Moving fast only creates value if you're moving in the right direction.

Anyone who has worked with me knows I'm a big believer in execution. A strategy that never gets implemented is just another PowerPoint presentation.

At the same time, I’ve learned that execution only really works when people share the same vision. Looking back, that’s probably one of the biggest differences between Cruisewatch and Alyza. With Cruisewatch, we built a solid business, but our long-term direction wasn’t always clear enough. People could do great work without moving in exactly the same direction.

When COVID hit, we decided to pivot. That became the real test of whether our vision was strong enough to guide difficult decisions. We had no idea what Alyza would look like five years later. We didn’t know which technologies would emerge, how quickly AI would evolve or what the market would look like. But we were clear on one thing: understanding customer interactions would become fundamental, and AI should help people perform better, not replace them.

That clarity proved invaluable later on. When OpenAI released GPT, we were already three months away from launching with a largely self-built solution. We changed our technology almost overnight because it was obvious that foundation models would redefine what was possible. It was a major change. But it never felt like a change of direction.

It changed how we built our product. But not why we were building it. That’s probably the biggest lesson I’ve learned as a founder: A clear vision doesn’t stop you from changing course. It gives you the confidence to do it. The route will change. The destination shouldn’t.

Once everyone understands the destination, moving fast becomes a real competitive advantage. You won't get every decision right - but you'll keep moving in the same direction.

Have you ever had to rethink your execution while keeping the same core vision?

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