In this special edition of "A CFO's Diary: Pathways to Growth," we're taking a scientific approach to uncovering the foundations for success. Host Don Cameron has taken a keen interest in the stories and insights shared by our exceptional guests throughout the series. Now, he’s ready to dissect those conversations and share what he’s discovered.

Each episode has provided enlightening and instructive perspectives on individual stories regarding the journey to success. But what happens when he steps back and examines these experiences as a whole? Patterns begin to emerge - the very DNA of what makes or breaks a business. 

In today’s episode, we’ll dig deeper to identify the key markers, traits, and strategies that consistently lead to growth. Just as DNA is the blueprint of life, we’re exploring whether there’s a business DNA - a formula that can guide organizations toward lasting success. Join us as we piece together the wisdom of our guests to reveal the roadmap for thriving in today’s competitive landscape.

Chapters

1. Innovation - Introducing the first strand with Nick Wagner's startup (2.30)
2. Innovation at Telax with Koray Parmaks (7:00)
3. Innovation at Telax with Mario Perez (10:55)
4. Innovation at Sonitrol Western Canada with Joe Wilson (14:00)
5. Innovation at Caravel Law with Rubsun Ho (16:48)
6. Innovation at Clearly LASIK with Daniel Kultin (19:30)
7. Marketing - Introducing the second strand with Nick (22.00)
8. Marketing at Sonitrol Western Canada with Joe (24:55)
9. Marketing at Caravel Law with Rubsun (27:15)
10. Marketing at Telax with Mario (29:15)
11. Marketing at Clearly LASIK with Daniel Kultin (32:35)
12. Business DNA, operations & cash - coding for success (35:10)

Links

• Savvy-CFO
• Don’s LinkedIn

The quest for business growth is more complex and urgent than ever. Leaders of both established companies and start-ups face a dizzying array of models and strategies to formulate their growth plans. How do you navigate this intricate landscape to stand out and rise above the competition?

Mario Perez is the innovative force behind Toronto’s Telax Voice Solutions. Founded in the 90s, Telax entered a market teeming with competition. Under Mario’s leadership, the company achieved consistent growth and enviable customer loyalty. Mario's journey from humble beginnings to building a team that rivals multinationals exemplifies the power of focused leadership, strategic thinking, and a commitment to quality when aiming for steady growth and sustained business success.

In this episode of A CFO’s Diary - Pathways to Growth, Mario opens up about the challenges and triumphs of building Telax Voice Solutions from scratch. He discusses the financial strategies, investment choices, and risk assessments that were critical to fuelling the company's expansion. Mario also highlights the value of expert guidance and mentoring when navigating the complexities of funding operations. Tune in to learn how to apply these proven strategies to drive your business to new heights.

Chapters
1 - Mario’s early studies and upbringing in Cuba (2:02)
2 - First roles in the tech field and inspiration behind Telex (7:22)
3 - Early days at Telex and the start-up's unique model (9:43)
4 - Field competition and growth strategy (15:38)
5 - Implementing investments to fuel growth (16:42)
6 - Reflections on the power of organic growth (21:20)

Links

• Mario Perez
• Telax Voice Solutions
• SavvyCFO

In this episode host Don Cameron delves into the dramatic and instructive story of Clearly LASIK whose founders Joseph King and Michael Mockovak made headlines, and sadly not for the right reasons.
Don is joined by Daniel Kultin, who shares his firsthand account of the rise and fall of the company. From internal conflicts to shocking headline grabbing developments, this episode is a compelling exploration of the extreme consequences that can arise from mismanagement. Daniel's journey from an IT student to an FBI informant provides a unique perspective on the essential components needed for growth and stability.

Chapters

(1:50) Daniel's roots in IT.

(4:40) Making a leap in his career and joining Clearly LASIK. 

(7:00) Expanding the business, the 'Starbucks' model.

(10:32) The challenges of roll out.

(12:53) When conflicting directions erode the chain of command.

(18:05) Challenges in leadership lead to an exit.

(21:40) Problems persist: Profit share & partnership

(26:00) Daniel's debrief: What could have prevented the decline?

(30:50) His advice for young professionals.

Links:

• Murder for Hire | Oxygen True-Crime Documentary
• Savvy-CFO

Working your way up in the industry is often seen as a straightforward path to success. But what happens when you reach the pinnacle of the corporate ladder? Sometimes, when you're climbing up, your definition of success changes. That’s what led Joe Wilson to become the owner of Sonitrol Western Canada.

Starting with side hustles, and climbing the corporate ladder, Joe's journey led him to become president of his workplace at the early age of 32. However, his restlessness in unstable and monopolized industries pushed him to continue challenging himself and pursuing other avenues, transforming his obstacles into stepping stones.

In this episode of A CFO’s Diary - Pathways to Growth, Joe shares the importance of embracing change, pushing boundaries, and charting our own course toward success.

Chapters

1 - Joe’s early business hustles and first jobs.
2 - How climbing the ladder in the alcohol industry led Joe to the security sector.  
3 - The importance of analyzing your surroundings, adapting to changing circumstances, and remaining proactive in the pursuit of new ventures
4 - Understanding your value and pursuing growth opportunities, even through lateral moves or exploring new markets.
5 - Joe’s journey from Sonitrol client to employee, to president.
6 - Demonstrating commitment to your customers. How Joe uses transparency, fairness, and value to grow business
7 - How Joe created his own definition and formula for success.
8 - Joe’s advice for those getting started in business.

