Looking to better understand this large IT provider that grew from a single contract with NASA in 1989 and now holds a customer portfolio that cuts across 25+ federal agencies and 180+ state, local, and non-profit customers, we caught up with REI Systems’ Chief Growth Officer, Wagish Bhartiya, to learn more about the power of small teams, being Agile from within, the small business promise to its team, and the importance of innovation with a small “i”.
A Large Business Driven by the Power of Small Teams
As it has grown and evolved over time, REI Systems remains true to its roots from a cultural view, believing fundamentally in the power of small and empowered teams. Adding supporting layers as it has grown in size, that fundamental belief allows people across the organization to do their best work, to achieve their individual and collective goals.
Requiring constant assessment and repositioning, REI is focused on keeping teams reporting to any one individual to fewer than 10. “Many companies struggle with taking organizational goals and priorities and cascading them down, so everyone feels they are part of the greater whole. Our model allows the individual to think about corporate priorities and initiatives and what they mean to them, and then they self-organize around how to execute and operationalize against that.”
Agile Within
Leaning into the Agile principles of adaptation and adoption, REI as an entity is structured to follow this method. Planning and strategy meetings with various teams at the center set the cadence and future direction.
Another opportunity behind those smaller core teams encourages time working and socializing together. “We did a lot of refactoring in our physical offices to encourage teams to come in and use the space in new ways, to use the more casual lounge-type areas to collaborate, play together, come together in whatever way makes sense to build cohesion.”
Post COVID that approach to intentional shared space has been appreciated, even valued by the team as they can balance both at home focused work and collaborative time better spent face to face. “Birthdays or other celebrations make more sense in person. Customer meetings, new employees joining the team, there are many ways bringing people into the office can be valuable rather than just forcing an eight-hour daily work schedule.”
Youth and Small Business Leadership
Through a focused youth leadership program, REI provides a space through which young people can gain visibility into what is possible, to see and observe and feel what it is like to work in an office, to be surrounded by technology. “We hope it will inspire them, stay with them from a STEM incentive.”
Hoping to expand the horizon of what is possible, REI supports youth groups. The latest effort was to help to inspire a love of STEM learning by packing STEM kits for children served by the YMCA of Loudoun County.
Growing out of a small business, REI has a similar view to opening doors for small business, for providing guidance. That includes employees who may want to make the leap to business ownership. “It has been clear from the beginning to every employee that if they want to take the risk to start their own business, REI would be supportive of that. That is pretty rare to have founders who will say they are happy to have people leave them to branch out on their own.”
Rising Tides Lift All Boats
Believing in community, in the notion that a growing industry can support different kinds of businesses, large and small, REI seeks to align itself with partners across industry, others that are working to make a difference.
“We know Government may or may not always be receptive to new ideas but the exposure itself, the insight into new ways of thinking is helpful. You always need to push a bit and when that is driven by people who believe in what they are doing, we are helping to deliver higher quality work done in a timely manner.”
Embedded in Relationships
That commitment to exploring new ideas from the view of delivery for the customer has resulted in several long-term relationships, including with NASA whom it continues to support since that first contract. “We’ve supported HRSA from a grants management perspective for north of 20 years, DHS for 18+ years… the list of long-term relationships goes on and on.”
Post-COVID
While the appreciation that strong technology is needed as a backbone for how Government can serve the citizen has always been there, COVID really forced that and made it abundantly clear that strong technology and good partners are critical.
For REI that means continuing in its commitment to the customer, to innovation, and to mission impact. “We look at innovation with a small “i”. We are transparent in knowing we don’t have all the answers, but we do want to try new things to see what could help move us and our customers forward over time.”
That approach also means understanding it is the person, not the technology that is the focus. “When we can impact real people, can make their lives better, sometimes even save a life through something we are driving, that is the real mission we are all supporting. That is what transcends our organization, permeates these halls and keeps us moving forward.”
About REI Systems
REI Systems provides reliable, effective, and innovative technology solutions that advance federal, state, local, and nonprofit missions. Our technologists and consultants are passionate about solving complex challenges that impact millions of lives. We take a Mindful Modernization® approach in delivering our application modernization, grants management systems, government data analytics, and advisory services. Mindful Modernization is the REI Way of delivering mission impact by aligning our government customers’ strategic objectives to measurable outcomes through people, processes, and technology. Learn more at REIsystems.com.
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