Today’s Notable Young Entrepreneur is Jason Field, whose company gives aspiring professionals all the tools necessary to thrive in the digital economy. We caught up with him to find out what inspired his business and what advice he would share with other young professionals…
WORK
Describe what you do in less than 140 characters. Go.
I’m the Founder and CEO of BrainStation. I strive to deliver an educational experience to empower working professionals and entrepreneurs with the skills needed to succeed digitally.
What was the inspiration for your career route?
I come from a more traditional business management and finance background and was fortunate to be exposed to several industries and verticals as a young professional. It was when I started to dive into the world of eCommerce and digital that I found the space that I wanted to contribute to. University and previous work experiences hadn’t prepared me with the right skills to tackle the challenges of the future. When our founding team started BrainStation, it was to overcome this obstacle and empower ourselves with skills related to the digital product lifecycle. It just so happened that there was tens of thousands with a similar need that have now learned at BrainStation.
What is the most memorable milestone in your career so far?
Before starting BrainStation, I stopped thinking about “career” and actually went backpacking for a year through Asia, Australia and New Zealand. This distance from focusing on career was what allowed me to grow in other ways and really think through what I wanted to sink my teeth into upon my return to Canada.
Where do you see yourself in 5 years, 10 years, 20 years?
Oh yes. I love goal setting.
5 years – BrainStation has 500 employees, 10 campuses around the world and online training options. I have lived in both New York and London for stints but have bought a home in Toronto to be close to family and friends.
10 years – BrainStation has 25 campuses worldwide and we are working with the most influential CEOs, politicians and startup founders to fine-tune their digital and leadership skills. 1 million people have learned through BrainStation.
20 years – BrainStation has 50 campuses globally and has influenced over 5 million people. We are 5,00 employees strong and I’m inspired by our team’s relentless drive to craft the highest quality educational experience in the world. Our educational content, framework and software are being utilized by the top educational organizations in the world. 60% of the training that we focus on is for jobs that didn’t exist in 2016.
Do you have any advice for other young professionals?
Take big risks and pursue the most difficult challenges that scare you. Find yourself as far away from what appears to be “safe and stable” as possible, that’s where you’ll meet other adventurous souls and that’s when the magic happens. Stay true to your original intent and don’t get distracted from what motivates and inspires you.
Do you support any charities? If so, which one(s) and why is it (or they) important to you?
I’m a big supporter of Movember and have contributed to some fantastic panels and discussions around the importance of Men’s health. You’ll see me walking around King West in Toronto this November with a pretty dusty moustache to spread awareness and raise some money.
What is one major challenge that you’ve had to overcome in your career? How did you overcome it?
Bootstrapping BrainStation with our founding team was as stressful as it gets. We stuck together and always worked towards our original vision, even when rent and grocery money was hard to come by.
What does the word notable mean to you?
Fortune favours the bold. It comes back to the risk factor mentioned, I think that those that are notable have at some point made a bold move and made it through to the other side to tell the story.
PLAY
Where is your favourite place to wine/ dine in your city and why?
I live in Roncesvalles on the west end of Toronto so there are a lot of options, but my “go to” is The Ace. Great food, service and cocktails.
What’s the most visited website on your Internet browser? The most played song on your phone?
BrainStation. (I’m obviously obsessed). Derezzed – Daft Punk, TRON Legacy Soundtrack (great working track).
Who’s one person you think everyone should be following on social media?
I love following Richard Branson’s journey. He’s inspirational, hard working, and very likeable.
What’s your favourite country to visit and why? And what’s the next one you plan on travelling to?
I loved the time that I spent in New Zealand and I would love to go back. I’m heading to Spain and Portugal this fall.
What gives you the greatest FOMO?
When I see really cool stuff happening at one of our campuses and I can’t be there.
What’s your guiltiest pleasure?
Netflix. I can get hooked on a good show pretty quickly.
What’s something you wish you didn’t spend so much money on? What’s something you wish you spent more on?
I spend a lot of money eating out because I’m always on the go. I wish I spent it on clean and healthy groceries.
And finally, what does success look like to you? Work, play, or otherwise…
Success looks like empowering others and watching them grow.
[ad_bb1]