In this exclusive interview, we delve into the exceptional journey of Haden Land, the Chief Executive Officer & Chief Technology Officer of Safely2Prosperity. Haden shares insights into his background, leadership philosophy, achievements, challenges faced, and his vision for the future of infectious disease risk management.
Introduction and Background
Haden Land brings a wealth of expertise to the table, with a substantive background covering a spectrum of needs in national security and related industries. His technological proficiency spans cloud computing, big data, cyber security, enterprise mobility, complex adaptive systems, engineering, IT assessments, R&D, enterprise architecture, and business continuity/DR. Prior to Safely2Prosperity, Haden held the position of President at a Cyber Security and IT Senior Executive Consulting firm and served as the VP of Research and Technology at Lockheed Martin. His leadership roles include Engineering VP, R&D VP, CTO, and CIO, contributing significantly to key customers in various sectors such as government, space, energy, law enforcement, transportation, financial, and healthcare.
Haden’s leadership extends beyond his current role, with a history of serving as the Capitol Technology University Board Chairman, Prince George’s Community College Foundation Board Chairman, Hispanic Information Technology Executive Council Board Director, Potsdam University Board Trustee, and more. His diverse experiences at organizations like IBM and Loral underscore his multifaceted approach to leadership.
Key Qualities of an Inspiring Business Leader
According to Haden, inspiring leadership entails setting the right example for emulation, demonstrating courage, teamwork, motivation, dedication to staff, and compassion for the customer domains served. He emphasizes creating an environment where excellence is not just an aspiration but a principle. Fostering a culture of continuous improvement and prioritizing value-added activities is crucial. Haden stresses the importance of possessing a strategic mindset, understanding market dynamics, and risk management expertise. Building an effective and trusted professional network, coupled with honing communication and presentation skills, contributes to impactful leadership.
Recognitions and Achievements
Haden Land’s contributions have earned him recognition as one of the Top 10 Visionary CEOs to Watch in 2023 by Business Talk, acknowledgment in the World’s Impactful Leaders Making a Footprint in Healthcare 2023 by World’s Leaders, inclusion in the Who’s Who of the Industries 2023 Global by Unified Brainz, and a place among The Global Icons 2023 by Passion Vista. His role as Trustee Emeritus at Capitol Technology University further underscores his commitment to education and leadership.
Approach to Leadership and Motivation
Haden emphasizes the importance of alignment on organizational goals from the Board to the Executive Team and throughout the entire staff. He believes that consistent alignment fosters inspiration and motivation. Recognizing the value of effective risk management, Haden advocates for a leadership organization that prioritizes key business metrics, customer satisfaction, and employee retention. This approach, shared by the dedicated Founder and Executive Chairman, Dr. John Norris, and an experienced advisory board, forms the foundation for business success at Safely2Prosperity.
Current Trends in the Business World (Healthcare Industry)
Haden sheds light on the significant trends in the healthcare industry, particularly the growing focus on digitalization. The global healthcare IT market is projected to exhibit a CAGR of nearly 18% from 2023 to 2030. The strategic-minded companies, like Safely2Prosperity, are placing emphasis on interoperability, cloud-based platforms, mobility, artificial intelligence, and emerging technologies such as personalized treatments, advanced biomimicry, quantum biology, and pathogen microbiome sensors. Haden acknowledges that the pandemic has accelerated the digitization of the healthcare industry, positioning Safely2Prosperity as a leader in this trend.
Career Challenges and Solutions
Haden Land reflects on the challenges he faced throughout his career, including family relocations, extensive business travel, and balancing professional and personal life. He acknowledges the difficulty of maintaining work-life balance but introduces a concept called “life mapping” that has helped him navigate these challenges. Haden’s ability to apply refined strategies to solve complex problems and juggle multiple responsibilities, from senior technical roles to executive leadership, has been instrumental in overcoming career challenges. Currently, he faces the significant challenge of convincing the market about the real and potential threats of pandemic preparedness and response, advocating for a proactive approach.
Valuable Insights for Aspiring Business Leaders
For aspiring leaders, Haden Land recommends creating the appropriate ecosystem to enable business strategy, understanding the addressable market and competitive landscape, and incorporating risk management into strategy execution. He encourages lifting above challenges by simultaneously taking an outside-in and inside-out approach in strategic planning. Haden emphasizes the importance of focusing on how goals are accomplished rather than solely on the accomplishments themselves.
Balancing Professional Responsibilities with Personal Well-being
Haden Land employs a four-layered model over a multi-year timeline to balance professional responsibilities with personal well-being. This model includes career path, personal life (well-being), memberships (boards/groups/councils), and education/training/self-care/hobbies. By avoiding actions that could adversely impact one layer over another, Haden strives for balance. He also emphasizes the importance of physical fitness, maintaining a healthy diet, weight training, and regular walks. The support of his dedicated and supportive spouse, Cathy Jo Land, further contributes to maintaining a sound work-life balance.
Upcoming Projects, Initiatives, and Future Goals
Looking ahead, Haden outlines the tactical and strategic goals for Safely2Prosperity. The company aims to transition from its launch to formal business success, with a focus on completing the design, development, and supporting business processes for an integrated Sales Enablement Process/Toolset. Strategic partnerships, such as the one with Acceler8Now for lead generation, are critical components of Safely2Prosperity’s future plans. The company also plans to expand its executive team, secure equity investment funding, and optimize its infectious disease risk management system with enhanced capabilities, including artificial intelligence and support for multiple languages.
Continuous Learning and Personal Development
Haden Land believes in ongoing education to complement professional development. He underscores the value of being both a student and a teacher, having board positions in academia, and focusing on certifications and advanced degrees relevant to one’s career interests. Aspiring leaders should adopt a value-driven leadership style that builds credibility and promotes synergy. Haden encourages leaders to be passionate about their impact on others, prioritize listening over talking, and strive to understand complex problems.
Accolades and Industry Recognition
Haden Land’s numerous achievements include two honorary doctorates, recognition as one of the Top Hispanics in Business and Technology eight times by HE&IT Magazine, and the Most Influential Hispanic by the HITEC. He has received awards such as the Global CIO Executive Top 10 Breakaway Leader Award by EVANTA, the Minera Professional Lifetime Achievement Award by Potsdam University, and being an Honoree of Who’s Who of the Industries and the Global Icons by Unified Brainz Virtuoso. Lifetime memberships in the Upsilon Pi Epsilon and Epsilon Delta Pi Honor Societies further highlight his contributions.
Company Vision, Mission, and Solutions
Safely2Prosperity envisions being a market leader in helping people and organizations be less at risk from infectious disease spread while increasing overall health and wellness. The company’s mission is to provide a digital answer to infectious disease and health-affecting issues, preparing for outbreaks, providing warnings, and advising for quick responses. The powerful cloud-based platform, VirusVigilant, integrates seamlessly with existing frameworks, offering robust analytics, monitoring, tracking, and management of infectious disease threats. The company’s vision and mission align with its dedication to empowering organizations to meet global health and safety benchmarks. The company website can be accessed at https://www.safely2prosperity.com/.
In conclusion, Haden Land’s journey as a business leader is rich with experiences, accomplishments, and a commitment to continuous learning and growth. His insights serve as a guide for aspiring leaders, highlighting the importance of leadership values, adaptability to industry trends, and a proactive approach to challenges in the ever-evolving business landscape.
