EAST BAY BUSINESS TIMES
Keith Carlson takes the helm at Innotas
By John Sailors.
Published September 22, 2006.
Keith Carlson spent 16 years with Accenture Inc., where in the mid-1990s he arranged a partnership that helped launch startup Siebel Systems Inc. Accenture's 8 percent ownership stake resulted in a $1.5 billion return when Accenture divested.
Carlson went on to work with several young software companies, including the e-learning company DigitalThink Inc., which went public during his time there; Sunnyvale-based Kintana Inc., a software company sold to Mercury Interactive Corp.; and, "with startup fever in my blood," San Mateo-based Traiana Inc., another software startup whose growth he helped propel.
When Traiana moved to New York in 2005, Carlson decided he was a "California boy" and stayed behind. That's when the investors of Oakland-based Innotas Inc. - then known as Project Arena - found him and set him on his current path. He is overseeing a new launch of the Oakland-based software company, which specializes in on-demand software for project portfolio management. In leading the company, now backed by $5.5 million in venture funding, Carlson combines his background with startups and his substantial experience in software marketing.
Favorite business challenge: In 1994, when I was at Accenture ... I wanted to do a very big relationship with Siebel. The biggest challenge was getting Accenture to do that, because it was really kind of the elephant (Accenture) meeting the mouse (Siebel).
Least favorite business challenge: In my last company, flying to New York and Tel Aviv every week. We had product development in Tel Aviv, which I ran, and our customers in New York, and that got pretty tiring. I did about 180,000 miles in a year.
Most important quality for a manager: Being a servant to your employees. Some people are talking about the concept of being a servant leader. I think it is more important to do it.
Most important quality for a software company: To be nimble. The market moves very quickly. Competitors come up very quickly and you've got to have a business model and an attitude that is just nimble.
Balancing business and personal life: The first thing I do is I really endeavor to set boundaries. There's going to be a certain number of work hours, a time when I'm doing e-mail, a certain time when I'm taking phone calls, and then there's other times when I'm just not. I am completely, wholly available for my family.
Lesson learned: To be a good listener. At Accenture, as a consultant, I went through a listening course, which I since have taken many, many times. ... If I can listen well to my employees and to my customers, that's going to allow me to better serve my employees and better serve my customers.
Favorite book: The Bible. There are great lessons in there, whether or not you're spiritual, that can be applied in life and in business.
Favorite movie: Tom Hank's "Big" and "When Harry Met Sally."
Favorite publication: Men's Health magazine. I like the practical and down-to-earth advice it offers.
Favorite vacation spot: Certainly Hawaii, specifically Maui. We're kind of Maui junkies.
Favorite restaurant: Gary Danko in San Francisco. It's probably one of the best meals I have had in my life.
Keith Carlson
Company: Innotas Inc.
Headquarters: Oakland
Founded: 2000
Address: 510 17th St., 3rd Floor, Oakland 94612
Phone: 510-281-2300
Web: www.innotas.com
Education: B.S., industrial engineering, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo
Residence: San Mateo
Age: 45
