Africans In Tech
Welcome to Africans In Tech, a podcast where inspiring journeys in the world of technology are explored. Hosted by Sahr Lebbie, join us for candid interviews with tech professionals sharing their stories, challenges, and triumphs. Whether you're new to tech or a seasoned veteran, valuable insights and mentorship opportunities await. Let's demystify tech together and drive positive change in the industry.
Africans In Tech
Africans in Tech Podcast Episode 25 | Build Support Infrastructure From Scratch w/ Sean Ilenray
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In this deep-dive interview, Sean Ilenrey, Speaker, Founder, and CEO of Value-Centric, a seasoned tech operations leader, shares his multi-industry journey through enterprise and startup environments—from Comcast to Toast (pre-IPO) to Dutchie, a leading cannabis tech platform.
Sean breaks down how he built and scaled technical support infrastructures, introduced AI and automation tools, stood up WFM (Workforce Management), QA, and KPI systems from scratch, and helped companies move from chaos to structured scale. He also introduces his original leadership framework, "IMO" (I Momentum)—a tactical 4-phase model for driving sustainable transformation inside tech orgs.
This conversation is essential for operators, support leaders, startup builders, and execs looking to understand what it actually takes to build scalable support and customer operations in high-growth SaaS and tech environments.
🔥 Transitioning from Enterprise to Startup Tech Leadership
🧱 Standing Up Support Infrastructure: WFM, QA, KPIs, AI Tools
🌐 Remote-First Team Strategy & Async Collaboration Best Practices
📈 Navigating Pre-IPO Startup Culture (Toast)
🌍 DEI Challenges in Tech Orgs & Culturally Scaling Teams
🌱 Building in Underserved Verticals: Cannabis Tech at Dutchie
🧠 How to Implement the IMO Framework: Foundation, Build, Scale, Sustain
Connect with Sean - https://linktr.ee/Seanthespeaker?utm_source=linktree_profile_share<sid=b98960fd-96d7-4031-b81e-5864ef443544
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