The Executives' Exchange Episode 024 – Christine Leahy, President & CEO, CDW
On this episode of the Executives' Exchange, we are joined by Christine Leahy, President & CEO of CDW. Chris sits down with guest moderator Linda Imonti, Office Managing Principal, KPMG. They discuss how CDW thrived through the pandemic with an intense focus on co-worker engagement and customer satisfaction, their tremendous acquisition growth strategy, and the importance of conceptualizing offices of the future as watering holes versus fences.
This episode was recorded in front of a live audience.
Guest Host: Linda Imonti, Office Managing Principal, KPMG
00:50—Chris discusses her upbringing in an entrepreneurial family, guiding principles, empathy & energy
07:08—Learnings from the pandemic—agility, course correction, and putting people at the forefront
9:28—Chris discusses opportunity & impact for CDW employees
10:41—Maintaining the passion and culture of being connected to a purpose in a new way of working.
13:45—Chris discusses the original structure of CDW and its purpose and the continuation of the significance of satisfied customers and employees
19:04—The changing needs of technology—CDW’s conscious and subconscious level changes
24:33—Chris discusses eight acquisitions during the pandemic; the commitment to the customer; integrating cultures of companies from acquisitions
31:51—Chris discusses CDW’s diversity, equity & inclusion; the digital divide, and how technology can enable opportunity & impact
38:12—The movement of talent and attrition rates & CDW’s concept of ‘watering hole’ to retain employees
44:33—Reflecting—the power of pause & the decision of bringing energy to the table
Guest Host: Linda Imonti, Office Managing Principal, KPMG
Producer: Eva Penar, Chief Content & Communications Officer, The Executives’ Club of Chicago
https://www.cdw.com/
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