Summary

In this episode, Ross Saunders interviews Rob Rudy, an experienced leader and advisor, about the challenges of leading and doing as a new manager. They discuss the importance of balancing leadership responsibilities with individual tasks, the need for alignment within teams, and the decision-making process when there are differing opinions. Rob emphasizes the value of open communication, using tools like RACI charts to clarify roles and responsibilities, and being comfortable with discomfort as a leader. He also shares his work in helping leaders embrace change and build strategies for continuous renewal.

Takeaways

• Balancing leadership responsibilities with individual tasks is a challenge for new managers.
• Alignment within teams is crucial for achieving goals and resolving conflicts.
• Using tools like RACI charts can help clarify roles and responsibilities in decision-making.
• Being comfortable with discomfort is essential for growth and effective leadership.
• Embracing change and building strategies for continuous renewal are key for long-term success.

About Rob:

Rob has had the privilege of growing several companies. His humble beginnings in a family textile business saw him and his brother steward the company from $3 million to $20 million in sales, which subsequently caught the interest of a Kentucky-based public firm. After the sale of their family business, a few years later Rob found himself in the role of COO for the parent company, valued at $200 million, where he was responsible for the global supply chain and factories across North America.

Upon the parent company's sale in 2013, Rob relocated to Montréal, his hometown, and offered his expertise as COO to a national lighting distributor undergoing significant restructuring. After dedicating nearly half a decade there, he was invited to serve as the President of a $250 million medical device firm, with the goal of ensuring the company's culture resonated with the dynamic market environment.

In 2019, Rob moved to the world of business advisory by engaging with entrepreneurs in 3 critical areas: helping them build actionable strategies, develop next level leaders, and embrace innovation and change management. Rob was also a 12-year TEC member when he moved to presenting to TEC groups and was acknowledged by TEC Canada in 2019 with the "Impact Speaker of the Year" award.

Rob continues to work with entrepreneurs across Canada and the US, supporting their growth and development.

https://www.robertrudy.ca/

About your host, Ross:

Ross started his management career by being promoted from technical specialist to manager of a global team. This was not an easy transition at first but it blossomed into an exciting management career spanning over a decade in corporate and enterprise software environments. Ross has managed development teams, technical teams, call centres, and entire software divisions across several countries.

Intro music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):

https://uppbeat.io/t/soundroll/vacation-beat

License code: WM2CBDQ0C2W0JGBW

Outro music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):

https://uppbeat.io/t/soundroll/vacation-beat

License code: WM2CBDQ0C2W0JGBW

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