In this episode of The COVI Way, co-hosts Dave and Cody Lents flip the script—Cody takes the guest seat to share the story behind his journey at COVI and how the company evolved from a scrappy IT provider into a strategic partner focused on people, process, and purposeful technology.From early days as Netlink to leading sales and consulting at COVI, Cody dives into what it takes to balance security and standardization with customization and creativity. It’s not just about solving technical problems—it’s about building trust, enabling productivity, and helping organizations grow with clarity and confidence.You’ll hear stories of growing pains, valuable lessons in scaling with intention, and why COVI is committed to using "good conflict" to create long-term value. Whether you're leading a team, managing tech, or navigating digital transformation, this conversation will challenge you to think differently about how structure unlocks innovation.Key Takeaways:Why standardization isn’t the enemy of creativity—it’s the foundation of itHow strategic IT partners empower leaders to do meaningful workWhat it takes to balance strong security with user freedomHow conflict, when healthy, drives clarity and alignmentThe power of simplifying the complex to fuel growthFive Key Quotes:“Standardization is a requirement to sustainability and survival.”“You don’t get great productivity without great security.”“We avoided the MSP ‘raise prices, cover less’ model—and we’re better for it.”“If there's no tension, there's no growth.”“We don't just protect systems—we empower a culture of security.”Chapters:00:00 – Welcome + Meet Cody01:32 – The Netlink Days + Birth of COVI04:25 – Building Sales from Chip’s Vision08:45 – Standardization and Early Growth13:15 – Balancing Structure and Creativity17:40 – Growing Pains with Bigger Clients22:08 – Remote Access and the COVID Shift26:30 – Conflict as a Path to Innovation30:20 – Redefining Value in Managed Services34:05 – Culture of Security + Simplicity38:10 – Final Thoughts + Partnership and Possibility

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