Exceptional solutions don’t just happen; they’re delivered by equally exceptional people. In fact, we believe our people are the main reason we were recognized as “Outstanding Startup 2018.” One of the most recent examples is Megan Suitor, Senior Vice President of Delivery. Here are just a few of the reasons that make Megan such a valuable asset to the Bold Penguin team:

What brought you to Columbus and why did you choose to stay?

“I got bit by the digital bug while working in Kansas for a startup in the healthcare/life science industry. After more than 10 years, I was ready for a new challenge. I’m drawn to the energy, camaraderie, and kinship of fast-paced work environments and found a small digital agency in Columbus, Ohio. Fast forward eight years and I’m still here — proud to be a Midwesterner. Ohio is a community that I enjoy contributing to and Columbus is booming. This is a great place to work and raise a family.

What inspired you to join Bold Penguin?

I enjoy working with evolving teams and wanted to help shape this organization’s culture so that Bold Penguin could become what it’s meant to be. The problem Bold Penguin solves is also a familiar one to me. They are creating efficiencies to simplify the cumbersome processes involved in commercial insurance. I knew I had the experience to help them deliver on this mission.

What can you say to get our readers excited about commercial insurance?

If you enjoy innovating and tapping into your creativity in a space that is largely untouched – Bold Penguin is where you can have the biggest impact. Our goal is to help everyone involved in the commercial insurance process to win. It’s a fulfilling endeavor, and that’s the kind of team and organization I want to support.

Your mission is to build a delivery culture; a relatively new concept in the old and established commercial insurance space. What challenges and opportunities do you foresee?

In any mature organization, there can be a lot of red tape and hoops to jump through to get the green light on a solution. As point in delivery, I will help arm our clients with everything they need to navigate internal waters while giving us the freedom to move quickly and push forward an iterative development approach. I think there are also significant opportunities for cross-pollination between Bold Penguin and our partners where we can both grow organizationally.

How do you define success in a Tech organization?

Success isn’t always about the end goal; it’s about the journey. So much can be learned along the way. If your eyes are open for the journey instead of fixated on the end-goal, you might just discover a critical element that takes your product from good to great.

What does your day look like today?

I’ll spend my morning working through a discovery planning session with a client partner of ours to map critical points of integration. Then I’ll head into a sprint planning session to prioritize work for the next couple of weeks before closing my day with the review of a client enhancement roadmap.

Can you tell us about your leadership and team-building style?

Every strong bond begins with trust. To develop a strong team, you need to create a work environment that feels safe and transparent. To create this type of environment, I take a “servant leadership” approach to working with and leading others. Equally important to me is fostering a team-centric culture where collaboration comes naturally, and everyone feels confident enough to voice their ideas. When the next great idea arises, I also believe that it’s important to get out of the way and let people develop that idea. Instead of giving a solution outright, I coach through problem-solving and help others grow.

What makes a great team?

Shared dedication to quality outcomes, accountability, transparency, and a willingness to laugh at yourself along the way.

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