Understanding the Why Behind the What with Kermit Randa

Subscribe to the podcast!

Today, we’re going to be chatting with Kermit Randa about the power of story and the struggles leaders must endure during the first 90 days at a new company. How do leaders settle into their roles and what sorts of pressures do they feel? What strategies are most important to implement in the first three months?

As Chief Executive Officer of Kaufman Hall’s Software division, Kermit Randa oversees all product development, sales, implementation, training, and support functions for the firm’s Axiom and Peak Software products.

Kermit has more than 20 years of experience spanning healthcare and software. His areas of expertise include enterprise software insights and adoption, business transformation and innovation, strategic partnership cultivation and management, and risk identification, monitoring, and mitigation. Prior to Kaufman Hall, he served as Chief Growth Officer with Waystar, and Chief Executive Officer for PeopleAdmin.

Kermit received his M.H.A. from Xavier University. He completed the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School and is a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives.

Kermit is a strong supporter of data gathering and utilizing information to guide decision-making processes. In today’s episode, Kermit will explain that power behind surveys and offer us a glimpse into how he and his team sorted nearly 90k data points into condensed, actionable intelligence. How do top leaders utilize modern technology and fast communication? Find out more on today’s episode.

Show Highlights

• 3:25 How did Kermit get started? What was most important to learn about the business? How did surveys play into this discovery process?
• 8:30 Learn to listen and be disciplined in what you’re listening for. Are leaders asking the same things throughout their information collection process? Why does it matter?
• 11:35 How did Kermit and his team break down more than 89k data points into actionable information in under three months? Which facets of business have been guided by this information?
• 14:00 How did Kermit take all of the information he gathered then synthesize it into what he wanted to say to employees?
• 24:09 How do leaders determine how much context to give to employees? How do you offer them clarity? Kermit asks himself, “What does this sound like at the kitchen table?”
• 27:25 How has Kermit personalized himself to his employees through the power of story? Kermit tells his story and explains how he knows this story works. “Opportunity doesn’t come from a thing… Opportunity comes from a person.”

Guest Information

Kermit Randa is characterized as an inclusive leader, one who inspires accountability and a results-oriented focus to achieve sustained outcomes. Kermit understands and capitalizes on change initiatives to deliver results that drive increased market success. He pursues new challenges with positive energy and builds relationships with stakeholders, peers, clients, and other corporate leaders.

You can find more information about Kermit on Linkedin:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/kermitranda

Like what you hear? Hear more episodes like this on the What’s Your Story podcast page!