Today we’d like to introduce you to Sid Bala.
Sid, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
Right around the time I was finishing my master’s degree, I was ready to start my career at a well-established company and work my way up. I shared my plan with my father, who worked in corporate America. He gave me two pieces of advice that shaped my future: (1.) “There is a glass ceiling in corporate America that could get in your way,” and (2.) you are too ambitious to put up with it.” So, he encouraged me to go out and start a business on my own. Thus, alligatortek was born. I’d love to tell you that I did five other things beforehand, but I didn’t. By and large, alligatortek is all I’ve known for the past twenty-five years.
Has it been a smooth road?
In entrepreneurship, there is no such thing as a “smooth” road. My biggest lesson learned was about the importance of hiring talented and amazing team members and how to attract talent. Without having our core values and mission in place, it was 10x more difficult to make hiring decisions. We couldn’t even describe to ourselves who we are looking for.
Version 1.0 of alligatortek was a network of people hobbled together without a common thread. In Version 2.0, we got smarter and had people driving in the same direction. However, we didn’t have our core values and company mission solidified. Version 3.0 – where we are today – is really about everybody rowing in the same direction: people who have the same values and mindsets. The people we hire today understand our core values are more than statements on our website – they live to these values every day.
I have also learned how to employ good leaders and let them grow in their positions so that I am able to delegate a lot more to those that I am confident will be able to execute. This was a hard lesson – I spent so much of my professional life building this company from the ground up, and it is all I had ever known. It goes back to hiring people that embody our core values and company mission.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with alligatortek – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
Our award-winning team creates game-changing applications for our clients and the people they serve. Our two-step process improves efficiency, productivity and the bottom line for our clients. We have deep industry knowledge in the manufacturing, distribution, construction, logistics and transportation space.
We get fired up when we partner with companies to address key process bottlenecks and make a huge difference in the company. We don’t take on projects that don’t make sense – our methodology demands that we provide a return of investment of 300% or greater. Past projects have led the company to be recognized as a two-time winner of the Chicago Innovation Awards and a 2015 Microsoft Partner of the Year.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
Best: This city is built by business leaders that truly care about a better Chicago. We cannot take that for granted. The institutions in this city focus on fostering partnerships that align so Chicago can fulfill its potential of being the best city it can be. And, let’s not forget the amazing food!
Least: Winter! It gets tougher every year!
Contact Info:
- Address: Corporate Headquarters
One Oakbrook Terrace • Ste 330
Oakbrook Terrace, IL 60181-4449Chicago Sales Office
Willis Tower
233 S. Wacker Drive • 84th Floor
Chicago IL, 60606-6338
Phone: 312-541-8100 - Website: https://alligatortek.com
- Phone: 630-581-1000
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alligatortek
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/alligatortek
- Other: https://www.linkedin.com/company/alligatortek/
Getting in touch: VoyageChicago is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
