Having accumulated over three decades of expertise in the engineering industry, Layne Lewis established Willowview Consulting in 2003. Throughout her career, she has contributed to various large corporations, such as Booz Allen & Hamilton and Hewlett Packard, as well as small start-ups, actively participating in every stage of product development. Recognized as a reliable advisor on science and technology, she holds a trusted position with the Marine Corps Special Operations Command (MARSOC). In her leisure time, Layne finds joy in spending quality moments on her ranch in Idaho, where she cherishes riding horses, tending to her garden, and delighting in the company of her grandchildren.
Below are highlights of the interview conducted by the World’s Leaders:
Describe who you are as a person, inside and outside of the workplace.
LL: hardworking, loyal, and honest. I spend countless hours managing my business, but I also make time for my hobbies, which include endurance horse riding, physical fitness, and time with family and friends. I often describe myself as a terrier—determined, energetic, and forward!
Describe your background and what did you do before you joined the company?
In 1987, I received my Aerospace Engineering degree and started work immediately on the International Space Station’s definition and design. I worked on that project for 8 years in Virginia, Houston, and Alabama, moving between NASA centers. In 1995, I made a huge career move from NASA to Hewlett-Packard to design commercial Laser Jet printers! As I moved up the management ladder at HP, and decided that I needed to further my education, I got an MBA in 2002. From there, I started my own company, Willowview Consulting (WVC), in 2003 and never looked back!
Tell us about the inception of the company. How did it all start?
I had previously started a company with two partners in 2002 and left HP for a 6-month contract. When that contract ended, there was a lull where no money was coming in, and of course I panicked! I still had a mortgage and two young boys to feed! Reaching out to my network of people, I found myself assisting a company with their technology strategy. While this was a great short-term solution that paid the bills, a fire was lit within me knowing there was a need in the market for this type of work, and WVC came shortly after.
What has made you successful? What do you value?
Success requires a few significant traits: confidence, and by that, I mean knowing what you know and also knowing what you do NOT know, and having the courage to bring in help when you need it. Decisiveness is the ability to make hard decisions with incomplete data. And the wisdom to change those decisions as more data comes in. Trust is the ability to trust your instincts and your people to do the right thing. With the right team, you can do more strategic leadership and leave the tactics to others.
Which are the major services of the company and how do the company to get ahead in the competition? What value-added services does the company provide?
WVC offers “edge-to-app” engineering, analytics, and product development services from ideation to production. We are focused on guiding our clients through the process of solving technical problems quickly through rapid development and proof of concept. From there, we are able to visualize and analyze project data and prepare to go into production.
Our forte is what we have called “just enough” systems engineering. We have found that many of our large clients may know how to solve pieces and parts of the problem set, but struggle with integration and pulling things together. Often, it comes back to basic systems engineering, the interdisciplinary field of engineering that enables building, analyzing, and managing a system involving business processes and logistics.
What are the most important aspects of a company’s culture? What principles do you believe in and how do you build this culture?
A good company culture can make all the difference. Most importantly, trust. I trust my employees to do their job, have open communication with myself or their superiors, and when things don’t go according to plan, we work it out together. WVC’s company motto is “Expect Excellence”, meaning our customer and /partners can expect the same excellence that I hold myself and my employees to. It’s also important to me that the WVC culture supports work-life balance. We do this with schedule flexibility and remote/hybrid hours, allowing my employees to be present in their lives outside of the workplace. I make sure my company upholds the following value; in everything we do.
What is the significance of innovative ideas in the company?
Innovation is critical to us; we are often solving problems that have never been solved! I make it known that WVC supports, thrives on, and nurtures innovation. I encourage my team to lead with their innovation, no idea is too small to bring to the table.
Give us your opinion on; do organizations rely heavily on individual heroics or team processes?
I would say both, honestly. There are always team members who carry a good portion of the load, but there must also be a team compliment who is there to make sure the other tasks get completed as well. I prefer to have activities that are defined by processes so that no matter who is put in that role, the job will be consistent and standardized.
What are your responsibilities as the President of the company? What is the happiest part of your daily routine?
Since we are a small company, my responsibilities are varied and many! I often start the day making coffee for the office, and end the day making sure the team knows the direction we are heading, our priorities, and what our action items are since they can often change quickly. I am honored to have the team I do; we run like a well-oiled machine, which makes me so happy!
What advice would you give someone going into a leadership position for the first time?
Listen and consider the wisdom of others, but remember that you alone are responsible for the final decision. Don’t let the hard moments discourage you, there will be many! Give yourself grace, the greatest leaders were not created overnight.
