Thursday, October 4, 2012

HOW FAMILY BUSINESSES CAN BENEFIT FROM AN OUTSIDE PERSPECTIVE

How is your family business going? Is it ticking along and just meeting expectations? Are the objectives being realized? Is it continuing to prosper or has it become flat? Is it financially sound? Could it be doing better?

I grew up working in the family business. It was a part of my life from age nine until I graduated from university. Like my father, it became a full-time commitment and responsibility, even when I was in grade school because if we didn’t respond to the daily needs there wouldn’t be food on the table next month. While the business grew organically and became more successful and we had more time to think about areas of expansion or better focus, the only thing we really did know was our family business. Yes, my dad had earlier experiences to build on, but each of those was also a family business.


Something entrepreneurs don’t take time to consider is that there is a wider world out there. Perhaps the paradigm they are comfortable in when viewed within a larger context has opportunities that would otherwise not be feasible because their view is hindered by a narrow focus.


To read the remainder of the article, click here.

Wednesday, October 3, 2012

MAJA VELJKOVIC & BRENDA JACOBSON JOIN THE OIM TEAM

Osborne Interim Management is pleased to welcome Brenda Jacobson (CMA) and Maja Veljkovic (M.Sc, P.Eng) to the organization as a Principals.

Based in Calgary, Brenda is an engaging leader supporting companies to set, align, measure and attain financial goals. She specializes in small team environments with experience across multiple industry sectors and expands beyond traditional financial reporting to integrate all aspects of the corporate strategy with the financial vision. With expertise in financial reporting, financial modelling, business analysis and structure, people strategies and team building, she is gifted at identifying challenges and developing creative solutions.


Maja, who resides in Edmonton, has achieved successful technology development and transfer with a solid engineering background in senior management and leadership positions. She has demonstrated the ability to design and establish effective and productive technology collaboration arrangements among industry, universities and government, particularly in the energy and alternative energy fields. With a combination of technical acumen, and a flare for transforming groups into productive working teams, Maja can be a potent management force in any innovation-based enterprise.