UIT Leadership Spotlight: Paul Hess, associate director, Office of Software Licensing

Where are you from originally?

Bountiful, Utah (currently living in Mapleton, Utah)

What post-secondary degrees or certifications do you have, in what areas, and from which schools?

I earned a Bachelor of Science in communication from Weber State University with a minor in business. I completed the first part of my undergraduate education at the University of Utah.

What led you to the University of Utah?

I’ve been a lifelong University of Utah fan, so joining the U feels a bit like coming home. Since I also started my undergraduate education here, it’s especially meaningful to now be part of the university in a professional role.

Can you describe the path you took to IT leadership?

For the past 14 years, I worked in healthcare IT consulting and market research, partnering with software vendors and healthcare organizations across the country. That experience gave me the opportunity to negotiate more than 100 contracts, present in executive boardrooms, and gain a deep understanding of the software industry from both the vendor and customer perspectives. I’m excited to bring that experience to the Office of Software Licensing as we help the University of Utah and the Utah System of Higher Education secure and manage additional software contracts and licenses.

How would you describe your leadership style and/or philosophy?

I strive to lead with kindness, respect, collaboration, and integrity. I believe the best results come when people share a common mission, align around clear goals, and work together to solve problems. I enjoy helping teams succeed by building trust, encouraging new ideas, and keeping our focus on serving others.

What do you enjoy most about your role at the U?

Collaboration is my favorite part of the job. I enjoy working with colleagues across the university to find solutions, build relationships, and help ensure our faculty, staff, students, and patients have access to the software they need.

What do you find most challenging about your job?

The same thing I enjoy most, collaboration. Enterprise software licensing involves many stakeholders with different priorities, so bringing everyone together to find the best path forward can be challenging. It’s also one of the most rewarding parts of the job.

What are some of your hobbies?

I enjoy spending time with my family, playing basketball, throwing a football or baseball around the yard with my kids, reading a good book, watching a great movie, and tackling projects around the house.

Is there a fun fact about yourself that you’d like to share?

I’ve visited 42 of the 50 states and hope to check off the remaining eight someday: Oregon, New Mexico, Alabama, North Carolina, South Carolina, Maine, Hawaii, and Alaska.

Is there anything else that you think our readers would like to know about you?

One of the highlights of joining the university was having the opportunity to work at the same place as my father, Stephen Hess, before he retired. He’s been a tremendous example to me, and I’m grateful we had the chance to overlap, even if it was only for a few months. Now it’s his turn to enjoy retirement and maybe discover some needed hobbies along the way!

 

Node 4 Search