Based in Vancouver Lucas Birdsall is a business executive and enterprise capitalist, currently at Parabellum Capital Strategies Ltd. A graduate of the Beedie School of Business at Simon Fraser University, where he provides comprehensive risk management, financial operations and governance services, and specializes in various industry sectors.
Tell me something about you.
Lucas Birdsall: I graduated from SFU’s Beedie School of Business in 2015 with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a concentration in Finance and Operations Management. As for my previous jobs, I began as an Insurance Intern at Northbridge Financial Corporation. I used to be an Account Executive at Veritaaq IT Consulting. Over time I used to be promoted to numerous management positions inside BMGB Capital Corporation and Castlebar Capital Corporation: Chief Executive Officer, Secretary and Director. I’m currently a enterprise capitalist at Parabellum Capital Strategies Ltd.
Over the years I have worked in a number of sectors including enterprise capital, technology, biotechnology and natural resources.
These are quite diverse industries. How do you discover your way in a latest industry when firms are so different from each other?
Lucas Birdsall: Honestly, when you are in a senior position, there are a lot of similarities in decision-making that you could keep in mind. Yes, you could stay on top of market trends, but ultimately, as an executive, you could give you the option to make strategic decisions about the partnerships you need to create, the financing, the operations, and the path forward. Then there are things like keeping stakeholders and shareholders in the loop, and hopefully blissful. Of course, it is also necessary to make sure you are compliant with industry regulations.
What do you think are the most desirable strengths in this industry?
Lucas Birdsall: Problem-solving. The ability to speak effectively and think strategically. I imagine in having good interpersonal skills and have worked hard to develop them. Building connections with people, whether or not it’s clients, prospects or employees, is key. Listening to what people have to say, letting them know they have been heard, makes all the difference. The importance of building those relationships can’t be stressed enough. I actually imagine that this has been a big a part of how I have grown professionally. Of course, it has also involved a clear focus on my profession goals and putting in the exertions required.
What one piece of recommendation would you give to someone starting out in your industry?
Lucas Birdsall: If you have big profession goals, you will want to make time for them. There is no easy way around it. There is limitless paperwork, long hours, meetings, contract negotiations, and it is a grind. It has to be. You have to grasp that there is a lot of grind and a mind-numbing amount of labor that goes into attending to the top level. But you have to remain focused!
Given your extensive experience in risk management and financial operations across a number of industries, what advice would you give to young professionals trying to succeed in the enterprise capital sector?
Lucas Birdsall: For young professionals entering the enterprise capital sector, I would really like to emphasise the importance of building a solid foundation in financial evaluation and risk assessment. Understanding find out how to assess the financial health and potential risk of early-stage firms is crucial. It’s not only about identifying promising startups; it’s about assessing their profitability and scalability in the market.
In addition to technical skills, developing strong interpersonal and communication skills is also essential. Building relationships with founders, other investors, and industry experts can provide useful insights and opportunities. Finally, staying flexible and open to an ever-evolving market is key. The enterprise capital landscape can change rapidly, so the ability to pivot and adapt to latest trends is critical to long-term success.