GUIDANCE & THE TIMES AHEAD
Where do you see the distribution industry moving in the next several years? While some segments of our industry continue to consolidate to leverage scale, particularly in technologies that are becoming commoditized, many others will remain fragmented to keep up with the opportunities presented in the face of acceleration technology enablement. Distribution continues to be that needed bridge between customer needs and supplier technology solutions. As distributors become larger, they can also serve as that financial buffer, buying in economic order quantities to facilitate the needs of manufacturers while offering flexible ordering, payment terms and supply chain solutions. However, all of that will need to migrate to state-of-the-art digital platforms and mediums to deliver these solutions. Speed is still king and the speed of digital is daunting for most. What advice would you give to someone managing through times of change? In times of uncertainty or change, turn to your values and lean into them even more. As a senior leader, avoid the mistake of thinking you are an island and that you must come up with solutions on your own. Leverage your team; outline the realities (and identify both the risks and opportunities that change inevitably creates), commit to a path, and be vigilant in your execution, with appropriate feedback mechanisms that validate the appropriateness of your assumptions and effectiveness of your execution.
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Digi-Key Leadership Retreat (From L to R): Ramesh Babu, Chris Lauer, Shane Zutz, Brian Robinson, Dave Doherty, Jim Ricciardelli Teri Ivaniszyn, Linda Johnson, & Yvonne Ellison-Sandler
Where do you typically turn for advice on professional matters? My direct and extended reports, interfacing with folks on the floor (closest to the action), active participation with our industry association, professional coaching sessions from an external resource and lastly, some quiet time to reflect on the feedback from all of these sources. What is the number one takeaway from your career thus far? Discerning how to be an effective team member, by recognizing that sometimes the team needs you as a leader, and sometimes it’s best to defer to someone else to lead. More is accomplished by effective, high performing teams rather than groups of individuals. Also, have a passion for whatever you are doing, keep a learner’s mindset and have fun! I guess that’s 4?!
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About Digi-Key Electronics Headquartered in Thief River Falls, Minnesota, Digi-Key is one of the fastest growing distributors of electronic components in the world. Founded in 1972, Digi-Key was a pioneer in the mail-order catalog business and a key resource for design engineers. Today Digi-Key offers the world’s largest selection of electronic components in stock and available for immediate shipment. From prototype to production, they fuel innovation all over the world.
14 | Navigating Through Change
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