“You can’t spend your entire life trying to open doors. At some point, you need to make a decision, pick a path, and go all in. Focusing sets you free.”
We are thrilled to welcome Adam Schlesinger, a transformational leader with extensive experience in technology and financial services, as our latest Inovia Executive in Residence.
A Montreal native who has worked in Canada, the U.S., and Europe, Adam has a knack for helping companies modernize and drive growth. As a young analyst at Bombardier Aerospace, he learned to harness technology to identify and address inefficiencies, a skill he honed at Microsoft, where he restructured his own business unit and was promoted to a leadership role in corporate strategy. He spent almost a decade at the software giant, in Seattle, New York, and Toronto where he developed his reputation as a top financial services sales and marketing leader.
Adam’s track record caught the attention of National Bank of Canada, where he undertook a transformational role as Chief Digital and Data Officer and head of Emerging Payments. He later joined California-based First Republic Bank, which sought out his expertise to accelerate their evolution and growth as Chief Transformation Officer. He pivoted to the entrepreneurial track before the pandemic and followed two paths: He began advising startups (two of which he helped IPO) and co-developed a speech-to-text transcription and translation A.I. platform that Zoom acquired and then an online dating app that Bumble acquired.
In his spare time, Adam continues to invest in his passion for delivering high-quality products. He is president of Siempre Tequila which has grown five fold and is expanding rapidly.
His wealth of experience and passion for complex problem-solving make him a unique resource to founders seeking big-picture conversations about their businesses.
We recently sat with him to discuss his love of the outdoors, the best advice he ever received, and why data alone isn’t enough to pick an investment.
TELL US SOMETHING MOST PEOPLE MAY NOT KNOW ABOUT YOU
I’ve lived in major cities like Boston, New York, and Seattle, but I’m really a country person. I’m happiest in jeans and cowboy boots, with no electricity, on an agave field in rural Mexico. I enjoy peace and serenity and being completely digital-free.
CAN YOU SHARE ONE OF THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES OR FAILURES THAT YOU LEARNED FROM?
When a company is starting out, there is a tendency to sacrifice strong contract terms to close the first few deals; this can be a very dangerous move and can come back to haunt a company months or even years later. Bad contract terms can derail due diligence during a raise process. Also, in every industry, people change companies, and often, those you sign a deal with, will be the ones you sign a deal with again when they move to another firm. If your product or service is worthwhile, you should never hurt yourself long term just to say you nabbed your first customer.
WHAT’S THE BEST PIECE OF ADVICE YOU RECEIVED IN YOUR CAREER?
You can’t spend your entire life trying to open doors. At some point, you need to make a decision, pick a path, and go all in. Focusing sets you free.
WHAT’S A QUESTION YOU WISH PEOPLE ASKED YOU MORE OFTEN?
“Why?” People often ask me a question, I give an answer, and then they say, “okay,” and just go off and execute. But the why is often more important than the what. It is the product of 25 years of experience. If you don’t understand why you’re getting a specific piece of advice, then you’ll have to ask for it again the next time.
WHAT ENERGIZES YOU? HOW DO YOU TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF?
I hike three days a week in the forest and then work out. I play sports: skiing, skating, and pickleball. I waterski competitively and am on a curling team. When others feel drained from working out really hard, I get energized. For the most part, I eat super healthy, but unfortunately, I love poutine.
IN YOUR ROLE AT INOVIA, WHAT QUESTIONS SHOULD FOUNDERS ASK YOU?
If a founder approaches me and says, “Help me be better,” I have all the time in the world for them. We will discuss their personal and professional life, how they mix the two, how they think about people development, building businesses, their future legacy, etc. I spend a great deal of time with boards and CEOs. I’m probably the wrong guy If you want to know how to build a better P&L. But, if you want to know how to hold a CFO accountable to ensure company stability, how to test product/market fit, or how to build a compelling sales pitch, that’s where I can be useful.