My Role: VXD Director/Manager
Goal: Build and retain world-class design teams. Ensure that the needs of each individual are met in terms of development, advancement opportunities and day-to-day happiness.
Worth noting
My portfolio would not be complete without a page that represents my passion for team building and people management. Throughout my career, I’ve had teams all over the globe and love the challenge of creating a synergy that not only makes for an enriched work experience that is human and fun, but is also one where respect, responsibility and helping each other is second nature. A positive work environment fosters greater creative growth, improved efficiencies, dedication to one’s work, and gives people a reason to get up in the morning.
I’ve never lost a single individual on my team to another company or because they were unhappy with their job in my 20+ years of managing people. I continue to stay in touch with most of them and act as their friend and mentor even after no longer working together. I’m in it for the long-haul.
I’ve been very fortunate to have some of the most impressive talent and amazing individuals on my teams and I’m forever grateful for what they have given me over the years. I am very proud of the teams that I have built and the individuals within them and I consider team building and management my greatest career accomplishment and what I hope to continue doing in my next role.
“Skottie is a fantastic design leader. Although he's certainly capable of getting into the nitty gritty of design, I was impressed by his ability to mentor, inspire and collaborate with others even though we were in an international environment with a great deal of change.
I had frequent contact with the members of Skottie's team and they all had some a traits in common:
- They all had a sense of purpose. Each person knew their role on the team and what was expected of them.
- They had manageable workloads and didn't feel stressed out.
- They were happy.While much of that comes from Skottie's tactical skills as a manager, what sets him apart are his "softer" skills like empathy and diplomacy. With that he was able to build great rapport with his team to gain their trust and confidence. In the end, the team was very responsive but well structured for long-term sustainability.”
~ Mat Alancheril, Design Manager, Amazon