Employee Exclusive: Get to Know Sean Guthrie
1. Your journey from the Marines to the corporate tech world is unique. What skills or lessons from your time in the service have had the biggest impact on your leadership style?
The Marines taught me how to lead in chaos and how to stay calm when the stakes are high. But maybe more importantly, I learned to listen. In a platoon, everyone has a role, and the best ideas don’t always come from the top. That mindset has translated well into the private sector. Whether I’m working with software developers or project superintendents, I try to create space for people to contribute. It’s amazing what happens when you get smart people aligned and let them run.
2. You’ve held roles across IT, operations, and now AI. What pivotal moment or skills do you think most prepared you for your current role at Therma?
The skill that’s carried me through each transition is the ability to be a translator—between strategic vision and day-to-day execution, executives and field teams, and now between technical AI capabilities and real-world business needs. One pivotal moment was when I stepped into a role that required cross-functional coordination between construction teams, finance, and leadership. It became clear that most bottlenecks weren’t technical, they were gaps in communication. That insight still shapes how I work today.
3. The Legence AI Program emphasizes making life easier for employees. Can you walk us through one of the most impactful solutions you've rolled out so far?
There are two tools that stand out, and they focus on empowering our people. First, our integration of Microsoft Copilot into existing systems, supported by webinars and hands-on training, is giving teams a real-time assistant for their daily tasks. Second, the Legence AI Assistant lets employees upload documents and ask detailed questions, essentially turning static files into searchable, actionable insights. Both tools show the same truth: AI only works if people are taught how to use it well. The tech is powerful, but the real investment is in training people to unlock that power.
4. Are there any AI technologies or trends right now that you think are underrated?
Right now, everything is both overrated and underrated. The big-name tools get all the attention, but it’s often the small, targeted solutions, like document summarizers or automated workflows, that quietly deliver the most value. That said, even the best tools fall flat without good data. The companies that will succeed with AI are the ones that prioritize clean, accessible data and build systems that enable their people to act on the insights they gain from AI.
5. What’s one book, podcast, or movie that’s had a big impact on you?
"East of Eden" by John Steinbeck. This book stays with you. It’s not just a story, it’s a meditation on human nature, morality, and the choices we make. What resonates with me most is the idea of “timshel”—thou mayest—the notion that we always have a choice. In leadership, I think that’s essential. People aren’t machines. We all carry doubt, fear, and history. But we also carry the ability to grow, to choose the harder right over the easier wrong. That’s what I try to remember when I’m mentoring someone or making a tough call: we’re all capable of change.
