For D CEO‘s October issue we asked three North Texas leaders what their key leadership strategies are. Below, Chakri Gottemukkala, who’s o9 Solutions is valued at $3.7 billion, Nadine Lee, DART’s top executive, and Scott Harper, who sold his company to IBM, talk about how they lead in today’s environment.
Chakri Gottemukkala
Co-founder and CEO, o9 Solutions
“Scaling a business for growth is all about leadership and finding multiple levels of leadership throughout the company. It’s key for leaders to live by the company values. (In o9’s case, it’s creating a culture across client value, leadership, execution, innovation, and social impact.) The only way a company can scale is if it is growing based on values, not just based on hierarchies. We have made it a point to drive leadership based on values.”
Nadine Lee
President and CEO, Dallas Area Rapid Transit
“It is important to empower staff to think independently and critically. Former Navy SEALs Captain David Marquet describes the importance of articulating intent and letting your staff set into motion the activities needed to achieve desired outcomes. It is so important to build the confidence, capability, and capacity of your staff. To do so, you must push decision-making down and concurrently communicate your intent.”
Scott Harper
Co-founder and CEO, Dialexa, an IBM Company
“Trust and transparency are driving forces of our culture. I believe that transparent conversations build trust and lead to positive cultures and business results. I prioritize direct conversations with colleagues through office hours, lunch-and-learn sessions, and one-on-one conversations. This was especially important during the IBM acquisition; I wanted to make sure everyone knew our ultimate goal was to protect our people.”
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