The Importance of Trust (wsg Vijay Sankaran)

The Importance of Trust in Leadership: Host Gregg Garrett is joined by Vijay Sankaran, technology executive who was most recently CIO at TD Ameritrade, who discusses the importance of trust in leadership and the role it played in shaping his career. Vijay shares his Top Three who range from a colleague who used trust to be his daily 360 check in to a former boss-turned-friend who taught him how to use trust to build world class organizations. And you have to hear what he says about focusing on your daily top three! About Vijay Sankaran Vijay Sankaran is a forward-thinking software engineering leader and technology executive who was most recently Chief Information Officer at TD Ameritrade. He led a team of 2,000 employees with responsibility for digital strategy, software engineering, technology operations, cybersecurity, data and innovation. Prior to joining TD Ameritrade, Vijay held several senior leadership roles at Ford including: Direction, Application Development where he was responsible for software development, and delivery of major programs and projects with a global organization of 4,500 people; Director, Infrastructure Operations where his responsibilities included operational support for infrastructure and Ford’s largest data centers in North America. Prior to joining Ford, Vijay was a consultant with both Ernst & Young (EY) and Headstrong where he focused heavily on analytical systems. Vijay holds a B.S. in Computer Science from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and an M.B.A. from Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business. Show Highlights During this episode: Concept of Trust: Wise words from Warren Buffet, Abraham Lincoln and more [1:04] Trust is critical at macro and micro level [6:20] Welcome guest, Vijay Sankaran, with a storied career [6:56] The “Top Three” Terri Ann Beckford: The partner who became his daily 360 check in [12:05] Michael Emerson: His financial advisor who he views more as the COO of his family [21:28] Marcy Klevorn: A former boss-turned-friend who taught him how to build world class organizations [30:30] Transformation & Disruption An insight into Vijay’s perspective on trust [39:54] Moving from a product industry to financial services industry [45:43]  Digital Transformation: It’s not just change management, it’s a transformative movement [49:10] Celebrating Vijay’s bravery [57:28] You have to hear this… “Focus on your daily top 3”: Be deliberate on where you spend your energy [1:04:50] Additional Information Contact Vijay Sankaran: Vijay’s LinkedIn Contact Gregg Garrett: Gregg’s LinkedIn Gregg’s Twitter Gregg’s Bio Contact CGS Advisors: Website LinkedIn Twitter

Om Podcasten

You, Me, and Your Top Three is a podcast focused on exploring leadership in the connecting world. Specifically, the podcast invites leaders to tell stories, reflect, and discuss their views on: - disruptions in industry and society; - how they are leading transformations considering these disruptions - brave leadership to drive transformation. It is this last point where we focus most of the discussion, asking our guests to share their insights into the relationships they have with their “Top 3” closest advisors. It is our observation and experience that as the world connects, the importance of a diverse set of counselors is increasing in value. For some this may be a formal advisor who has been contracted on behalf of the company. For most this will be deep relationships in which they have been invested and nurtured. Through stories and discussion, we strive to celebrate the art of giving and receiving advice. The stories that are told are heartfelt and real. At the root we are exploring the process of knowledge building, relationship building, and perhaps most importantly, confidence building. After all, it takes a brave leader to battle the inertia that exists in industries, our organizations, and in ourselves. It is our hope that as successful leaders open up about around the subjects and the way in which they interact with their closest confidants, that our listeners will, in turn, reflect on their own “virtual board of advisors.” Over time they will then surround themselves with those who help them stretch toward greatness and lead bravely in the connecting world.