The Secret to Building Future-Ready Leaders in the Digital Age with General Dynamics Information Technology, CEO Amy Gilliland

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Today, rapid change and constant innovation are the new norms, and leaders are facing the challenge of keeping their teams both grounded and future-ready. How do you inspire employees to adapt to change while still honoring the traditions that keep an organization strong??

In this episode of Future Ready Leadership, Amy Gilliland, President of General Dynamics Information Technology (GDIT), shares the key strategies she uses to build resilient teams that can tackle both today’s demands and tomorrow’s challenges.?

Sharing practical insights from her experience leading a workforce of 30,000, this is how Amy builds agile, future-ready teams while staying true to the company’s core values.

Building Future-Ready Leaders through Real Experience

One of the most pressing issues facing leaders today is equipping their teams to adapt and thrive in a constantly evolving environment. According to Amy, the secret to building future-ready leaders starts with on-the-job training. At GDIT, this approach isn’t just a supplementary tool; it’s foundational.?

For Amy, giving her team real, hands-on experience is the key to helping them tackle complex challenges head-on, learn continuously, and develop resilience in ways that conventional training simply can’t replicate. This isn’t just about building technical skills but fostering adaptability and confidence. She believes that when leaders are created through lived experiences, they’re not only better prepared to handle the unexpected but are primed to grow with the company.

And it doesn’t stop there. Amy talks about career conversations as a vital part of keeping employees engaged and aligned with GDIT’s mission. These aren’t the typical annual reviews; they’re regular check-ins between managers and team members that help everyone stay on the same page. For Amy, it’s about building a two-way connection that makes employees feel valued and seen, helping them grow within the company while ensuring they’re contributing to GDIT’s long-term goals.

Listen to the episode here on Apple Podcast & leave a review!

Creating a Company with a Soul

What I love about Amy’s approach to culture is her focus on making GDIT a “company with a soul.” In an age where values can feel like empty words, GDIT’s core principles – honesty, transparency, trust, and alignment – are part of its foundation.?

Amy is passionate about creating a workplace where empathy isn’t just encouraged but expected, where leaders genuinely care about their people. It’s this commitment to people-centric leadership that makes GDIT more than just a company; it’s a place where employees are motivated to show up and give their best.

And the results speak for themselves. By fostering an environment where employees feel respected and valued, Amy is building a team that’s not only loyal but driven to achieve at a higher level. She knows that when leaders show they care, it creates a ripple effect throughout the entire organization.

Balancing Innovation with Tradition

Amy is the first to admit that one of the toughest challenges in leadership today is keeping up with innovation without losing sight of the practices that have made a company strong. She describes GDIT’s “bookended workforce,” with long-tenured employees who bring deep-rooted experience and newer hires who bring fresh perspectives. At GDIT, everyone has a voice, and that diversity of thought keeps the organization grounded yet forward-thinking.

To foster innovation, GDIT has innovation labs where teams can experiment with new technologies in a safe environment. Amy encourages her team to take risks and test ideas without fear of failure. And when setbacks do happen, they don’t hide from them. Instead, Amy talks about post-mortem analysis as a way to turn failures into learning opportunities. It’s all about creating a culture where every misstep is a chance to improve, keeping GDIT at the forefront of its industry.

Listen to the episode here on Apple Podcast & leave a review!

Balancing Short-Term Goals with a Long-Term Vision

For leaders everywhere, balancing short-term results with long-term strategy can feel like a constant tug-of-war. Amy understands that day-to-day demands can be all-consuming, but she insists that time for future planning is essential.?

At GDIT, she uses a strategic blueprint that keeps every team member aligned with the company’s long-term goals. When hard decisions arise, like divesting a billion-dollar business, it’s this clear vision that allows Amy to make and communicate tough calls with confidence.

By sharing a well-defined direction with her team, she’s creating a sense of shared purpose that makes even the most challenging decisions feel like part of a bigger picture. For Amy, it’s about helping every team member understand how their daily work contributes to GDIT’s future success.

Building a Future-Ready Team with Purpose and Vision

Amy Gilliland’s approach to leadership is a masterclass in creating a resilient, future-ready organization. By focusing on real experience, fostering a people-first culture, balancing innovation with tradition, embracing growth from failure, and keeping a long-term vision, she’s building a team that’s ready for anything. Her strategies don’t just make her team stronger; they make the entire organization more purposeful and aligned.

To hear more of Amy’s insights on how to build future-ready leaders, listen to the full episode of Future Ready Leadership. This episode is packed with actionable advice for any leader looking to stay ahead in a world where change is constant, and purpose matters more than ever.

Listen to the episode here on Apple Podcast & leave a review!

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