Tom Cole

Executive Coach

Tom Cole

Chairman, RDA Company · President and CEO, RDA Company

“You need to pivot when the niche market that you are in has become a commodity market. You’re not special anymore. You can’t differentiate.”

Tom Cole
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Experience

RDA Company Hewlett-Packard The Apex Group
1,000
Employees led as CEO, at peak
Fortune 100
Sales management at Hewlett-Packard
>1,000
Clients served
30+
Executives he has Coached through Magellan

Expertise

Tom took roles where he set the strategy himself: he started a division of a company, then took over from the founder-CEO of RDA Company. He has led a handover from a founder and a company-wide pivot to new markets, solutions, and customers after the 2008 financial crisis. As a coach, he listens for leaders who want to grow their leadership skills and excel in execution. He says his job is to help them think critically about growth goals, develop plans and strategies, and hold them accountable to the goals they have set for themselves and the organization.

Industry

Tom’s background is in business technology, where RDA Company built tailored software and implemented cloud technologies for clients in many industries. He spent 26 years at RDA as managing director, vice president of marketing and business development, president and CEO, and chairman. Before RDA, he worked in sales management at Hewlett-Packard and as a vice president at The Apex Group creating a new division to serve commercial and government clients.

Specialties

  • Supporting leaders to critically think and develop themselves and their organizations
  • Positioning companies for growth and acquisitions
  • Keeping a CEO accountable to the goals set

Career history

01 of 7

Sales Manager, Hewlett-Packard

Board service: ZIPS Cleaners; Cattail Creek Country Club (president); Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Light the Night Walk (advisory board); Bayside Resort (advisory board).

In their own words

Proudest accomplishment?
01
One would be starting a division for a company out of nothing and building it to half the size of the company. Another, I would be leading a company through the 2008 financial crisis.
Best advice he’d give?
02
Your first thirty days, pay particular attention to the people that you’re working with… you only get ninety days to get your arms around it. Getting the right people in the right seats is the foundation for developing a leadership team.
Most fulfilling part?
03
Probably the most enjoyment I felt was knowing that we’re enabling paychecks for families. We’re helping the kids of our employees pay for college. We’re helping people through life’s issues. Knowing our leadership created value for the stockholders, empowered out employees, and delighted clients is the most fulfilling part for me.

Would Tom be the right match?

Tell us about the leader and the situation. If Tom is not the fit, one of the other coaches will be.

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