Finding the best C-level executives to run your iGaming business couldn’t be more important. After all, without the best people at the top, your organisation will struggle to thrive and achieve its potential. But what does an influential C-level exec look like? What skills should you look for when hiring the person (or people) to drive your organisation forward? Strategic thinking for long-term results Strategic thinking is about seeing the bigger picture rather than focusing on the minutiae of everyday business life. Effective strategic thinkers make short-term decisions for long-term gains. While strategic thinking is not always popular, it’s essential for efficiently running an organisation from the top down. C-level executives must make decisions about the company’s future in the here and now, often determining the organisation’s future direction and success. Inspirational Being inspirational isn’t about sticking motivational quotes on the office wall while burying yourself in paperwork day in and day out. Instead, it’s about leading by example and showing your employees why you’re qualified to be a C-level executive. Interestingly, being inspirational in one setting will likely differ from another. A classic rags-to-riches story might inspire employees in one field, while academic attainment and achievement might inspire in another. “Motivating your employees to do what is best for the business is a fundamental skill among leading C-level execs,” explains Tanya Shevchuk. “True leaders believe in success over anything else, and this attitude will be manifested in everything they do within their role. Leading by example and motivating other people to achieve the best possible results for the company will drive the business forward. This relentless desire to succeed, supported by an ability to motivate others to follow this lead, is a key trait of the best executives.” Understanding of global markets and trends The role of the C-level executive in any field is to recognise and evolve the organisation’s role within relevant global markets. Everything feeds into this, from branding to operational productivity. A CEO or CFO must also understand how evolving trends influence the current market and embrace innovative changes that help the company go from strength to strength. This global awareness will help an organisation stay ahead of competitors and ensure the company delivers in its key areas. Crisis and conflict management Firms with clear and distinct conflict management structures are extremely resilient and built to withstand shockwaves that can lead to crises. As many of us learned from the global COVID-19 pandemic, adaptive companies that dealt with the unexpected crisis made it through and supported their employees in the process. While a C-level executive might not need to deal with conflict and crises daily, they must oversee an organisational structure that takes them seriously. Then, enacting policies and ensuring that crises are averted becomes essential. Managing risks and avoiding crises are crucial. But the most effective C-level execs are proactive and willing to tackle problems head-on. For instance, when starting a role, they’re able to look at the broader picture and identify areas for improvement. Tanya Shevchuk adds: “We get a lot of feedback from business owners, and they tell us the best executives are comfortable with handling bad news and being straight to the point when it comes to required improvements rather than sweeping things under the carpet. This open and transparent problem solving approach can help to resolve issues and avert future crises, which is why some C-level execs are so effective in the long term.” Strong communication skills Top-level communication is paramount in any organisation, big or small. If employees don’t hear from C-level executives, resentment can breed, and misinformation can permeate the organisation. The best C-level executives lead by example and communicate with employees regularly, not only in times of conflict or crisis. Effective leaders also engage in active and empathetic listening, ensuring that employee voices are truly heard and cared bout. Looking outward, the best C-level executives communicate effectively with other people and organisations. This includes clients, competitors, potential employees, and the target audience. C-level managers are required to speak on behalf of the company when things are going well, but also when backs are against the wall. Therefore, being able to communicate clearly and effectively to outside stakeholders is a huge plus point. Deep industry knowledge Though not always the case, we think the best C-level executives are those with deep industry knowledge and relevant expertise. In some instances, high-level executives can transfer from one industry to another, but in our experience, the most successful have a deep-rooted understanding of how their industry operates. This knowledge, understanding, and expertise underpin every decision that C-level executives make. Without understanding how a particular industry operates, a CEO can be like a fish out of water, relying on strategies that worked in other industries but are certain to fail in this one. iGaming is full of regulatory twists and turns, which might not suit everyone. Strong pro-business position C-level execs must maintain strong business acumen and be aware of profitability, metrics, and company priorities. Ultimately, the success of any business lies in its bottom line, so all C-level employees must be able to showcase a strong business position that encourages the company’s growth and prosperity. Much C-level success is achieved through regular meetings with managers, with CEOs and CFOs understanding what it takes for each department to be profitable and successful. While various initiatives and projects within the company will require the attention of its leaders, they will never lose sight of the company’s bottom line and always make decisions based on the balance sheet! Innovation Embracing, rather than fearing, innovation is another crucial skill of any successful C-level executive. Innovation can relate to how organisations operate and how leaders within different departments think. It can also relate to using products and services to help the company become more profitable. With AI and other technological advances, innovative companies have many ways to stay ahead of the pack. A CEO who embraces innovation and is willing to innovate and adapt the company’s structure and procedures will ensure it doesn’t get left behind in today’s digital world. Resilience In iGaming and all other sectors, resilience at C-level is vital. Like all employees, executives experience daily setbacks, challenges, and other issues. Without resilience, the pressure would intensify and make the job unimaginably difficult. In dealing with the best C-level executives, we’ve noted resilience in abundance. These are people who rise in the face of adversity and show resilience and an ability to overcome disappointments and challenges while helping other people do their jobs. C-level executives tend to be highly skilled and talented individuals with a proven track record of success. However, as illustrated above, fully understanding the required skill set before recruiting for C-level positions will help you choose the very best people.