Many system integration companies begin with a talented engineer who discovers that technical expertise can become a business. As that company expands, however, its founder must transition from designing and troubleshooting systems to managing strategy, finance, sales, personnel and succession planning.

Control System Integrators Association CEO Adrienne Meyer argues that technical excellence and business management aren't competing disciplines. Instead, strong business processes create the foundation that allows technical innovation to scale. She sees a natural connection between engineering and management because engineers already understand systems, process optimization and continuous improvement. Successful integrators can apply that same thinking to their businesses.

That means establishing repeatable processes, meaningful KPIs, leadership pipelines and financial discipline. Meyer describes running a business as essentially another engineering challenge: Instead of designing systems composed of machines and networks, leaders design systems involving people, processes and resources, with the same objective of producing predictable and reliable outcomes.