From Family Business to 7x Google Cloud Partner of the Year - Tony Safoian - Not Another CEO Podcast - Episode #2

Jul 30, 2024

Tony Safoian, CEO of SADA, transformed his family's small business into a leading cloud consulting firm. He shares how focusing on a niche early propelled his success while managing growth without external funding kept SADA disciplined. The discussion highlights strategic decision-making and the importance of adaptability as companies evolve. Tony also reflects on his early life in Soviet Armenia, his shift from a traditional career path to tech entrepreneurship, and the significance of instilling a strong work ethic in the next generation.

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Intro

00:00 • 2min

Navigating Focus in Business Growth

02:08 • 11min

Building an Organic Business: The Power of Self-Funding

13:21 • 6min

Building a Team for Success

18:58 • 23min

From Armenia to Opportunity: A Journey of Ambition and Hard Work

41:42 • 2min

From Tradition to Tech: An Entrepreneur's Journey

43:56 • 10min

Reflections on Career Perspectives and Staying Connected

54:01 • 2min

Joining the show this week is a technology visionary who’s been at the forefront of the cloud and SaaS space for almost 20 years. This individual turned his family’s small business into one of the world’s leading cloud consulting companies. This leader is none other than the CEO at SADA, Tony Safoian.

Tony joins host David Politis to discuss his journey turning a small managed service business into a freshly acquired top cloud consulting company. Tony reflects on how significant it was to choose a niche early and how it helped fuel his success. Discover his insights for understanding market needs, the benefits of joining YPO, and inspiring the next generation of entrepreneurs.

Takeaways:

Establishing your business’ niche focus early is important for continued growth. When looking for a market niche, focus on underserved markets and provide a solution for that market that is scalable.
Not relying on external funding was a blessing for SADA’s growth as a company. Not being a venture-backed company forced SADA to be more disciplined with managing their portfolio and grow strategically within their market.
The art of strategic decision making is one that had to be mastered over the years. Being able to identify and say “no” to business streams that spread the company’s focus thin is a major factor in being able to effectively specialize.
Leaders must evolve with their company. It is crucial to be able to recognize environmental change and be willing to adapt to it. It is equally crucial to actively seek out growth opportunities that allow you to better align your knowledge with the market and clientele that your company is working with.
Meet new situations with enthusiasm. SADA’s acquisition by Insight marks a transition from operating as a private company to operating as a public company. It is important to be excited about the challenges and use them as growth opportunities.
A company’s early success can largely be attributed to the dedication of its employees and the culture that they work in. Focusing on hiring driven employees over experienced employees allowed them to grow with the company and become the experts that SADA needed.

Quote of the Show:

“Nothing is as bad as it seems and nothing is as good as it seems. So just make the most of every day.” - Tony Safoian

Links:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/safoian/
Website: https://sada.com

Ways to Tune In:

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1NQ9oAB2XKlgWeL8iEQXg0
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/not-another-ceo-podcast/id1751581707
Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/7c6328f0-9b42-41db-8fe2-d263b4fbb261
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@NotAnotherCEOPodcast