Influence Has Many Faces
(Originally published by B-Eye-Network) By Maureen Clarry
In the early ‘90s when I was at General Electric, I recall sitting in my office with Bill Inmon in the chair across from my desk. He drew a picture on a piece of notebook paper describing the inefficient mess of spaghetti code created to satisfy the reporting requests of corporate America. He explained the concept of a data warehouse, and his passion for that concept influenced me. It was one of those ideas that created a buzzword, and that buzzword created an industry that has influenced a multitude of companies and individuals. It certainly influenced me to start CONNECT in 1992, even though that buzzword wasn’t buzzing much in those days. It took lots of education and hard work for that concept to take hold and be adopted, challenged, shaped and reshaped by Bill and many other people. Bill’s influence on this industry is deserved and well-known. In this article, I’d like to tell you about my experience with one of those other influential people. His name may not be as well known, but his influence on the industry, and on me, is significant.
I attended the first conference sponsored by The Data Warehousing Institute (TDWI) in 1995 and have not missed a conference since. At one of the conferences in 1997, I met a consultant named Dave Wells. I was teaching a small class at TDWI about my experiences in defining roles and responsibilities for data warehousing teams. I was nervous, but in my memory, I can still see Dave sitting in the front of the classroom on the right-hand side. He nodded and smiled at appropriate times and helped me feel more confident and comfortable. That was the beginning of what has become a wonderful professional friendship. Over the last ten years, I’ve learned about Dave’s passion for education, mentoring, music, business intelligence, friendship and family. He has learned about my passion for building teams, running a business, teaching, business intelligence, partnerships and family.
Most of the topics and tracks at those early conferences were about technologies and methodologies. Occasionally, one of the instructors would make a brief comment about “the necessity of team chemistry,” the “importance of good technology/business relationships” or the “need for good communication.” However, at that time, there were not many courses (if any) on management, team development, leadership or communication issues related to data warehousing or business intelligence. Dave Wells changed that when he became the Director of Education for TDWI in 2002. Dave’s work ethic and passion for education is incredible. Although he influenced the development of many of the great courses that TDWI offers, I will always recall the many conversations we had about curriculum. Dave listened to my rants and raves about the lack of “soft skills” courses for BI professionals. He opened the door for me and others to develop new courses. He supported those classes while interest and attendance grew, and he continued to promote the value of people skills. He launched new themes around bringing business and IT together and personally developed courses on that topic. His Purple People presentation is well known! In addition to “people” focused classes, he has designed and developed other courses for TDWI that have become fundamental building blocks for business intelligence around the world.
Dave has influenced the industry, and he has had an impact on me as a faculty member of TDWI and as a consultant and business owner. He listens, he is supportive, he is intense and he cares about our profession and the business intelligence industry. He influenced me and allowed me to influence others because he believes in the leadership and team-oriented courses we teach at TDWI.
Influence expands boundaries. Influence inspires and increases impact. As depicted in the movie “Pay it Forward,” influence expands exponentially. It’s the story of a teenager that decides to do three good deeds and challenges others to do the same. The main character is an average kid who becomes a face of influence. At the core of this concept is the mathematical calculation that if you influence ten people that influence ten people that influence ten people, etc., you have the potential to impact thousands with your idea, your message, your voice, your class, your initiative or your project.
Stephen Covey’s influence on the discipline of leadership is well known. Covey is a face of influence. His latest book, The 8th Habit, is about finding your voice and helping others to find theirs. Voice represents unique personal significance - significance that is revealed as we face our greatest challenges and that makes us ready for them. When you engage in work that taps your talent and fuels your passion, therein lies your voice, your calling, your influence.
Who have you influenced today, consciously or unconsciously? Have you validated, encouraged or helped someone achieve their objectives? Have you moved someone ahead in their career or calling? What will be the impact of your business intelligence initiative on the business, on the people that work at your company or the people on your team? Have you expanded your boundaries, taken a risk, found your voice when it would have been easier to be silent? Are you a face of influence?
Dave Wells will continue to be a consultant, educator and thought leader in business intelligence. As he transitions his role as Director of Education at TDWI, I would like to publicly thank Dave for his many contributions to business intelligence, for his knowledge, for his insight, for his support, for his encouragement and for his friendship over the last ten years. Dave is a face of influence.
Influence has many faces. One of them is yours. Who or what will you influence today? What contribution will you make to your team, your company, your profession?
Maureen Clarry is the Founder and President/CEO of CONNECT: The Knowledge Network (CONNECT), a consulting firm that specializes in helping IT people and organizations to achieve their strategic potential in business. CONNECT was recognized as the 2000 South Metro Denver Small Business of the Year and has been listed in the Top 25 Women-Owned Businesses and the Top 150 Privately Owned Businesses in Colorado. Maureen also participates on the Data Warehousing Advisory Board for The Daniels College of Business at the University of Denver and was recognized by the Denver Business Journal as one of Denver’s Top Women Business Leaders in 2004. She has been on the faculty of The Data Warehousing Institute since 1997, has spoken at numerous other seminars, and has published several articles and white papers. Maureen regularly consults and teaches on organizational and leadership issues related to information technology, business intelligence and business.