Rick Currier - Breaking Free From Corporate Success to Entrepreneurial Purpose ( CEO CO FOUNDER OF PARTNER.VISTA )

CEO Rick Currier, going for a ride with Matt and Mike from the Afternoon Pint hosted by the Canadian Navy Reserves on a Pontoon boat (See Executrek post)

In a recent podcast conversation that stands as a testament to career courage, Rick shared his extraordinary journey from corporate security to entrepreneurial risk-taking as the CEO of Partner Vista. This shift didn't come from a place of discontent with success—Rick was thriving as an SVP of Sales for Foundry IDG, managing a team of 11 people. Rather, his transformation emerged from a deep-seated need for cultural alignment and personal fulfillment—elements that had begun to erode under new private equity ownership.

Rick's story begins dramatically with Hurricane Katrina disrupting his senior year at Loyola University in New Orleans. This unexpected catastrophe led him to San Francisco and ultimately into media sales—a field he hadn't planned to enter but one where he would spend the next 20 years building a remarkably successful career. Throughout his professional journey, Rick discovered the power of relationship-building in sales, noting how sharing drinks and conversations outside formal business settings helped him connect authentically with clients and prospects.

What makes Rick's perspective particularly valuable is his insight into how work and personal life inevitably bleed together. "Your work life and your personal life are hugely connected," he observed, highlighting how unhappiness at work inevitably follows you home. This realization became increasingly important as private equity influence began shifting his company's focus from culture to pure numbers—a change that directly conflicted with his values and leadership philosophy.

The conversation took a fascinating turn when discussing how AI is transforming the sales landscape, particularly in lead generation and business development roles. Rick expressed concern about how automation might eliminate entry-level positions that traditionally serve as training grounds for future sales leaders. This creates a dilemma: while AI offers efficiency and knowledge advantages, it potentially removes critical learning opportunities for developing sales professionals. As he noted, "How do you get to become an outside sales rep if you're never starting at a place because your starting point was taken over by AI?"

Perhaps most compelling is Rick's vision for Partner Vista and his entrepreneurial future. Despite the financial security he left behind—including benefits like health insurance that are particularly valuable in the American system—Rick is building a company centered on community and culture. He's implementing progressive ideas like a four-day workweek, acknowledging that if a business can operate efficiently with flexible scheduling, it should embrace that opportunity to improve work-life balance for employees.

The conversation concluded with a profound question that catalyzed Rick's personal transformation: "Are you a cog in someone else's operating system?" This query resonated deeply, ultimately inspiring him to leave corporate security behind and forge his own path. His advice emphasizes that while such transitions may take months or even years to implement, the most important step is beginning the journey toward greater fulfillment and purpose in your professional life.