RTI’s President and CEO Tim J. Gabel recently announced three new executive appointments effective Jan. 1, 2025. Andrew Cox was selected as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (CFO) where he will apply his 20 years of professional experience to the management of financial operations for RTI. In Andrew’s most recent role as senior vice president of finance and contracts, he led a large team that delivers finance and contract management for a business portfolio totaling over $900 million in revenue, representing 66% of RTI’s overall business. Andrew shares some of the secrets of his success in the conversation below.
What is your leadership philosophy and how do you apply it in your daily work?
At the beginning of my career, I had a mentor that I looked up to. He was always positive and optimistic, and it was obvious that folks enjoyed working with him. This inspired me to further embrace positivity and helped me bring more optimism and energy to my work.
Today, the following six principles embody how I approach work every day and I will build on these as I continue my leadership journey.
- Be a student of the business; be curious about the work of scientists and partner teams.
- Have a bias toward action; accelerate change, don’t delay.
- Embrace failure and learn from it.
- Be agile and adaptable.
- Believe in and care for the people you work with.
- Find joy in the work.
How do you maintain a healthy work-life balance?
I find that some form of exercise is helpful for me to feel great at home and work. The pandemic was a pivotal moment for me to integrate it into my daily routine. My oldest son and I decided to work out together early every morning and to motivate us, we would watch 30-minute movie segments. I also started walking more. While it is not always possible to walk during the day due to my schedule, I make an effort to go for a walk at night with my wife and one of our boys as schedules allow. Another idea that has worked for me is to find a reliable accountability partner. What is most important is to find what works for you and adapt as your life and work change.
Share a book or podcast everyone should check out.
My favorite podcast right now is called Acquired. It started with a focus on successful technology acquisitions and grew to cover the history of successful companies across industries. I enjoy hearing the stories of how the companies evolved and the passion of the leaders behind them. They are all filled with tales of failure, innovation, dedication, and passion to succeed. If you like business history, you will enjoy this podcast.