Building Ivygo: Defining Leadership and Vision

Becoming a founder has been a journey of learning and growth in many areas for me. One aspect I have been thinking about is what kind of leader do I want to be for Ivygo. In previous roles, I have recruited and successfully brought together experts from diverse backgrounds to form high-achieving teams. So, I feel fairly confident in my leadership skills. But being a founder adds a new sense of responsibility. It is more than managing people and successfully delivering projects; it is about creating a vision, building a culture, and fostering an environment where everyone can thrive. This is both exciting and a bit daunting.

With a deep desire to learn how other leaders have been successful, I have been reading a lot about the subject and listening to various podcasts… This post is a summary of my personal reflections of what kind of leader I want to be for Ivygo.

“This post is a summary of my personal reflections on what kind of leader I want to be for Ivygo and why these attributes are important to me.”

Defining the Vision and Mission

The first things I did when embarking on this journey was to define Ivygo's vision and mission. Once Sumit joined me as a co-founder, we developed values for the organisation. Sumit and I have worked together before, so I knew we shared similar values of courage, commitment, authenticity and genuine care.

These initial steps felt natural to me as I understand how important it is to have these strong foundations in place to attract the right people to the team in the future.

Servant Leadership

As a certified Scrum Master, I am very attached to the concepts of servant leadership, collaboration, and transparent communication. The Agile methodology and mindset deeply influence my approach and I take pride in supporting my team to reach their full potential.

I have no issue with being the one asking all the silly questions, as I like to be surrounded by smart people who have more expertise than me in their respective fields. I see my role as a leader to empower my team and remove roadblocks.

Agile also emphasises continuous improvement and adaptability, which are also key aspects of how I lead.

Key Characteristics

Here are a few characteristics I want to display as the leader of Ivygo:

1. Fair and Kind yet Decisive and Embracing Conflict: I want to lead with fairness and kindness, ensuring every team member feels valued and respected. But I am also ready to make tough decisions and embrace difficult conversations when required, always with deep care and empathy.

2. Hands-on yet Trusting and Empowering: I believe in actions over words. As a leader, I plan to be hands-on and involved without micromanaging. I know my limitations and the importance of surrounding myself with trusted experts who are empowered to guide the organisation in their respective fields.

3. Balancing Process and Flexibility: While I abhor unnecessary red tape, I see the need for efficient processes and structured ways of working. Striking a balance between flexibility and structure is crucial for sustainability, efficiency, and innovation. I want to be able to embrace change as a leader while using appropriate processes to ensure we stay focused on our mission.

4. Learn from Mistakes: I will make mistakes and learn along the way. And it will be the same for the whole team. To me, the most important thing when mistakes happen is to learn from them and move on. I have very little time for drilling down on the past and prefer to focus on taking the learnings into the future. Embracing mistakes, helps creates a culture of innovation where the team is able to think outside the box.

5. Honesty and Active Listening: I prefer to surround myself with people who challenge me and offer different perspectives. To foster an environment where people will share their expertise and insights, I am committed to listening and truly hearing what the team, users, and advisors say. I want to be recognised as a leader who listens and values insights from those around me.

6. Sustainability of the Team’s Well-being: The well-being of the team is critical to me. I want to ensure we have a supportive environment where people can balance their work and personal lives. Making Ivygo the success it deserves to be will be a marathon, not a sprint. With a team of passionate and impact-driven professionals, it is critical to ensure every team member looks after themselves so we all get to the finish line together.

“As we move forward, I am committed to fostering a collaborative and innovative environment at Ivygo.”

Moving Forward

As we move forward, I am committed to fostering a collaborative and innovative environment at Ivygo. Our mission to make EV ownership convenient and accessible for all Australians is not just a business goal; it's a personal commitment. Leading Ivygo is both a privilege and a responsibility that I embrace with enthusiasm. I am excited about the challenges ahead and confident that we will create something truly impactful. Importantly, I am dedicated to remaining authentic and continue to bring the passion and drive that comes with it

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