Savoring the Journey: Brandon Richey, Manager of Strategic Accounts
Prime 8 Senior Consultant Brandon Richey describes his professional life as ‘a smorgasbord of different jobs and careers’. Brandon says that it was while working with his father in construction as a boy, that he learned to work seriously hard! In high school, he always had a “side gig” working as a lifeguard at the local pool and later with the local Ambulance Service as an EMT. After college, Brandon joined the United States Air Force where he served as an Intelligence Officer in a career that saw the terrorist attacks of 9/11 and the subsequent war in Iraq.
After completing military service, Brandon started his own tech company and more recently has put his skills, broad knowledge, innate instinct and amazing work ethic to great use while consulting for Prime 8 at Microsoft on several strategic accounts. Throughout his career Brandon says he has learned the importance of leading people - even when he is not the leader. He has discovered the deep satisfaction that comes from solving his customer’s pain points and problems.
Brandon loves life with all the ups and downs! He says ‘it’s a great adventure’. Brandon and his wife, DeNae, have six daughters between the ages of 5 – 17. He says his girls are equal parts tom-boy and princess, which fills his life with outdoor adventures, backpacking, music, Sunday morning hair do’s and late-night emotional talks. In 2017, the Richey family sold their belongings, packed their bags and leapt into the adventure of lifetime, traveling around the world for an extended trip. Brandon had the opportunity to work remote while he and his family gained a whole new perspective about the world and life in general. We chatted with Brandon to talk about his current consulting role, how traveling shaped his career, and his favorite aspect about living in Idaho.
Describe a day in the life of a Manager of Strategic Accounts.
I spend my days supporting Microsoft teams world-wide. My job is to help them solve problems and be successful in their roles. Specifically, I help design, market, and manage the Microsoft’s Partner Incentive programs. These programs are designed to encourage Microsoft partners to sell and manage and engage with the customers that Microsoft and partner companies share. In practice, it means lots of meetings and hours spent in MS Office products to model and build out the programs.
Tell us about the importance of teamwork in your role.
The Partner Incentive programs have many internal and external stakeholders, so teamwork is the name of the game. Aside from working with partners all over the world, we are also in daily contact and collaboration with groups/teams at Microsoft such as Operations, Finance, and Legal. Our ability to engage partners and support their go-to-market process directly impacts their success. We also handle escalations around tough issues that require us to collaborate across teams at Microsoft to resolve for partners.
What are three important qualities of a leader?
1. First, know how to be a good follower. Everyone follows someone, when we learn how to be the follower we’d want to have, we’re learning how to be the leader others would want to follow.
2. Second, put your people first (including trusting them to do their jobs and backing them when things don’t go well). I guess this was really driven into me in the military…we can go into battle when we know our team will have our back and not leave us behind. Couple that confidence in your leader and team with the empowerment to do your job, and you have a high functioning team.
3. Third, be humble yet take responsibility. Knowing that we all make mistakes and taking ownership of ours, and those of our teams when we’re the leader, ensures that we learn and become better.
What is the biggest challenge you have overcome in your career?
I had to realize that failure is part of the journey to success. After my military service, I started a small tech company in southern Utah. We put the technology (structured wiring, music, theaters, home automation) into home in large, master planned developments. The business doubled in size year over year for almost 5 years until the 2008 housing market crash. We went from building 30 homes a month to 2 in a 90-day period of time. Ultimately, we tried restructuring but there simply was no market left in the area. The process of losing that business helped me realize that failure is an option, it can be overcome, and that it can be a strong catalyst for making changes in yourself you wouldn’t have made otherwise. I also learned that failure is much less painful when you’re surrounded by phenomenal people.
Tell us about the importance of teamwork in your role.
The Partner Incentive programs have many internal and external stakeholders, so teamwork is the name of the game. Aside from working with partners all over the world, we are also in daily contact and collaboration with groups/teams at Microsoft such as Operations, Finance and legal. Our ability to engage partners and support their go-to-market process directly impacts their success. We also handle escalations around tough issues that require us to collaborate across teams at Microsoft to resolve for partners.
What advice would you give your younger self?
Slow down, enjoy the journey and people along the way (honestly, I’m still telling myself this!).
How do you maintain a work life balance?
I really listen to my wife and daughters…they keep me in line.
Why did you decide to join the Prime 8 family?
I was doing contract work for another company with Microsoft and I wanted a change. I was getting ready to switch to a new role and I could work through Prime 8 to make the switch. In the beginning I was an independent contractor and then came on an employee. I liked the honesty and the transparency that I experienced when I was switching my contract over. I also appreciated the dynamics of Drew and Nicolette Sharp (owners and founders of Prime 8) and the direction they were headed with company culture. There is a lot of flexibility and support while also being hands off.
How have you seen Prime 8 grow over time?
The company has gone from 30 people to 150+. We have gone through a variety of different focuses as we’ve grown up. We hit our core skills and built/maintained the culture along the way which can be difficult to do as you grow the company. I’ve worked with many Prime 8 team members and everyone is top notch.
What has kept you at Prime 8 all this time?
Prime 8 treats me right and are an incredible company to work with. There is a wonderful sense of company culture. I also enjoy being able to be involved while also being independent in my work.
What’s your favorite aspect about working at Prime 8?
The flexibility of the company. The fact that they were totally onboard through me working overseas for a year and have continued to support my working remote in Idaho while my wife goes back to school. If Prime 8 can make it happen for the employees, they will always find a way.
What makes Prime 8 unique and valuable to a consultant that might be considering applying for a role?
You will come into a company where you get to work with highly capable and quality people who not only do amazing work, but they also care about one another and make sure we succeed as a team. It’s really a different ball game when you join Prime 8. The attention to and engagement with the Prime 8 family is amazing.
What makes Prime 8 unique and valuable to organizations that might be considering hiring a consulting company?
Prime 8 will always put a valuable team member in a role that has the capacity to succeed and as an added bonus, there is always a team supporting them that can help at any moment if needed. Prime 8 has incredible consultants with an even bigger brain behind them.
How did your big trip in 2017 with your family make you a better consultant? What did this experience bring to you work life today?
Creating relationships of trust are key for consultants. Many times, since returning home from our trip abroad, I’ve been able to use that experience to make a connection with a client because we traveled to where they are from. Also, our ability to relate with others is directly tied to our life’s experiences. I’ve often found myself thinking differently about how and why a client responds the way they do based on their background. Spending that year engaging people around the globe expanded my ability to do that. I have practical experiences that allow me to relate to others and their lives.
What are three of your hobbies?
Backpacking or anything outdoors really. I love spending time with my family and going on adventures with them.
What is your favorite part about living Idaho?
The simplicity of life in Idaho. We are actually right in the middle of major college campus and potato farm which is very awesome balance!
WHat is your Favorite show series?
MacGyver is our family show during this stay at home time. We also enjoy Amazing Race.
Learn more about why our consultants love being a part of the Prime 8 family. Want to join the us? We’d love to hear from you. Tell us about yourself here.
