CEOs set the stage for success in every organization by overseeing operations, shaping culture, and driving vision. The role of a CEO requires not just insight and inspiration but also the ability to balance strategic oversight with the motivation of teams, creating a lasting impact. At Lumine, we work with ambitious and visionary leaders across our portfolio, who have accomplished significant milestones.

We recognize the importance of continuous development through specialized professional development programs and initiatives. Our annual summit, Impact, exemplifies this commitment, bringing together CEOs from our portfolio to network, exchange ideas, and collaborate on shaping the futures of their companies. 

Through this CEO feature series, we are excited to introduce some of the outstanding leaders within the Lumine ecosystem, such as Susie Hedrick, CEO of WideOrbit. WideOrbit is a technology platform that creates media transaction value for TV and radio broadcasters, national TV networks, digital publishers, and advertisers. We sat down with Susie to learn more about her role as CEO and the journey that got her there. 

 

Can you share a bit about your early career and what inspired you to enter the media technology industry?

My path into media technology was quite diverse. I spent my 20s gaining life experiences, studying broadcast journalism in college, working in ABC Sports production, traveling the world as a flight attendant, waiting tables, and even commercial salmon fishing in Alaska. I wanted to explore and learn before I really settled into a career. 

It was later in my 20s, when I joined a media software company, that I found my passion. I saw firsthand how technology could solve real-world problems, and I was hooked. I started in the Support Department, moved into product management to help shape the software itself, and eventually shifted into sales and operations to better lead the solutions. This journey gave me a deep understanding of business from multiple perspectives. What continues to inspire me is the constant challenge of innovating and improving for our customers, and that’s what still drives me today. 

What experiences from your time at WideOrbit have shaped your leadership style?

The leadership at WideOrbit has distinguished itself through an unwavering commitment to creating top-quality products, prioritizing the needs of our customers, and fostering a positive work environment. Throughout my journey, I’ve had the opportunity to work on both successful projects and those that didn’t go as planned, teaching me to embrace the process, learn from failures, and build resilience. This has shaped my belief in the importance of consistent and continual improvement. From the very beginning, I’ve felt trusted and empowered to take on challenges beyond what I thought I was capable of, and that sense of support has been instrumental in shaping my leadership style. My goal is to create a similar environment for others—one where individuals feel trusted, supported, and empowered to grow and push their limits. 

Looking back at your 25-year career, what have been some of the key turning points or lessons that have prepared you for this role?

Life is rarely a straight path, and my career has been full of twists and turns. Some of the most meaningful turning points came from taking risks and stepping outside my comfort zone. Whether it was moving from a product role to sales or leaving a job I loved to join a small software company, those decisions pushed me to grow. Running a smaller company as a new CEO taught me the weight of making critical decisions and carrying a team—it gave me a new level of responsibility and accountability. When I returned to WideOrbit after that experience, I came back with fresh skills and a new perspective, especially as we navigated a change in ownership. Each of these moments prepared me for where I am today.

What core values and principles guide your leadership style?

My leadership style is anchored in a few key principles. First, I strive to be the kind of leader I would want to work for, believing in empathy and understanding that I am here to support my team and our customers in achieving their goals. I endeavor to stay true to my core beliefs while assuming the best intentions in others. When challenges arise, it’s easy to blame, but trust and direct communication lead to faster and more effective problem-solving. 

I also want employees to feel empowered to make thoughtful choices about work-life balance. I know that when people feel trusted to manage their time, they perform better, and we collectively get more done. My goal is to model these values and cultivate an environment where we work hard, have fun, and everyone feels supported in making decisions that work for their lives. 

At a high level, what challenges do you foresee for WideOrbit in the evolving media and technology landscape, and how do you plan to address them?

Our industry is experiencing significant change, facing both financial and technical challenges, particularly with shifting linear and digital business models. A major focus for us will be balancing new efficiency models with innovation. We need to drive new capabilities while also enabling our customers to do more with less. Over the past 18 months, we’ve developed data strategies that make our systems more open, ensuring that data is readily accessible. This empowers both WideOrbit and our customers to leverage emerging technologies like AI and machine learning to move forward more quickly and effectively. 

WideOrbit has been known for its innovation in media revenue workflow management. How do you plan to further build on this reputation and continue driving innovation?

