While leaders are beacons to their teams, who do they look up to for inspiration? As they guide their teams, what do they, in turn, learn from their teams? What is the one thing that leaders of today can do to make a difference? What are the leaders of today doing to build a leadership culture in their organizations?

As part of our #LeadTheWay series, in a rapid-fire interview with People Matters, Sheenam Ohrie, Vice President, Dell Digital and APJ CIO Leader, Dell Technologies shared the one leader she looks up to, one key learning that she has picked up from her team, and the steps she is taking to build a leadership culture in his organization.

1. Who is the one leader you look up to? 

I wouldn’t say there is only one leader whom I look up to because I consider all my managers, as my role models. I learn something new from them every day and in my opinion, one should be a continuous learner and imbibe best practices from your ecosystem.

2. What is the one leadership lesson you learned on the go as a People Leader? 

Your team is the most valuable asset that you have as a leader. Being empathetic, inspirational and creating a balance is key to ensuring that your team is happy as you move towards success. As a leader, it is very crucial that you invest in taking your team through the vision and purpose. Aligning the same for the business unit to the overall organization and ensuring that every team member understands clearly how to contribute to that purpose, is very, very important to me.

3. How digitally ready are you as a leader on a scale of one to ten? 

I would rate myself at 7. Technology is advancing at a very fast pace and one must always keep oneself continuously updated to stay relevant in this industry.

4. Which was the last book you read on leadership? 

• “Find your Why” by Simon Sinek

• “Creating a Data Driven Enterprise with DataOps” by Joydeep Sen Sarma, Ashish Thusoo

5. What is the one thing leaders should do to make a difference? 

Build the right culture and working environment that can foster change, innovation, and inventions without any workplace biases. They should walk the talk, display what they want to build through their own actions. It builds trust with the team and sets the fabric of the organization to be transparent and grow.

6. One step that you are taking to develop a leadership culture in your organization? 

Fail early – learn to accept your failures and continue to move forward.

7. One thing that you consider as your strength and one thing that you would like to improve on?

I would consider being a catalytic thinker and change agent as few of my key strengths. Peer networking is one thing I would like to do more often. 

8. What matters to you most, effort or outcome? 

Outcomes define success. But it is the fun and integrity of the journey we experience that defines a person, a team and a community.

9. One key learning that you have picked from your team.

Communication (and repeat communication) is key to building an organization that thrives on trust, passion, and performance.

10. What’s the one most important factor you consider when hiring someone? 

Authenticity and Attitude