A Tribute to a Shining Example of Leadership: Richard Tait
Like others, I’m deeply saddened and shocked at Richard Tait’s death July 25th. I haven’t known what to do, how to respond, and it has taken some time to process, but I knew I had to write something to honor him…
Like Richard, I left Microsoft to launch my own company. After experiencing the thrill and power of launching a new venture, I was hooked. Upon departure from my own startup, I had the privilege to work at the zany and exhilarating Cranium office, working with a great team to support their international marketing efforts. Richard knew how to wield empathy before it was commonly understood to be a superpower. Before books were written on how to ‘delight customers’, he was reverse engineering delightful moments.
Convinced that a younger generation of founders could be inspired by what I had experienced in my own ventures and others, I pursued a Ph.D. in Entrepreneurship as it seemed the best way to get a job as a Professor on the topic. Given the research agenda and supervision required for my doctorate, I moved to Aberdeen, Scotland, to pursue my degree. Doctoral students are often asked to teach undergraduates. I would start by asking my Scottish students if they could name any inspiring entrepreneurs. The top answers included Steve Jobs, Bill Gates (and sometimes Richard Branson). I knew that one day in the Cranium office with Richard Tate, one of their own, would have been much more inspiring than anything I or more famous American founders could have shared with them that day. I have since shared the unique Cranium story, and highlighted the organizational culture Richard nurtured so well, with hundreds of students on three continents. When I left academia to create another company, I borrowed heavily from Richard’s approach to create a community folks would want to be a part of each day…to embed meaningful values into everything we did.
It is difficult to explain what made Richard such an inspiring leader, but the high standards, passion and fun he brought to ‘work’ certainly were important factors. These virtues made it possible for him to not only see possibilities where others could not, but rally even the most ardent skeptics to help him see dreams fulfilled. In many ways, Richard expanded my own notion of what’s possible and has served as a shining exemplar I’ve asked future founders to emulate.
I picture Richard riding into the sunset on Jasper, his motorcycle. I want to believe he led with passion, and a sense of discovery and wonder to the very end. I imagine he had a growing desire to create communities where everyone had a chance to shine. I offer sincere condolences to all those family and friends who knew him much better than I. I am struck by what you must deeply feel: the world was a better place with him alive.
