Some leaders start at the top; others bloom with their company.
Many companies prefer to promote from within due to the benefits of greater productivity, increased employee buy-in and better retention rates. One study found that six in 10 managers were promoted from within their own company — proving that this practice not only builds a strong organizational culture but also leverages the loyalty of long-term employees.
This was the case for Wolverine Trading Partner Frank Huebbers, who joined the company 15 years ago and was tasked with bringing a new C# trading system to market. Over the years, Huebbers progressed steadily, demonstrating his expertise and leadership skills.
Today, Huebbers is an engineering leader — and Wolverine Trading is at the forefront of technological innovation, utilizing the latest advancements in C++ language and compilers, Linux kernels, network infrastructure and custom-built hardware solutions.
Built In Chicago sat down with Huebbers to learn more about his journey to leadership — and how both he and his company have thrived as a result.
Wolverine Trading is an independent, full-service broker-dealer specializing in executing equities, options and futures.
Tell us about yourself. What’s your professional background, and why were you brought on to lead this team?
I have been at Wolverine Trading for more than 15 years. I came from the Chicago tech startup world and was intrigued by the entrepreneurial spirit and pursuit of technical excellence in the trading industry. When I joined, I was tasked with bringing a new C# trading system to market; now, we are pushing the envelope of the lowest possible latencies through the latest advancements in C++ language and compilers, Linux kernels, network infrastructure and custom-built hardware solutions.
Over my tenure at Wolverine Trading, I have come to appreciate the diverse opportunities and freedom to develop cutting-edge solutions without the weight of bureaucratic processes or egos. As a newly minted technology partner at Wolverine, my goal is to push the organization towards greater technical excellence and faster product evolution to increase Wolverine’s competitiveness in the marketplace.
“Wolverine Trading offers opportunities to develop cutting-edge solutions without the weight of bureaucratic processes or egos.”
How would you describe your approach to leadership, and how do you plan on building team culture?
Wolverine Trading has always been an organization that values collaboration, investing in its people and tackling the most challenging problems. My autonomous leadership style with an expectation that each team member tackles problems with extreme ownership fits perfectly into this culture. In this environment where everyone's voice is heard, a positive and rewarding environment is created where individuals can grow and succeed.
What project are you most excited to tackle, and what impact will it have?
In the trading industry, we are constantly striving for technical excellence. We are pushed to explore the latest technology advancements and find creative interdisciplinary solutions to improve our systems. This fosters an environment where every day brings something new to learn in collaboration with some of the brightest people in the industry.
The goal I am setting for the team is to shorten the product life cycle of every component of our trading systems, encourage people to take more calculated risks to advance our systems and understanding of what's possible and support each person who is willing and able to step up to these challenges in effective ways.