For us, it’s all about listening to our customers. We partner with them to understand how their needs are changing, ensuring that our technology evolves alongside them. Innovation, for us, means solving the real problems they face and helping them stay ahead of the curve. We also believe we have an important role in connecting with other technologies in our space to streamline workflows. By staying invested in what matters most to our customers, we can collectively push the boundaries to drive real progress. 

Could you share more about how being part of Lumine Group has provided talent development and progression opportunities for yourself and/or your team?

Being part of Lumine Group has connected me with a smart and engaging network to learn from and collaborate with. There’s a strong sense of teamwork, support, camaraderie, and a healthy competitiveness that pushes us all to strive harder. 

Lumine also emphasizes teaching, training, and career advancement. I’ve particularly enjoyed the in-person company events for CEOs and Talent Management, which provide opportunities to network, share ideas, and tackle challenges together. 

Additionally, Lumine Group sponsors events to spotlight high performers within their companies. As a standalone company with high retention, it wasn’t easy to provide opportunities for great employees to see what is possible beyond WideOrbit. Being part of a family of companies offers a new perspective and ensures an abundance of opportunities for recognition and growth. 

How would you describe your approach to fostering a collaborative and innovative culture within WideOrbit?

It starts with keeping the lines of communication open. I strive to be approachable and ensure that teams feel comfortable collaborating with one another. Silos can hold even the best teams back, so I’m focused on breaking those down to encourage cross-functional teamwork. WideOrbit employees have a wealth of knowledge and life experiences to draw from. When we openly share ideas and discuss challenges, that’s when we improve—and that’s when real innovation happens. 

What excites you the most about taking on the role of CEO at this time in WideOrbit’s journey? What are you looking forward to achieving in the near future?

I’m passionate about making a meaningful difference for our customers while leading WideOrbit into the next phase of success, positively impacting both our employees and clients. It’s an important time in our industry, and as a key technology provider, the stakes are high. Soon, we’ll be releasing advancements that prioritize efficiency, data access, and system interoperability for our customers and partners. 

Every organization’s CEO lays a foundation for success by managing day-to-day operations, developing organizational culture, and advancing the company’s mission. CEOs require both creativity and intelligence, striking a balance between strategic oversight and the ability to inspire teams and leave a lasting impression across the organization.

Across Lumine Group’s portfolio of companies, CEOs are not only ambitious but also visionary leaders who have previously accomplished significant milestones. Recognizing the significance of continual development, we are committed to supporting their journey through specialized professional development programs and initiatives. Our annual summit, Impact, demonstrates this commitment by bringing CEOs from across our portfolio together to network, exchange ideas, and collaborate on shaping their companies’ futures.

We’re fortunate to work with outstanding leaders across our portfolio, and through this series, we introduce you to a few CEOs who truly exemplify leadership.

Below, we introduce you to Liz Parry, CEO at Lifecycle Software, a global OCS, billing, and BSS solution provider for network operators, MVNOs, IoT providers, and a variety of partners.

We sat down with Liz to learn about her journey to becoming CEO.

Can you share the key milestones in your career that led to your appointment as CEO of Lifecycle Software?

It’s hard to pinpoint career-changing moments as it has been a journey of doing very different things. I began my career in customer-facing roles, where I quickly understood the importance of customer experience, integrity, and hard work. I trained as an accountant, working in different industries and types of organisations, and those early days laid a solid foundation for everything that followed. I’ve been fortunate to have worked for some incredible managers and inspiring leaders throughout my career. I’ve led teams and projects that I’ve been proud to be a part of. But most of all, I rarely shy away from a challenge. Seizing opportunities as they arise has been key for me.

I’ve been with Lifecycle Software for almost 10 years, and a pivotal moment was the company’s acquisition by Lumine Group. Their playbooks and approach to nurturing talent have been crucial in supporting the company’s growth. I was promoted to lead the Professional Services team and was recognised as a subject matter expert within Lumine, which was both a huge compliment and a confidence booster. This recognition led me to train others, developing coaching skills, while enabling me to connect with companies from around the world and understand their diverse realities and perspectives.

Another important career milestone—of a different kind, but significant nonetheless—was motherhood. I stopped working for six years to dedicate myself to bringing up my three children, who, we now know, are neurodivergent. I’m aware of the stigma associated with leaving and returning to the workforce; however, taking a break is often not a step back but a stride forward. My time away from the workforce built me up in new, stronger ways. Navigating their upbringing has taught me a lot about humility and empathy. I’m forever humbled and stronger because of my sons. I’m braver and more grounded with a clear understanding of what is important to me.

