Sam Mansfield is an completed Enterprise Architect with deep experience in expertise and strategic innovation.
A Georgia native, Sam’s profession journey has taken him from founding startups to his present management position at Mansfield Power, a family-run enterprise. With superior certifications in expertise product administration, course of administration, and steady enchancment, Sam persistently drives operational effectivity and enterprise progress.
His skilled strategy is strongly influenced by his passions for health and music, which he believes are important to efficient management. These pursuits assist him keep psychological readability and resilience, significantly in high-pressure conditions. Past his skilled pursuits, Sam is devoted to humanitarian work, particularly in La Gonave, Haiti, the place he actively helps infrastructure, medical, social, and academic initiatives. As a husband and father, Sam seamlessly integrates his private values along with his skilled life, embodying a holistic strategy to success.
How does your background in startups affect your present work at Mansfield Power?
My expertise in startups has been extremely invaluable in my present position at Mansfield Power. Startups educate you to be scrappy, modern, and adaptable—qualities which can be important if you’re working in a bigger, extra established firm. In a startup, you’re typically carrying a number of hats, which suggests you develop a deep understanding of assorted facets of enterprise, from product growth to advertising to operations. This has helped me carry a extra holistic perspective to my work at Mansfield Power. I strategy challenges with the mindset of discovering inventive options that may drive progress and effectivity. My background additionally makes me comfy with taking calculated dangers, which is essential in pushing the boundaries of what’s doable in a family-owned enterprise.
What does innovation imply to you, and the way do you foster it inside your crew?
Innovation, to me, is about difficult the established order and consistently searching for higher methods to realize our targets. It’s not nearly new expertise or groundbreaking merchandise—it’s additionally about incremental enhancements in on a regular basis processes. To foster innovation inside my crew, I encourage a tradition of openness and experimentation. I would like my crew to really feel comfy sharing their concepts, regardless of how unconventional they might appear. We usually maintain brainstorming classes the place no thought is off the desk. I additionally imagine in giving my crew the autonomy to discover these concepts, even when it means often failing. Failure is a part of the innovation course of, and it typically results in surprising breakthroughs. By creating an surroundings the place my crew feels supported and empowered, I imagine we will repeatedly innovate and keep forward within the trade.
How do you combine your ardour for health into your skilled life?
Health is a cornerstone of my life, and I’ve discovered that it naturally integrates into my skilled routine. The self-discipline and consistency required in powerlifting and Muay Thai translate on to how I strategy my work. For instance, simply as I set particular health targets, I set clear targets in my enterprise initiatives. The identical psychological toughness I develop within the fitness center helps me push via difficult conditions at work. Moreover, I’ve discovered that health offers me the power and psychological readability I must sort out advanced issues and make strategic selections. I encourage my crew to prioritize their well being as nicely, as a result of I’ve seen firsthand how bodily well-being positively impacts efficiency and productiveness. On a sensible stage, I typically schedule my most demanding duties after a exercise once I’m at my peak psychological sharpness.
What’s your strategy to managing danger in each your private {and professional} life?
Danger administration is an important facet of each enterprise and life. In my skilled life, I strategy danger by being totally knowledgeable and ready. I imagine in doing in depth analysis, understanding all doable outcomes, and having contingency plans in place. That mentioned, I’m additionally a agency believer that taking calculated dangers is crucial for progress. Whether or not it’s getting into a brand new market or investing in a brand new expertise, I weigh the potential rewards in opposition to the dangers and make knowledgeable selections that align with long-term targets.
In my private life, I take an identical strategy. For instance, in health, I push my limits however at all times with an understanding of my physique’s capabilities and with security measures in place. Whether or not it’s deciding on a rigorous coaching routine or planning a household journey, I assess the dangers and advantages rigorously. This balanced strategy permits me to pursue bold targets whereas minimizing pointless dangers.
How do you stability being a pacesetter at work with being a pacesetter at house?
Management at work and at house each require empathy, endurance, and a transparent imaginative and prescient, however they manifest in another way. At work, management typically means guiding a crew towards a standard enterprise purpose, making robust selections, and being the one that units the tone for the corporate tradition. At house, management is about being current, supportive, and setting a powerful instance for my kids. I stability these roles by prioritizing high quality over amount. Once I’m at work, I’m totally devoted to my tasks there, and once I’m at house, my focus is fully on my household. This implies being aware of my time and power, making certain that I’m not spreading myself too skinny. I additionally imagine that management in each realms entails steady studying and adaptation. Simply as I’m consistently bettering as a pacesetter in enterprise, I’m at all times striving to be a greater husband and father.
What motivates you to proceed evolving in your profession?
My motivation comes from a need to go away an enduring impression—each inside my trade and inside my neighborhood. I’ve at all times been pushed by the concept there’s at all times room for enchancment, each personally and professionally. In my profession, this implies consistently searching for out new challenges, studying from others, and staying forward of traits. The power sector is evolving quickly, and I wish to be on the forefront of that change, serving to to drive innovation and sustainability. On a private stage, I’m motivated by my household and the legacy I wish to go away for my kids. I wish to present them that with exhausting work, self-discipline, and a willingness to take dangers, they’ll obtain nice issues. This retains me pushing ahead, even when the trail is unsure.
How has your strategy to enterprise modified over time?
My strategy to enterprise has advanced considerably over time, largely because of the experiences and challenges I’ve confronted. Early in my profession, I used to be extra centered on speedy progress and the joy of latest ventures. Whereas that power continues to be part of who I’m, I’ve discovered the significance of sustainability and long-term planning. Now, I take a extra measured strategy, balancing innovation with stability. I’m extra centered on constructing programs and processes that may face up to market fluctuations and assist sustained progress over time. I’ve additionally change into extra people-focused, understanding that the success of any enterprise lies in its skill to draw, develop, and retain nice expertise. This has led me to take a position extra in management growth and firm tradition, making certain that my crew has the instruments and assist they should thrive.
What’s one piece of recommendation you’d give to aspiring enterprise leaders?
One piece of recommendation I’d give is to embrace adaptability. The enterprise world is continually altering, and the power to pivot when essential is an important ability. This doesn’t imply abandoning your long-term targets, however relatively being open to new concepts and prepared to regulate your methods as circumstances evolve. Adaptability requires a mindset of steady studying and resilience. Don’t be afraid to step outdoors of your consolation zone, take dangers, and be taught from failure. Each expertise, whether or not profitable or not, is a chance to develop and change into a greater chief. And most significantly, keep true to your values. In the long run, your integrity and the relationships you construct can be what defines your profession.