INDUSTRY WATCH
MUCH OF MY LEADERSHIP PHILOSOPHY WAS INFLUENCED BY THE EARLIER PART OF MY CAREER IN THE US NAVY , WHERE INSTILLING A SENSE OF MISSION AND BUILDING STRONG TEAMS PLAYED A KEY ROLE IN DRIVING SUCCESSFUL OUTCOMES .
Don MacNeil , Chief Operating Officer at GTT some of the largest companies from these industry sectors . Our customers often are seeking a service provider who can connect to their locations around the world and have direct connections to the major cloud providers , while also requiring networking solutions that can accelerate their digital business strategies , expand their use of cloud IT and improve their operational efficiencies .
What has your career looked like so far ?
Much of my leadership philosophy was influenced by the earlier part of my career in the US Navy , where instilling a sense of mission and building strong teams played a key role in driving successful outcomes .
As a leader , I believe in the power of empathy . I also believe that you need to continuously challenge employees to reach their highest potential .
Over the course of my career in the telecommunications industry , driving accountability across all layers of an organization is critical to achieving the best results . The fast-changing technology and competitive landscape in this industry requires the ability to learn and adapt to changing business conditions . It ’ s a challenging industry that helps develop leadership skills .
How do you equip your staff with skills and knowledge ?
A key component of our operational excellence initiatives is investing in developing an even more skilled and knowledgeable staff . This includes establishing and building out a competency model across the organization to make sure we have the right skills and knowledge . We are also investing in technical certifications , comprehensive training and leadership development for our highest potential employees . We understand that this investment not only drives operational improvements and better business results , but also leads to enhanced employee satisfaction while also making GTT a more attractive place to work for talent outside the company .
How do you work with other executives within the C-suite to make sure your voice is heard ?
I joined GTT in 2020 as the company ’ s first COO . At that time , the company was undergoing a deliberate transition from an M & A driven strategy to customer first driven strategy . It was understood that executing this change of strategic focus within a
framework of operational excellence would be a key driver of the company ’ s success . Therefore , I have found that the other leaders of the business have
been very supportive of the comprehensive set of initiatives we have implemented to drive operational excellence , from more automation and digital tools to the establishment of a global platform , improved processes and investments in the product set and network capabilities that customers require .
How do you ensure different teams in your organization work together ?
A critical element of our operational excellence strategy are transparent , consistent and efficient business processes . We have established a business transformation office to drive process improvements across the business . This entails new structures , policies , procedures and practices that aim to drive more discipline , standardization and efficiency with our processes and are supported by automation and other systems improvements . The implementation of this program is complemented by the broader employee values of collaboration and a maniacal focus on the needs of our customers . p
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