In an Interview with Insights Success, Dmitry Lelchuk, President and CEO of StreamScape shares insights about his wide experience in the field of database architecture, system integration and telecommunications. He has held prominent roles as Chief Architect, Sales and Support Manager and Head of Product Development at a number of large software companies working to establish and grow successful industry verticals in financial services manufacturing and transportation logistics.
How do you diversify your solutions that appeal to your target audience?
Real-Time applications have global appeal, across many industries and business models. In Financial Services and Capital Markets real-time systems are used to mitigate risk and identify threats or opportunities. Application of realtime in advertising and marketing can help get the right message to the right audience, while industries like Healthcare and Manufacturing can leverage real-time technologies to manage resources and improve patient outcomes. Targeting any solution to a diverse audience relies on understanding the business challenges of an organization within the context of a given technology. For example, Healthcare providers that struggle with timely patient admissions or allocation of resources like rooms, beds and wheel-chairs can benefit from real-time solutions that improve resource visibility and worker collaboration. Financial decision makers that struggle with outdated information can benefit from real-time systems that capture data changes leading to improved decision accuracy. Telling a story focused on practical application of your solution is critical to any technology’s universal appeal.
Describe some of the vital attributes that every CEO should possess.
I believe that critical attributes of any CEO should include Courage, Curiosity and Flexibility. After all, if you can’t change your mind, you won’t change anything. However having the courage to act on your convictions is just as important. Rather than obsessing with making the right decision every time, CEO’s should get comfortable with being uncomfortable. Mistakes are not fatal and success is not final. It is the pleasure of finding things out and the courage to go on that defines good leadership.
What were the past experiences, achievements or lessons that shaped your journey?
The most significant experience came from a realization that innovation happens when multiple well-known capabilities are combined into a single, new offer. Technologies that are disruptive, are often not the most innovative but are the result of a natural evolution of features that create new synergies. A smart phone for example did not introduce the ability to send emails or take digital photographs. Rather, it allowed folks to instantly share photographs and other digital content without the need to develop film or upload content to a distribution site.
What were some of the primal challenges and roadblocks that you faced during the initial phase of your journey?
It is often said that if you want to go fast, go alone, but if you want to go far, go with others. One early challenge was to make the transition from thinking as an individual to approaching problems as a group. Building the right team is extremely important. Entrepreneurs often make the mistake of defining goals and strategies by what they can personally accomplish. “I can write that code. I can book that meeting.” The biggest lesson of the journey was the role change from an individual contributor to that of a leader, capable of building a team of individuals with common goals.
Where does StreamScape Technologies see itself in the near future and how will you catalyze the change?
Our goal is to expand into other verticals and bring our technology to a broader audience. Doing so requires a combination of curiosity and successful execution of vision. In the final analysis, it is the ability to understand our customers problems and help them be successful that will ultimately be the main catalyst for change.
What is your advice for the emerging entrepreneurs?
Bringing a solution or technology to market is a journey of discovery. There is no shame in being wrong or having your ideas rejected. Sometimes ideas don’t catch fire. Always have a plan B. Other times it’s not the message but the audience that is wrong. Instead of pivoting to other things, first try changing your target prospects. Remember, bubble wrap was initially sold as wall paper and Coca Cola was invented as a cure for morphine addiction.
About the Leader
Dmitry Lelchuk is the founder of StreamScape and inventor of the technology. He has over 25 years of experience in the software industry – and a history of bringing to market disruptive technologies such as Sonic Enterprise Service Bus, TIBCO Business Works and Sybase Real-Time Data Services.
About the Company
StreamScape develops technology for agile data preparation and real-time analysis that offers advanced stream query, SQL and NoSQL capabilities, allowing users to aggregate any type of information on-demand without the need for additional data copies. We combine in-memory analytics, stream processing and data virtualization into a single, powerful data engine smart enough to shape and analyze data; react to data changes and turn analysis results into actions.
Source: The 30 Most Innovative CEOs to Watch in 2018
