Meet Russ Whitman, Managing Director at Globant Seattle.
– What has your career path at Globant been like? What did you change along the way to adapt to new roles and projects?
My time at Globant has been nothing short of amazing. Since the acquisition just over a year ago, jumping into the world of Globant has challenged me to expand my vision and enabled me and the team to grow in ways we never would have before. Along the way I’ve been able to engage with Studio Partners to learn how to collaboratively build software for customers and the sales organization to reach new customers while showcasing new capabilities to our existing clients. What I’ve had to change is how I think about delivering services that customers value – as a part of Globant, the world is a much larger and more dynamic playground.
– Given how fast technology changes, how has your job evolved throughout the years?
I started my first “Internet based” company in 1996, so I’ve been right at the epicenter of many of the amazing technology transformations over the last 20 plus years. It seems that each evolution is coming quicker and quicker. In the beginning I was an entrepreneur with a lot of ideas that questioned “what can be done differently because of the web?” This led me to dive deep into the center of technology, design and business models. Today these same areas of focus exist – but along the way I’ve added a lot more to the “because of”. Mobile, Apps, and Gaming became the what, and now there is IoT, Blockchain, OTT, and AI. For me the central theme has been to ask questions and then just go for it.
– What do you think are three good habits to keep up to date in tech?
1.Build a network of people you trust is number one – there is something new every day, so you can’t just expect the same news sources you follow will recognize them. The power is in your network and their recognition of what’s happening.
- Read/Listen/Watch everything – I fill my open space with audio books and blogs and podcasts and…
- Last try to connect the dots – technology doesn’t live in a vacuum or silo, it will impact something within the ecosystem, so I try to guess at the impacts or possible outcomes every technological shift can bring.
– Did you have moments or situations in your professional career that made you think you couldn’t make it through, but actually made you stronger? Which were those?
Too many to include here 🙂 I generally believe every hard situation can have a positive outcome. The hardest ones are when people beyond me are affected, it’s always easier to take the risk when I’m the one that could be impacted, but when my team or my family could feel it – that’s much more difficult.
– Which 5 things you love of working at Globant.
- The people. More than anything else I’ve enjoyed the people that I’ve gotten a chance to work with. Smart, talented, committed.
- The scale. Being a part of programs where we are transforming on a massive scale is incredible.
- The Globant story. I love that we are a part of a company that began in a garage – 4 founders with a dream. It’s special.
- Always innovating. A company that grows at the rate that Globant has required it to always change – there is always challenge in this type of system. I love this because it means we will always be seeking what’s next.
- The People. For me it begins and ends with the people 🙂
– What recommendations would you give someone that wants to join your team?
Don’t join unless you are ready to lean in and be a part of the team. We care too much and move too fast for people that just want to “hang out”. Come and add your special stuff to the mix.
– Which 3 books you’d like to recommend us?
Tribal Leadership, Leonardo Da Vinci, Extreme Programming.
– Tell us a fun fact about you
I wanted to be a comic book artist when I was young, if you see me doodling it usually means I’m thinking/processing.
Anything else you’d like to add…
I have an amazing team in Seattle, their commitment to our shared principles and values sets the foundation for all we do. I would recommend getting to know any of them, they are talented and curious – I’m lucky to be a part of their world.
