How do you see your business – technology service for business – going forward over the next quarter?
… it is VERY good, but it could be better. We’re growing 45% a year for the past four years. We’ve found a way to make the downturn work for us – we’ve found new opportunities within this downturn.
And over the next five years?
… I see a big shift. Every business is going to be a technology business. Facilitating A.I. – creating more entrepreneurs everywhere …
What qualities distinguish your preferred colleagues, collaborators and suppliers?
… everybody likes to do business with people you like and trust – first, that is key. We rarely buy the ‘lowest price’. We look for companies we can grow and work with together – people we can stand with and stand behind each other.
What distinguishes you that causes people to choose Vince Fung/Debian, and why do they do business with you, why have they hired you, over your competitors?
… because they know Vince and his team are going to do everything to make it work …
How would you describe your leadership/management style?
… We want our people to fell we’re like a family – and we used to be very loose. I expect people to take risks, and to make mistakes within our culture of planning and strategic processes – we have an E.O.S. (employee operating system) that is serving our growth well. We have fun. Nerf wars sometimes erupt – we don’t want tension in the workplace. We do off-site retreats to pursue team growth and learning …
Work/life balance?
… I don’t believe in it. I believe in work/life harmony, and I believe I have it …
What do you lose sleep over, what do you worry about?
… the financial side of the business – it becomes a bigger and bigger risk to manage the more you grow. And cyber-security …
Who or what influenced you most – that has made a difference in your life, or that was a major turning point?
… when I was 10 my Aunt Esther gave us a Commodore 64 as a Christmas Present and she was a mentor to me. [Debiant have funded the Esther K.Y. Chan Memorial Scholarship in her memory] and my dad and working with him, tagging along on his jobs; Robin Robins – an inspirational leader in our industry. His webinar taught me ‘you need to be more than tech – you need to learn how to sell’. Being a member of TEC Canada – Ken Larson and Todd Millar have made a huge impact on me. Jack Daly, a CEO coach. And Darren Hardy’s Hi Performance Forum and Insane Productivity Program.
For fun?
… travel – we love cruises, especially if there is dancing! We represented Canada at the world championships in 2012 ~ we finished 26th out of 65 competitors.
What do you read?
… mostly business books. My ‘recommend’ is The Happiness Equation by Neil Pasricha. [ and Vince has also written a book – ‘Computers Should Just Plain Work – a guide for owners and executives’ – I don’t think you can buy it in a store, but Debian customers and interviewers can get a copy]
His ride?
… 2018 BMW 540 – I took delivery in Europe; we put 4,000 km on the Autoban in 11 days …