Reshma Moorthy is the president and CEO of Frontier Technologies, Inc. She holds the “overall responsibility for the strategic direction, vision, values, and goals of the organization.”
Likewise, Reshma Moorthy is “driven with the purpose of customer value through tech innovation as well as revolutionary and disruptive innovation.”
With Reshma Moorthy at the helm, Frontier has “fostered the growth and profitability of new startups as well as well-established organizations.”
Reshma Moorthy has over 13 years of “award-winning leadership,” which she “leverages…with the latest advanced technologies on the market.”
She also works to realize her passion of “helping clients protect their present information and build for their future technological needs by managing and maintaining their data across platforms, software, networks, and the cloud.”
Also, Reshma Moorthy believes in a “cybersecurity-first approach,” which “assures clients that their data is safe-guarded end-to-end thus protecting and fueling their competitive advantage.”
The Eastern Minority Supplier Development Council (EMSDC) has awarded Reshma Moorthy the Minority Business Advocate of the Year Award. Her team has also received the Diverse Supplier of the Year Award several times.
Reshma Moorthy earned her BS in Biology and Health Sciences from St. Joseph’s University.
Later, Reshma Moorthy also attended “numerous executive educational programs” at Tuck University, and the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.
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I believe the most difficult challenge, even today, is when I am unable to control the outcome to achieve success. Reshma Moorthy, Frontier Technologies
Jerome Knyszewski: Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series! Before we dive in, our readers would love to “get to know you” a bit better. Can you tell us a bit about your ‘backstory’ and how you got started?
Reshma Moorthy: I am a second-generation family business owner as I was fortunate to join my parents in their family business about 14 years ago.
Ironically, I graduated college with the intent of going to med school, but then questioned as to whether that was the path I wanted to take.
When I took a hard look at what I wanted to do it was to find a career that was intriguing and that would allow me to grow.
When I shared this epiphany with my family in 2007, I was offered the opportunity to join their (Frontier Technologies) and have never looked back.
Jerome Knyszewski: Can you tell us a story about the hard times that you faced when you first started your journey? Did you ever consider giving up? Where did you get the drive to continue even though things were so hard?
Reshma Moorthy: I believe the most difficult challenge, even today, is when I am unable to control the outcome to achieve success.
There were many times I questioned whether this was the right choice for me and sometimes whether I should move on to something different.
However, my personality wouldn’t let me. I am way too driven. When I am committed to something I do not give up.
This stems from my days as a competitive athlete — that desire to achieve.
I believe this mentality is also linked to being an avid piano player and learning Spanish.
No matter how difficult the challenge these brought, they forced me to keep going. It is this mentality that I bring into my everyday activities.
Jerome Knyszewski: Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lessons or ‘takeaways’ you learned from that?
Reshma Moorthy: Not necessarily a funny mistake, it was a bad business mistake. We were selling help desk solutions to a major food company based in California.
Anyone in business knows, that one of the biggest mistakes you can make when issuing a quote if the numbers are incorrect.
When that happens it’s difficult to pull it back and correct it. Looking back, it truly was a simple math error, but a costly one.
The realization of what I did would quadruple the cost to the customer. As you can imagine it is a learning experience that I never forget.
The lesson is to always double and even triple check when working on quotes to ensure that all the important touchpoints are correct.
Jerome Knyszewski: Based on your experience and success, what are the five most important things one should know in order to lead a company from Good to Great? Please share a story or an example for each.
Reshma Moorthy: For me I sum it up by these five words that push me every day: Vision. Passion. Determination. Execution. Strategy.
Jerome Knyszewski: Extensive research suggests that “purpose driven businesses” are more successful in many areas. Can you help articulate for our readers a few reasons why a business should consider becoming a purpose driven business, or consider having a social impact angle?
Reshma Moorthy: From my perspective, managing and maintaining a business is great because we are able to continue to hire people that are needed to support the business.
These people are handpicked from different areas across the country for specific roles.
Knowing that we have are bringing people from all areas of the community is important to us and helps us feel fulfilled.
One of my bigger overall goals is to help take technology to areas that are not exposed nor even given the opportunity to understand the power of technology.
As everyone knows, children are our future and that should include all children no matter what level of society they are growing up in.
What we want to provide goes beyond putting the technology in their hands; it’s make them excited to learn what the technology can do for them to open doors many thought wouldn’t be available.
Therefore, we are always looking for ways to engage in underserved communities or work with children in grade schools to show them what could be possible.
The lesson is to always double and even triple check when working on quotes to ensure that all the important touchpoints are correct.
Jerome Knyszewski: As you know, “conversion” means to convert a visit into a sale. In your experience what are the best strategies a business should use to increase conversion rates?
Reshma Moorthy: You must do your homework and have a plan before you arrive to meet the client.
Ensure that your team is going to present the company in a strong light. Present a confident but not arrogant image during the meeting.
Make sure you cover the gamut when it comes to the solution you are being brought there to discuss and anticipate possible other concerns and solutions they may bring up.
Finally, it is so important to LISTEN to them before ‘selling’ them. If they believe you are there to truly help them, the conversion is the likely next step.
Jerome Knyszewski: Of course, the main way to increase conversion rates is to create a trusted and beloved brand. Can you share a few ways that a business can earn a reputation as a trusted and beloved brand?
Reshma Moorthy: I keep a mental checklist that includes the following:
Show up at least 15 minutes early.
Be prepared, do not have a canned speech but know your stuff.
Leverage social media when it comes to the specific solution you came to discuss. In this day and age, validation is critical, and most are turning to social media to find it.
Another way to validate is to come prepared with references to name drop that are relevant to that particular customer.
Show up at least 15 minutes early. Reshma Moorthy
Jerome Knyszewski: How can our readers further follow you online?
Reshma Moorthy: They can follow me on LinkedIn.
Jerome Knyszewski: This was very inspiring. Thank you so much for the time you spent with this!
