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March 26, 2010
Values breed success
David Levi shares life lessons with the Kollel.
BLAIR KAPLAN
Fifty business-minded men and women received some good advice earlier this month, from David Levi, president, chief executive officer and director of GrowthWorks, Ltd. Levi, who was invited by the Community Kollel’s Business Club, shared several stories of growing up and the values he’s taken on along the way which have helped lead to his many successes.
Levi was born and raised in Vancouver and had little interaction with the Jewish community until he was introduced to Camp Miriam.
“I was a victim of an outreach program by Camp Miriam,” Levi joked, “and they convinced me to go to this camp, which I never had heard of before and had no relationship with. I was invited to go on a leadership program there.” This experience, “really changed my life for the better,” Levi said. The key for Levi at Camp Miriam? “The values that are taught.”
Levi believes that this was an integral experience. “The teen years are the most formative years, and you can pick your pattern for the rest of your life,” he explained.
When he was 18 years old, Levi went to Israel and lived on a kibbutz for a year, growing his understanding of what constitutes community. He “fell in love with the notion to live in a society without money,” where “you can treat people fairly, which reinforced the values my parents had.”
He eventually left kibbutz because he wanted to travel and so, over the next eight years, he traveled around the world.
“I took classes at Hebrew U, took classes in Maui, where I was in real estate for a period of time, and some classes at SFU. So, if you add them all together, I have a year worth of credits,” he shared. Every class that Levi took was “always on business or related activities.” It was during this time that he had “an opportunity to learn on the ground ... school isn’t for everyone,” Levi admitted.
After this stint in post-secondary education, he decided to do more traveling and spent two additional years on kibbutz in Israel, before moving to Hawaii, where he was first introduced to having his own business, running his own fishing boat, at the age of 22.
This was no easy task. He went to the bank to get a loan and the banker gave him some forms to complete and began to explain how the money was going to be repaid. Levi realized he didn’t want to work for the bank “for the next 10 years,” and turned the loan down, deciding to go it alone.
Moving to Canada a few years later, Levi met his wife and settled in Vancouver. He took a three-month course and became a stockbroker, accomplishing much, and becoming the number three broker at his firm.
Reaching the highest level in his company, Levi took on the task of hiring a chief operating officer and his advice on hiring is clear: “Do not be fearful of hiring people who are better than you.” In fact, Levi said, being surrounded by the best hires possible will make you look good.
He also advised those present to create “five-year plans and revise them on the third year, as another way of keeping “on the track to success.”
Levi concluded, “Live your values Monday to Friday, as well as the weekend,” stressing the importance of volunteering and of being involved with a nonprofit organization. Levi felt he could contribute by volunteering for Vancity Credit Union, and was a part of the “first ethically screened mutual fund.”
Levi said he believes that, if you do what is right, chances are, you will be successful, whereas a “short-term goal will cause long-term pain.” Levi also stressed that a well-balanced life means you can find the time for other satisfying pursuits – Levi runs a half marathon each year.
GrowthWorks, Ltd., is one of Canada’s leading venture capital management companies and Levi helped lead the way with his values firmly in hand.
Blair Kaplan is a freelance journalist from Vancouver with a background in communications.
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