Brian Colpak is an experienced manager, tech entrepreneur, and founder of Continental Global. Previously, Brian has worked as a managing partner and the go-to person for project management in large companies. Before starting Continental Global, Brian had led several other companies—including Future Technologies, where he was President and CEO, that was recognized as one of the top 100 fastest growing companies in Massachusetts.
Mr. Colpak has always had a passion for technology and is currently devoted to securing part of an upcoming project in Dubai where he will be heading up an eleven-member team of seasoned technology executives and former state department personnel. This opportunity is a testament to his commitment and work ethic at Continental Global.
Brian is a devoted family man. He and his wife Christine were blessed with a baby boy – Dereck – who was diagnosed with Autism at 18 months old. From that day forward, his goal was to help these special children and create a platform to support their needs.
Mr. Colpak served on the Board of Advisors at his son’s school, the New England Center for Children. For five years he supported the school with his time and donations.
Brian sat on the school’s Executive Event Committee to raise awareness and drive donations for children with autism. Events he organized included the 6th Annual “Night of Music,” where he worked alongside Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker and former Massachusetts Governor Michael Dukakis.
Brian, Thank you so much for talking with me. For an entrepreneur, every day is challenging. Tell me about your best and worst days at work.
My best days at work are the ones where everything comes together. As a leader and entrepreneur, I specialize in leading my team to get things done, and it takes a lot to be able to bring together a group of people to create solid work. My worst days are when that doesn’t happen.
Who are the clients/what are the projects that you most enjoy working on?
Everyone enjoys a challenge. When you get projects that are not interesting or challenging, it can be a real drain on your motivation. Unfortunately, when you work in IT, it is best practice to avoid any problems that are a significant challenge — you never want to be puzzled. You want to deliver quick solutions to your clients. That’s why, as a team leader, I strive to keep people interested in their work without creating a problem for clients. We are constantly updating and innovating to make our systems more efficient, which helps maintain a spirited work environment, while also keeping things simple for the people we work with.
What was your biggest ‘a-ha’ moment?
My biggest ‘a-ha’ moment: I discovered just how important it is to remain consistent in the workplace. In order to succeed, you have to have a degree of consistency so people know what to expect from you. And that’s not only about clients but also employees. Your organization as a whole will work 10x better if you learn how to approach everything while maintaining consistency.
What has been the most important part of your professional journey?
The most important part of my professional journey has been in bridging the gap between being a businessman/entrepreneur and being a leader. They are not the same thing. Unfortunately, so many businesses out there fail because the leadership is incapable of leading. Management is an art.
What risks is your company facing? Also, since you are in the tech sphere, what is the importance of Innovation in this industry?
To be honest: There aren’t many risks at the moment. I’ll say this, however: The biggest threat to any company in the tech sphere is not innovating enough. This is an industry that is constantly on the move, and you really need to keep pace with your competitors if you want to succeed.
Let me ask you a hypothetical question. With unlimited financial resources, what would you do apart from investing some of it for business growth?
With unlimited resources, I would fund autism research and awareness campaigns. You can do quite well using just limited resources in the business sphere. Send unlimited resources to a cause that deserves it.
When was the last time you totally lost yourself in doing something?
This is an everyday occurrence for me. I truly believe that when you do something you love, you end up getting lost in it. And I love the work that I do.
What do you do when you’re not at work?
I love to spend time with my family and friends. I cherish my lovely wife and son, and they are something I focus on every single day of my life. I also have two wonderful parents, Claire and Donald, who are 89- and 88-years-old. We go out to dinner once a week, and I greatly enjoy spending time with them.
How do you feel you make a difference in the world?
The things I have done for my son, Dereck, are the most important things in my world. Simply making his life a better one is something I believe has made a huge difference in the world. The same can be said for my wife. There is nothing more important than family.
On the business front, I make a difference by leading a team of specialists and experts in the IT sphere.
