Lucidia iT is a certified Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB) / Women Business Enterprise (WBE) Small Business that provides engineering expertise to IT solutions focused around 3 primary focus areas. These areas include Data Center Solutions, Enterprise Networking, and Cloud Technologies. We bring over 100+ years of experience and help customers architect, design and deliver IT solutions. Lucidia iT is owned by Janet Stiller, a veteran in the industry who is building and leading an all-star caliber engineering team.
More about Janet:
1. What problem does LUCIDIA iT, LLC solve for your customers?
Lucidia iT helps multiple technologies come together in a seamless matter to provide IT solutions that solve business needs and requirements. This may be designing an application to move to the cloud, or re-designing a network to implement SDWAN or hybrid-cloud migration. Lucidia iT helps our customers with these technology designs, migrations, and implementations based on their needs and requirements
2. What exactly is an “IT solution”?
An IT solution is an Information Technology solution. This can mean many things to a company, however we specialize in infrastructure design and implementation that is tailored to business needs.
3. Many of our members are building scalable companies. What is “enterprise networking architecture”? Why might a company need that?
We help customers be compliant, secure, and have the capability to grow that technical platform along with your business. We are very focused on what makes the most sense for your business requirements and your budget. We dive in to understand your challenges and design a technology solution that fits your environment and needs.
4. What prompted you to go out on your own?
I have always taken the approach with every company I have had the pleasure of working for to act as if it were my company. The opportunity presented itself to put those years of practice into the reality of running my own company. Historically, my background has been on the sales side of the house. My previous success was based on building a team to bring individual strengths to the table. I always approached every opportunity as a partnership with the goal of delivering the best possible results. Some of my customers have been with me for over 20 years. In addition, I have always worked in the very male-dominated world of IT. I have always believed that I am paving the way for my daughters and the next generation of female leaders within my field. I’m very proud to be in a small group of women owners in the IT industry. It’s a very exciting time in many ways.
5. In year one, you’re experiencing incredible growth, tell us about how you are closing deals.
In our first 6 months of business we have been successful with driving rapid growth. It’s really been more about word of mouth and reaching out to our network of people we know in the industry. A lot of this success is based on the previous years of good work. I am a firm believer in NETWORKING and constantly building your brand.
6. Which of your past jobs have prepared you most for your current role as CEO? How?
I have worked in the IT / VAR (Value Added Reseller) space for over 20 years. This laid the foundation for a lot of great relationships and partnerships that we can build off of. I also engaged in active learning through business leadership books to better prepare myself for this role. I am a firm believer in asking questions and always learning.
7. What’s the best piece of advice that you’ve received about growing a business?
I always listen to the advice of those before me. I am constantly asking questions and trying to understand what advice other business leaders have to provide. A recurring theme among the advice I’ve gotten:
1. Get a good attorney, accountant, and insurance agent.
2. Surround yourself with people you trust.
I am blessed to have all of these people. In addition, I have been told not to be afraid and to take calculated risks. Being open and honest with everyone is one of the most important attributes to a startup.
8. What advice do you have for other women thinking about starting up a company?
If you don’t have a good work ethic, I think I would reconsider. It is a lot of work. Don’t be afraid to trust your intuition. Each decision to work with a business partner was made by my instinctive decision and I have not regretted any of those selections.
9. How do you plan to grow over the next year?
We plan on growing in multiple ways:
1. Continue to hire good people and grow.
2. Enter into government IT space.
3. Expand to markets outside of Indiana - the first up is Michigan.
10. How have The Startup Ladies helped you grow?
Honestly, the camaraderie has been amazing. Just having cheerleaders that understand what you are up against. The topics are always interesting and and have encouraged myself to reevaluate things I had not completely thought through. I have met some amazing women and I have really enjoyed my time with The Startup Ladies. It’s been a very beneficial and growing experience and I would highly recommend this organization to any woman (or man really) considering a startup.
Connect: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/janet-stiller-1168257
Website: www.lucidiait.com
