Magazine May Edition 2024 | The Silicon Review
Merritt Degraw, Fortuna CTO: “We offer a people-centric and customized approach to help you thrive in today’s competitive landscape”
The Silicon Review
In the fast-paced world of business consulting, Fortuna is at the forefront due to its innovation and efficiency. Established in 2014, this veteran-owned global consultancy, headquartered in McClellan Park, California, has quickly risen to prominence as a trusted partner for businesses seeking customized solutions to their most pressing challenges. Fortuna’s mission is clear: to simplify and streamline business operations while prioritizing the welfare of its clients and employees alike. With a firm commitment to hiring veterans, Fortuna not only delivers top-notch services but also supports those who have served their country. What sets Fortuna apart from the rest is its unwavering focus on people. From comprehensive managed staffing solutions to cutting-edge IT services and streamlined contact center operations, Fortuna approaches every project with a dedication to empowering both its internal teams and esteemed clients. This approach has garnered Fortuna a reputation as more than just a consultancy but rather as strategic partners in progress and success.
Fortuna’s success lies in its agility and adaptability. Constantly scanning the horizon for new opportunities and developments, Fortuna ensures it remains at the forefront of industry trends. By building solutions in a modular fashion, Fortuna ensures it can quickly adapt to changing technologies and market dynamics, allowing it to maintain a competitive edge in today’s ever-evolving marketplace. For businesses looking to navigate the complexities of the modern business landscape, Fortuna offers a simple yet effective mantra: “Grow thru simplicity with Fortuna.” With a team of seasoned experts and a commitment to excellence, Fortuna is poised to continue its trajectory of success, helping businesses reach new heights of achievement.
In conversation with Merritt Degraw, CTO of Fortuna
Q. Can you provide an overview of your role as the Chief Technology Officer at Fortuna and how it aligns with the company’s mission and goals?
My role aligns with the company’s mission and goals in a few ways. The first is by looking at new, innovative products on the front end. The second is to align our internal components to make us more effective and competitive. That means alignment across different teams and streamlining processes across teams. The goal is to empower our employees to be successful, work fast, and be able to pivot on a dime to be able to meet the demands of our customers on the front end. Whether we are working on something that’s already been built or engineering a new thing that’s never been out there before, we establish our roadmap and then align our capabilities to meet it.
Q. What inspired you to pursue a career in technology, and how did your journey lead you to your current position at Fortuna?
My degree is in business management, but my passion is in technology, whether it be the prototypical IT technologies or how Bitcoin mining could help facilitate frictionless transactions across the globe. I found this passion in the hard work I did as a kid, such as working construction sites, stocking shelves, or playing sports. I’ve gained lots of broad experience throughout my life, and I’ve always had an interest in building things, so I think it makes sense that I ended up with a career in IT.
Q. Could you share some success stories or case studies where Fortuna made a significant impact on an organization?
When a client faced the sudden resignation of an instructional specialist amid a critical tech implementation for a state healthcare platform, they were left without a vital cog in their machine. This specialist was integral, spearheading the rollout of a data management system and crucial training initiatives, and their departure threatened to derail the project entirely. Fortuna’s swift response underscored our agility in providing specialized staffing solutions, stepping beyond the usual scope of staffing services. Our ready-to-deploy professionals were quickly integrated into the project, enabling us to assist our client efficiently, bypassing red tape. Our team’s concerted effort, accumulating over 30,000 hours, was instrumental in transitioning the healthcare administration platform seamlessly, maintaining vital project continuity.
In another scenario, a significant contract win in 2018 sparked introspection regarding our veteran hiring practices. Prompted by the client’s desire to hire more veterans, we delved into creating what has now become one of our cornerstone services. This introspection birthed our Fayetteville initiative, a triumphant program aiding transitioning military personnel and their spouses. It’s a testament to how we embody our ethos of empowerment, equipping those we serve with the necessary tools and skills for successful new career chapters. These instances exemplify Fortuna’s commitment to turning challenges into opportunities for growth and service enhancement.
Q. What would you say are the top three skills needed to be a successful leader?
The top three skills successful leaders need are curiosity, a willingness to delegate to their people, and empathy. A leader needs to be able to delegate and trust their people to move the needle forward and take ownership of what they’re doing. Leaders also need to stay curious; you have to be open to new things, as that is the only way you’re going to catch the next wave of new products or where the market is going. If you don’t stay curious, you’ll miss the trends as they go by. Leaders need to be empathetic. It’s so important to understand where people are coming from. As a leader, you’re responsible for raising the next generation of leaders, so being able to relate to and understand those that you’re teaching is vitally important for their future success as leaders.
Q. Do you have any new services ready to be launched?
Currently, we are doubling down on our workforce development. We are also working on improving our current services to make sure we are maximizing value and usefulness for our clients.
Q. What does the future hold for your company and its customers? Are exciting things on the way?
We are venturing into the burgeoning new space economy, which presents thrilling possibilities for transformation, especially through our partnership with the Space Force Association. This collaboration is not just about reaching new heights in the aerospace sector; it’s about leveraging the advancements in this field to make improvements in people’s lives. We are also delving into the realm of automation tools, with a sharp focus on efficiency. Our goal is to harness these technologies to streamline processes and empower individuals to achieve more with less effort, elevating productivity to unprecedented levels. For our customers, this means they can anticipate a future with Fortuna that’s equipped with cutting-edge solutions, strategic partnerships, and a dedication to leveraging technology for growth and transformation.