Topping the list of lessons learned was that “success” can mean different things to different people… and that can be a strength of high-performing teams. Mark maintains that when you play a sport like hockey, you see how people have different ideas of success. Some want to score goals, others want to stop others from scoring, while still others—Mark’s nose comes to mind—just want to hit people.
Mark’s career has taken him from Cisco Systems to Palo Alto Networks and numerous other places before he took the reins at Alteryx, where he has come to view his leadership as something like a curator in chief, one who is responsible for the development journey of each member of his team.
This journey begins with understanding their goals, which in turn reflect their ideas of “what success looks like.” Mark appreciates ambition and hunger in others and seeks to provide pathways for their success. He used to invite his old bosses – including Cisco’s legendary leader John Chambers – along on sales calls so he could learn from them and sound them out on his future career plans.
“You always have to be sharpening the saw,” Mark said, although in his case as the CEO of Alteryx, it might be more accurate to say sharpening the algorithm.
You will learn:
"Don is one of the best storytellers I’ve ever met. I’ve known him for a long time and every time we talk I walk away wiser and more inspired. He is the best in the business at teaching you a skill – storytelling – that will last you a lifetime.”
“The ability for athletes to get hired is carried on through you because you are putting out the message that lessons learned from sports are important in life. It is embedded in this podcast, what you’re doing is significant.”
We speak the same language. I am inspired by the stories you tell, the people you have met, and the things you’ve done. Those of us that are competitors like to follow others that have been down that journey, so it is always fun talking to you!”
“Many of the leaders I have worked with were excellent athletes, and I think there is a direct correlation. You’re one of the few people that really has pursued this study, Don. Keep up the great work. What you are doing really makes a difference.”
“Don, you have mastered the skill of interviewing and asking great questions. That is a great skill all leaders need in order to understand their team members’ thought processes.”
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