To create an all-star baseball team, one must carefully plan the lineup.
Some lineup strategies are common knowledge, like putting the best hitter third in the batting order or sending the most agile player to the shortstop position.
Even when all of the tried-and-true strategies are in use, though, it’s sometimes just the special combination of talent and personalities on the same field at the same time that makes the difference between the 2023 Rockies and the 2023 Rangers.
Wowza Media Systems, Peaksware and Gusto are three Colorado-based companies that have added some new players to the team — players who will hopefully be just the talent needed to bring in win after win.
Wowza is a digital media company that offers streaming technology that is customizable, scalable and helps mitigate the challenges of video and audio delivery.
What in your background makes you a good fit for Wowza?
Having joined Wowza in November 2023, I am leading the global channel partnership program, leveraging my expertise at the intersection of media, partnerships and technology. With experience from SyFy, The Weather Channel and E! Entertainment, I’ve honed skills in identifying, developing and managing partnerships for content delivery.
Transitioning to SaaS partnering at Ooyala and then Brightcove, I led channel programs across Europe, the Middle East, Africa and the Asia-Pacific regions, focusing on online streaming and multiplatform distribution.
Now, at Wowza, I spearhead the channel partnership team, bridging the gap between channel sales of Wowza Streaming Engine and the development of a channel program that includes our SaaS solution, Wowza Video.
Beyond onboarding and getting up to speed on the internal workings of your new team, what’s your first priority in this new role at Wowza?
My role involves developing a comprehensive program for onboarding, training and co-marketing with partners globally. I’m dedicated to a customer-centric approach, fostering collaboration across internal departments to ensure our partners receive all the support they need.
“I’m dedicated to a customer-centric approach, fostering collaboration across internal departments to ensure our partners receive all the support they need.”
My first priority is to align our internal resources and thus provide our partners with more extensive sales and technical support along with the full expertise from across Wowza teams, thus driving channel growth across our evolving solution offerings.
Peaksware creates platforms that connect creators, instructors and performers to help athletes and musicians train.
Why were you hired at Peaksware?
I was brought on as the chief revenue officer and executive in residence across the Peaksware portfolio of leading endurance sports and music brands. I’ve spent the last 25 years working for high-growth global technology and data companies.
I was hired for a very clear purpose: to accelerate predictable growth across the Peaksware brands.
What’s the first order of business on deck?
My first order of business is to create a revenue map across the portfolio companies and prioritize strategic and tactical bets based on level of effort and positive impact to the business.
“My first order of business is to create a revenue map across the portfolio companies and prioritize strategic and tactical bets.”
My leadership style is collaborative with the expectation that if you have the best people in the right roles, you can align the right processes with potential to achieve scalable growth.
Gusto provides small businesses with an HR, payroll and benefits platform that assists with team management.
Why are you passionate about this new role?
Small businesses are the heart of their communities and the backbone of the U.S. economy. Gusto exists to have their backs, streamlining compliance mazes and red tape so that entrepreneurs can focus on what matters most — building successful businesses and taking care of their teams.
Supporting small businesses is personal to me. I spent my childhood and teenage years at my mum’s sandwich shop in Newcastle, England. I saw firsthand the hard work, grit and determination it took for my mum to run her small business. And that’s why I’m so passionate about making entrepreneurs’ lives easier as they build their livelihoods.
I’m coming to Gusto with a lot of enthusiasm for the people we serve, the product and platform we’ve built and the mission it stands for.
“I saw the hard work, grit and determination it took for my mum to run her small business. That’s why I’m so passionate about making entrepreneurs’ lives easier.”
How would your colleagues describe you?
“Ian is a builder at heart,” said Joshua Reeves, CEO and co-founder of Gusto. “An architecture enthusiast (and Lego aficionado), he likes to figure out how things work, from processes and operations to complex systems and technology products. That curiosity translates to his work in customer care. Ian was most recently at Airbnb where he led customer experience strategy. He was focused on streamlining the complexities of support for online reservations, managing listings, and enabling great guest experiences, while Airbnb served millions of hosts and guests across the world. Prior to Airbnb, he led and scaled global customer experience, finance and HR operation teams at Qantas Airlines, DBS Bank and Barclays Bank.”
