Adapting, Growth, and Building Businesses with Multilingual Skills

The Path to Success: "You just have to be open to all different kinds of experiences and choices that you make, because you don't know how those puzzle pieces come together in the end to paint you a really beautiful picture."

Julie Smith and Glenn Harper welcome the multifaceted entrepreneur Kerim Kfuri. From his family's immigrant background to navigating and excelling in various fields, Kfuri shares his extraordinary story of adaptability, cultural exchange, and relentless pursuit of success.

Kerim, cohost of the "Supply and Demand Show" on YouTube, founder of Global Crosswalk, and president of the Atlas Network, recounts his versatile career—from early entrepreneurial ventures like selling blueberries and custom shirts to pioneering dot-com initiatives and shifting into regulatory roles at Warner Brothers Records and the SEC.

With a background rich in finance, marketing, and international business, Kfuri reveals how he's continued to evolve alongside industry changes and chased his entrepreneurial passion, even picking up multiple languages along the way.

Throughout this conversation, Kfuri discusses the importance of human interactions, balancing differences in partnerships, and staying open to unplanned opportunities.

With heartfelt reflections on his family's influence, educational pursuits, and unique career paths, Kfuri offers profound insights into the entrepreneurial spirit and the constant drive to make a meaningful impact.

Empowering Moments

03:35 Entered supply chain via finance and experiences.

07:57 Adapting involves learning language, exchanging cultures.

09:52 Family business shaped by immigrant experience and work.

13:08 Created misterproducer.com: music industry B2B platform.

17:13 Ambition to leave a lasting impact.

20:40 Entrepreneurial leaders must self-motivate and self-regulate.

23:31 Casual encounters deepen human connections in society.

27:51 Loved science, realized medicine wasn't right fit.

31:49 "Industry shifted, aiming for audience-driven monetization."

32:38 IPO flop led to career in business law.

36:39 Supply chain management: supplier selection to delivery.

40:25 Global supply chain lacks regulatory best practices.

44:28 End game: Make impactful contributions towards goals.

46:25 Atlasnetwork.com, kareemkafuri.com, supplychainupsanddowns.com.

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Empowering Takeaways

Adapting and Language Learning: Embrace the necessity of adapting and learning new languages when moving to a new country. This effort not only facilitates communication but also fosters cultural exchange and personal growth.

Cultural and Family Influence: Your family's work ethic and cultural background play a significant role in shaping your entrepreneurial mindset. Kerim’s immigrant background and family support were foundational to his development.

Early Entrepreneurship: Entrepreneurial spirit can start young. Kerim's experiences selling blueberries and custom shirts as a child laid the groundwork for his future business ventures.

Market Adaptation: Entrepreneurship often requires pivoting. The obsolescence of Kerim's dotcom venture due to market changes exemplified his ability to transition and adapt, eventually leading him into finance and business law.

Value of Interpersonal Interactions: Everyday human interactions, even those as mundane as conversations in a supermarket, can provide valuable insights and opportunities. We should remain open to unexpected sources of inspiration.

Continuous Learning: Lifelong learning and re-skilling are crucial for navigating career shifts and market changes. Kerim’s journey from a dot-com entrepreneur to a supply chain expert underscores the importance of continuous education.

Facing Academic Challenges: Leverage diverse academic and professional experiences—even failures. Kerim's withdrawal from an archaeology class and pivoting career paths serve as reminders to be flexible and resilient.

Work-Life Balance Support: Having a supportive partner and work-life balance is essential for sustaining entrepreneurial ventures. Kerim’s wife played a crucial role in encouraging him to pursue his passions.

Importance of Effective Communication: In entrepreneurship, effective communication is a vital skill that can be a superpower, enabling better negotiations, relationships, and operational clarity.

Defining Success and Impact: Focus on making a meaningful impact rather than achieving a definitive endgame. Kerim's drive to make a lasting difference in various arenas is a powerful motivator for ongoing engagement and success.

Glenn Harper, CPA, is the Owner and Managing Partner of Harper & Company CPAs Plus, a top 10 Managing Partner in the country (Accounting Today's 2022 MP Elite). His firm won the 2021 Luca Award for Firm of the Year. 

An entrepreneur and speaker, Glenn transformed his firm into an advisory-focused practice, doubling revenue and profit in two years. He teaches entrepreneurs to build financial and operational excellence, speaks nationwide to CPA firm owners about running their businesses like entrepreneurs, and consults with firms across the country. Glenn enjoys golfing, fishing, hiking, cooking, and spending time with his family.

Julie Smith, MBA, is a serial entrepreneur in the public accounting space. She is the Founder of EmpowerCPA™, Founder of PureTax, LLC, COO for Harper & Company CPAs Plus, and Co-host of the Empowering Entrepreneurs podcast. 

Named CPA.com's 2021 Innovative Practitioner of Year, Julie led Harper & Company's transition to an advisory-focused firm, doubling revenue and profit in two years. She now empowers other CPA firm owners nationwide through consulting and speaking, teaching them how to run their businesses like entrepreneurs. Julie lives in Columbus, OH with her family and enjoys travel, coaching basketball, sporting events, and the occasional shopping spree.

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