EP 09, Ch 2 - Scaling Strategies for Tech Driven Companies with Diana Gibson

Diana Gibson shares her extensive experience in organizational growth and capability building, particularly in tech-driven companies like Microsoft. She discusses the various strategies organizations can adopt when scaling, including acquiring new capabilities, building them internally, or partnering with other organizations.

Diana emphasizes the importance of integration planning, change management, and ensuring customer satisfaction throughout these processes. She also highlights common pitfalls that can lead to failure, such as lack of leadership buy-in and neglecting the human aspect of integration.

Key Topics

• Acquisitions often include integrating consulting and support services.
• Building capabilities internally requires careful planning and skill development.
• Partnerships can be more efficient than building capabilities in-house.
• Integration planning is essential for successful acquisitions.
• Technical skills can be taught, but customer-facing skills are crucial.
• Leadership buy-in is necessary to avoid friction during integration.
• Failing to manage change can lead to talent loss.
• The 'Not Invented Here' mentality can hinder organizational growth.

Guest

Diana Gibson, Former Vice President at Microsoft

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Diana Gibson and Her Background
00:30 Building New Capabilities in Organizations
01:37 Risks and Rewards of Partnering
02:46 Lessons Learned in Integration and Change Management
04:26 The dangerous 'Not Invented Here' Mindset

About Elevator 321 and the College of Coaches

We’re about moving the needle for leaders of tech-driven business.  We should talk.  Reach us at Elevator321.com