Mark Duckworth
Founder and Chief Customer Officer
As CCO and founder, Mark Duckworth is responsible for our corporate strategy—setting the vision that’s guided Optus for over 30 years. Mark founded Optus in 1991 in his parent’s garage, and his entrepreneurial spirit has propelled us forward ever since. Today, Mark’s commitment to exceptional service drives our strong growth trajectory, and his inspired leadership is the foundation for Optus’ customer-first approach.
Mark has 30+ years of executive leadership experience within the telecommunications and IT industries, and he’s been an entrepreneur in the cloud market since its evolution. He’s worked diligently over the years to build Optus into a leading, nationally-recognized managed services provider for multi-site enterprises.
Mark splits his time between New York City and Jonesboro, Arkansas. He enjoys spending time with his son, Corbin, traveling, and collecting vintage vinyl records. Mark also loves spending time outdoors and is an avid skier.
Q & A
In your own words, describe what makes a great leader.
A great leader is someone who is able to inspire others to perform at their best for the greater good.
What motivates you to get out of bed in the morning?
Opportunity! I’m always excited for a new day and a new adventure or challenge.
Who is someone you admire as a mentor?
My Grandfather
How can a leader fail?
A leader fails when they only provide criticism. They also fail if they fail to create a shared vision amongst the team.
Describe your perfect team.
My perfect team consists of high performers who have integrity, creativity, and need little supervision.
What is your greatest strength? Your greatest weakness?
My greatest strength is my intuition regarding people. I think I also have a strong detail orientation. My greatest weakness is coloring between the lines. 🙂
What do you like to do when you aren’t leading the Optus team?
I’m with my son, Corbin, or listening to music—live or on vinyl. I also love to travel and spend time in the outdoors—on a beach, on the slopes, it doesn’t matter as long as I’m outside.
What’s a fun fact about yourself?
I grew up on a farm in Arkansas and drove a tractor as a kid.
What’s your favorite quote?
Whether you think you can or you think you can’t, you’re right. —Henry Ford
What makes Optus different?
We have a team of employees who understands the value of our customers and why it’s important for us to solve their problems. They take ownership of our customers’ issues so they can get back to what matters most.