Links

• Joe Wilson LinkedIn
• Sonitrol Western Canada
• Savvy-CFO

How do you build a successful tech company with no blueprint, go toe-to-toe with blue-chip competitors, and, at the same time, innovating in a dynamic marketplace that’s evolving at a rapid pace? 

And how about doing all of the above whilst engineering a unique remote workforce model that keeps customers happy, aligns with organizational goals and gives everyone a say in how things operate?That’s a mission that was both carefully handled and relished by Koray Parmaks at Telax Voice Solutions.

In this episode of A CFO’s Diary - Pathways to Growth, Koray shares his entrepreneurial journey and the core values that led his company to success.

Chapters

(2:02) Koray’s entrepreneurial roots and first business venture.

(8:07) The importance of trust and shared goals in his partnership with Mario Perez.
(10:23) The importance of building trust with both customers and employees through transparency, accountability, and a culture of empowerment.
(13:50) The value of identifying and serving the customers you can truly help. Koray shares how Telax shifted its strategy to better serve its target market.
(19:58) The need for intentional effort in fostering a self-managing culture, especially in a remote work environment.
(24:12) Koray's pursuit of knowledge at Harvard Business School demonstrates the importance of continuous learning and reflection for successful leadership.
(26:48) Having a deeper purpose beyond just financial gain and creating a legacy when securing an exit. 
(30:20) Koray's advice for business success. 

Links

• Koray Parmaks | LinkedIn
• Savvy-CFO

Following the status quo can be a safe path, but if you’re looking for resilience and untapped growth potential, innovation and creativity are a must.

Rubsun Ho, initially a lawyer at a large firm, grew disillusioned with traditional working conditions, prompting him to explore the start-up sphere, but that too left lots to be desired. These experiences inspired him to start his own law firm, one that rejected the status quo, and tried something entirely new. Luckily, his neighbour, Joe Milstone, also happened to be a disgruntled lawyer with the same ambition. Together, they built Caravel Law.

Rubsun and Joe discovered a niche nexus between companies looking for lower cost solutions to in-house lawyers, and lawyers who desired more flexibility and control around their work. Listening to the needs of both sides, they built a remote company long before most of the business world had even heard of the term “remote work”.

Not only did the immediate demand exceed their expectations, their forward-thinking approach also ensured resilience and growth during economic downturns like the 2008 financial crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic. 

In this episode of A CFO’s Diary - Pathways to Growth, Rubsun reflects on how his corporate and startup background shaped Caravel's success, discusses the challenges and advantages of early adoption in remote work, and shares his best advice for entrepreneurs looking to build their own innovative businesses.

Chapters

1 - Rubsun’s background at a big law firm and a start-up

2 - Meeting Joe and beginning Caravel

3 - The model and the response from workers and clients

4 - How the model made the business resilient to downturns

5 - What he would do differently

6 - Selling the business

7 - Rubsun’s three pieces of advice for business success 

Links

• Rubsun Ho | LinkedIn
• Caravel Law
• Axiom Law
• Savvy-CFO

Business isn't just about numbers. While they play a role in success, without a foundation of values, humility, and a willingness to learn from people, numbers alone are of little value.

Consider Nick Wagner, an entrepreneur from Ontario, who achieved financial success by prioritizing a human-centered approach to business. Alongside his co-founder at Premise LED, Nick's dedication to fostering relationships led to rapid growth, gaining a competitive edge, and eventually, a lucrative buyout. All this for a guy who hasn’t been in a classroom since he was a teenager.

Nick attributes his achievements to the connections he cultivated, whether with his partner, team members, or customers. For him, success wasn't just about making money, although he certainly did. It was also about collaborating with others, understanding their perspectives, and embracing valuable lessons from each encounter. Balancing employee and customer satisfaction while staying true to your principles isn't always easy, but Nick was determined to do so.

In this episode of A CFO’s Diary -  Pathways to Growth, Nick shares why real relationships were pivotal to his journey and how he remained steadfast in his values even during challenging times. And as he reflects upon his career and business trajectory, he’ll share his three main takeaways from his experiences that would benefit anyone pondering their own entrepreneurial path in life. 

Chapters

1 - Getting into sales (1:25)

2 - Starting CORE, which became Premise LED (4:29)

3 - The importance of partnerships (7:02)

4 - Saying no and building a team to succeed (10:24)

5 - Getting ready for an exit (17:49)
6 - Don enters the picture and time to sell the company (20:10)

7 - Nick’s three pieces of advice for business success (25:53)

Links

• Nick Wagner on LinkedIn
• SavvyCFO

In each episode, we take people through what we call a ‘discovery call’ during which we learn about their business, its opportunities, potential areas of development, and strategies to move forward, including those they may have missed. Using this discovery call format in each episode, I speak with folks I’ve met over the years whom I’ve learned from, to revisit these journeys. We won’t hold anything back and will reveal crucial strategies, insights, and potholes to avoid—all vital for the success of any business, regardless of its size.