Successfully Steering A Tech Company
Steve Munford is known for successfully scaling tech companies, taking the reins from “technologist” founders who excel at great ideas but call on Munford to build their companies to greater heights. Focusing on the security and enterprise software sectors, he has successfully steered five companies across the UK, U.S. and Canada.
Currently Munford is CEO of Trulioo, a Vancouver-based company that provides ID verification capabilities via APIs to businesses in more than 195 countries.
Munford shares how he approaches his role as CEO and his stewardship within the B.C. tech community.
In the past 25 years, I’ve been chief executive at five companies. They’re all in tech, either in security software or where I am today, in identity. They also have all been very strong in innovation and growth. They all started out private and then they eventually went public or were acquired.
The other common thread is, in almost every instance, I took over the company from a founder. In the evolution of a lot of companies, there’s a founder who has a great idea, starts the company and runs it for many years. But often in technology, the founders are technologists who have a passion for building something, but don’t have the same desire to run a larger organization, work with shareholders or get involved with the aspects of scaling a company.
That’s where I’ve come in. I can fill in the pieces of what it takes to build a bigger company but with a deep respect for the person who started it and what it takes to create.
I’ve had the luxury of building on a great product and helping scale it through expanding the offering, taking it public, raising financing and building teams. It’s been a ton of fun.
I lived in the UK while running a company based out of Europe, and I’ve been involved with businesses throughout the U.S. I lived in Boston and ran a company there. I went back to Vancouver in 2013 after nine years in the UK because it’s where my wife and I wanted to raise our kids. At the time, our kids were approaching their teens, which is a really important time for stability.
I also love the tech community in Vancouver. It’s a great place to attract and build talented teams. I’ve come back to a place that has a wonderful quality of life, but also where I can still do what I love doing.
First, three of the companies I’ve run have been in British Columbia. In every case, they’ve grown the talent pool and become a bigger part of the tech community during my time with them.
I’m also personally invested in many young tech companies here and work with early-stage founders, either as an investor, a board member or a mentor. That’s been a pleasure.
Finally, I’m active in the local community advocating to policymakers what it takes to create a great tech ecosystem. I have the benefit of seeing how it has operated in other parts of the world.
British Columbia is a place where many tech companies have chosen to start. But increasingly, established companies have chosen to build teams in Vancouver. We see a lot of big players come up from Silicon Valley or other places around the world because they recognize there’s a lot of talent here and it’s a favourable business environment.
It’s a competitive market for talent. We compete for that talent by providing a great place where people can build their careers, build great products and participate in the creation of a company, as opposed to being an employee of a company.
Our unique culture and the excitement around the problem we solve come together to create a place where people really want to be. We see that in our ability to attract talent but also, more important, in the retention of our staff.
Chief Executive Group exists to improve the performance of U.S. CEOs, senior executives and public-company directors, helping you grow your companies, build your communities and strengthen society. Learn more at chiefexecutivegroup.com.
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1:00 - 5:00 pm
Over 70% of Executives Surveyed Agree: Many Strategic Planning Efforts Lack Systematic Approach Tips for Enhancing Your Strategic Planning Process
Executives expressed frustration with their current strategic planning process. Issues include:
Steve Rutan and Denise Harrison have put together an afternoon workshop that will provide the tools you need to address these concerns. They have worked with hundreds of executives to develop a systematic approach that will enable your team to make better decisions during strategic planning. Steve and Denise will walk you through exercises for prioritizing your lists and steps that will reset and reinvigorate your process. This will be a hands-on workshop that will enable you to think about your business as you use the tools that are being presented. If you are ready for a Strategic Planning tune-up, select this workshop in your registration form. The additional fee of $695 will be added to your total.
2:00 - 5:00 pm
Female leaders face the same issues all leaders do, but they often face additional challenges too. In this peer session, we will facilitate a discussion of best practices and how to overcome common barriers to help women leaders be more effective within and outside their organizations.
Limited space available.
10:30 - 5:00 pm
General’s Retreat at Hermitage Golf Course
Sponsored by UBS
General’s Retreat, built in 1986 with architect Gary Roger Baird, has been voted the “Best Golf Course in Nashville” and is a “must play” when visiting the Nashville, Tennessee area. With the beautiful setting along the Cumberland River, golfers of all capabilities will thoroughly enjoy the golf, scenery and hospitality.
The golf outing fee includes transportation to and from the hotel, greens/cart fees, use of practice facilities, and boxed lunch. The bus will leave the hotel at 10:30 am for a noon shotgun start and return to the hotel after the cocktail reception following the completion of the round.
