Tech Is Cool, But Systems Change and Human Leadership Are Cooler
- Oct 30, 2025
- 4 min read
Written by Wayne Elsey, Founder and CEO
Wayne Elsey is the founder and CEO of Elsey Enterprises. Among his independent brands, he is also the founder and CEO of Funds2Orgs.
Many of us love technology, which means having the best hardware, software, and people who know how to leverage the tech. We know that technology has transformed the workplace. It’s allowed us to do things that were once only the areas of experts because of platforms like ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity, and others. But systems change can help us do even more.
Here’s what nobody wants to say out loud. Technology alone isn’t going to scale your business. It may help during a transition to doing things more quickly and cheaply. But if a company doesn’t have its team culture, systems, and operations in order, it won't be a transformative business at a very competitive time. That’s where systems change enters the scene.
The difference between “cool” and “transformative”
Tools don’t change things. People and systems change drive change. So, if your company and products feel like they’re stuck, figuring out how to be transformative is a nut that needs to be cracked by every business leader. Transformation means changing the very definitions of what we do within our companies and how we do it.
For instance, at my company, we’ve given new life to about 40 million pairs of shoes and sneakers that would otherwise have ended up in landfills. They didn't go into landfills because we have the best tech. They didn't go into landfills because we took a look at broken systems (e.g., social good, fundraising) and figured out how to tell a new story.
We were transformative and grew market share because we leaned into making meaningful connections. Shoes from American closets help supply jobs for people in developing countries. In the process, we create jobs for Americans, help organizations engage and lift up their communities, and, as a bonus, do something good for the environment.
In short, we connected the dots between the needs of organizations in the United States to raise funds or engage their communities differently and people living in countries worldwide with the need for shoe reuse inventory. Again, the big bonus is doing something for the environment to be sustainable with our natural resources and mitigate climate change.
Tech is the tool: Systems change is the mission
The fact is that tech, for its own sake, won't make lives better. To an extent, there's a recognition that we can't just let corporate tech take over our lives and companies without any consideration. What's more essential is to revolutionize, company by company, how we integrate our teams, operations, and processes (the systems) more seamlessly.
In other words, for business leaders, it’s the precise instruments you employ when you have already made explicit what your aims are and why you’re pursuing them. It’s essential not to lack the proper structure. And if you’re fixing superficial issues rather than fundamental ones within your company, no cool tech is going to save it from itself.
Instead of merely applying a Band-Aid to a profound internal problem (e.g., low team attrition, poor supply chain channels, excessive expenses), leaders must focus. In other words, they must put their energy and attention into the team members and work with them to redesign what they're doing if it's no longer working.
"Disrupting," new tech, or changing things just to change things and for the sake of comms doesn't work. In short, if you see your company going backward and systems not working right anymore, it's essential to get holistic thinkers on the team. Get people who don’t just ask, "How do we make more money?" but mainly ask, "How do we create something better?"
Building a culture that outlasts technology
It’s no secret that tech is moving fast. It’s not uncommon for platforms to make updates and changes several times a year. But here’s the thing. Company culture is constant. Moreover, it helps leaders to adapt to the changes. If they’re properly aligned with your goals, they’ll keep your company from stagnating, which you can’t do.
Systems change isn’t about new workflows. It’s about a leadership mindset. Done right, when you change systems, you empower people to think and act beyond their job titles. Your team understands not only the why of what they’re doing but also the how. And that delivers ownership, which leads to lasting and continuous resilience and change.
If you’re a leader who wants to make a big impact on your company genuinely and maybe even the world, get past the shiny tech toys. Instead, look at your entire operation and systems. And if your team isn’t aligned, work with the key people to help you determine the path forward and align everyone. If needed, get help from a consultant or additional team members.
Don't just provide capital to the next sparkly tech tool or resource. Instead, invest capital into the people who are going to help you build the future. You know, the ones who are actually going to piece together all the bits of the broken system you may have and make something that works. Fund them. Sure, tech is cool, but people, systems, and processes are cooler.
© 2025 Wayne Elsey. All Rights Reserved.
Wayne Elsey, Founder and CEO
Wayne Elsey is the founder and CEO of Elsey Enterprises. Among his independent brands, he is also the founder and CEO of Funds2Orgs. This social enterprise helps nonprofits, schools, churches, civic groups, individuals, and others raise funds while helping to support micro-enterprise (small business) opportunities in developing nations and the environment.