What core values and principles guide your leadership style?

I believe in leading with purpose, aiming to make every decision and interaction fair and honest, with integrity as a fundamental pillar of my leadership style. I recognise that the people at Lifecycle Software are our greatest asset, and I am committed to providing them with opportunities to succeed. I encourage everyone, regardless of their role or seniority, to innovate and grow within an inclusive environment.

At Lifecycle, we live by values of support and togetherness, working as a unified team to celebrate successes and tackle challenges. We are driven by insights and innovation, fostering an environment where every team member is encouraged to solve problems creatively. Building meaningful, long-term partnerships with our customers is crucial, and we are guided by trust and responsibility, always behaving with integrity, holding ourselves accountable, and learning from our experiences. These core values are central to both my leadership approach and our company’s ongoing success.

How do you envision the future of Lifecycle Software under your leadership, and what are your primary goals for the company?

Under my leadership, I envision Lifecycle Software thriving with a strong focus on talent development for our team. I believe that when people are valued, appreciated, and challenged, they are motivated to achieve extraordinary results. My goal is to ensure our teams are happy, stimulated, and inspired to excel and innovate. That’s the driving force behind our innovation engine.

On top of that, I’m committed to driving international expansion by leveraging the excellence of our people and the strength of our products. For nearly 30 years, we’ve been shaping how leading operators deliver their services. Earlier this year, we launched our most ambitious and innovative solution yet: the NEXUS MVNE platform. This platform enables operators to capitalize on their network connectivity and support all types of MVNOs (Mobile Virtual Network Operators). With Nexus and our fantastic team, we’re perfectly positioned to grow and make a significant impact on a global scale.

What strategies do you plan to implement to drive innovation and growth in the telecommunications industry?

Firstly, we want to live up to our vision of allowing anyone to become a mobile brand. By lowering the barriers to entry and offering reliable, scalable solutions, we empower new players to join the market and succeed. Our main platform, Nexus, plays a central role in this strategy. Nexus helps operators make the most of their network connectivity and support multiple types of MVNOs. By continually improving Nexus and integrating new innovations, we can ensure our clients have the tools they need to thrive in a fast-changing industry.

Building key strategic partnerships is also crucial. Collaborating with industry leaders like TMForum and using platforms such as Microsoft Azure helps us stay updated on the latest advancements and standards, driving innovation in the industry.

Could you share more about how being part of a Lumine Group company has provided talent development/progression opportunities?

Being part of a Lumine Group company has provided us with structured talent development and progression opportunities. This has been true for myself and the entire team; I have witnessed many success stories of professionals elevated by Lumine’s talent management program. This includes setting ambitious goals, giving people a voice, and fostering an environment where they can thrive. I was trusted and supported to take on roles and tasks that felt daunting at first, but I was mentored, coached, and inspired by great people. I supported many people along the way and still do—it’s something that brings me great satisfaction. Lumine invested in me, taking risks and putting resources into my development. They clearly communicated the opportunities available, and for those willing to seize them, there’s always something around the corner.

Succession planning within Lumine is quite dynamic. We do it at the Senior Leadership Team level, focusing on cross-skilling and providing opportunities to move into different roles. This approach reduces risks and ensures the right support is in place. Having the right conversations with staff at all levels is key. It’s about continual improvement and tapping into the potential that may have been overlooked.

Access to best practices and support functions across the business units exposes our team to a variety of challenges and opportunities, making us feel like part of a larger team. I’m genuinely energized by other people’s success; I’m happiest when my team is succeeding, more so than my own achievements. This collaborative and supportive environment is what makes Lumine Group an exceptional place for talent development.

What excites you the most about leading Lifecycle Software into this new chapter, and what are you looking forward to achieving in the near future?

I stand on the shoulders of giants—previous leaders have done an outstanding job building the team, the culture, and the product suite of Lifecycle Software. I now have the opportunity to honour the legacy of the company while driving its future growth. There is so much potential for innovation and expansion, and I’m motivated by the chance to expose our teams to new opportunities, reward their hard work, and ensure a strong work-life balance. Our customers push us forward, and we are committed to their success and growth.

I’m particularly looking forward to our international expansion, continuing our commitment to innovation, and increasing our brand awareness. We aim to create significant impact in the industry through exceptional customer experiences, expand our strategic partnerships, and drive product innovation according to our five-year plan. Delivering on these objectives will be incredibly rewarding.