EP. 50 Keep Rowing Until The Wind Catches Your Sails

Jason McCann, CEO of Vari, has had a compelling and unique entrepreneurial journey that took him from the hurricanes of Galveston to elevating the way people connect.  Every meaningful moment of his life, stood an example of Leadership that shaped who he is today.  He strongly believes that effectively Leading a company means that you must be the eye of the storm.  When things are uncertain and not going well, your Teammates will look to you for confidence- Be calm and move forward.  In the early days of a start-up, you the Leader, can influence and control how culture is built, but at some point you will outgrow your reach. After diving deep into Vari’s values, with the Chief People Officer at Southwest Airlines, Jason knew that operationalizing culture was going to be critical to his company’s longevity and continued success.  At Vari, it is clear that “People” are at the center of everything- With an entire People Department dedicated to training, developing and inspiring others to ensure the company is elevating their customers, workplaces and communities.  Saying Vari “Invests In People” would be an understatement.  A genuine investment in People has resulted in Jason's Teammates take Vari's mission to levels beyond his imagination, like organizing community events to help those in need, without being prompted by their Leaders.  Jason also talks about the hard lessons learned from COVID and how Vari could have been on the brink of business turmoil.  However, great Teams know how to pivot and ultimately monetize the pain they’re given to turn something like COVID, into something positive.  During one of the most widespread pandemics, Jason and his Team rallied their company to new heights. Their rally call became “Keep Rowing” which meant keeping your head down and pushing forward until you had enough wind at your back to keep momentum. This rally cry not only benefited Vari, but other companies and Teams looking for support.  Jason wholeheartedly believes that in business, it is not just about helping yourself, but sharing what you learn with others (even competitors).  We are all in this together.  In the end, Jason is committed to making the world a better place, transforming how we connect in the workplace and leaving positive ripples beyond one's life.  The best way we can do that as entrepreneurs, is by finding the “Pocket”, enjoying the journey and helping folks along the way. 

You can follow Jason and the Vari Team at www.vari.com

This episode was in partnership with the Texas Business Hall Of Fame. You can learn more about TBHF and their mission by visiting www.texasbusiness.org