Working with Cogent Analytics has had a meaningful impact on both me as a CEO and on Whitney Russell as an organization.

One of the biggest changes has been the level of accountability throughout our company. We have always had good people who work hard, but Cogent helped us put structure around expectations, ownership, and follow-through. There is now a much clearer understanding of who is responsible for what and, just as importantly, who is accountable for the result.

The second major improvement has been our approach to cash management and understanding our numbers. Cogent helped us develop a cash management system and dashboard that gives both me and our bookkeeping team a common view of the business. Instead of different people looking at different numbers or trying to determine where we stand, we now have a much clearer picture of our cash position and financial performance. As a CEO, that has helped me make decisions with better information and greater confidence.

The third major impact has been creating a stronger leadership structure throughout Whitney Russell. Rather than every decision or problem working its way to the top, our employees have a clearer structure of leadership. Our leaders have people they are responsible for developing and holding accountable, and our employees have a better understanding of where to go for direction and decisions. That has allowed us to delegate more effectively while also developing stronger leaders within the company.

What I appreciate about Cogent is that these weren’t simply recommendations presented to us in a report. They worked alongside our team to help us build systems and structure that fit our business.

There is still work for us to do, and ultimately it is our responsibility to continue executing what we have learned. But Cogent has helped give Whitney Russell a stronger foundation for the future and has helped me become a better and more informed leader of the company.

For me, that is the real value of the engagement.

Jake Foust
CEO
Whitney Russell Printers