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Alumni Spotlight: Steve Meadows

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In a world of rapidly evolving technology, it can be difficult to keep pace with the challenges it presents. From engineering to Scientific Research and Experimental Development (SR&ED) consulting, Steve Meadow’s entrepreneurial spirit, curiosity, and passion for learning have positioned him as a professional capable of guiding businesses through even the toughest challenges.

His commitment to giving back through education, combined with his ‘get it done’ attitude, has made him a valuable mentor and a powerhouse of knowledge.

Discover Steve’s diverse career and remarkable ability to adapt across industries in this Q&A.

Portrait of Steve Meadows
"To me, a consultant is one who adds value not merely by telling the company what they need to do but understanding the essence of the problem and implementing the solution as well."

Q: Can you summarize your career journey and how it led to founding Techlytical Consulting?

Steve Meadows (SM): Although I intended to start my career as an engineer, I quickly realized during my master’s program that I had a knack and a passion for software development.

This led me to start-up roles, where I quickly advanced from managing software teams to leading IT operations and cloud technology initiatives. After six successful years at BDO as a technical advisor in SR&ED, and a few other job opportunities later, I realized that I wanted to make a direct impact on businesses by helping them avoid pitfalls I had seen others encounter over my career.

Techlytical Consulting is an opportunity for me to help solve complex problems, not just by offering advice, but rolling up my sleeves and implementing these solutions myself.

Q: How does Techlytical Consulting make a difference in the business community?

SM: As a client, I was often frustrated with the level of expertise provided by the professionals I hired. I realized I could leverage my 30 years of experience to help others avoid the hard lessons I learned and prevent them from making the same mistakes I made. My mission is to provide expertise to help businesses truly understand and solve their core challenges.

I am passionate about problem solving and it feels less tangible when you're directing several layers of management to solve a problem. I saw that as an opportunity to kill two birds with one stone—solve problems directly and make a tangible impact.

At the same time, I’m committed to giving back through mentorship, helping young entrepreneurs and business owners avoid pitfalls and grow.

Q: What is the risk for business owners if they can’t keep up with the changes in the technology landscape?

SM: The problem is the problem.

Once you understand the problem, the solution is often obvious. However, if you rush to provide a solution too early or attempt to directly apply a solution to a prior, seemingly similar problem without truly understanding the new problem, you're likely to fail.

Many businesses owners or managers don’t truly understand the problems they are facing. Sometimes, they are spending substantial amounts on software and service providers that may not fully address their needs or that may not be capable of keeping up with their rapidly evolving business. As a result, they can lose sight of the primary goals of their business—often falling into pitfalls that are avoidable with the additional knowledge that an expert can provide.

Diagnosing the root of the issue is our key to success. By helping our clients address the essence of their challenges, we’ve been able to make a tangible difference in ensuring they’re able to survive in a competitive landscape.

Q: How does your work now reflect the lessons you learned at BDO?

SM: I learned a lot from my mentor David Spicer in several different areas. One of the key lessons he taught me was to always be authentic and never overcomplicate a problem. Don't try to be verbose when you can say it in three words and get the same point across. It’s about having the ability to distill a problem to its essence and simplify complex issues, then being able to communicate it clearly and concisely back to the client. These skills have become a core part of my work.

I also enjoy quoting Blaise Pascal, where he said, “I would have written a shorter letter, but I didn't have enough time.” That was really the essence of being able to distill a concept or challenge and communicate it clearly.

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