Everything I Needed to Know about Business-- I Learned from a Canadian

"In their new book, Brody and Raffa craft insightful portraits of sixteen remarkable Canadian entrepreneurs. The stories of their roads to success and the setbacks each of them encountered will inspire the innovative risk-takers of tomorrow. The invaluable lessons learned and summarized in each chapter’s ‘five key points’ will be especially useful for the younger reader searching for ‘pearls of wisdom’ from outstanding Canadians who have succeeded in business and in life."

"This book contains mission critical information for managers, entrepreneurs and executives alike. I would recommend not only reading it, but advocate carrying it around for reference in the years to come."

Learn the fine art of management from leaders and entrepreneurs around the world…

…all of whom happen to be Canadian.

Lessons on teamwork from Homer Simpson? World-renowned architect, Moshe Safdie, on organizational design? Joe Boxer, guerilla marketer? Can having a vision really change the world? Geoffrey Ballard thinks so. How can anybody sell a multimillion-dollar pharmaceutical company in just one week? Leslie Dan tells you how he did it.

Everything I Needed to Know About Business…I Learned From a Canadian offers first-hand insights, experience, and best practices from sixteen business leaders, all of whom have achieved excellence in a particular area of business, at home and on the world stage. Some are household names, others are barely known outside their own industry, but they all share the secrets of their amazing success.

Each chapter features "five key points" to take away — the essential lessons from the leaders and entrepreneurs who have been there and done it all. You’ll learn the best of business wisdom, get practical advice on company building, and discover how to prosper in one of the most challenging market environments in history. This book offers management lessons that are as entertaining as they are instructive, all built around the deep thoughts and insights of leaders who are the best in business.

The authors are generously donating all of their profits from the sale of this book in Canada to Junior Achievement.

Leonard Brody is one of Canada’s most respected young entrepreneurs. He has helped in raising millions of dollars for startup companies, been through one of the largest internet IPOs in history and has been involved in the building, financing and/or sale of four companies.
Currently, Leonard is a Venture Partner at Growthworks Capital, one of Canada’s largest national tech funds, and acts as an advisor to venture capital funds in the US, Europe and Asia. He is also a board member and mentor to several companies, including Transgaming, Sonic Foundry, Derby County Football Club and Infowave. Leonard is currently an advisor to the Canadian Ministry of International Trade and a Director of Canada’s largest technology association, CATA.
A highly sought-after public speaker, Leonard has lectured at universities and conferences throughout the world. He is co-author of the best selling book, Innovation Nation: Canadian Leadership from Jurassic Park to Java, published by John Wiley & Sons.
Leonard holds an Honours Bachelor of Arts from Queens University, a law degree from Osgoode Hall and is a graduate of the Private Equity Course at the Harvard Business School.

David J. Raffa is a reformed attorney, newly minted venture capitalist and much sought after advisor by emerging technology companies.
As a recognized governance expert, David advises companies on how to build better boards, and boards on how to better lead their companies. David has served on many boards and is currently a director of the BC Technology Industries Association and a director of a number of private and public technology companies. In his role as Chairman of Activestate Corporation, David led the sale of the company to Sophos PLC of the UK in 2003.
David is also a founder of BC Advantage Funds, a venture capital firm that invests in early stage technology companies. While David has a wide variety of business interests, they all involve working with and mentoring young technology entrepreneurs who believe they have invented the "next greatest thing."
When not buried under business plans or caught up in boardroom negotiations, David devotes his time to his wife and three daughters at his home in Deep Cove, BC, Canada.