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4 real accurate read of what they are thinking. I don’t want everyone to agree with me. You also have to be dedicated. I mean, really … if you’re not dedicated then what are we do- ing here? Q&A, from page 3 “I often like to be the last person to speak at a meeting because if I speak first, it tends to influence others’ thoughts and I may not always get a real accurate read of what they are thinking. I don’t want everyone to agree with me.” TZL: How would you describe your leadership style? DW: Hands-on, but hands-off. Does that make sense? I am a firm believer in letting good people do what they do best, but that said, I need to know what they are doing. You have to stay in touch. TZL: What makes your company a great place to work? DW: It starts with desire. You have to want to be a great place to work. We work hard and spend a lot of time here. We are committed to making this a great place to work. For example, we’re listening to people who want flex hours and collaborative work spaces. We have lounge areas with coffee and televisions so people can tune out and take a break – alone or together. You have to take breaks from what we do. It keeps your head straight. TZL: What’s been your greatest challenge since becom- ing CEO? DW: Definitely growth. We put together a strategic plan a few years ago and have exceeded our goals. Right now we have achieved our five-year revenue goal in year three. So, putting systems and people in place to effectively support that growth has been our top priority. Of course, we want to continue to grow, but we want to maintain a small firm mindset. We don’t want a lot of red tape and we don’t want to become bureaucratic. We want to stay nimble enough to keep personalized client service. We are working to do this by hiring people we can trust to make the right decisions. We are about empowering people. Not every decision has to be a democracy. We don’t need a committee for everything. We need good people. TZL: What is your vision for the future of WGI? “Growth is the heartbeat of any firm. You either grow or you shrink. I want to focus on smart and manageable growth – to grow slowly and carefully.”

DW: Smart growth. Growth is the heartbeat of any firm. You either grow or you shrink. I want to focus on smart and manageable growth – to grow slowly and carefully.

TZL: What do you feel sets your firm apart from others?

DW: The personal touch. Also, at a lot of other firms, techni- cal staff is not empowered to make project decisions. Here, we empower them to do so. We want our clients to receive quick decisions.

TZL: Are you married? Do you have children or pets?

DW: I’ve been married for more than 20 years. We have two girls – one in high school and one in college. We also have a couple of dogs. TZL: What’s one thing people at the firm don’t know about you?

DW: I used to be a body builder in the ‘80s.

TZL: What’s the last book that you read?

DW: Strangers on the Bridge . The movie Bridge of Spies was based on this book. I’m reading it onmy iPad – I finally made the conversion from print to digital. It just makes sense. “We’re listening to people who want flex hours and collaborative work spaces. We have lounge areas with coffee and televisions so people can tune out and take a break – alone or together. You have to take breaks from what we do. It keeps your head straight.”

TZL: What’s the last movie you saw in the theater?

DW: I don’t go to the theater. I do watch Netflix sometimes. I’m a fan of House of Cards . TZL: What’s the best piece of work-related advice you’ve been given? DW: You never know who you’re talking to. I once met a fu- ture employee in a grocery store. Get to know as many peo- ple as you can. Also, never be afraid to ask for help.

TZL: Who is a leader who you most admire?

DW: Steve Jobs. He had a relentless drive for perfection.

TZL: What other types of activities do you enjoy?

DW: I’m very competitive. I lift weights, do CrossFit a few times a week and snow ski.

TALK TO US Do you have an interesting story to tell? Is your company doing things differently and getting results? Let us know. We’d love to contact you and feature you in an upcoming issue of The Zweig Letter . If interested, please email rmassey@zweiggroup.com.

THE ZWEIG LETTER April 18, 2016, ISSUE 1148

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