354 | Bruce Hodges | Building a Purpose-Driven Business Against All Odds

In this episode of the Leaders of Tomorrow podcast, Chris is joined by Bruce Hodges, a seasoned entrepreneur and corporate leader with a remarkable career journey. Bruce shares his early experiences in the banking industry, leading to a pivotal role in the dot com era, where he successfully navigated the challenges and opportunities of a startup. He then transitioned into a 20-year tenure in the insurance industry, holding key positions like CIO, COO, and CEO in various global companies across Asia, Europe, and North America. Bruce's return to Canada marked a new phase in his career, driven by personal and family reasons, leading him to start Parachute, an innovative business aimed at transforming the predatory lending space.

 

Throughout the episode, Bruce explores the intricate details of his vast international experience, emphasizing the importance of perseverance, strategic planning, and ethical decision-making. He candidly discusses the pivotal moments in his career, including his decision to leave the corporate world and the challenges he faced. Bruce's journey is a testament to the value of resilience and adaptability in leadership, as he navigated diverse cultural and business environments, successfully leading teams and driving change in every role he undertook.

 

In the latter part of the episode, Bruce focuses on his latest venture, Parachute. He explains its mission to disrupt the predatory lending industry by offering financial care to those in need. Drawing on his personal experience with bankruptcy, Bruce emphasizes the significance of ethical business practices and the impact of financial decisions. His story is not only about professional success but also about personal growth, learning from failures, and using one's experiences to create positive change in the world.

 

Enjoy!

What You Will Learn In This Show:

• How Bruce transitioned from the banking sector to the .com industry, and eventually to significant roles in the insurance industry across the globe.
• Bruce's experiences in leading diverse teams across various countries.
• Bruce's personal story of facing and overcoming adversity, including a challenging phase of bankruptcy. 
• The importance of ethics in business decisions, as well as strategies for navigating the complex world of business while maintaining integrity and ethical standards.
• How resilience and adaptability have been key to Bruce’s success, especially in dynamic and challenging environments.
• The creation of 'Parachute', a venture aimed at transforming the predatory lending industry, and how personal experiences can lead to impactful business ideas.
• The balance of risk-taking and opportunity-seizing in startups.
• How continuous learning and improvement have played a role in Bruce’s career.
• The importance of communication and negotiation skills in business success.
• And so much more…