Skip to Main Content

Episode 024 – Christine Leahy, President & CEO, CDW

On this episode of the Executives’ Exchange, we are joined by Christine Leahy, President & CEO of CDW. Chris sits down with guest moderator Linda Imonti, Office Managing Principal, KPMG. They discuss how CDW thrived through the pandemic with an intense focus on co-worker engagement and customer satisfaction, their tremendous acquisition growth strategy, and the importance of conceptualizing offices of the future as watering holes versus fences.

This episode was recorded in front of a live audience.

00:50 – Chris discusses her upbringing in an entrepreneurial family, guiding principles, empathy & energy
07:08 – Learnings from the pandemic—agility, course correction, and putting people at the forefront
9:28 – Chris discusses opportunity & impact for CDW employees
10:41 – Maintaining the passion and culture of being connected to a purpose in a new way of working.
13:45 – Chris discusses the original structure of CDW and its purpose and the continuation of the significance of satisfied customers and employees
19:04 – The changing needs of technology—CDW’s conscious and subconscious level changes
24:33 – Chris discusses eight acquisitions during the pandemic; the commitment to the customer; integrating cultures of companies from acquisitions
31:51 – Chris discusses CDW’s diversity, equity & inclusion; the digital divide, and how technology can enable opportunity & impact
38:12 – The movement of talent and attrition rates & CDW’s concept of ‘watering hole’ to retain employees
44:33 – Reflecting—the power of pause & the decision of bringing energy to the table

Episode link: CDW

Guest Host: Linda Imonti, Office Managing Principal, KPMG
Producer: Eva Penar, Chief Content & Communications Officer, The Executives’ Club of Chicago

Subscribe on Apple, Spotify, Stitcher or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Thank you to our podcast sponsor, Shure Incorporated.
For nearly 100 years, Shure Incorporated has developed best-in-class audio products that provide high-quality performance, reliability and value. Headquartered in Niles, Illinois, our history of innovation and expertise in acoustics, wireless technology, and more enables us to deliver seamless, transparent audio experiences to a global audience. Our diverse product line includes world-class wired and wireless microphones, networked audio systems and signal processors, conferencing and discussion systems, software, a loudspeaker, and award-winning earphones and headphones.

Find Shure on: FacebookLinkedInInstagram

Just Connect

The Exec Club is at the nexus of people and information. Put yourself and your company in the middle of it.