Tom Mendoza is the former President and Vice Chair of NetApp, a hybrid cloud data service and data management company that has ranked in the Fortune 500 list since 2012. After 25 impressive years of service at NetApp, Tom retired from the company to share his wealth of knowledge and experience by guest lecturing on the power of corporate culture to benefit the younger business generation. He also currently serves as a member of the Board of Directors for mParticle, Varonis, and VAST Data. Tom holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Notre Dame and is an alumnus of Stanford University's Executive Business Program.

Tom joins me today to discuss why he attributes his career’s success to his curiosity and interest in people. He shares why he doesn’t like the word “networking” and why self-awareness is essential to every leader in any organization. He describes the leadership skills he lacked and what he did to change and improve them. Tom also highlights why a people-centric culture is more powerful than a data-centric one and explains why having children later in life has changed Tom’s perspective on work, life, and career.

“Know their hopes, dreams, and aspirations; if you know those things about somebody, they know you care—and people don’t care what you know unless they know that you care.” - Tom Mendoza

This week on The Rising Leader Podcast:

• Tom’s interest in people and how he’s used that for success
• Caring about and getting to know people in high-pressure situations
• Finding the time to build a connection with someone
• Staying in contact with people and following their stories and success
• Deciding who your trusted advisors are
• Navigating disagreements and what to do after being shot down in a group meeting
• The signs that someone will be successful in your team
• Knowing when to coach and when to part ways
• Showing someone the impact they make on others

Resources Mentioned:

• Tom Mendoza speaks at West Point on Leadership, Part I
• Part II: Tom Mendoza speaks at West Point on Leadership
• Tom Mendoza Presents: A Conversation with Dan Warmenhoven
• Book: How to Castrate a Bull: Unexpected Lessons on Risk, Growth, and Success in Business by Dave Hitz

Connect with Tom Mendoza:

• Tom Mendoza on Twitter
• Tom Mendoza on Forbes
• Tom Mendoza on LinkedIn

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