Ep.99 Zero to One: Building From the Ground Up with Doug Lange, VP of IT Strategy at Choice Hotels International and fmr. CSO for the State of Arizona

Featuring Doug Lange, VP of IT Strategy at Choice Hotels International and fmr. CSO for the State of Arizona

Connect w/ Doug: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dmlange/

Show Notes:

In this episode, we sit down with Doug Lange, former Chief Strategy Officer for the State of Arizona and current VP of IT Strategy at Choice Hotels, to discuss his transition from the public sector to the private sector. We dive into the differences in speed and execution, exploring how the urgency in the private sector differs from the public sector. Additionally, we examine Doug’s unique approach to fostering a culture of creativity and empowerment in the workplace.

Timestamps

00:00 - Introduction to Doug Lange, sharing his background and current role at Choice Hotels.
01:21 - Doug's role in encouraging the host to go live and in person for the podcast.
02:26 - Reflecting on the journey from episode 22 to the present, highlighting the growth and development within the public sector.
03:46 - Exploring the book "Zero to One" by Peter Thiel and its influence on Doug's approach to speed and innovation in the private sector.
05:20 - Comparing the complexities and motivation in government versus the private sector.
06:36 - Discuss collaborative efforts and competition in the private sector compared to the community aspect of the public sector.
08:10 - Exploring the urgency and speed of execution in the private sector versus the public sector's risk-averse environment.
09:53 - Doug's thoughts on a potential return to the public sector and the areas that could be improved to foster growth and innovation.
14:16 - Addressing the concept of the slowness of government and how it balances with Doug's experience transitioning to the private sector.
18:34 - The "Speaker's Journey" career series and the impact of personal stories and vulnerabilities on team dynamics and collaboration.
21:06 - Sharing Simon Sinek's video and the power of openness and vulnerability in building diversity and fostering passion within a team.

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