Celebrating 1 year at UrbanThings – Q&A with Adam Toone
As Adam Toone celebrates his first year as CEO of UrbanThings, we had the pleasure of sitting down with him to reflect on his journey so far, the challenges he’s faced and his exciting vision for the future.
Q: What has been the most rewarding part of your role as CEO?
Adam: The most rewarding part of my role has been witnessing the tangible impact our work has on the daily lives of commuters and cities. Seeing our technology make public transportation more efficient, accessible and sustainable is incredibly fulfilling. It’s also deeply rewarding to lead a passionate and talented team that shares a common vision of transforming modern mobility for the better. Watching our collective efforts translate into real-world benefits, and knowing that we are helping to shape the future of smart cities, is what drives me every day.
Q: What are some of the biggest challenges you have faced in the last year, and how did you overcome them?
Adam: Over the past year, one of the biggest challenges has been navigating the rapid changes in the transportation industry, particularly as cities continue to adapt to post-pandemic realities. Balancing the need for innovation with the practical demands of our clients required a careful, strategic approach. To overcome this, we focused on staying agile and responsive, constantly listening to our customers and partners to understand their evolving needs. We also invested heavily in research and development, ensuring that our solutions remained at the cutting-edge of technology. By fostering a culture of collaboration within the team, we were able to pivot quickly and deliver solutions that not only addressed immediate challenges but also set the stage for future growth.
Q: What accomplishments or milestones are you most proud of since joining UrbanThings?
Adam: Since joining UrbanThings, there are several accomplishments and milestones that I’m particularly proud of. One key achievement has been the successful expansion of our platform into new markets and cities. This expansion not only reflects our growth but also demonstrates our ability to adapt our technology to diverse environments and customer needs.
Another milestone is the significant advancements we’ve made in our product offerings. We’ve introduced new features that enhance the user experience, such as accessibility features, timetable explorers, improved journey planning, B2B coupon management and a full home screen redesign. These innovations have solidified our reputation as a leader in the smart mobility space.
Additionally, I’m proud of the strong partnerships we’ve built over the past year. Collaborating with customers to accelerate our impact and scale our solutions more effectively has been incredibly rewarding. Finally, fostering a strong, inclusive company culture that prioritises innovation and collaboration has been a deeply rewarding aspect of my role. Seeing the team grow and thrive in such an environment is something I’m incredibly proud of.
Q: Can you share a specific project that stands out to you?
Adam: The delivery of the Lothian Buses passenger app is a standout milestone for our business. We spent a long time working in collaboration with Lothian and many of its stakeholders to ensure that we built the best possible solution for its customers. This project perfectly illustrates our ability to collaborate deeply with partners to craft solutions that are both innovative and highly functional for end-users.
Q: What key changes or innovations have you implemented, and how have they impacted the company?
Adam: Collectively, we agreed that our values needed refreshing. So, over several months, we spent time implementing new values that better represent who we are and what we believe in. This shift has not only strengthened our company’s identity but also aligned the team more closely with our mission, driving us forward with a renewed sense of purpose and cohesion.
Q: What’s one thing you’ve learned about yourself and/or the company in the past year?
Adam: One thing I’ve learned about myself over the past year is the importance of resilience and adaptability in leadership. The rapidly changing landscape of urban mobility has presented unexpected challenges, and I’ve realised that the ability to pivot quickly, make informed decisions under pressure and stay focused on long-term goals are crucial for driving a company forward.
In terms of the company, I’ve learned just how vital our core values are to our success. These values aren’t just words; they truly define how we operate. UrbanThings thrives because we’re constantly pushing the boundaries of what’s possible, working closely as a team and always putting our customers’ needs at the forefront. Understanding the strength of these values has deepened my appreciation for the culture we’ve built and reaffirmed my belief in the direction we are heading.
Q: What is your long-term vision for the company?
Adam: My long-term vision for UrbanThings is to become the solution of choice for smart mobility solutions for cities and operators. I want to see UrbanThings expanding its reach across the UK and into the USA, synonymous with innovation, reliability and positive impact in the urban mobility space.
Q: Anything else you wish to add?
Adam: I’d like to extend a heartfelt thank you to all our customers and partners for their continued support. We value our relationships and look forward to working with you over the coming years. Our achievements are a testament to the strong partnerships and collaborative spirit that define UrbanThings, and I’m excited about what the future holds.
Thank you to Adam for sharing his thoughts! It’s an exciting time here at UrbanThings, and we’re all looking forward to what’s next on this journey.
You can connect with Adam on LinkedIn here.
