MY STORY

Before I worked in the corporate world, I was a professional violinist who performed with music ensembles in venues such as New York’s Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center. I often played with chamber music groups that, unlike an orchestra, don’t have a conductor. Instead, the members of an effective chamber music ensemble are self-managed: they co-lead, co-create, and listen deeply to each other.

During my years as a leader and consultant in the corporate world, I witnessed numerous examples of dysfunction caused by top-down leadership models and inauthentic, emotionally immature leaders. Employees were diminished and berated, miscommunication was rampant, and turnover was high.

Based on my experience as a musician, I knew there was another way to lead. During my years as a Chief Technology Officer, I began to focus on the organization’s people. I shared the collaborative practices I’d learned as a musician to help everyone have a voice and be part of the creative process.

Because of this culture change, staff turnover decreased from 32% to 4% within two years, we achieved 360-degree communication at all levels of the organization, and Gartner Research profiled us twice in their publications as best practice examples of how to lead high-performing technology organizations.