Entrepreneurs dish secrets to success

Danny Chazonoff, MBA 96, is one of two Quebec Entrepreneurs of the Year in the information technology category. He is chief operating officer at Optimal Payments, an online service that manages billions of dollars annually and serves over 200 countries.

His two tips?

1. “The key to thrive in today’s rapidly changing business environment is to have a strategic plan,” says Chazonoff.
2. “Entrepreneurs have to heed the messages of the marketplace — the changes outside of their control that might affect them,” says Chazonoff.

Wayne Burke, BA 10, is an honouree in the Young Entrepreneur category. The 30-year-old is co-founder and president of Dominion New Energy Resources, which provides energy solutions to commercial and industrial sectors.

His two tips?

1. “Focus on ‘why’ first. If you are passionate about what you are doing and why, then you will have a dramatically better chance of succeeding,” says Burke.
2. “Understand the climates, the environment your business is operating in,” says Burke.

Burke, who started his company while a student, notes: “Concordia helped me expand my mind and gave me a platform to develop a passion for human rights that guides much of what I do in business.”

A third alumnus, Michael Elman, BA 00, nabbed the distinction of Emerging Entrepreneur. Elman develops mobile apps for children with company Budge Studios.

For the past 20 years, EY has recognized entrepreneurs in 140 countries based on criteria such as financial performance, integrity and community engagement. The list of honourees was published November 4.

• View the list of Ernst & Young Entrepreneurs of the Year for Quebec