Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Yoli Santoyo. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Alright, Yoli thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Do you take vacations? Why or why not?

I am a firm believer in work/life balance because I know that a healthy mind leads to a healthy business. I worked for a corporate company for over 12 years and that did not exist. So, when I began my journey with ARK, it was my mission to make sure this was part of our culture. I noticed that my partner had not taken a vacation in a long time. So, I made it a priority to implement processes that would allow him to step away from the business with peace of mind. The key is delegating responsibilities and empowering your team early on. I believe that everyone has leadership potential within them. At our company, we embrace mistakes as learning opportunities. When something goes wrong, we talk it through, extract the key lessons, and create an operating procedure to prevent it from happening again. This ensures that my constant oversight is not needed for everyday decisions. I encourage delegating and empowering your team early on. If a mistake happens, have an open discussion, learn from it, and put a process in place. This is how you achieve work/life balance and grow an empowered, resilient team.

Yoli, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I worked for a telecommunications company for over 12 years as a manager. In March 2012, I vividly recall receiving an email that the company was downsizing and closing call centers, including mine. I was shocked -this job was all I had known, with only a high school diploma to my name. I had to decide whether to transfer to another call center or take a leap of faith to start a new career doing something I had always loved – technology. At 34, I chose the latter and embarked on a new journey, enrolling in college. Through my professor, I was introduced to Andre at ARK Solvers. Now, 10 years later, I love what I do – I’ve incorporated my management experience into a technology company. When you are enthusiastic about your work and find purpose in it, it never feels like just a job. On a personal note, I’m very big on working out and love the excitement of competing. I love to know that I can inspire others along on their fitness journey.

I help businesses achieve the American dream and put food on families’ tables by protecting them from cybercriminals. This is what I cherish most about my work – ensuring no family struggles financially due to cybercrime. We are passionate about safeguarding small businesses and dreamers. Our commitment is more than a service – it is an unwavering pledge to protect the entrepreneurial spirit. The team at ARK Solvers shares my enthusiasm for protecting small businesses, and our shared mission makes each day exciting and fulfilling.

How do you keep your team’s morale high?

One thing I’ve learned from managing teams over the past 20 years is that everyone is motivated differently. Effective leaders understand their audience and what drives them. “Bosses” simply tell people what to do, rarely spurring real change. But a leader asks questions to uncover the root causes behind behaviors. Just like any relationship, managing a team comes down to communication. I make it a priority to have weekly coaching sessions focused on development rather than criticism. We discuss strengths, areas for growth, and how each person impacts the company and customers. Throughout the week, I give specific praise when things go well and reinforce team accomplishments. Because of this supportive approach, my team feels comfortable coming to me with any issues. By taking the time to understand what makes each person tick, giving positive feedback, and openly communicating, I’ve built trust and helped my team thrive. The key is realizing that one size does not fit all when it comes to leadership.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

I had to make a big change in my life when I lost my job in 2012. I had worked at a telecommunications company for over 12 years. One day, I got an email saying my call center was closing. I was worried because I only had a GED and no other qualifications or experience. I soon came to find out that we fell under the trade affected workers program where the government helped workers like me get training for in-demand jobs. I had a choice – stay in the same field that paid well but wasn’t fulfilling, or go back to school for something I loved, which was technology. At 34 years old, I decided to take the risk and went to college to study network administration. My professor introduced me to Reginald Andre who had just started an IT company. I decided to take the job to at least get me some experience and be able to move on to something else later. Andre saw my leadership skills and slowly moved me into operations. At first, I was reluctant, but then I realized I could combine managing people with my love for technology. It’s been almost 10 years since I joined ARK Solvers, and I truly enjoy going to work every day. I’m proud of what I’ve helped build at the company. Making that difficult pivot turned out to be the best decision for me.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.arksolvers.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/arksolvers/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ark-solvers
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiXrDyQGUuHhnI7ovQ7GORw/featured