Vanguard Magazine

game CHANGER 42 FEBRUARY/MARCH 2019 www.vanguardcanada.com See the full interview online Q How did you start out in this industry, and how has it brought you to where you are today? Pleora is my second company in the vi- sion and imaging market. My career has been a blend of time spent in semicon- ductor and networking companies. This has provided exposure to and awareness of how solutions can be built from the sensor up – combining the best ele- ments of semiconductor, hardware, soft- ware and professional services to deliver compelling solutions to our customers' applications and use cases. Interesting- ly, the Pleora Executive Team has had similar career experiences. That broader technology view from global markets provides us with a unique perspective on how to approach customer problems and deliver differentiated solutions. Q What is your role in your organization today? As President of Pleora, my role is to lead the definition of our market growth strategy and ensure we realize the po- tential available to the company. As you would expect, it starts with creating an effective team, building an organization- al capability that allows us to not only identify and select strategic opportunities but, equally important, to deliver upon them. That requires creating a culture that stimulates people. Clearly corporate success relies on the talents, strengths, and expertise of our employees. My role is to ensure our team is challenged, engaged, motivated, and empowered to help us navigate our course towards continuing growth. Underpinning this is creating an environment with open and honest communication, complemented by widespread corporate transparency. Q What is the best advice you received? I've had the extraordinary benefit of working with many wise, accomplished and genuinely caring individuals dur- ing my career. As a result, there is a compilation of advice that continues to guide me. This includes an extreme fo- cus on the customer's experience, and only working on things that truly mat- ter. Linked to this, you must continually improve to even achieve status quo, due to continually shifting environmental factors. Recognize that status quo is re- ally the first step to irrelevance! Perhaps the most important advice is focusing on time. One of my most admired mentors once told me that the only thing I will ever run out of is time. Q What is a habit that contributes to your success? I firmly believe there is no room for or- ganizational politics or game-playing in any company I lead. We have more than enough real work to do, and don't need people creating agenda-driven barriers to progress. My management philosophy is pretty simple but one that has proven to work for me repeatedly. It begins by making sure that it is clear what we are trying to do and what is expected from people. I firmly believe that it is impossible to over- communicate when it comes to organiza- tional purpose, goals and performance. Then make sure that people have the skills, tools and resources to be success- ful. Then comes the hard part: get out of their way and keep other people out of their way! Rounding this out, keep the commu- nication and feedback channels open and free of distortion. Then ensure that you recognize people for their accomplish- ments and successes. Q What people or organizations do you believe best embody the innovation mindset? This is an interesting question. I think too much attention and publicity is focused on companies who innovate in areas that really don't matter. Lauding a better run- ning shoe, a bigger screen smartphone or an application that lets you get any dinner delivered to your door in 20 minutes is superficial in my mind. For me, true innovators are organiza- tions that change the way we work or live in a positive and sustainable way. Things that change the quality of life, educa- tion and the environment, for example. The larger usual suspects (e.g. consumer goods or services) often get the headlines, but I continue to be amazed by small, sparsely funded organizations that have a great idea and a passion that truly changes the world. Harry Page President plEora tEchnologiEs

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