On behalf of our entire team, we congratulate Juan Diego Calle, our fabulous CEO, on being honored as the "Technology Executive of the Year" in the 2011 Technology Leaders of the Year Awards, by the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce.  While headquartered in Colombia, the marketing support for .CO is driven from Miami.

The Technology Leaders of the Year Awards "highlight individuals and organizations with extraordinary technological hands-on experience whose management of technology resources and/or technological innovatons have made outstanding contributions to their organization and the community."  

On a personal level, I couldn't be more proud of Juan's achievement.  Having previously worked at Goldman Sachs, and consulted with many Fortune 100 companies, I have had the privilege of working with many smart, successful people -- all leaders in their fields.  I can sincerely say that I've never worked with anyone who is as naturally, innately gifted as a leader as Juan Diego Calle.

Visionary, strategic, insightful, decisive -- Juan leads this team by inspiring, encouraging and empowering each of us to contribute our very best every single day.  He graciously gives credit to others when things go right -- and willingly takes blame on himself when they do not.  And in the nearly three years I've worked with him, I've never once seen him treat a member of his team as a subordinate -- no matter how junior their role.  Luckily, he doesn' have to.  

Like all good leaders, Juan Diego Calle inspires followers.  And when you think about it, following a leader is a purely voluntary act. It has nothing to do with positional power or authoritative command and control. After all, you can't command someone to give you their heart, or to engage their imagination on your behalf!  (You can try to, of course -- but it would likely have the exact opposite effect you are shooting for!)    

Oh, I know what you're probably thinking, "what a big kiss ass you are Lori Anne!"  Okay, guilty  (Hey, I didn't get straight A's my whole life without indulging in a little brown-nosing behavior here and there!). But truthfully, this post is not about that. 

Juan is so private, so reserved -- and so profoundly humble -- I'm quite certain I will not get a pat on the back for this post.  In fact, I'm sure it will make him blush just to read it -- and he would have emphatically asked me not to post it had I not done so already!  (And that's exactly why I already posted it). 

Thanks for being a such fantastic leader Juan -- I consider it an honor to be a part of your team...

And .COngratulations on being recognized as the Technology Executive of the Year!