35 years of innovation: SHI’s journey from three employees to a global powerhouse

What does it take to build an industry leader from the ground up?

For SHI, it started with just three employees, a bold vision, and the relentless drive to succeed. Today, with over 6,000 employees worldwide, SHI stands as a powerhouse in the IT industry.

In the latest episode of Innovation Heroes, host Ed McNamara sits down with Melissa Graham, SHI’s Senior Vice President of Global Sales and very first employee, to reflect on the company’s journey, our milestones, and our vision for the future.

From humble beginnings to global IT leader

In 1989, SHI’s entire team consisted of just three people. Melissa Graham was among them, taking on multiple roles in customer service, sales, and operations. Looking back, she recalls the uncertainty of those early days and the ambition that propelled SHI forward:

“As far as [CEO and President] Thai and [Chairman] Suli’s aspirations, it was, you know, a million-dollar company, a hundred-million-dollar company, then a billion-dollar company. They always just added zeros to that number. . .my thoughts were, ‘there’s no way I’m going to achieve those numbers.’”

But Melissa soon realized the vision charted by SHI’s founders was quickly coming to fruition.

“I would say after probably the first 10 years. . .every milestone we were able to achieve, I stopped questioning our ability to hit the objectives that Suli and Thai set for us because every time, we did.”

Despite the initial doubts, SHI consistently met our goals, proving ambition backed by execution leads to extraordinary success.

Key inflection points in SHI’s growth

Melissa highlights several pivotal moments in SHI’s history that shaped our trajectory. From expanding internationally to launching SHI.com, these decisions played a crucial role in positioning SHI as an industry leader.

SHI also has a track record of taking advantage of uncertain economic moments to expand its reach.  We first transitioned into hardware right after the dot-com bubble in the early 2000s. During COVID, we launched Stratascale, a purpose-built cybersecurity services company delivering strategy and solutions to the Fortune 1000.

Melissa also remembers another important moment in SHI’s history during the 1990s, when a major bank turned to us after their existing reseller significantly increased prices.

“They called SHI, who was their software reseller, and said, ‘We need like 40,000 laptops a year. Can you guys handle it?’ And within a very short period of time, literally weeks, we were up and running,” Melissa recalls.

Seeing opportunity during these challenging but pivotal moments is a defining feature of what keeps SHI competitive in a continually evolving tech market.

The role of innovation and AI in IT solutions

Innovation is at the heart of SHI’s success. We’ve been a pioneer in adopting AI and automation to enhance both our internal operations and customer solutions. One of our latest initiatives, the AI & Cyber Labs facility, is designed to provide organizations with a collaborative space to test and implement cutting-edge technologies.

“Our customers need us. Many of them are still trying to figure out what to do with AI. The labs we’ve developed are a safety zone. Instead of spending millions on consulting firms, we can get through that entire journey in six weeks,” Melissa shares.

By accelerating time to value and reducing risk, SHI continues to be a trusted partner in the ever-changing technology landscape.

A culture that adapts and thrives

SHI’s longevity is not just about strategy and innovation — it’s also about culture. As generations of employees have come and gone, we’ve adapted our leadership approach to remain a dynamic and inclusive workplace.

“I think it’s a great combination. The younger generations want collaboration and feedback, whereas Gen Xers were all about autonomy. It’s an adjustment, but had we not adapted, they probably would have all left us,” Melissa reflects.

By embracing change and fostering an environment that values both independence and teamwork, SHI ensures its continued success for future generations.

Looking ahead

As SHI celebrates our 35th anniversary, we remain focused on the future. Whether it’s through expanding our global footprint, leveraging AI-driven solutions, or fostering a strong workplace culture, SHI’s story is a testament to the power of resilience and innovation.

Hear more about SHI’s journey and what lies ahead here. You can also find episodes of Innovation Heroes on SHI’s Resource Hub, Spotify, and other major podcast platforms, as well as on YouTube in video format.

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