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Sean, Owner, CEO at Cleantech Inc.: Advize Career Interview
From selling soda in school to leading a thriving cleaning company, this Owner/CEO's entrepreneurial journey is a masterclass in vision and discipline.
This Cleantech Inc. leader's insights into building a purpose-driven business, where ethical practices and community impact are paramount, offers a refreshing perspective on a "mature" industry ripe for innovation.
The interview reveals the importance of embracing failure, empowering teams, and constant learning, with a special shoutout to the life-changing experience of a WP Carey class.
Aspiring entrepreneurs can find inspiration in this candid discussion about navigating challenges, reinvesting in people, and building resilience through personal pursuits, demonstrating that a good GPA and relevant job experience are all that's needed to embark on their own entrepreneurial adventure.
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Sean Meer
Owner, CEO
Cleantech Inc.
Arizona State University (ASU) - W. P. Carey
Finance
Entrepreneur
Sales and Client Management
Scholarship Recipient, Greek Life Member, First Generation College Student
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Career Path Of An Owner At A Cleaning Company
Sean's career path began with entrepreneurial ventures as a child, like selling soda at school, then evolved through various sales roles, including an oil change sales job where Sean learned about "sales and about discipline and cold calling". This culminated in taking over the operations of a cleaning company, transforming it from a sole proprietorship to a thriving business, ultimately leading to Sean becoming the Owner and CEO of Cleantech Inc.
Main Responsibilities of an Owner and CEO at Cleantech Inc.
As the "visionary" CEO, Sean's primary responsibility is to "steer the boat" by setting the company's direction, motivating the leadership team, and supporting them in achieving departmental goals aligned with the overall target of $20 million in annual revenue, while also holding them accountable. Sean emphasizes the importance of connecting with people, understanding their motivations, and ensuring the right people are in the right roles to drive the company's success, a lesson learned from past experiences where focusing on fieldwork detracted from strategic improvements.
A Day In The Life Of A CEO At Cleantech Inc.
A CEO's day varies drastically, but for Sean at Cleantech Inc., it centers around "driving business" through networking with key decision-makers to understand their needs, and practicing "LMA (Lead, Manage, and Hold Accountable)" to empower the leadership team to solve problems independently, even if it means learning from failures rather than seeking approval. Sean emphasizes fostering autonomy and learning within the team, believing that individuals "get paid well to do their job well" and learn from their experiences.
Most Important Skills For An Owner And CEO At Cleantech Inc.
For a role like Owner and CEO at Cleantech Inc., leadership hinges on humility, recognizing that "every single person you meet in life is going to have something for you that you didn't know," coupled with the "extreme level of toughness" required to embrace failure and champion the team. Ultimately, the most important qualities are vision and discipline, using personal pursuits like triathlon to build resilience and perspective, rendering the challenges of the job "easy".
Favorite Parts of Being an Owner at Cleantech Inc
Sean finds the role of Owner/CEO at Cleantech Inc. fulfilling because the work directly and positively impacts the local economy by providing jobs and valuable services, fostering a sense of contribution unlike previous roles where one was "just like moving numbers around on an Excel sheet". Furthermore, a good business owner reinvests profits back into the business, community, and people, ensuring sustainability and future security.
Biggest Challenges Faced By A CEO At Cleantech Inc.
Sean, the Owner/CEO of Cleantech Inc., initially identifies youth as the biggest challenge, facing skepticism due to being a "young entrepreneur," however this motivates them and has largely been overcome with the company's success; Sean states now if someone gives any sense of doubt they "can kind of just put our resume in their face". Sean expresses immense gratitude for the competent leadership team, crediting them with alleviating the immense stress previously experienced in the role.
Favorite Parts of Working in the Cleantech Industry as an Owner and CEO
Sean, the Owner and CEO of Cleantech Inc., finds the cleaning industry appealing because, despite being a "mature industry" where "the bar's just so damn low," there's immense opportunity for growth and positive change by creating a "socially responsible enterprise" that prioritizes community impact, proper training, and ethical practices, easily setting themselves apart in a field often characterized by minimal standards and a lack of care. The low expectations and prevalent "one towel method," paradoxically, make it "wonderful to be in" due to the ease of differentiation through ethical and caring service.
What Type Of Person Thrives In The Cleantech Industry, According To An Owner And CEO At Cleantech Inc.
Sean, CEO of Cleantech Inc., believes people thrive in the cleantech industry by having a "clearly defined vision" and setting measurable goals while prioritizing ethical practices and compliance with regulations, rather than "cutting corners," which leads to unsustainable and stressful outcomes. From a cleaner's perspective, thriving depends on working for a company that values doing things the right way.
What An Owner At Cleantech Wishes They Knew Before Entering The Cleaning Industry
Sean, Owner/CEO of Cleantech Inc., wishes someone had emphasized that "everything will be all right if you're doing the right things" and to avoid stress, even when facing failures like lighting a client's kitchen on fire, because the ability to learn from those experiences separates successful people and provides invaluable skills applicable to future endeavors. Despite initial worries about failures and money, maintaining forward momentum and focusing on "doing something" ultimately leads to success and preparedness for any outcome.
Entry-Level Positions for Aspiring Owners and CEOs
The CEO of Cleantech Inc. believes that unlike fields with rigid entry points, the path to becoming a CEO is wide open, and suggests starting a simple service business like pressure washing or window cleaning, emphasizing that "you can pick whatever you want, anything", and then scale by training others and helping them start their own franchises to repeat the process, highlighting the accessibility and entrepreneurial spirit of the field.
Significant Career Lesson From an Owner and CEO at Cleantech Inc.
For Sean, the importance of failure is paramount to success, and to be a successful entrepreneur, one must relish failure, iterating and learning from mistakes without repeating them. Moreover, the company owner emphasizes the importance of surrounding oneself with ambitious, successful people who push one to improve, cautioning against those who "suck the life out of you" and offer no value.
College Experiences of an Owner and CEO at Cleantech Inc.
Sean believes that achieving "fine grades" like a 3.0 GPA and acquiring "fine jobs" offering relevant experience is enough to set someone up for success. According to them, as long as good things are done and good is done for the world, "you could do whatever you want" to become an entrepreneur, particularly when fields like medicine or STEM are not involved.
Cleantech Inc CEO Talks College Experience
Sean found the Applied Value Investing class at WP Carey, led by Brett Coffin, to be the most impactful experience due to its project-based learning, access to industry guest speakers who shared "real stuff," and Coffin's genuine interest in helping students succeed. The class ultimately helped Sean realize that "maybe, "one did not really want to be in this career," offering a valuable moment of self-reflection for their career trajectory.
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