iconectiv Perspectives: A Conversation with CEO Kathy Timko Part Four — Inside iconectiv: Culture, Leadership, and What's Next
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With iconectiv recently entering an exciting new chapter, there's no better time to go deeper on where the company is headed and what it means to lead it. In this four-part series, we sit down with CEO Kathy Timko for a candid conversation covering the company's evolution, its core strengths, the opportunities ahead and the leadership philosophy shaping iconectiv 2.0. Part One | Part Two | Part Three
Whether you're a long-time partner, a customer or someone simply tracking the future of telecommunications, this series offers an inside look at the company and the people behind it.
Now that iconectiv is nine months into this new phase of the business, what do you want to preserve culturally — and what do you want to evolve?
The iconectiv organization has a long-standing culture of integrity, problem-solving and customer service that is founded on principles of respect and trust. We are committed to keeping that culture strong and preserving our commitment to our customers to always deliver with excellence, ingenuity, integrity and transparency.
You've said in the past that leadership isn't about being the smartest person in the room — it's about surrounding yourself with the right people. How is that philosophy showing up in how you are building your executive team and operating model?
That philosophy continues to be a key tenet of iconectiv, and it shows up every day in how we operate. We are successful because of the people on our team, their commitment to industry success, and equally, to each other as colleagues. That combination is rare and worth protecting. Building the right executive team means finding people who share that ethos, not just the ones with the most impressive resumes. And that philosophy extends well beyond the executive team. We look for the most talented people who can become part of something bigger and operate in an environment where the whole is greater than the sum of the parts.
We're also a highly communicative team, which enables people at every level to learn and grow. It lays the groundwork for newer members to absorb the institutional knowledge of those who've been here a long time. Ensuring the transfer of knowledge is something we all take seriously as an organizational priority.
A recent example that captures this well is the NPAC data center transition completed earlier this year. This was a two-year project that touched every group in the organization. The switchover was extremely successful because of the team and the partnership we’ve invested in with the industry throughout our tenure as the LNPA. No single person made that happen. It was a collective effort, executed with the kind of discipline, rigor, and trust that only comes from a team that genuinely works well together.
That's the model I'm building from.
What kinds of talent and capabilities are you looking to attract as iconectiv 2.0 continues to take shape?
For this new phase of our business, we're focused on adding expertise in key technology areas including AI, security, cloud computing and user interface design. These are the capabilities that will define how we evolve our platforms going forward.
Equally important is industry knowledge. We continue to invest in deep industry expertise and in the customer relationships that have long been at the heart of our success. Technical talent is essential, but its impact is greatest when paired with a strong understanding of the industry we serve.
What I'm equally proud of is how we develop talent from within. We have over 100 internal courses to train new staff on our operational processes, platform functionality and customers needs. This helps ensure new people learn from those who have lived this industry. That's how we protect and pass on the institutional knowledge that makes iconectiv distinctive.
At the end of the day, it comes back to the same standard: the best and the brightest, committed to the industry and to each other.
If we sit down for this conversation again two years from now, what do you hope we'll be talking about — and what's the one thing you most want the industry to understand about iconectiv right now?
Two years from now, I hope we're talking about an organization that has grown, embraced new challenges, and created even more opportunities to help our customers. More programs, deeper capabilities and a team that has continued to attract the best and brightest in the industry. That's the trajectory we're on, and I'm confident in where it leads.
As for what I most want the industry to understand right now, it's that iconectiv is not standing still. Our legacy and track record are the foundation, not the finish line. We're becoming more nimble, innovative, and entrepreneurial, continually looking for ways to solve emerging industry challenges and capture opportunities both large and small. We are building on the trust we've earned over decades while expanding into new areas where our expertise can make a meaningful difference. As the industry's needs evolve, so will we. When the problems are hard, the stakes are high and execution has to be flawless - that's when you call iconectiv.
Feel free to check out the previous iconectiv Perspective conversations with CEO Kathy Timko
Read Part 1 of our iconectiv Perspectives blog series, “The Moment and the Mandate"