Keith B. Nichols

Keith Nichols is the Senior Vice President of IT at Jostens, a memorabilia manufacturer.12 He joined the company in 2021 to help realign the IT team and develop a strategic roadmap for the function.1

Leadership Approach

Nichols describes himself as a "metric-driven coach" who emphasizes:

1. Communication
2. Accountability
3. Analytics

He believes that these elements are crucial for leading high-performing IT teams.1

Key Initiatives at Jostens

Since joining Jostens, Nichols has:

• Reorganized the IT team around key centers of excellence
• Expanded the customer base and capabilities using data as a guiding principle
• Implemented a "planning by percentages" methodology to manage stakeholder expectations
• Improved time tracking accuracy by integrating it directly into the team's work tools (Jira)1

Professional Background

Nichols brings over 20 years of experience to his role at Jostens. His career highlights include:

• Leading global teams through API integrations, data projects, and digital transformations
• Heading global commerce and SaaS platforms for retailers such as Sephora, Restoration Hardware, Zinio, and Delivery Agent1

Leadership Philosophy

Nichols emphasizes the importance of staying connected with his teams through coaching. He compares his role to that of a sports coach, focusing on:

• Driving process improvements
• Aligning the team
• Managing morale
• Helping the team perform at their highest level
• Creating a positive IT culture1

At Jostens, Nichols sees significant opportunities for innovation within the brand, despite its long-standing reputation as a scholastic company.1