Sonar Moment - Reflections on leadership from CEOs in the Pacific Northwest

Clarity is something Robert Haydock feels strongly about. Clarity of intention and clarity of action. In 2008, he bought AML Oceanographic. Then he traveled the world for a year with his family – something that was long planned and that he didn’t want to give up. As we talked, he was very open about the ups and downs for the company in having its CEO away for a year. For me, it was a lesson in leadership and doing just what he talks about – achieving clarity.

Gary Eisenstein is proof that an advanced education does not necessarily drive success. He is quite open about being “grade 6 graduate”, and he means that literally. He got his first job at 12 washing dishes in a restaurant and never stopped working. A serial entrepreneur, Gary fell in love with his third company, Falcon Software, and built it into a successful operation servicing some of the largest customers on the planet. I talked with Gary on several occasions and felt he would make a great addition to Sonar Moment, so was very pleased when he said yes.

Gary Eisenstein is proof that an advanced education does not necessarily drive success. He is quite open about being “grade 6 graduate”, and he means that literally. He got his first job at 12 washing dishes in a restaurant and never stopped working. A serial entrepreneur, Gary fell in love with his third company, Falcon Software, and built it into a successful operation servicing some of the largest customers on the planet. I talked with Gary on several occasions and felt he would make a great addition to Sonar Moment, so was very pleased when he said yes.

Mark Grambart was scooped up by Mercedes Benz right out of university. He climbed the corporate ladder and travelled the world but couldn’t seem to soothe the itch that made him want to be an entrepreneur. I first met Mark in the comfortable Contech offices, with the comfortable Contech dogs – yes, real dogs – roaming around and knew that he was creating a very special corporate environment. Just how special forms part of our wide-ranging conversation this month. I hope you will join us.

Mark Grambart was scooped up by Mercedes Benz right out of university. He climbed the corporate ladder and travelled the world but couldn’t seem to soothe the itch that made him want to be an entrepreneur. I first met Mark in the comfortable Contech offices, with the comfortable Contech dogs – yes, real dogs – roaming around and knew that he was creating a very special corporate environment. Just how special forms part of our wide-ranging conversation this month. I hope you will join us.

Smart, confident and with style. Welcome to the look of the new start-up entrepreneur. Tish Hill is a visionary who likes solving problems for people. If she wasn’t so in love with start-up businesses she would probably be the next Faith Popcorn and predict future marketing trends. After working with various start-ups on 3 continents, a short stint working with local businesses led to her setting up Diggit – ecommerce and web presence for local, often home-based, businesses. Towns you pass by when you blink are among those that will have their own Diggit site giving local retailers and micro business a simple yet sophisticated e-commerce presence. I talked with Tish as part of our summer start-up series, about the passion and the guts it takes to be a start-up entrepreneur.

Smart, confident and with style. Welcome to the look of the new start-up entrepreneur. Tish Hill is a visionary who likes solving problems for people. If she wasn’t so in love with start-up businesses she would probably be the next Faith Popcorn and predict future marketing trends. After working with various start-ups on 3 continents, a short stint working with local businesses led to her setting up Diggit – ecommerce and web presence for local, often home-based, businesses. Towns you pass by when you blink are among those that will have their own Diggit site giving local retailers and micro business a simple yet sophisticated e-commerce presence. I talked with Tish as part of our summer start-up series, about the passion and the guts it takes to be a start-up entrepreneur.