BJ Schaknowski is a seasoned software industry executive, with over 20 years of experience in leadership roles across a wide variety of operating functions. Before joining symplr, BJ served as the Chief Sales & Marketing Officer at Vertafore, the world’s leading provider of insurance technology. Prior to that, BJ spent four years at LexisNexis Software Solutions in progressively ascending roles, culminating as its SVP Marketing, Sales & Services. He held numerous senior and global leadership roles earlier in his career at CA Technologies, Intuit, and Sage Software. He earned a BA in Communications from the State University of New York at Geneseo and his MBA at the University of Georgia – Terry College of Business. BJ served in the United States Marine Corps infantry as an enlisted reservist for 8 years. He lives in Denver with his wife, Heather, and two children. He is a 3-time Ironman, 31-time marathon finisher (4-time Boston). He represented the USA in the 2007 International Triathlon Union world championships in France.

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  • Some of BJ’s Leadership Principles:
    • Find the “sweet spot” where your talent/capability intersects with your passion to really accelerate personal advancement and growth
    • College liberal arts degrees no longer matter – if you want results, hire more Veterans
    • Real confidence is knowing your job is to hire everyone smarter/better than you if possible… if it’s not possible, look harder
    • Balanced leadership (employees, customers, shareholders) is the key to sustained success
    • Diversity and Inclusion should be table stakes – not an initiative
    • If you aren’t having fun you are doing it wrong
    • When no one else will…. Get on the plane and get to Singapore
    • Transparency and candor beat presence and professionalism every day
    • People aren’t stupid (individually, but they can be collectively)– don’t talk to them like they are… they will hate you for it and know you are full of crap
    • Being a manager has nothing to do with whether or not you are a leader
    • If you aren’t measuring it, you aren’t managing it
    • When in doubt, ask your customers

Resources:

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