Category: CEO & Boards

Customer Service: The Final Frontier

June 28, 2012

It's hard being a software or technology company or service provider. With technologies leapfrogging each other, it is tough to keep from getting commoditized, regardless of how big you are or technologically superior you once were (just ask RIM). Customers have short memories, especially when your latest interaction with them isn't working the way they ...

Getting VC Funded

June 14, 2012

This Blog was first published May 22, 2012 on the Innovation Factory blog. Last week I had the opportunity to attend PwC's Vision to Reality conference. It was one of the best one-day conferences that I have attended in many years featuring a keynote presentation by Eric Reis, author of The Lean Startup. What was ...

Joining a Board of Directors

January 5, 2012

A former colleague recently reached out to me with the following question: "I'm interested in getting board experience but am not sure where to start. I've served on a local non-profit board but wondered if you have suggestions for finding opportunities to serve on company/corporate boards?" Like many, this person is senior with many years ...

Recruiting Top Talent – Part II

December 1, 2011

I met last week with a friend who is the CEO of a billion plus dollar software company. We were discussing the challenges of finding great talent which lead to discussion on how to recruit this scarce resource when you do find it. We were primarily talking about recruiting people to fill mid to senior ...

GOYAADI

November 25, 2011

There is a lot of noise made about Silicon Valley and why it is such a successful place for incubating and growing start-ups. Many attribute that region's success to availability of investment capital, role models, mentoring resources, the critical mass of talent and its entrepreneurial culture.  Conversely, many point to Ontario's fledging tech start-up community ...

The Power of the Network

This week, I had the privilege of attending a Director's Dinner event organized by Howard Gwin and Derek Smyth of OMERS Ventures, Chris Chapman and Dan Wilson of KPMG's National Technology Practice and Digital Puck.ca . As I sat in this event with 40 other  CEO's and Director's  representing many of the tech stars in ...

Leading in tough times, Managing tough messages

November 9, 2011

Your company is in the crapper. Its stock value has dropped by over half. You have just gone though the company's first ever lay-off. Good employees are resigning because they have lost faith. There is a daily onslaught of stories in the media predicting your company's demise. Employee morale is terrible. Critics say that your products have lost relevance. As a team leader or manager, your job is to maintain positive morale, keep productivity high, and retain and recruit talent. Your task seems impossible.
 

Why do we hate (our own) sales people?

October 24, 2011

Have you ever noticed that in a company there often seems to be jealously, almost bordering on hatred, for the company's own sales team? Ever noticed the derogatory jokes being told about the sales team; the stereotyping of them as not knowing their product; their lack of attention to detail;  their being motivated only by commissions, or their being shallow and self-centred? In the words of Rodney Dangerfield, they just "don't get no respect". Why does that happen, given that this team is the life blood of the company? If they don't sell, the rest of the company doesn't work.

Engaging Talent and Resources beyond your Company’s Four Walls

April 20, 2011

Last week, I met with a CEO who is looking to create an advisory board for his company. After the CEO had gotten comfortable with me and what I could offer, his questions switched to "selling me" on why I should want to join his board. As we were wrapping up our meeting, he asked ...

830,000% ROI

April 17, 2011

We often think of Start-ups as "penny-pinching, cheap rent, used furniture" organizations that need to scrimp and save to meet their next payroll. This is often true, especially in their very early stage.  A few weeks ago, I heard a presentation by Brian NeSmith, the Chief Products Officer of Blue Coat Systems. He said that ...