What does it take to build a team that thrives through industry shifts and global disruptions? Arun Vellanki, founder of CloudBridge Solutions, shares his remarkable journey from Boston startup to multinational operation with powerful insights on values-based leadership.
"My goal is to cultivate a team that makes decisions based on values, not just policies," Arun explains, revealing the philosophy that guided CloudBridge from its 2019 founding to its current team of 70 employees across the US, Canada, and India. His story demonstrates how focusing on relationships and strategic partnerships—rather than just vendor relationships—creates sustainable growth even during challenging times.
The conversation delves into one of the most difficult challenges entrepreneurs face: delegation. Arun candidly shares his struggle to let go of control, eventually discovering that empowering others with decision-making authority actually increased their engagement and accountability. His implementation of transparent dashboards and clear processes transformed what felt like a risk into an organizational strength. When COVID-19 forced clients to freeze hiring, Arun faced a pivotal decision: downsize or reinvent? His choice to diversify into life sciences and eventually AI solutions demonstrates the adaptability required for sustained growth.
Perhaps most valuable is Arun's unique approach to developing leaders. He envisions CloudBridge as a "leadership factory" where emotional intelligence and problem-solving abilities take precedence over technical skills. "Technology can be learned anytime," he notes, "but emotional intelligence and problem-solving skills are what we look for." This refreshing perspective challenges conventional thinking about talent development in technical fields. Whether you're building your first leadership team or scaling across borders, Arun's insights offer a blueprint for growth that balances ambition with values. Connect with him on LinkedIn to continue the conversation and discover how emotional intelligence might transform your own organization.