SaaSy Talk S01.24: Scaling Globally and Innovating Customer Experience: David Leach on his Journey with Cin7
About The Guest(s): David is the global CEO at Cin7, having joined in 2019. He is passionate about culture and loves the challenge of building a large and global SaaS business. Prior to Cin7, David held executive positions at ezyVet, Qrious and Orion Health.
Summary: David shares his journey in the tech industry, from his early days as a young boy tinkering with technology to his current role as CEO of Cin7. He discusses the challenges and rewards of leading a company, the importance of building a strong leadership team, and the strategies he uses to drive alignment and engagement within the organisation. David also talks about the role of metrics in business growth, the process of mergers and acquisitions, and the future of Cin7.
Key Takeaways:
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David's passion for technology started at a young age, and he has always been drawn to coding and IT support.
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Building a successful leadership team is crucial for company growth, and David focuses on hiring experts in their field who align with the company's strategy.
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Communication and alignment are key to driving engagement within the team, and David uses tools like all-hands meetings and cascading comms to ensure everyone is on the same page.
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Overcoming challenges and learning from mistakes is an important part of leadership, and David emphasises the importance of being straight up with team members and addressing performance issues early.
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Scaling a business globally requires a globally-minded approach and a focus on providing a consistent customer experience across different time zones and geographies.
Quotes:
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"The standards you walk past are the standards you set."
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"Calling things out is quite important."
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"Complexity is the enemy of growth."
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"Culture is a super strength for us."
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"We want to step change the customer experience and put a lot of effort into it."
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"We're going to innovate the customer experience and be great at innovation."
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction and Early Days in Tech
00:49 Growing Up and Moving to New Zealand
01:39 Rewarding Moments at Cin7
02:56 Challenges and Overcoming Obstacles
03:28 Product Challenges and Customer Experience
05:37 Learning from Mistakes and Improving Customer Experience
08:43 Building a Successful Leadership Team
10:06 Driving Alignment and Engagement within the Team
13:49 Importance of Metrics in Business Growth
17:05 Cultivating a Winning Culture
21:27 Scaling a Business: The Importance of Local Presence
22:32 Mergers and Acquisitions: A Key Pillar of Business Growth
24:15 Lessons from Successful Business Transactions
27:01 The CEO's Focus: People, Strategy, and Culture
28:58 Maintaining Effective Communication with the Board
30:54 The Future of Cin7: Innovation and Customer Experience
32:29 Fun Facts and Personal Preferences
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