If I have one identifying characteristic, it is that I am a person hungry for knowledge – very much a lifelong learner but with a twist. I invariably must go beyond searching the web and interact with primary resources, the experts. As a seasoned entrepreneur, connecting and relating with all levels of an organization is driven by my curiosity and discovery personality traits – balanced with recognizing the three drivers for any business – risk aversion, cost savings and revenue recognition. I enjoy, and have frequently been rewarded, assembling a diverse brainstorming group to tackle a particularly difficult business problem. I am never hesitant to approach a SME (subject matter expert) or c-suite executive directly on a particular area where they have shown expertise. I want a personal feel for the information gathered. There are “people watchers”, I think I am a “people listener.” Listening done carefully is significantly more nuanced than digital research, though both are essential. Finally, I feel comfortable coming to my own conclusions. Then, I actively seek objective criticism of my formed ideas and conclusions — honesty is paramount and best format here.

This process gives me confidence especially when adopting an innovative idea – which I’m willing to do when necessary. This also prevents me from over-promising in the sales arena. For the better part of 20 years, I’ve worked with enterprise software — long enough for me to be technically proficient, but you will not find me working with code. Staying marketplace-sensitive is a must because customer and business partner preferences can shift very quickly.