Основатель Tilray Brands Ирвин Саймон поделился секретами роста бизнеса с руководителями Лонг-Айленда

Executives from across Long Island met and got to tap the mind of Hain Celestial and Tilray Brands founder Irwin Simon, one of the region’s most successful executives. On June 30, Simon spoke at Blue Point Brewery in Patchogue, part of the Tilray Brands portfolio, sharing his insights on building and growing companies while taking questions from executives who had the rare opportunity to engage directly with the leader of a NASDAQ-listed company. Guests gained insights from an executive who built two billion-dollar companies while networking with entrepreneurs and executives growing their own businesses. “I like to be a visionary,” Simon said, as he talked about the need for data, vision, mission and connection. “I like to stay ahead of trends.” Connection, Simon said, is key between leaders and managers and employees, who need to connect to the company, consumers, executives and employees. “There’s so much from a competition standpoint,” Simon said. “How do you not lose your footing? That’s what I try to learn.” While executives heard Simon share his journey, from growing up in Canada to founding Hain Celestial and leading Tilray Brands, they also built new connections and advanced the next chapter of their own companies’ stories. “I try to focus on bringing people together,” TD Bank Business Banker Ryan Koutsogainnis said. “I brought a couple of guests, customers of mine. I’m here to connect people with each other.” Members of Schneps Connects said they’ve formed connections through the networking group. “I definitely have built relationships from people I met at these events,” said Marc Lawrence, partner and senior managing director 1031 Exchange Solutions. “You get some regulars and always a bunch of new faces.” Rick Lewis, CEO of the Mid-Island YJCC and Suffolk YJCC, said these breakfast meet-and-greets with speeches mix business with pleasure. “The more people I get to know, the more potential we have for donors, members and getting people to love our organization,” Lewis said. Simon and attendees talked about the need for access to capital in order to grow, with funding as a perquisite to expand. “How do you show that you’re investing in the brand?” Simon said, gesturing to huge beer tanks in the building. “We’ve invested millions of dollars in regards to tanks.” Others said money helps make vision real and growth possible. TD Bank Business Banker Ryan Koutsogainnis said “AI has people optimistic” because they “feel AI can help them grow.” “We did a survey, and found over the next 12 to 18 months, the majority of companies are looking for access to capital to grow their business,” Koutsogainnis said. “We’re working to make sure we make capital accessible to all of our clients.” Others agreed cash is needed to expand, making investment a key brick in building a business. “Growth is upward movement, being able to do the thing you love to do at a higher capacity,” said Theodore Massillon , founder and CEO of NOM Media, a marketing and video production company that operates a studio in Garden City. “For growth, you need capital and space.” Simon talked about the importance of building a good culture, while growing organically and through acquisitions. “Having a good culture is probably the number one thing,” said Jon Pecorella, who leads Innovative Private Wealth Management. “A good environment, a good understanding of what the company does, what it stands for, where we’re going, where we’re going together as a group, an organization.” Simon said flexibility also is essential, as trends and times change, but everybody and every business faces problems. “There’s no such thing as the perfect road. Be ready to deal with challenges, disappointment and some failure along the way. Be ready to have a plan to overcome that,” Simon said. “You got to have direction laid out for you. At the end of the day, when things happen, you have to be able to deal with it.” He also talked about the importance of working as a team, and building a good team, pointing to numerous people with his company for years. “People that jive well together, that share similar values and have respect for each other and are motivated, educated,” Pecorella agreed. “And it’s a little bit of luck too.” Lewis noted that nonprofits grow through membership not products, but that many of the elements necessary are the same. “It’s all about people and members,” Lewis said. “When people join the agency, the agency grows.” Others were simply excited to meet and hear Simon, after doing well investing in Tilray Brands stock. Pecorella said hearing Simon tell his own story also interested him, since he believes you can learn from others’ life and experience.“It was a no brainer. Plus you get to network and meet new people.” “I love hearing stories of success, how people start off and build a company,” Pecorella said. “Tilray today is a conglomerate of brands and companies.” Attendees can not only tap other executives’ experience, but get a little mentoring along the way. “I’m here to meet new people, just learn,” Massillon said. “I’m a young guy. I’m here to learn, mentorship.” Attendees get to enjoy breakfasts at a wide range of venues at Schneps Connects events, such as Blue Point Brewery, where Montauk and Blue Point beer are made. “I would never have known about this location,” Lawrence said. “It’s really cool, different.” The next Schneps Connects breakfast welcomes Sharon Wyman President and CEO of Discover Long Island, and Roman Roth Winemaker and Partner of Wölffer Estate as they discuss Inside Long Island Tourism: Strategy, Growth, and the East End Advantage.