The finalists for WashingtonExec’s Chief Officer Awards were announced March 17, and we’ll be highlighting some of them until the event takes place live, in-person May 10.
Next is Chief Operating Officer finalist in the Public & Private Company category Eleanor Desai of Ad Hoc. Here, she highlights the importance of being partners in change, navigating work in a challenging context and advice to the next generation of workers.
What are your primary focus areas going forward, and why are those so important to the future of the nation?
My primary areas of focus are enabling success for our customers and creating the environment for our people to be creative and thrive. We must constantly challenge ourselves to innovate and think big about how to create impact for our customers.
In order to do that, we focus on building great teams of people with diverse experiences and backgrounds who are inspired by the mission, enable them to be successful, and create an environment for them to thrive.
Improving digital services is essential to the general welfare and building trust in government. That’s a mission we are passionate about, and I’m really proud to support a company that’s bringing this kind of innovation and perspective to our partners in the government.
What are you most proud of having been a part of in your current organization?
When I joined Ad Hoc, I was impressed by what had already been accomplished as an early leader in digital services and the vision for what we could do. I knew I wanted to be part of navigating the very real business complexities of this kind of company.
I’m proud to be a part of all the work we’ve done to scale the organization and set it up for long-term, sustainable growth while working to maintain the best parts of what has made Ad Hoc unique. We believe in putting users in the center of our work and believe that we can help the government make services better for people. We have proven this perspective out on a pretty big stage, and we’re excited about what’s next.
Which rules do you think you should break more as an industry leader?
From my perspective, it’s less about “breaking rules” and more about exercising our responsibility as industry leaders to partner with our customers on understanding the art of the possible and helping them to think about the challenges they face in different ways.
The government is vast and complex. Making change in that context is challenging, and I have a great deal of respect and empathy for the people working hard and doing their best in this space.
It’s upon us to not just follow but also to bring additional ideas and serve as partners in change.
What’s your best career advice for those who want to follow in your footsteps?
Develop a relentless curiosity and learn to learn and adapt. When you look at technology, the job market, our industry – change is a constant, but there is something to take away from every situation. Be resilient, don’t just tolerate or survive change, learn to thrive in it and embrace the gray areas. That will always prepare you to move forward and open the door to unexpected opportunities.