In our fifth episode of The Black Swan Podcast, we explore entrepreneurship with the fantastic serial entrepreneur, Mark Sweeny, the Founder & CEO of de Novo Solutions and early pioneer of Oracle Cloud in the UK & Ireland with Certus Solutions, which he sold to Accenture.
We discussed his personal journey as an entrepreneur, starting Certus Solutions, coming back with a bang with de Novo Solutions, dealing with failure in business, managing cash flow, building a brand, creating a business to sell, and much more.
Listen to the audio version here: creators.spotify.com/pod/show/black-swan-productions/episodes/EP5-Entrepreneurship--de-Novos-Founder-Mark-Sweeny-Oracle-Pioneer-e2s7h89
Timecodes:
0:00 - 0:25: Kicking Off - Introduction to entrepreneurship and personal branding.
0:25 - 0:55: Meet Mark Sweeney - His background and partnership with Black Swan Productions.
1:08 - 1:59: Entrepreneurial Beginnings - Why Mark chose this path.
2:04 - 3:07: Born or Made? - Debating whether entrepreneurship is innate or learned.
3:12 - 4:00: Purpose in Tech - Mark’s drive and impact through innovation.
4:57 - 5:02: Mentorship - The value of giving back to future entrepreneurs.
5:08 - 6:00: The Tech Boom - How opportunities in technology are reshaping industries.
6:05 - 7:14: Pioneering Cloud Tech - Insights from trailblazing the cloud revolution.
8:04 - 9:52: Innovation Challenges - Tackling obstacles and leveraging first-mover advantages.
10:05 - 11:02: Investing Locally - Building shared services in Wales.
11:15 - 12:53: Apprenticeship Success - Nurturing talent through innovative programs.
13:00 - 15:03: Growing Certus - Lessons learned from scaling a business.
15:20 - 17:02: Cash Flow Masterclass - Strategies to prioritize financial health.
17:10 - 18:02: Raising Funds vs. Selling More - A practical debate on cash generation.
18:02 - 19:50: The End Goal - Why exit strategies and focus matter from day one.
19:50 - 20:53: Preparing for a Sale - Clean finances, solid contracts, and scalable operations.
22:00 - 24:03: Structuring for Growth - Empowering teams and creating actionable strategies.
24:03 - 26:46: Company Culture - Living values and building a strong foundation.
27:05 - 28:30: Making an Impact - de Novo’s milestones and the “50 in Five” initiative.
28:30 - 30:00: Recurring Revenue - Prioritizing retention and stability over quick wins.
30:00 - 31:00: Satisfied Teams = Happy Clients - The link between employee and customer success.
31:00 - 32:00: Failing Forward - Turning mistakes into opportunities.
33:36 - 36:22: Decision-Making Mastery - Listening to feedback while trusting your instincts.
36:22 - 38:24: Perseverance & Grit - Why passion is key, but work-life balance takes a backseat.
38:24 - 40:59: Entrepreneurial Chess - Viewing the market as a chessboard of opportunities.
41:05 - 43:49: Adapt or Fail - Breaking down the market and staying flexible.
43:49 - 45:43: Personal Branding Tips - How to build trust through quick, authentic storytelling.
46:03 - 47:12: Defining Value - The importance of knowing your company’s worth.
48:13 - 51:06: Selling a Business - The process, emotions, and lessons learned.
51:06 - 53:30: Final Advice - Mark’s actionable takeaways for aspiring entrepreneurs.
At Black Swan Productions, we create purposeful branded and original content. To see our work, visit: www.blackswanproductions.co.uk
Interested in joining the podcast or inquiries? Contact us at: contact@blackswanproductions.co.uk