Leadership Matters
Casey Marquette, founder of a thriving tech startup, credits much of his success to a consistent habit: reading leadership books. This practice has guided him from his early career as a police officer to the upper echelons of the corporate world and now to the helm of his own nearly $8 million business.
Marquette’s journey is a testament to his dedication. After years of running IT security programs for Fortune 100 companies, he launched Covenant Technologies in 2022, an AI-driven employee recruitment firm. His unique approach, cultivated by years of reading and implementing leadership principles, has propelled the company towards significant growth in a short period.
“No matter what you want to be in life, someone has already done it and been great at it. You just need to read about it.” – Casey Marquette
A Varied Career Path
At 49, Marquette has packed a lot into his career. He began his professional life as a police officer near Cincinnati, Ohio. He then transitioned into the corporate sector, holding leadership positions at Johnson & Johnson and later at CVS Health.
His experience also includes implementing new security protocols for Cognizant, a global IT consulting giant. In that role, he led a team of 225 professionals stretched across 20 countries, enabling remote work for 200,000 employees in India during the pandemic.
Launching Covenant Technologies
In May 2022, Marquette relocated to the Sarasota-Bradenton area from New Jersey and founded Covenant Technologies. The firm leverages AI to improve employee recruitment in the IT and cybersecurity sectors. Marquette’s mission is to address the frequent inefficiencies that plague the industry, to deliver better results for clients.
In the early days, funding was tight. Marquette often recalls having few resources, but his Anna Maria Island house. He drove across the country in a van, sleeping in parking lots, to secure meetings. The company faced an initial loss of $175,000 in its first year.
However, the company’s model quickly gained traction. Covenant Technologies now provides direct-hire, contract-to-hire, and contract staffing services, and it has experienced rapid growth. In 2023, the company generated $5.8 million in revenue, and it hit $7.7 million in revenue in the most recent year, a 32.75% increase. The firm now employs eight people.
The Power of Intent
Marquette emphasizes that his business trajectory can be greatly attributed to his dedication to leadership training through the lens of key books:
One of the first books Marquette recommends is “Turn the Ship Around! How to Create Leadership at Every Level” by David Marquet, a former nuclear submarine captain. The book’s central concept — encouraging leaders to value intent over explicit direction — heavily influenced Marquette’s management style. He translated this principle by empowering his employees to take calculated initiative, which has allowed the company to operate efficiently and to be responsive to opportunities.
“They will send me an email that says I intend to, … and they know if I don’t respond, to go ahead and do it,” he says, adding that he wouldn’t put them in that position if he didn’t believe in them. “We get 100 times more done than what other companies get done in the same amount of time this way.”
Marquette also credits this book for helping him prioritize his time effectively and align it with his overall goals.
Winning with People
Another key book in his leadership toolkit is John Maxwell’s “25 Ways to Win with People: How to Make Others Feel Like a Million Bucks.” Marquette has used its principles to foster strong relationships inside and outside the company.
Maxwell’s advice, particularly the “30-second rule,” has helped Marquette connect with clients and colleagues. By offering encouragement and appreciation, Marquette found it easier to build meaningful connections, which often leads to more authentic partnerships.
Focus on What Matters
The third book that Marquette credits with playing a critical role in his success is Jack Canfield’s “The Success Principles: How to Get From Where You Are to Where You Want to Be.” Marquette says the book’s emphasis on taking responsibility for your actions has shaped his approach to business. He believes that most failures can be traced to a lack of accountability. Marquette focuses on controlling his own actions, no matter the challenges.
“No matter what happens in your life that went wrong, when assessing it start with looking at yourself ,” he says. “Ninety-nine percent of people start the other way.”
By remaining committed to personal development through reading, Marquette continues to build a successful, AI-driven company. His journey underscores the enduring value of leadership principles in navigating the complexities of business and beyond.
