CEO Monthly Issue 6 2018

6 CEO MONTHLY / ISSUE 6 2018 , Irene Jeremic is a CEOwith an exemplary history of success. She has spearheaded The Tableau – amarket intelligence, business turnarounds, and business research firm – into an international leader in the sector. For her work at The Tableau, Jeremic was named as the Canadian CEO of the Year 2017. On the back of this win, we spoke to Jeremic to find out more about her work, and how she has built an undisputable record of excellence. A Paragon in Business Turnaround A Paragon in Business Turnaround Jeremic is – at her heart – an innovator. An architect of business renaissance, she has a résumé that speaks volumes about her ability to conduct business turnaround strategies, reinvigorating profits, and recognising, where others might not, where transformations should happen. In Jeremic’s own words, “I seem to have an ability to see what the business needs before anyone else does – that gives the companies I work with a powerful competitive edge”. It seems almost a disservice to stop there, ignoring her years of developing a natural talent to implement changes that make real-world, substantial betterments to the businesses she has both worked for, and those that she has worked with. Growing from a position of Vice President of Business and Customer Relations at eLearning Solutions Inc -the SFU’s spin- off- she moved to Stork Craft Manufacturing, where she honed her talents for exceeding targets, and showcased a gift for transforming business processes on numerous fronts. A notable example of this is Jeremic’s award-winning implementation of a drop-ship model of her own design, that reduced shipping time from 3-4 weeks to 2-3 days, followed by her innovation with Wal-Mart Canada. To her peers, superiors and colleagues, Jeremic is a source of inspiration. Joseph Segal, the Majority Shareholder of Stork Craft Manufacturing, once described Jemeric as “a genius”. It is not hard to imagine that similar sentiments have been spoken at board tables across North America that hired The Tableau to revitalise their bottom line. Those who worked with Jeremic have described her as a “transformational leader”, prescribing to the notion of leading by example – the first to arrive, and the last one to leave. Further, she empowers those around her to work harder, achieve more, and surpass targets. Jeremic delights in thinking outside of traditional paradigms and conventions. Where others see a dead-end, she sees an opportunity – the ability to “turn ends into beginnings”. It is this skill in particular that has served as the very foundation for The Tableau’s continued success, driving it to become the world leader in market intelligence and business research. When it comes to this extraordinary record, Jeremic credits hard work and a strong academic background: “Keep busy and stay humble! Success does not come easily, but if you keep working on it, results will follow”. Her academic background speaks to a curious mind, with a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from Simon Fraser University, an MBA at Athabasca and a Master of Laws degree from Osgoode Hall, York University. The recipient of numerous accolades, the CEO of the Year award seems to be only the latest in a line of long-standing recognition as one of the most talented and efficient executives working in North America. Regarding the future of The Tableau, Jeremic has plans for further expansion in the United States, and a focus on lean thinking solutions, “Both American and Canadian manufacturers are now equally open to the ideas of LEAN productivity, and want to know more about smart competing beyond national borders. Those who embrace innovative engineering and lean office culture may eliminate some of the common business risks and be more prepared to seize international opportunities in their industries”.