At its core, the theory of hiring renowned senior executive leaders in your sector to drive your technology business forward sounds simple enough, but there are keys to doing it right. I have been asked about my process in bringing on respected individuals with big titles at household name companies, in addition to technology and AI leaders from industry giants.
In my experience, rather than lining my leadership team exclusively with advanced thinkers in artificial intelligence and software, I believe in hiring the best of both worlds. In addition to hiring the top minds in AI within retail tech, I also went directly to the elite people at top retailers and consumer goods brands who understand the needs of our customers.
Particularly in AI, data or novel technologies for large enterprises, you’re looking for someone who can demonstrate the applicability and value rapidly to customers in their language. You need someone who enterprise customers trust to navigate and align their existing teams, ways of working and culture.
Your company must also empower them to lead collaboration and ideas in areas where they may have previously been limited due to the bureaucratic nature of a large corporation. It’s about empowering that entrepreneurial, visionary and supportive spirit. It’s the realization that change comes from the outside and attractive companies provide a flexible space to make change.The approach of hiring customer-centric changemakers may not work for all companies.