Today’s Notable Young Entrepreneur is Wirkn CEO Derek Szeto, whose mobile job search and recruitment startup offers an unparalleled marketplace for shift-based workers to find opportunities on their smartphone…
Elevator Pitch: Describe your job in a nutshell.
I’m the CEO of Wirkn, a mobile job search and recruitment startup. I’ll do whatever needs to be done – marketing, sales, finance, operations, data entry, delivery man – to build a great place for employers to hire, and the definitive destination for shift-based workers to look for opportunities on their smartphone. My job is to be an advocate for all our job seekers and provide a place that is about more than just finding and filling a job.
Why did you start working at your company? What was the inspiration for this career route?
I’m a repeat entrepreneur. It probably all started with my parents who were entrepreneurial themselves with a Chinese fast food restaurant they ran for many years. I grew up following my parents around on weekends picking up supplies for the restaurant. It was my natural way of life, who knew any better?
I started my first company, RedFlagDeals.com, in my last year of high school learning about publishing to the web. It was never meant to be a business, just me sharing information on something I’m passionate about, deals and saving money. It happens that Canadians were underserved, Canadians like deals, and we worked hard and were in the right place at the right time to become Canada’s largest online shopping community attracting more than 2.5 million unique visitors a month at the time the business was sold to Yellow Pages Group in 2010.
I become involved with Wirkn in August of last year when there was an early version of the product and they were looking for some help to bring it to market. The vision that Francois Jobin, Founder and former VP of HR at ALDO Group, was compelling and again it feels like this is an underserved market. This time, though, it’s HUGE, international, and mobile, which I’m just dying to tackle.
What is the best part of what you do on a day-to-day basis? The most challenging part?
It has to be variety. You’ll never be bored in a startup. There’s always a million things to do and you get to do a bunch of those things everyday to advance the business. You get to choose which ones and see the business grow into the big vision. With Wirkn, we can make can meaningful impact in people’s lives. We can help them find jobs that fit, jobs they love.
The most challenging part has to be time management. Outside of work, I’ve got friends, family, and kids that I know I don’t see enough even when I’m trying my best.
What is one sign that you’ve seen over the years to suggest that your work/life balance is off?
Hours of nightly sleep. I’ve kept my night owl habits from my university days. When I’m less busy I still get to bed late but can get 7+ hours in. When it’s crazy it’s usually because of work, and you’ll get some 3/4 hour nights a couple times a week.
Where do you see yourself in five years?
Wirkn hard! Our team built our first business over 10 years before the exit. We’re less than a year in, so in five years I’ll hopefully be deep into the process of expanding Wirkn internationally.
What is one major challenge that you’ve had to overcome in your career? How did you overcome it?
Learning how to sell a business. I’m pretty sure I blew up the first opportunity for RedFlagDeals to potentially have a meaningful exit. I was fortunate enough to have an advisory board and Chris Carder in particular to guide me through the process as he had just sold his business to a similar set of potential buyers.
What does success look like to you? Does Money = Happiness?
There are a lot of ways to look at it. One I came across recently was to think of success as being able to spend time the way you want and I like that.
Money definitely does not equal happiness. Lack of money, though, can definitely be a big problem. So yeah, money helps. But problems are relative, everyone has problems. You want to consider the ‘quality’ of the problem.
What is the most memorable milestone in your career?
The first year that we were able to work with FutureShop to get the Boxing Day flyer early, exclusively for RedFlagDeals readers. It was recognition of the value of the community that we had built.
Do you have any advice for other young professionals?
Do what you love. Do it now. There’s no better time to pursue your dreams than when you’re young and with less obligations and more time. That’s part of your competitive advantage. You’ve grown up with the Internet, smartphones and can lap every other generation with your understanding of technology. There’s a big shift going on right now and change creates opportunities. Even if you do something on the side. Even if it fails. You’ll learn through the entrepreneurial process. (And yes… I know. I’m biased.)
Where is your favourite place to wine/ dine in your city and why?
I’m a deals guy. Can I say McDonald’s Sausage and Egg McMuffin? It’s especially tasty when you use a coupon.
When you’re not working how do you love to spend your “Me” time?
Just sitting back and watching TV, reading a book. Guilty pleasure right now is Suits. I love my Kindle but books require a bit more concentration and time. Only non-fiction though and usually I’m reading something related to work in some way so maybe that doesn’t count.
Where is your favourite place to travel? Why?
Florida. I sound old now. I distinctly remember going to Orlando when I was a kid, doing the outlet shopping circuit and visiting Disney World. Now I get to do the same with my kids and hopefully they’ll remember that.
It’s just a relaxing, fun, easy, laid back place to go with shopping, attractions, beaches. It’s a magical place!
If you had to choose a theme song, what would it be?
Ballroom Blitz by The Sweet.
If you weren’t doing what you’re doing, what would you be doing?
Tough to imagine not doing something entrepreneurial. I did work at Ernst & Young one summer and it was a great experience so if the whole RedFlagDeals thing didn’t happen perhaps I’d be an accountant?!?
Do you support any charities? If so, which one(s) and why is that important to you?
I started a RedFlagDeals Scholarship at Queen’s while I was a student there. I’m a big believer in education and youth and want to support that. Now my main charity is a local Church that’s making a big impact on the local community.
What to you is notable?
To be different in a positive way, that’s notable.
Blackberry, iPhone, Android, or Other?
iPhone. For cutting-edge apps, it’s still iPhone first, just like Wirkn was iPhone first. Android version of Wirkn will be out mid-February though. You can sign up/download here.
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