Q&A with Dominique Forand

ROB DRISCOLLDominique Forand

Business Edge

 

Business Edge caught up recently with Montreal-based executive coaching star Dominique Forand. We are honoured to share her insights with our audience in a Q&A format.

1. What made you decide to make a career out of helping top executives transform and grow their businesses?

In 2006, after selling a business of 10 years and completing my master’s degree, I knew I was ready for more. It wasn’t easy to start a business that became recognized as one of the Top 50 fastest-growing companies after only 18 months of operation with 175 employees. I faced many struggles that serve me well today.

Afterwards, I knew I was ready for something much bigger. Throughout my life, people have told me that I am courageous, that I am a “go getter,” that I am a leader and an achiever with a big vision for a better world. I quickly understood that just owning a business wasn’t going to be enough. I needed to go beyond that goal and reach for a vision that would bring me beyond my own boundaries by helping people grow. Specifically, I believe that people can make changes and that changes happen if the top decision makers lead the way within their organizations. By being able to share my own experiences and by working with diverse groups of people, I am able to attain results that help leaders position themselves for success while providing them with the ability to achieve their overall vision.

2. What are the biggest challenges facing Canadians executives and the companies they run?

One of their biggest challenges is that they don’t have the time to develop the next generation of leaders. This makes executives vulnerable to being practically

irreplaceable. One of my clients called me last week and said: “Dominique! I lost my best vice-president and
I don’t know how to replace her.” Leadership and talent are among the top concerns
of Canadian executives. Canadian executives should provoke, challenge and even frighten leaders so they identify the great leaders from the good ones. Strategy has no value without e ective leaders to execute it!

3. Please describe the typical process – if there is such a thing – when you are hired to help transform a business.

I have my ve-step proven system that includes a program called Reach For ELITETM. The value is that you can implement it right away in your business. It is a 12-week, result-driven, immersive reset for top executives to drive better results faster. We spend the first month clarifying, reinventing and positioning your organization for future success. Then we de ne our focus, design new foundations in the areas of opportunity or concern and start implementing the Elite system as it applies to move your business forward. The ultimate goal is to enable decision makers to execute their business strategies while providing them with the ability to better segment their daily activities. Then share their overwhelming responsibilities with top management.

4. I understand that you have customers hundreds or even thousands of kilometres away from Montreal. When working with such clients, do you travel to see them in person or do you rely on such things as teleconferencing and videoconferencing?

In today’s business environment, everything must be accessible through technology and there’s no question that technology
has radically changed the way companies do business, extend their in uence and connect with others. However, I don’t underestimate the value of meeting face to face with my clients. I also like to visit their work environment, so I can better connect to their operations. I believe that meeting my clients in person contributes to helping me build stronger business foundations and provides me with the ability to better understand the real challenges they are facing.

5. What do you most enjoy about your work?

What I enjoy the most is to partner with executives who may sometimes experience a feeling of loneliness because of the large amount of responsibilities they handle. According to a Harvard Business Review, 50 per cent of CEOs have expressed
such a feeling at one time or another. Such executives do not have anyone to con de their frustrations to. Although they do have a vision of where the company should go, and they do understand what needs to be done to get there, they can’t seem to nd anyone who wants to challenge them or help them step up to the next level. I love to help executives discover their blind spots, clarify their vision. That is where my genius zone resides and thus the value of my Reach For ELITE proven system.

6. What do you least enjoy about your work?

What I least enjoy is working with the effects of internal politics that hinder an organization’s ability to grow. Sometimes I become frustrated when a company loses its valuable employees because of the effects of its internal politics. The management procedures and result-drive of the Elite system can eliminate this type of chaos and opportunity loss very quickly.

7. Is Montreal a suitable home base from which a bilingual entrepreneur can grow her business?

Montreal is my home and I am proud to be from this city. I am French-Canadian and I work in both French and English. Montreal has developed into an international, bilingual and cosmopolitan centre that is open to the world. That works perfectly well for me. I love the Montreal culture, its restaurants and its energy. However, it is a big city and I am a country girl
at heart. I have a passion for horses, so I live close to them in the Eastern townships of Montreal, which is less than
a 60-minute drive from the city centre. Although I really enjoy being part of this city’s vibrant business community and environment, I like to know that I can go home to a quieter place when I am not at the office.

8. Are you content with the current economic climate in Canada?

After months of negotiations, our country finally agreed to the US-Mexico-Canada trade agreement, which will replace NAFTA. Our GDP growth forecast for 2019 remains unchanged at 1.9% and the new trade agreement is certainly in uencing our Canadian dollar. Yes, I am content with the current economic climate. When it comes to the new trade agreement, I must first experience it before I can provide an opinion. However, the result of the new trade agreement can be predictable. Currently, 75 per cent of our exports go to the U.S. and only 20 per cent of U.S. exports go to Canada. It is not surprising that Canada had more to lose. Canadian business boards are not overwhelmingly concerned with global issues such as political instability, climate change, terrorism or recessions. Their main challenge remains the development of leaders who are capable of driving and executing their strategies.