Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in personal and business development but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Joseph Fung, CEO of Uvaro, located in Kitchener-Waterloo, Ontario, Canada.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

My business is Uvaro. We're a Career Success company focused on helping our customers - who we call our members - experience success and fulfillment in their work. Our members are everyday people who are looking for their version of success in their careers.

We provide training programs, coaching, and a community/peer network of support. Our members join us from all walks of life: single parents, parents looking to return to the workforce, people who work shift work, and so much more. Through our platform, they can bridge gaps between their experience and expertise and the skills and experiences needed to be successful in the tech industry.

Tell us about yourself

I am something of a serial entrepreneur. I've founded five companies to date and had several successful exits with those companies. I am also an active investor and look to invest in women-led businesses whenever I can. Equity is incredibly important to me. It might surprise you to learn that Uvaro today isn't the company we initially founded! In fact, we changed our business model a couple of times before Uvaro came to be. Uvaro started as Kiite, an AI chatbot for tech sales professionals. What we learned from that experience was that there were huge gaps between how talent is trained or "skilled" for jobs in tech and what's required to be successful in those roles.

It's hard not to be inspired by our members at Uvaro, which are a driving force behind everything we do across the company. It's hearing success stories from our customers - everything from a member who tells us they feel empowered or proud of themselves to the members who tell us they've doubled their salary and are able to spend evenings and weekends with their family for the first time. It is exciting and humbling to have an impact on someone's life.

I feel called to leave the tech industry, the community I live in, and the world as a whole in a better state for the future. Outside of my professional life, I am a husband and dad to two kids. I love art, music, and getting involved in my community, however, I can!

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

My biggest accomplishment as a business owner is dramatically improving the standard of living for thousands of Uvaro members, including many of the most vulnerable people in our society. Their stories and achievements ignite our passion time and time again and remind us exactly why we built Uvaro.

I'm incredibly proud that we've created a safe place for people to invest in themselves and get more out of life—while operating a well-run company with a focus on community and giving back. Doing good is good business. Also, as important but closer to home: I'm proud of the teams we've built at Uvaro. It's our privilege to be able to employ several of our former Uvaro members in roles across the organization, from Customer Success to Sales and everything in between.

What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?

A tough thing that many founders, myself included, experience is a blurring of the lines between what you do and who you are. This happens to everyone at some point in their career because these two things are so intertwined, but as founders, business owners, and CEOs, it's amplified. There is a great level of responsibility and accountability when you lead a business. Your decisions impact your employees' lives, for better or for worse. And, as a leader, you wear many hats - all of which can be heavy. It can be very hard to remove your CEO or business owner hat at the end of the day and settle into who you are.

To overcome this, I encourage leaders to continue to explore other passions and make time for mindfulness. There is a whole other "us" to everyone outside of work, and we are much more than what we do for work.

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

The top three tips I would give anyone who is looking to start, run and grow a business would be:

  1. Know your why. Ask yourself why you're doing this: Is it because you are passionate about meeting a customer's need, or is it because you want to make a lot of money? While making money is important, if it's your # 1 reason, you may be lacking the passion you need to really drive your business forward and find success. Understanding what drives you will help you build your business the right way. And always come back to your "why" when there are big decisions to be made. It will help keep you on the right track.
  2. Find a mentor. No matter how amazing your business idea is or how smart you are, having a mentor is invaluable for anyone. A mentor is someone you trust deeply and who can offer advice, provide a much-needed sounding board, and help you navigate difficult times. Look for a mentor who has a genuine passion for helping you grow your business.
  3. Learn to let go. Founders are notoriously attached to our businesses, and we like to get involved in everything, even when we aren't experts in that particular area. Learning to let go and trusting the expertise of the people you hire is an important part of scaling your business and also developing the leadership skills of your team members. At Uvaro, we often talk about "giving away our Legos," and it becomes more and more critical to do so as you grow.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.uvaro.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/josephfung/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/josephfung
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/josephfung/

If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.

Turn your craft into recurring revenue with Subkit. Start your subscription offering in minutes and supercharge it with growth levers. Get early access here.