David Sawatzky, CEO of Consero Global, sat down with Karan Karayi, Editor-in-Chief of Team Marksmen, to discuss the principles of leadership, the growing importance of embracing technology in financial transformation, and how to successfully balance growing both client satisfaction and profitability.
With decades of experience building and leading high-performing global teams, Sawatzky offers his vision for the future of finance and leadership.
The CEO’s Role in Driving Business Performance
At any organization, the CEO has the single largest impact on driving the business forward. As Karayi notes, “the CEO controls about 45% of a business’s performance, and yet so little is understood about what makes a great CEO.”
Sawatzky shares his approach and insights into how leaders can cultivate a successful business and culture.
Leadership Principles and Technology
Sawatzky emphasizes two fundamental leadership principles:
Embracing Technology
In Sawatzky’s experience, embracing technology that enables growth and efficiency is essential for businesses to remain competitive. Leaders should actively encourage technology adoption within their organizations, even if it requires overcoming resistance from some team members.
You want to embrace technology quickly…and get everyone around you to embrace technology,” says Sawatzky.
Global Culture and People Development
On developing strong teams that span continents, Sawatzky adopts a coach’s mindset: “It’s important to be a coach and build people up. I’m not an authoritarian. I’d rather get great people and coach them to do great things.”
Key Lessons:
- Encouraging teams to view themselves as a single, unified entity, regardless of location, is crucial for success in a globalized business environment.
- Leaders should actively work to break down silos and foster collaboration across teams.
- Effective leaders are connectors who empower their teams to take risks and grow.
Sawatzky added, “Culture is the most important thing in my leadership style, and letting people grow with it, understand it, embrace it, and having your people drive the change.”
Balancing Client Success and Profitability
Striking a balance between client satisfaction and margin expansion is often seen as a challenge. Under Sawatzky’s leadership, Consero has successfully managed to achieve both, seeing double-digit growth in Net Promoter Scores (NPS) while increasing margins year-over-year.
Sawatzky attributes much of Consero’s success to delivering exceptional service for its clients. “You have to delight your clients. If you don’t spend a lot of time and energy focused on clients, you’re not going to be successful,” added Sawatzky.
Key Lessons:
- Focus on understanding client needs and delivering tailored solutions.
- Avoid spreading resources thin by concentrating on a few key initiatives rather than many.
Innovation in Financial Services
David also credits Consero’s growth in client satisfaction and margins to a concentrated focus on innovating and improving the delivery of their core expertise.
At the end of the day, we’re here to serve our clients and deliver great accounting services…We’re bringing new ways to deliver back-office success using analytics and AI to do things that no one in the industry is doing,” says Sawatzky.
Technology-driven innovation is transforming financial services. Consero is at the forefront of this evolution, leveraging AI-powered automation and analytics to streamline accounting processes and deliver greater value to clients.
Advice for Aspiring Leaders
Sawatzky also imparted advice for young professionals and aspiring leaders, emphasizing the importance of humility and a growth mindset.
I think the most important thing is to have a growth mindset…Learn from people with decades of experience…Grow from it, and you will be a better contributor.
Key Lessons:
- Adopt a growth mindset and embrace learning from others with diverse experiences.
- Avoid entering the workforce with rigid opinions—be open to different perspectives and ideas.
- Young professionals should aim to balance innovation with respect for established practices.
Embracing Flexibility and Innovation to Grow
In a time of rapid change and disruption, Sawatzky’s experience underscores the importance of adaptive leadership, technology-driven innovation, and a strong organizational culture.
As Consero continues to grow, its focus on client satisfaction and pioneering new technology positions it as a leader in financial services for years to come.
