From Battlefield to Boardroom: How Veteran Eric Isham Built a Cybersecurity Empire
The path from the battlefield to entrepreneurship may seem unconventional, but for Eric Isham, founder and CEO of OMNICOMMANDER, it’s a journey that’s led to incredible success and lasting Veteran leadership lessons from the military.
In this Veteran Led Podcast episode, we explore his life story, his time in the military, and his career as a business owner and Veteran employer.
A former Army combat medic who later transitioned to become an armor officer, Isham’s military background has uniquely shaped his entrepreneurial endeavors.
Today, his Veteran-founded and Veteran-led company is a dominant force in the cybersecurity, marketing, and website design space, particularly for credit unions across the United States.
Isham’s story is a testament to the power of Veteran leadership and the transferable skills honed in the military. His experiences in the Army–from the front lines as a medic to the strategic thinking required as an armor officer–provided him with the foundation to build a thriving business.
Eric Isham’s journey to becoming a successful entrepreneur began with an unexpected twist. Initially, on a path to medical school, he found himself drawn into the world of financial technology, eventually forging a career spanning nearly three decades in this dynamic industry.
His time in the Army, serving as both a combat medic and an armor officer, provided him with invaluable leadership skills that would later prove instrumental in his entrepreneurial pursuits.
OMNICOMMANDER comprehensive services, including cost-effective cybersecurity solutions, cutting-edge digital marketing strategies, and user-friendly website designs, cater to the unique needs of financial institutions, particularly credit unions.
But what is the secret to this company’s success? The secrets behind OMNICOMMANDER’s unique company culture are the people who work in it. Veterans play a crucial role; the military experience has shaped Isham’s approach to business challenges
Veterans bring a wealth of skills and experience to the workplace that can benefit any company. Here are some of the benefits of hiring Veterans in your company:
In addition to these individual benefits, having Veterans in your company can also improve overall performance. Studies have shown that companies with a higher percentage of Veterans have lower turnover rates, higher productivity, and increased profitability.
As Eric Isham’s OMNICOMMANDER grew rapidly, the challenges of scaling a business became apparent. It’s one thing to have a brilliant strategy, but quite another to execute it flawlessly across a growing team and diverse channels. Isham emphasizes that while “strategy is fairly cheap,” the true test of Veteran leadership lies in consistent execution.
Maintaining a cohesive brand identity is paramount. This is where a well-defined brand guide becomes indispensable. Just as a tactical operations manual guides military missions, a brand guide outlines the rules of engagement for a company’s visual and messaging elements. It ensures that every touchpoint, from the website to marketing materials to customer interactions, reinforces a unified brand experience.
Isham highlights iconic companies like Apple, Starbucks, and McDonald’s as exemplars of brand consistency. Their ability to replicate a consistent experience across the globe is an example of meticulous execution and a deep understanding of their brand DNA. OMNICOMMANDER strives to bring this same level of precision to its clients, recognizing that even seemingly minor inconsistencies can erode brand trust and confuse consumers.
Isham’s journey hasn’t been without its setbacks. He candidly admits that one of his biggest failures was growing too fast without establishing robust processes to support that growth.
In the pursuit of rapid expansion, the company initially focused on hiring more people instead of solidifying standard operating procedures (SOPs).
This experience taught Isham a valuable lesson: growth must be balanced with process development.
OMNICOMMANDER now places a strong emphasis on creating clear SOPs, ensuring that everyone on the team understands their roles and responsibilities. This approach streamlines operations, minimizes errors, and empowers employees to make informed decisions.
The company culture also plays a significant role in how failure is perceived. Isham fosters an environment where mistakes are not feared but embraced as opportunities for learning and improvement.
He encourages his team to “make mistakes, continue to move fast, continue to grow, learn from your mistakes.” This culture of ownership and accountability is a cornerstone of OMNICOMMANDER’s success.
While OMNICOMMANDER embraces a culture of learning from mistakes, there are some lines that cannot be crossed. Isham draws a clear distinction between “mistakes of skill,” which can be remedied through training, and “mistakes of will,” which involve intentional or reckless actions that harm the company or its clients.
Integrity is a non-negotiable core value at OMNICOMMANDER. Any actions that compromise this value, such as stealing or manipulating metrics, are met with swift consequences.
Isham believes in transparency and taking decisive action to maintain a healthy company culture. He emphasizes that “justice must be swift” when dealing with ethical violations, as this sends a clear message to the team that such behavior will not be tolerated.
Isham’s leadership philosophy is rooted in the principle that the standard you allow is the standard you set.
Leaders must be vigilant in upholding their company’s values and ensuring that everyone on the team understands and adheres to them. This not only protects the company’s reputation but also fosters a culture of trust and accountability.
A recurring theme in Eric Isham’s leadership philosophy is the importance of leading by example. As a former military officer, he understands that actions speak louder than words. In the military, leaders set the standard for their troops through their own behavior, discipline, and commitment to the mission. This same principle applies in the business world.
Isham believes that a leader’s reputation, correctness, and dedication to a job well done are essential for inspiring and motivating a team. When leaders consistently demonstrate these qualities, they create a culture of excellence where employees feel empowered to do their best work.
At OMNICOMMANDER, this leadership style is evident in everything from the meticulous attention to detail in their brand guide to the swift action taken to address ethical violations. Isham’s emphasis on transparency, accountability, and continuous improvement sets a high bar for the entire organization.
Remember, you’re not alone in this journey. The Veteran Led community is here to support you every step of the way. Don’t hesitate to share your own experiences or reach out if you need guidance. Together, we can empower Veterans to thrive in their post-military lives.
Tune in to the Veteran Led Podcast to learn more powerful and inspiring stories for Veterans and how they keep improving and contributing to our community.
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