Sean Mullins is no stranger to early adoption.
The Vice President, Infrastructure, Security & Risk at Cass Information Systems has more than 25 years of experience – most of them with Cass – driving business value by focusing on new technologies and security governance.
That’s why his decision to enroll in one of the first-ever St. Louis Technology Leadership Experience (TechLX) cohorts should come no surprise.
What was a bit unanticipated was how much impact the program would make on his overall leadership style and approach.
“It was an eye-opening experience for me,” Sean said about the program created by Technology Partners and Ouellette & Associates.
Sean thinks there are three main benefactors of TechLX: The participant, the company that sends them, and the city of St. Louis. He recently sat down with Technology Partners to discuss his experience as a TechLX participant as he prepares for his first stint as a program mentor.
Can you tell me a bit about your background with the TechLX program?
It really caught me by surprise how beneficial and impactful the experience was for me. Between the creative workshops and networking, the program helped me realize the value of sharing ideas and getting involved with mentorship opportunities.
What are a few of the main benefits you gained from going through the program?
TechLX showed me the value of networking and collaboration. Since graduating from the program, I have been much more active in reaching out to others and it has definitely paid off. TechLX also taught me how to get out of my comfort zone when it comes to collaborating with others to solve issues.
How have you applied these lessons from TechLX to your leadership role?
I’ve tried to pass on the knowledge I gained by sending leaders through the program. We love to promote from within here, so giving our people opportunities for leadership development is key. What we really like are how they come back more educated after working with people who have real-world corporate leadership experience. They learn through the workshops and stories that are shared, and they are able to come back and put those lessons into practice for us. That’s invaluable
What does it mean to have such a well-established leadership development program right here in St. Louis?
That may be something that gets overlooked. By sending aspiring leaders through TechLX, all of these big companies in St. Louis are able to interact with each other. Through this networking, professionals are able to get plugged into different groups and ultimately feel more invested in the area’s growth. This helps keep top talent right here in St. Louis.
What would you tell up-and-coming leaders if they were on the fence about signing up for TechLX?
I would tell them to give it a chance. I would tell their leaders to invest in their people by sending them through TechLX. They won’t be disappointed.
About TechLX
TechLX is a leadership development program that empowers, equips, and champions high-potential IT professionals as they grow into the next generation of CIOs and technology leadership of St. Louis. Since its inception in June 2018, the St. Louis chapter of TechLX has engaged over 80 companies in the area and has graduated over 150 participants. For more information on TechLX, contact Kendall Brewer, Director of Leadership Programs at Technology Partners.
About Technology Partners
Technology Partners is an award-winning, St. Louis-based company that provides solutions through talent, technology, and leadership development. In business for nearly 30 years, the company has partnered with hundreds of corporate clients across a range of industries nationwide. It is a certified Women Business Enterprise and was built upon a revolutionary transparent-margin business model. Visit www.technologypartners.net for more information.
