Former Xero chief executive Steve Vamos says one of his biggest lessons as a leader was the importance of being open-minded.

Vamos’ career in tech has spanned decades, starting with IBM straight out of university in the 1980s, followed by stints at Apple, NineMSN, Microsoft, and Xero.

Each of those companies was defined by the challenges they faced and opportunities they seized due to drastic technological changes.

Also, on this week's episode, co-hosts Ben Moore and Peter Griffin discuss why the Australian social media ban may not be a great idea.

In an interview on this week’s episode of The Business of Tech podcast, Vamos said that connecting with people and being open to criticism were key skills for leaders navigating through times of major change.

“I've learned that being open to what others experience, what they're seeing and feeling is just super important because it gives you the insight to change, and insight to make judgments about what's most important.”

A changing workforce

Vamos told podcast co-host Peter Griffin that during his time at Xero, he ended up facing an issue where someone made derogatory comments about Pride Month on a public work communications channel.

“In the case of Xero, there was no question as a company; we stood behind our LGBTQI people and their right to express what they wanted to express. We also actually didn't have an issue with that person's beliefs or their ability to express them. It was how they said it.”

He said Xero took too long to respond to the issue, but in formulating the response, he came up with a set of principles to ensure Xero was aligned with the changing workforce expectations.

Vamos said his open-minded approach was shaped by his parents, refugees from Soviet-controlled Hungary, especially his father, who once overheard Vamos and his brother telling their sister that she couldn’t join in with them because of her gender.

“[He] grabbed us both by the collar, pulled our faces right into his face and said, if you ever dare tell her she can't do what you can do, I'll kill you. Do you understand me?’ So that was my first lesson in gender equity.”

In the full conversation, Vamos also shares more specific advice on navigating change, having hard conversations, and the importance of character.

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