FlowForma CEO, Olivia Bushe, sat down for a one-to-one interview with Business & Finance for an in-depth interview covering a wide array of topics from industry challenges and trends, to challenges as CEO and where Olivia sees FlowForma in the future.Olivia's driving goal is to make businesses more operationally efficient by providing affordable automation software that can be used by the process owners who know the process best. She emphasizes the importance of involving key personnel in the decision to purchase software, rather than relying solely on IT departments.As CEO, Olivia's biggest challenges include creating a culture that excites her team and makes them want to jump out of bed each day ready for the next task. She strives to motivate her staff through various initiatives, including monthly, quarterly, and yearly targets with a good balance of incentives.Challenges Facing the IndustryBusinesses are under great pressure from external events and need to adapt to new challenges every day. Defining standardized processes that are unique to each business ensures that they stay in control and helps them to be resilient when facing that ever-changing environment.New Trends EmergingPeople are taking citizen development much more seriously than before as they see clear results. Citizen development initiatives have far exceeded expected results, and organizations are starting to make that first tentative step into citizen development.Changes in the SectorOlivia would like to see major changes in her sector, including addressing the real gender imbalance in the tech sector. She notes that there is still a real problem with female representation, and companies need to foster inclusion across all departments and give females the same opportunities to advance their careers as their male counterparts.Skill Gaps in the MarketAs an employer, Olivia finds some skill gaps in the market, particularly in the area of product marketing. However, the market is changing all the time, and FlowForma has benefitted from redundancies in larger tech firms, resulting in a positive impact on their recruitment process.Strategy DevelopmentOlivia's strategy developed in the context of the banking crisis and economic crisis, with COVID-19 being the catalyst to business change. FlowForma's solution plays into the hands of 'doing more with less' and makes organization operations more efficient.COVID-19 CrisisThe COVID-19 crisis has affected FlowForma's business, but the company has been lucky to be able to facilitate remote working. The biggest challenge initially was maintaining relationships with customers and prospects, but the company has since seen a real shift in mindsets, with companies realizing that 'working from home' works too.Advice and HighlightsOlivia's advice is to be resilient and not let setbacks dampen the desire to succeed. She notes that hard work and determination do pay off, and her mantra is 'if you don't ask, you don't get.' The company has secured significant investment, opened a new office in New York, and grown 50% YoY.Future PlansFlowForma plans to expand its north US presence, onboard a new team, and develop significant product enhancements. The company is also focused on developing and expanding its partner network, specifically in the APAC region. By 2024, FlowForma aims to have at least doubled in size and accelerated seamlessly into new industry sectors.
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