Insights

100 Days as Americas Region Managing Director: Reflections and Future Vision

Author: Sharon Loh

In January 2024, Ray Keane was appointed Managing Director for the Americas at Beyondsoft Consulting Inc. His tenure began with high expectations and a mandate for innovation and growth.

Now, 100 days into his leadership, I sat down with Ray to reflect on his early days as Managing Director, his vision for the Americas region’s future, and the strategic priorities guiding the team forward.

Sharon: Ray, thank you for your time. It has been 100 days since you joined Beyondsoft. How would you describe your experience so far?

Ray: Thanks Sharon, as the new Leader for Beyondsoft in the Americas Region, I realize I am stepping into a crucial role that will shape the future of the company in the region. From day one, my focus has been on building strong relationships with our team members, customers, and partners. I have engaged in numerous discussions, listening sessions, and strategy meetings to understand the unique needs and aspirations of all Beyondsoft stakeholders.  One of my main priorities is to foster a culture of innovation and collaboration within the company. I have been focused on empowering our employees to think creatively and drive meaningful change. I am working closely with my leadership team, our team members, customers, and partners to amplify our innovation story.

Sharon: We know you are a certified coach. How did you motivate employees to excel in their roles?

Ray: Embracing the diverse cultures within our organization and our broader team has been another key priority for me. Teamwork is another. I spent my first month or so delving into the company’s rich history, understanding its core values, and absorbing its unique culture. I got to know the individuals’ strengths, roles, responsibilities, and their ambitions.  

Building “real” connections with our team to foster trust, open communication, accountability, and a collaborative spirit is the foundation for any high performing team. When team members feel valued, respected, and supported, they are more likely to go above and beyond, contributing to the overall success of the organization. We will continue to celebrate our collective differences and promote an inclusive environment where every voice is heard and valued. Our diversity can be one of our points of difference in creating success. I believe a positive work environment is not just about rewards and benefits; it is about creating a culture where people feel empowered, appreciated, and inspired to excel.

Sharon: How do you plan to lead the employees amidst evolving challenges in the current business landscape while meeting business goals?

Ray: As a leader, it is important to adapt to change and challenges. I am excited to be at the forefront of this change, embracing modern technologies such as generative AI. This will involve change, implementing new systems, processes, or ways of working. While change can be uncomfortable, it is important that we all embrace the new digital era we are embarking on.

The journey ahead is full of excitement. Not often does the opportunity arise to build something new and tangible. We will check in on our industry aligned vertical structure as we progress through the second half of the year. While we are “vertically structured”, we need to think and act with “horizontal focus” across our business units. Speed and agility are key to our success. We must be action oriented and accelerate while we continue to reshape our culture around a “can do” mindset.

We need to adapt our plans quickly to stay ahead of the curve to strengthen our AI story and evaluate new partnerships. Keeping a close eye on market trends and staying informed about industry developments will help us make informed decisions and adjust our strategies accordingly.

Ray Keane, Managing Director of Americas Region

I am proud of the great work I have seen across the team already and believe they will continue to drive customer success. Some of the recent accomplishments (not in order of priority) include:

1. Revolutionizing Insurance IT: Leading Insurer Implements Azure and Open AI landing zones with Beyondsoft
2. Navigating Efficiency: A Collaborative Approach to Data center Automation
3. Highlights from Our First Customer Day in São Paulo, Brazil
4. Transforming R&D: AI Solutions for Pharma and Biotech Innovation
5. Four essential considerations in Remote Patient Monitoring
6. A Copilot into the future: Five key takeaways from AI Tour in São Paulo, Brazil 
7. Building a tech-savvy workforce to foster a future-ready culture of innovation
8. Unlock the three benefits of global delivery centers
9. Uplevel your cloud governance strategies to optimize cost and ensure compliance
10. Dumpling party mini team building event at our Bellevue office
    

Sharon: How do you see the Americas region evolve under your leadership in the coming months?

Ray: Our approach remains grounded in adaptability, innovation, customer focus and strong collaboration amongst team members. I will break it down into three core pillars.

1. Continuous learning from each other keeps us agile and informed, enabling us to anticipate market shifts in AI and stay ahead of the curve. Innovation is our driving force, inspiring us to think creatively and pioneer solutions that meet evolving needs.
2. Empowering our teams fosters a culture of ownership and collaboration, fueling our collective success. Agility, resilience, and responding appropriately to customer needs are our competitive edge, allowing us to pivot swiftly and deliver value with precision. Strengthening customer relationships is important, rooted in trust, integrity, and a commitment to exceeding expectations. Investing in our talent ensures we have the expertise to drive innovation and sustain growth.
3. Operational excellence is our gold standard, achieved through efficiency and dedication to excellence in every endeavor. Diversity and inclusion enrich our perspectives ensuring we meet the diverse needs of our customers.

Sharon: Lastly, what message would you like to share with the employees, customers, and partners as you reflect on your first 100 days as Managing Director?

Ray: To the Americas region employees, I want to express my gratitude for your hard work, dedication, and passion. To our customers and partners, I want to thank you for your continued support, collaboration, and trust. As a mid-sized IT consultancy, we take pride in our efficiency and flexibility, avoiding unnecessary overhead costs often associated with larger IT consultancies. We are your ally, and our true success is in empowering you, embracing change and innovation, and working together to drive innovation. Stay tuned for more AI innovations, as we are committed to contributing to your success.

If you are looking for a strong AI partner, let’s work together to bring your AI vision to reality fast.