INNOVATORS VS COVID 19
Global Software Startups Work and It Didn’t Take a Pandemic to Prove It, Paladin’s COO Thomas Kramer, Speaks Out
First of all, how are you and your family doing in these COVID-19 times?
Thomas Kramer: We’re doing well in the face of varying risk levels across the country. None of my family members have been infected, and I give thanks for their health daily.
Tell us about you, your career, how you founded Paladin.
Thomas Kramer: Having worked in digital advertising and organic channel development at Maker Studios (The Walt Disney Company), my business partner and I both saw a need in the market for reliable technology solutions for influencer marketing and digital talent management. From this, Paladin was born.
How does Paladin innovate?
Thomas Kramer: We keep close contact with our customers and in-market contacts to determine where problems exist in influencer marketing and talent management, and constantly ask ourselves how we can help.
How the coronavirus pandemic affects your business, and how are you coping?
Thomas Kramer: As a digital business, we’ve coped quite well. Since our company was formed, we have been using cloud collaboration technologies with teams in North America, Europe, and Asia. We were able to transition to remote-first work with ease, and day to day workflow has been largely unaffected.
Did you have to make difficult choices, and what are the lessons learned?
Thomas Kramer: Certainly. Given that we serve a global customer base, we’ve had to address each customer’s needs individually and with compassion in the face of difficult circumstances beyond anyone’s control.
How do you deal with stress and anxiety? How do you project yourself and Paladin in the future?
Thomas Kramer: Personally, I make sure to live sustainably, get outside, walk my dog, make sure I sleep and be thankful for my health and family.
Who are your competitors? And how do you plan to stay in the game?
Thomas Kramer: We have a number of competitors, both internationally and domestically. I think I’ve lost count. I plan to stay in the game by listening to my customers and serving their needs by keeping in touch with the influencer marketing industry at large and by relying on our exceptionally talented team.
Your final thoughts?
Thomas Kramer: 2021, here we come!
