Meet Tracy Johnson journey is all about learning all the time. He is really good at connecting with other IT experts. He keeps learning about the ever-changing IT world by going to tech events, both online and in person. He pays close attention to the big tech changes because in tech, things are always changing. Tracy is straight about keeping his tech skills really good. This makes him a great example for others in the tech field.
Tracy thinks many tech leaders forget how important it is to listen to customers. He believes their job is to connect the company they work for with what the customers want. Tracy reminds tech leaders that they are there to serve customers and meet their needs as best they can.
But it’s not just about being conscious about market understanding with tech; it’s also about being a leader. Tracy believes real leaders don’t just seek attention. They do the right thing even when no one’s watching or the cameras are off. They focus on solving problems, not just talking about them. Tracy encourages leaders to have a problem-solving mindset because that’s what makes great leaders stand out.
Tracy thinks tech leaders should be team players who can explain tech things while understanding what customers want. He says this is the key to making the company successful. Tracy’s vision is all about creating situations where everyone wins—a philosophy that leads to long-term success and good relationships with customers and colleagues in the company.
A Dedicated Professional, Sports Enthusiast, and Family-Centric Individual
Tracy is a dedicated and hardworking person at work. He’s motivated by the organization’s goals and the success of the team. He’s great at connecting with people from all backgrounds and takes the time to understand their unique stories and experiences. Tracy believes that people’s past experiences shape who they are today. To maintain a positive workplace, he strives to be approachable and someone his colleagues can talk to about work or personal matters.
Tracy has learned that building personal relationships beyond job responsibilities is the key to getting people to give their best and stay committed. He values humor and doesn’t take life too seriously because he knows life is short. His motto is to give his all and do his best in tasks and projects. Tracy is proud of his skills as a top-notch salesperson.
During his free time, Tracy likes watching movies and playing strategy games. People find him friendly and easy to talk to, making him the kind of person you’d enjoy sitting next to on a plane. Tracy also enjoys taking walks during the week and is working on improving his golf game after a break during the COVID-19 pandemic. He’s a big sports fan, with a love for basketball, baseball, football, and golf. Spending quality time with his family is very important to him, and he helps his 96-year-old grandma and 80-year-old mom with chores on the weekends. Tracy’s upbringing in a single-parent household, with his grandma and mom as significant influences, has shaped his identity.
From Basketball Court to IT Leadership and Beyond
Before starting his career in IT, Tracy was deeply into basketball during his school years, especially from 6th to 8th grade. He was quite good at it and even scored an impressive 30 points per game in 8th grade. Tracy grew tall, reaching 6 feet 5 inches, and decided to play college basketball, even though he knew he wouldn’t make it as a professional athlete. During his sports days, he also pursued a business degree and learned valuable teamwork and collaboration skills that later benefited his career.
Tracy took a significant professional risk by leaving a high-level job at a company where he had worked for 20 years. He trusted himself and joined a startup. Later on, he embraced an even bigger challenge by managing a business unit in the United States for a much larger global company. These career changes demonstrated that he’s not afraid of change and has confidence in his skills and adaptability.
Looking ahead to the next five years, Tracy envisions himself leading an organization focused on growing the IT business. With his 26 years of experience and extensive network, he aims to lead a team dedicated to growth and innovation in the constantly evolving tech industry. Tracy’s vision reflects his ambition and strong commitment to achieving even greater success in his career.
Tracy’s journey has been marked by determination and unwavering focus on his goal of becoming a successful business professional. Even when faced with numerous challenges and obstacles, he never gave up, showing that he could overcome anything through dedication and commitment to his aspirations.
Insights for New Leaders
Tracy offers valuable advice to those taking on leadership roles for the first time. He emphasizes the significance of the first 90 days in understanding the company’s history, current situation, and effective practices. Tracy believes it’s crucial to incorporate these positives into your future plans. He advises against making quick and drastic changes. Instead, Tracy suggests having one-on-one meetings with current staff to learn what’s working well and identify any challenges. Building rapport with your team is essential.
Tracy also stresses the importance of approachability in leadership. He believes that being open and accessible earns the trust and approval of the organization more quickly than constantly keeping the door closed in meetings.
Tracy encourages leaders to surround themselves with industry experts who can offset their weaknesses. This, he believes, leads to long-term success for both the leader and the organization. He also recommends making team members feel like an integral part of the organization by engaging in in-person communication, particularly when applicable.
To end, he advises leaders not to pretend to have all the answers. Tracy believes that a “Know-It-All” attitude is off-putting. Instead, he suggests that leaders should acknowledge their limitations, as this not only garners more respect from the team but also humanizes them in the eyes of their colleagues.
Vision for IT and Technology
Tracy is deeply committed to driving significant changes in the field of IT and technology, focusing on three key areas. He is a committed advocate for green technology. Tracy recognizes the urgent need to reduce our carbon footprint and safeguard the planet, especially in the face of environmental challenges like wildfires. He is dedicated to promoting environmentally friendly tech solutions to address these issues.
Tracy is on a mission to ensure global internet accessibility. He understands that in today’s interconnected world, access to the internet is essential. His goal is to bridge the digital divide and provide people in underserved areas with equal opportunities to access the web.
Tracy is also determined to leverage IT to enhance the quality of life for everyone. He envisions using technology to improve critical areas such as healthcare, education, and daily living. His overarching objective is to foster greater connectivity and contribute to making the world a better place for all.
Guiding Values and Traits for Excellence
Tracy attributes his success to a set of core values and traits that have been his guiding principles throughout his journey. Tracy possesses an unwavering desire to continually excel and be the best at whatever he undertakes. He places great importance on being a good listener and observer, which helps him understand situations and people better.
Tracy believes in working hard to create outcomes that benefit all parties involved, fostering win-win scenarios. He values collaboration with individuals who possess strong interpersonal skills, a sense of humor, and the ability to balance work with levity.
Tracy champions the idea of being open to change, emphasizing that staying open-minded is essential for discovering new ideas and strategies. As he places a high value on emotional empathy by recognizing its role in building a strong and positive work culture.
Tracy shares that success requires a consistent and steady effort. He believes in dedicating focused work throughout the workweek to achieve long-term goals.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracy-johnson-8880581/