InformData has been making some strategic changes both internally and externally as part of our commitment to innovation, staying ahead in the dynamic background screening industry, and being the best partner possible for our clients. One of the most notable internal changes we’re excited to announce is Bill Wilder's transition to his new role as Head of Strategy.
Bill has been a pivotal member of InformData’s Executive Team since 2015. Since then, he has successfully served as our Chief Operating Officer (COO), which is no easy task in the world of background screening. His deep understanding of the industry, coupled with his passion for innovation, make him the ideal person to guide our company into the future as Head of Strategy.
A Little About Bill
Before joining InformData, Bill held the COO position for SJV Data Solutions and Verifications, Inc., and served as EVP of Operations for First Advantage. His extensive experience in Six Sigma and managing high transaction volumes significantly contributed to the growth and evolution of these organizations. Notably, Bill is a certified Six Sigma Black Belt, a testament to his expertise and commitment to excellence. Personally, I always look forward to meeting with Bill as every conversation is a learning experience.
Onto New Things
Here are some insights from Bill regarding his transition to the Head of Strategy role at InformData:
From my COO position, I saw a wave of change coming to the background screening industry and the business world at large. Overall, there is a monumental change coming in the form of Artificial Intelligence (AI), which has become a passion for me. Simultaneously, our industry is rapidly changing in terms of consolidation, court policy, partnerships, and a host of other dynamic changes. I wanted to be a part of helping our organization navigate through these changes.
While COOs have a large strategic component to their role, they are often handicapped in dealing with current events, which limits their ability to focus on the future as much as they would want. Using a military metaphor, COOs tend to be more like field generals operating in the thick of the battle. I spent nearly 20 years in the COO role and loved that. Strategy leaders, on the other hand, are more like long-term foreign policy leaders, trying to advance military capabilities and avoid conflict while achieving key objectives. As Head of Strategy, my focus is much more exploratory in nature. It expands into concepts like Mergers and Acquisitions, technological innovation, go-to-market strategies (GTM), and many more overarching company initiatives.
For those who know me, they understand that I have always been a data analytics addict. Now in my second year towards a master’s degree in AI, my passion has transformed into an obsession with AI (whose underpinnings are data analytics). AI technology will go down in history on par with other technological advances in human evolution such as fire, the wheel, the printing press, and the internet. So, my most enjoyable aspect of the new job is finding the right, ethical use of AI for our organization. With just a few experiments, we have already discovered ways to massively improve how our estimated completion dates (ECDs) are calculated and how to reduce turnaround times on automated searches. Being a part of this innovation is incredibly exciting.
Learn more about InformData’s plans to utilize AI in our recent webinar: Empowering CRAs with Our Latest Innovations and Enhanced Services: An Inside Look.
The best advice I could give anyone is to never stop investing in yourself. Always grow your knowledge base, be forever curious, and try to learn from every circumstance. It’s been said that success occurs at the intersection of luck and preparedness. I am a living example of that saying. By constantly investing in yourself, you are preparing for the opportunities that will come your way.
We’re excited about the future with Bill as our Head of Strategy and look forward to the innovations and advancements to come.
Want to learn more about what's going on at InformData? Or, want to chat about how our data solutions can help your business? Contact us today!
