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We recently welcomed a new Chief Operating Officer, Jo Lambert, to Team Olo. Jo has built and transformed global digital products at scale across financial services, media, and technology brands, including American Express, PayPal, Venmo, Verizon Media, and Yahoo.
Keep reading to learn what makes Jo tick, her leadership style, and her thoughts on the opportunity ahead for Olo and the restaurant industry.
What attracted you to Olo?
Jo Lambert: Olo is at the forefront of the digital transformation of the trillion-dollar restaurant industry. I’m inspired by the team’s passion for empowering customers to leverage technology to make every guest feel like a regular.
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What can Olo customers and employees look forward to with you as COO?
JL: I believe in customer-focused and purpose-driven product development, which means putting customers first, deeply understanding their needs, and partnering to transform and grow.
I am focused on unifying the Order, Pay, and Engage Teams to build solutions that enable our customers to grow and operate their businesses more efficiently in a digital world.
You can expect transparency, a trusted partner, and a commitment to innovate and drive growth for our customers.
What makes a good leader?
JL: There are three leadership attributes that I reflect on often, particularly when driving change, bouncing back from challenges, and hiring and developing team members.
- Curiosity and a willingness to take risks. Good leaders recognize they can be bound by their experiences and strive to step outside their comfort zone. Curiosity, challenging the status quo, and taking measured risks can turn what seems impossible into new opportunities.
- Effective and frequent communication. Good leaders set clear expectations, coach and inspire teams, and share timely and transparent information with key stakeholders. Active listening is an important skill for being an effective communicator.
- Seeking and being open to feedback. Leaders who seek feedback from colleagues, teams, customers, and external stakeholders create an environment of continuous learning and improvement. Feedback helps advance personal growth, team dynamics, processes, and products.
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What are you most excited about at Olo and for the restaurant industry?
JL: Now that guests are used to—and expect—digital ordering, personalization, loyalty, and accelerated checkout, there is a tremendous opportunity to support the restaurant industry through the next phase of its digital transformation.
Olo has built an incredible foundation. I am excited to work with the team to expedite innovation and personalization while driving meaningful efficiencies and growth for our brands and partners.
To learn more about Olo and apply for one of our job openings, visit our careers page.
