Tony is honoured to be published on ExportWise Canada's website
All successful companies need superior leadership, but leaders of export-focused companies must also double-up on some key characteristics to succeed in the global marketplace. Resilience, flexibility, emotional intelligence (EQ) and the ability to respond to changing business environments are traits these leaders should have in abundance.
Amanda McNaughton, deputy director for the regional office of the Prairies and Northwest Territories for Global Affairs Canada, has seen hundreds of business leaders in action during her career facilitating export opportunities for Canadian companies.
Self-awareness is critical, says McNaughton. “You have to know that you’ve got the resources that you need in terms of human capital, financial capital and time to dedicate to it. Without the ability to recognize that you’ve got those in place, or are able to find the people to have in place, it’s not going to work.”
McNaughton says leaders need to know their own limitations. “You may have invented a wonderful product, but are you a salesman?” she asks. “I often recall a highly-innovative medical device company that was led by the inventor for years. He understood the product inside and out, but was truly a scientist and he simply could not make a sale. Eventually, the board of directors imposed a change. He maintained the title of president, but they brought in a salesman. Suddenly, they were making sales.”
She says clarity of vision is also important: where do you want to be?
Tony Gareri, CEO of Vaughan, Ontario-based Roma Moulding, agrees. The company manufactures and sells Made-in-Italy picture frames and exports 70 per cent of its output.
Like many other companies, the business, founded by Tony’s father John Gareri and his business partner Nino Talotta, was forced to take a long, hard look at itself when the markets crashed in 2008. Tony took over the company and pressed the restart button…