On leadership

"Strong, effective leadership is a critical component in any successful business. I have always been drawn to leadership roles – be they in school, sports, business, or in the community. I’m attracted to causes and business initiatives that matter, that make a difference, and the prospect of providing needed leadership – offering clarity of purpose, inspiration, and an environment for collaboration and innovation – is exciting."

On inspiring and motivating others

"Actions matter most. I hope that my colleagues are encouraged most by my actions and my willingness to engage. Good leaders are willing to roll up their sleeves, all the while providing an opportunity for others to step up as well. At Ooyala, we'll to continue to build a high performance culture aimed at allowing employees to "brush up against their potential."

I believe in hiring great people and giving them an opportunity to flourish and to take responsibility for their own successes. Ooyala is a highly creative, intense company; we want to attract talent that is up for the challenge."

On starting in a new role

"Careful listening is a critical skill coming in to a new position. In my experience, good people want to deliver results but often lack the proper framework for working together and they get bogged down in unnecessary activities or counter-productive thinking.

Listening is the initial key to discovering opportunities, and finding out what’s getting in the way of performance. It is also the secret to gaining the buy-in needed for making improvements. Listening helps you to paint a vision for what’s possible – inspiring a plan for performance and achievement that everyone can get behind."

On the importance of a positive work environment

"Today’s workplace is an intense, competitive, and high-stakes environment. Employees are often required to put in long hours. That’s why it’s so important to create a positive work environment, one that rewards creativity and hard work, and makes no allowance for distractions that can interfere with the the company's progress. I believe in a meritocracy, where success is achieved through deeds and action, and results are rewarded given they are achieved in harmony with the business. When that kind of culture exists, when it is clear that the right things result from doing things right, people are energized by the challenge and aligned with the company."