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Jan. 18, 2008
Risky business success
Entrepreneur shares ideas at Kollel Business Club.
BAILA LAZARUS
If you were to think of a few industries in which to start a business, biotechnology and mining would probably not be at the top of the list. A shoe store, a restaurant – these offer the types of risks and rewards with which your average entrepreneur might contend. But risk has never stopped Mark Godsy – and that is what has taken him out of the realm of "average." In fact, the man who has his fingers in about 20 different pies at any given time seems to thrive on businesses that would make others turn and run. And his tenacity has paid off time again, as he starts or grows one successful company after another.
Godsy gave the benefit of his insight to about 80 people earlier this month at the Roundhouse Community Centre, as the second in a series of speakers for the Kollel Business Club, a monthly dinner where attendees shmooze, have a great meal and listen to an influential Jewish leader from the world of business.
Though he began a career in law, having graduated McGill Law School, after a few years, the connections he had made with the business world were what really took hold of Godsy's interest.
"What I found really exciting was watching people come together – one with a stick, one with a hammer, one with a nail," said Godsy, "and watch them create something."
After a while, he wanted to taste that feeling of creation for himself. He made his first moves into the mining business by knocking on doors, raising millions of dollars and enjoying the ride.
"I felt like a kid in a kindergarten," he told the crowd. "I was having so much fun."
That was the beginning of an impressive career in corporate development and venture capital. Along the way, Godsy co-founded two B.C. biotech firms: ID Biomedical Corp., which sold in 2005 to a U.S. company (GlaxoSmithKline) for more than $1 billion; and Angiotech Pharmaceuticals Ltd., one of the top biotech firms in Canada. He has been the CEO or chair of mining, tech and other startup companies and is involved in projects around the world. Currently, he is working with an Austrian company to develop and market a technology that can imbue metal, ceramic or glass with harmonic frequencies, which has the ability to reduce or prevent calcium build-up from water. It's a concept that he says is garnering attention all over the world.
As successful as Godsy has been, he acknowledged that he didn't always feel that way, and that it takes a lot of faith to keep after a project.
"Now that I look in the rear-view mirror at my life, it all makes perfect sense. I can see it was all supposed to happen the way it did, but at the time it seemed random," he said. "I encourage everyone to really believe that things can happen. Don't turn your back on something that's a little dented. Take it further. See what happens."
He also reminded people that you don't have to be the CEO of a company in order to reap benefits and rewards.
"Look for where you can add value, where you're supposed to be," he said. "You don't have to score the winning goal. Just be part of the winning team."
Godsy is a strong financial and ideological supporter of the Ohel Ya'akov Community Kollel and said he was happy to come out and support the Kollel's business club initiative and outreach co-ordinator Rabbi Shmuel Yeshayahu.
"I'm so proud of all the work the rabbi does day in and day out, seeing how many people he can help," said Godsy.
The Kollel Business Club runs once a month and costs $36 per evening. For more information on the club or other Kollel activities, visit communitykollel.org, e-mail [email protected] or call 604-780-5878.
Baila Lazarus is a freelance writer, photographer and illustrator living in Vancouver. Her work can be seen at www.orchiddesigns.net.
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