to-day operations of their company is to completely understand those day-to-day operations to the point where they can hire the best people for the job and then stay out of their way. 
• Processes and procedures are so important, but it’s also vital to understand how those processes and procedures interact with each other. That allows for the best autonomy for your departments; all you have to do is step back and oversee. 
• On an ongoing basis, your business should invest in the technologies that allow your business to run and grow. The main thing is keeping the lights on, then you have to look at if the investment will give you a return or avoid a problem. 
• Every manager needs to have a plan for if they win the lottery and leave the business. Will the business be able to continue to function without you? 
• A good leader develops employees and gives them the right tools and infrastructure. When people are trusted and supported, they grow and achieve.
   

BEST MOMENTS

‘Without meeting your short-term goals, it's impossible to achieve your long-term goals’ 

‘You have to make sure your finances support what you’re trying to achieve’ 

‘If you’re only relying on yourself, then you only have a team of one to draw experience from’

‘As a leader you need to direct the team in the right direction and tell them what we want to achieve together’