Richard Harter: Changing the dynamics of client service and international business operations
The 10 Most Influential Leaders in Talent Acquisition Industry 2022
With a profound 25 years in the BPO and
international business arena, Richard Harter, VP of Client Strategy at Datrose,
is a seasoned, pragmatic, and responsible leader who aims to fulfill complex
business objectives with smart, simplified tactics. He focuses on deploying
cost-saving methodologies to continuously elevate profitability. He views
success as a moving target and believes that leaders need to be extremely
conscious of what success means to them and the wellbeing of both their
organization and their people. Stressing on the point, he states a famous quote
by Max DePree, “The first responsibility of a leader is to define reality. The
last is to say thank you. In between, the leader is a servant.”
Diving into the domain naturally
Growing up a successful athlete and being
involved in various sports programs since his youth, Richard’s life and
upbringing have kept the vision and desire for winning “very real” to him and a
part of who he is at his core. Transitioning to being an adult and into a business
career was nothing more than a transition from the traditional measurements
associated with sports and into the success measurements associated with
business.
He adds, “The commitment and dedication to
your desired craft and ‘winning’ in that craft are almost identical. Words like
training, development, preparation, and sacrifice, they transcend. Being
fortunate enough to have been modestly successful in business now for 25 years
is the culmination of each of those words coming together with some true blessings
from above and a little bit of elbow grease.”
Richard has always enjoyed the comradery
and synergy of working with a team and working towards a goal which is why a
career in Client Services and Corporate Strategy have always felt natural. He
states, “When your choice of career fits who you are as a person and you apply
a winning game plan, success just comes naturally.”
Progressing upwards against all odds
Richard expresses, “We’ve all had
challenges in life, some more challenging or painful than others, but
nevertheless, we’ve all had them. Someone once said, “Success isn’t by
accident,” and I couldn’t agree more. It’s more about staying focused on your
goals and focused on the attributes and commitment required to achieve those
goals. Everything else is a waste of your time and will only delay your
journey.”
Life has certainly thrown him a few lemons,
but he kept moving forward, which shaped his personality and evolved him into a
better leader. He desires to continue leading by humility and setting an
example for everyone he touches.
Sharing his vision for a growth-oriented
future, he states, “Keep the focus on winning, big wins, small wins, every
little area of opportunity to succeed or help others around you succeed.”
Overview of Datrose and its services
Datrose is a 45+ years-old Business Process
Solutions company. They specialize in Strategic Government Consulting, Accounts
Payable Automation, Smart Package & Parcel Lockers, Staffing &
Recruiting Services, as well as Mailroom Automation, and Professional Business
Consulting. The company is both an MBE and an SDVOSB (Service-Disabled Veteran
Owned Small Business).
Richard adds, “Through innovative solutions
for clients who want to increase efficiency and reduce administrative burdens,
Datrose optimizes your business processes while saving you time and money.”
Handling Pandemic Woes
Richard proudly shares that Datrose was set
up well to survive and succeed during the pandemic. Having a team of selfless
leaders who each put in their full effort to transition their business from an
office-based entity to a purely work-at-home model helped in imparting a high
degree of transparency to their valuable customers.
They swiftly stabilized when others juggled
to adjust their planning and approach to their ever-changing requirements
shared by their government leaders.
He mentions, “Our Smart Locker business as
an example was something that became of increasing interest and growth
throughout the pandemic. Smart lockers by nature, drive social distancing,
create a touch-free transaction to customers and allow for a more efficient and
streamlined workflow. They allow businesses to reach their customer base in a
safe, effective, and labor-free manner, 24/7. Combine that with our commitment
to Lean Six Sigma quality, process efficiency, and multiple workflows, and we
were able to assist customers throughout their most challenging times.”
A Poised Leader
As the VP of Client & Corporate
Strategy of Datrose, Richard is responsible for supporting the overall strategy
for both retention as well as future growth of their customer base. He also
plays a key role in assisting the marketing team and operational departments to
ensure the streamlining of all processes and smooth company operations.
“Datrose has received the prestigious
recognition of being one of IAOP’s (International Association of Outsource
Professionals) Top 100 companies for 14 consecutive years. This achievement
showcases the dedication of our team and how well they work in sync to pave the
way to such impressive accomplishment.”
For Richard, work-life balance is crucial,
and he makes it a point to keep a fine line between both to stay motivated to
accomplish all work and life goals. He also adds, “I’m truly blessed to have
had an amazing family and fantastic group of friends that have been such major
influence on me throughout my life. To me, family is everything, and my friend
circle is an extension of that.”
A glorious tomorrow
Planning for the future at Datrose, Rick
aims to keep pushing forward, carrying the same legacy and vision that was set
by founder & CEO, Bill Rose. Moreover, they will keep looking for
additional opportunities to improve and advance into new business areas that
are highly sustainable and drive increased value.
His special message for all young leaders
involves self-education and continuous improvement. He stresses the value in
never becoming content with your current level of accomplishment. “You have to
keep pushing yourself, keep learning and keep challenging yourself every day to
be better.” He also shares a simple but effective strategy, “Stay soft on
people, hard on morals and always – always have fun.”