Today we’d like to introduce you to Kevin Korte.
Hi Kevin, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
My time in Washington State starts like that of many others, as an immigrant in the tech sector. I was in the first year of my career as an I.T. Project Manager at Univention. Univention sells Identity Management software. Its core product, UCS, enables companies to access their Computers and IT services securely and efficiently. At that point, my wife was graduating from college and got a job offer in Seattle, including an H-1B visa. Thus, there were three options. The first option was not to take the opportunity and stay in Germany. The second option was for me to come along on an H-4 visa. Lastly, Number 3: I somehow managed to get one of the precious few visas available. Coming along on an H-4 Visa would have meant not working for five or more years. Which meant we quickly ruled out the option. However, getting a job with a visa is difficult, even with skills and a master’s degree in computer science.
Thus, I hatched the plan to create my new position in the USA by convincing Univention’s CEO, Peter Ganten, to create a branch office on the other side of the Atlantic. Thus, I drew up business plans and projections to launch the venture and turn the then 30-person small business into a multinational enterprise. After redoing the expectations multiple times, we finally reached an agreement. I would go to the U.S. on an L-1 visa, start a new subsidiary, and show U.S. Businesses the advantages of using Open-Source Software to retain control of their I.T. systems and data.
After ten years in that position, I decided that I love the focus on mentoring and strategic planning more than the day-to-day handling of operations. Having been a startup investor for several years, I became the lead investor for several startups before moving onto boards and advisory boards. The most significant aspect of this change was giving up operational control and focusing on oversight of the management team. As someone with a significant operations background, I found it took some adjustment to let go and let others handle the implementation.
Outside of work, I enjoy the beautiful Washington nature with my wife and two kids, as well as all the wildlife that crosses through our backyard.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Frank Sinatra famously sings in “My Way:” “Regrets, I’ve had a few, but then again, too few to mention.” In the end, I have to say that most worked out. Yet, the road had its twists and turns and bumps.
The biggest issue happened early in my time in Washington. When I moved into heading Univention North America, I had the notion that customers would see the benefits of my solution and that the phone would ring constantly. Thus, sales would be as simple as taking the credit card number over the phone and emailing them the license key back.
Consequently, I made one deal during the first two quarters in the U.S. Then came the annual in-person meeting with my then-boss, Peter Ganten. It was a significantly eye-opening experience. Not only did I get feedback on where my assumptions were wrong, but I also walked away from the four days with a plan to improve myself and become the leader the organization needed. The plan had the right combination of encouragement, advice, and flexibility to guide me onto my path without being controlling and restricting.
As with so many challenges, I overcame this one because I had great mentors, coaches, and role models available to ask for guidance and advice. Today, I am often that coach. While my story might be unique, there are parts and pathways that others have walked before me, and the next generation could follow. Learning from these lessons and mistakes can help us overcome life’s challenges. That is as long as we are willing to ask for advice and listen to the feedback.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Today, I serve on Boards of Directors and Advisory Boards, and I mentor inventors, innovators, and startup founders. Working in these mentor and oversight companies involves guiding new and seasoned leaders, overseeing their development, and helping them overcome challenges. Critically, you cannot make decisions for them. You must provide them with the information, ideas, and space to grow personally and professionally.
What sets me apart from many others in the field is that I mostly work with young, first-time founders. Compared to seasoned leaders, the next generation of startup founders has a unique positive spirit and enthusiasm. On the one hand, this spirit makes it easy to get going and build momentum. On the other hand, it often means directing enthusiasm into the most productive outcome. After all, you have to know how to walk before you can work on running a marathon.
Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
Listening and communication are among the most significant skills in our careers and in our lives. If you can articulate your thoughts clearly while empathizing with others, you can accelerate your success. Like most skills, communication skills aren’t rare talents but develop over years of practice. Starting early to practice, whether by joining Toastmasters, a debate club, or your high school theater program, there are many ways to practice speaking and overcome the fear that often holds us back.
In many cases, that fear is unfounded, yet we think that a wrongly timed world will make us the most hated person on the planet. In truth, most people forget you as soon as you hang up the phone or leave the conversation. Thus, it is upon each of us, whether we are seeking a job, trying to gain customers, or strengthening our friendships, to communicate well and be remembered for the right reasons.
Yet, as with so many things in life, practice makes perfect.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.korte.co
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevindkorte/
