We’re thrilled to welcome Pat Harper as Daxko’s new Chief Technology Officer (CTO)!
With seasoned experience in executive technology leadership—including roles as both CTO and CIO at companies such as Catalis, PGI, and OpenText, Pat brings a proven track record of aligning innovation with business goals to drive impact. He officially joined the Daxko family on April 1 and is already diving in.
Wendy White, Daxko’s Chief Marketing Officer, sat down with Pat for a Q&A to learn more about his leadership approach, his perspective on the future of technology at Daxko, and what customers and team members can expect from him.
Wendy: What’s your vision for technology at Daxko?
Pat: My vision is to position technology as a strategic enabler of growth, efficiency, and customer value. By aligning innovation with business objectives, we can build scalable, reliable, and forward-thinking solutions that help our customers thrive and allow Daxko to expand its impact in the health and wellness industry.
Wendy: How do you balance innovation with platform stability?
Pat: Innovation is essential—but only if it rests on a stable foundation. Our customers depend on us to run key operations, whether it’s check-ins or critical registration periods. If the platform doesn’t perform, the innovation doesn’t matter. My goal is to ensure we’re delivering new capabilities while maintaining the performance, scalability, and trust our customers expect.
Wendy: How do you approach prioritizing new features?
Pat: Prioritization starts with value. There’s always more demand than capacity, so we need to focus on what will have the greatest impact for our customers. That means listening to feedback, watching industry trends, and aligning our roadmap with both customer needs and business strategy.
Wendy: What’s your take on software quality?
Pat: Quality is about more than just fixing bugs—it’s about building trust. That includes stability, scalability, and thoughtful design. Strong engineering culture, proactive testing, and seamless user experience are all part of that equation. Truly great products are not just functional—they’re intuitive and enjoyable to use.
Wendy: Let’s talk about security. What’s your philosophy there?
Pat: Security is foundational. It has to be built into every phase of product development—from architecture to deployment. As threats evolve, so must our culture. Security can’t be an afterthought; it’s a continuous mindset and a shared responsibility across the organization.
Wendy: What role does data play in your decision-making?
Pat: Data is a powerful enabler. Internally, it helps us make smarter product and business decisions. For our customers, it means better insights, better outcomes, and more confident decisions. My focus is on ensuring we provide the right tools—dashboards, analytics, and reporting—to drive success on both sides.
Wendy: AI is evolving fast. How do you see it impacting Daxko?
Pat: AI is transforming how we work. I see it as an opportunity to enhance productivity, streamline workflows, and deliver more personalized user experiences. Whether we’re optimizing internal processes or building smarter features, AI is a lever we can use to bring even more value to our customers.
Wendy: How do you see engineering and product teams working together?
Pat: Product and engineering should be tightly aligned—we’re solving the same problems from different angles. Product defines the vision and priorities, and engineering makes them real. Regular communication, shared goals, and mutual respect are key to building solutions that truly serve our customers.
Wendy: What’s your approach to building strong, global teams?
Pat: Great software comes from great teams. That means hiring people who are technically strong but also collaborative, communicative, and customer-focused. With teams in the U.S. and India, we’ll rely on strong processes, smart tooling, and a unified culture to work seamlessly across time zones and functions.
Wendy: What made you excited to join Daxko?
Pat: Daxko operates in a space that truly matters. We serve mission-driven organizations that are making a difference in their communities. That’s inspiring. I see this as an opportunity to contribute to something meaningful, lead with purpose, and help shape a technology organization that’s aligned to win.
Wendy: What can customers and employees expect from you moving forward?
Pat: I value transparency and communication. I plan to meet with key customers early on to listen, learn, and understand where we’re doing well—and where we can improve. Internally, I’m excited to connect with our teams and foster a culture of alignment, innovation, and execution.
We are excited to welcome Pat Harper to the Daxko leadership team. His expertise, strategic vision, and commitment to innovation will be instrumental as we continue to scale our technology and deliver exceptional value to the customers and communities we serve.