6 Leadership Lessons from Building a People-First IT Company

Click here to listen now: Leading at the Edge: The Story Behind iuvo on Edge of Excellence

In the IT industry, it’s easy to focus on technology first. The newest tools. The fastest systems. The most advanced solutions. 

But after nearly two decades of building iuvo, one thing has become clear: technology alone doesn’t build great companies, people do. 

In a recent episode of the Edge of Excellence podcast, iuvo Co-Founder and COO Jeff Ouellette joined co-hosts Jess DeForge and Bryon Beilman to reflect on the story behind iuvo: why it was founded, what was broken in the IT industry at the time, and how a people-first mindset shaped the company’s culture, leadership style, and long-term growth. 

This wasn’t a polished success story. It was an honest look at lessons learned, mistakes made, and decisions that weren’t always easy, but proved essential. 

Below are some of the most meaningful insights from the conversation, along with takeaways leaders in any industry can apply. 

The Problem iuvo Set Out to Solve 

When iuvo was founded, the IT industry faced a familiar gap, one that still exists today. 

On one side were highly technical professionals who understood systems but struggled to connect technology to business outcomes. On the other were business leaders who understood strategy but lacked insight into how technology could accelerate growth. 

Customer service often suffered in the middle. 

iuvo was built to bridge that gap by combining: 

• Strong technical expertise 

• Clear business understanding 

• A genuine commitment to customer service 

But solving that problem required more than technical talent, it required the right people. 

Lesson 1: Cultural Fit Matters More Than Technical Skill 

One of the biggest lessons learned along the way was this: 

You can teach skills. You can’t teach values. 

Early on, iuvo hired talented people, some with deep technical knowledge and strong communication skills, who ultimately weren’t the right cultural fit. Over time, it became clear that even “high performers” could create friction if their values didn’t align with the company’s. 

Letting go of technically strong employees who didn’t align with core values was difficult. But keeping them would have caused deeper, long-term damage to the culture. 

Takeaway for Leaders: 

Hiring for cultural alignment isn’t a “nice to have.” It’s foundational to building trust, collaboration, and sustainable growth. 

Lesson 2: Core Values Only Matter If You Live Them 

Many organizations list core values on their website. Far fewer are willing to make real decisions based on them. 

At iuvo, core values evolved over time, not as aspirational statements, but as a reflection of who the company truly was. Once those values were defined, they became a filter for decision-making across the organization. 

That meant: 

• Changing internal processes that didn’t reinforce trust 

• Protecting employees, even if it meant losing revenue 

• Saying no to clients who didn’t treat people with respect 

Living core values requires consistency and courage. 

Takeaway for Leaders: 

If your values don’t influence difficult decisions, they aren’t values. They’re slogans. 

Lesson 3: People-First Leadership Drives Better Outcomes 

Often people associate being “people-first” with perks or policies, but it’s really about how leaders show up, especially when things are hard. 

People-first leadership shows up in real ways at iuvo: 

• Trusting employees with flexibility and autonomy 

• Supporting people through personal challenges 

• Encouraging time off, growth, and balance 

• Creating space for honest feedback and learning 

When people feel supported and respected, they bring their full selves to their work. That doesn’t just benefit employees, it directly impacts customers. 

iuvo’s high Net Promoter Score and customer satisfaction aren’t accidental. They’re a result of employees who feel safe, empowered, and invested. 

Takeaway for Leaders: 

Your customers feel how your employees feel. Great service starts inside the organization. 

Lesson 4: Psychological Safety Fuels Growth and Innovation 

Another theme that surfaced throughout the conversation was the importance of psychological safety. 

Growth doesn’t happen without risk and risk doesn’t happen without the possibility of failure. Failure isn’t treated as a weakness at iuvo, it’s treated as part of learning. 

Creating a safe environment for failure allows people to: 

• Try new ideas 

• Speak up without fear 

• Share lessons learned 

• Innovate more effectively 

Leaders set the tone by being open about their own mistakes and showing that failure is a teacher not a liability. 

Takeaway for Leaders: 

If people are afraid to fail, they’re also afraid to grow. 

Lesson 5: Leadership Isn’t a Title It’s a Mindset 

Leadership at iuvo doesn’t follow a single path. Not everyone leads through management roles. Some lead through technical expertise, mentorship, or collaboration. 

Leadership is encouraged at every level, and people often step into leadership roles by doing the work first, demonstrating accountability, initiative, and care for others. 

True leadership is about: 

• Supporting growth in others 

• Removing obstacles 

• Modeling values through action 

Takeaway for Leaders: 

Leadership isn’t about authority. It’s about responsibility. 

Lesson 6: Growth Is a Journey, Not a Destination 

One of the most honest reflections from the episode was this: iuvo didn’t get everything right from the start. 

Culture was built through trial and error. Leadership evolved through experience. Growth came with challenges, plateaus, and moments of uncertainty. 

But by staying grounded in people-first principles and being willing to learn, adapt, and listen, the company built something sustainable, something real. 

The story behind iuvo is about so much more than building an IT company. It’s about building an organization where people feel respected, supported, and empowered to grow and trusting that when you do that, everything else follows. 

If you’re leading a team, building a business, or navigating your own growth journey, the lesson is simple but powerful: When you put people first, excellence follows. 

Want to Learn More About How iuvo Works? 

Whether you’re building a business, leading a growing team, or navigating complex IT decisions, our approach is grounded in the same people-first principles discussed in this episode, trust, transparency, and partnership. 

If you’re curious about how iuvo helps organizations align technology with business goals (without losing sight of the humans behind it), we’d love to connect. 

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