Click here for further information and the downloadable resources:https://www.criticalfewactions.com.au/podcast/Joe-Ciancio-Maxsum-Consulting

How do you turn a garage startup into a thriving 30-employee venture—especially in a regional market? In today’s #podcast episode, we reveal how coaching, peer support, and a fierce drive for innovation helped one tech founder do just that.

In this episode, I sit down with Joe Ciancio, a regional tech founder whose unexpected surge in business growth might surprise you. Joe went from tinkering with computers in his parents’ garage to leading a 30-strong IT infrastructure team in regional Victoria that serves clients Australia-wide. If you’re a CEO of a mid-sized business (under $100m turnover) wondering how to scale effectively, Joe’s journey highlights the power of expert coaching, supportive peer groups, and a relentless focus on culture.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Embrace Coaching & Peer Networks: Why an external perspective can accelerate growth and transform your leadership.
• Cultivating a Resilient Culture: How Joe’s “build the ecosystem” mentality aligned his entire team and increased client satisfaction.
• Balancing Passion & Strategy: Turning early interests into a robust business model that navigates changing market demands.
• The EOS Advantage: How implementing the Entrepreneurial Operating System unlocked productivity and focus.

OPTIONAL SEGMENT TIMESTAMPS

• 00:00 Joe Ciancio's Early Passion for IT
• 01:24 From University to a Career in Japan
• 04:10 Starting the IT Business
• 07:16 Challenges and Lessons Learned
• 09:03 Game Changers and Growth
• 12:19 The Importance of Coaching and Peer Groups
• 15:03 Implementing EOS for Business Transformation
• 20:28 Future Business Vision
• 21:37 Operational Independence
• 21:50 Challenges in Growth
• 23:22 Advice to My Younger Self
• 27:44 Importance of Leadership
• 31:49 Defining Company Culture
• 35:07 Mission and Vision
• 36:39 The #CriticalFewActions™ to improve your business

SUBSCRIBE & SHARE

If you found this conversation valuable, don’t forget to Subscribe to the channel, leave a comment, and share this episode with your peer business leaders. Your support helps us reach more CEOs who want to improve their organisation performance and its value, and it keeps the conversation going.

Stay in the loop with show updates and exclusive content: https://www.criticalfewactions.com.au/podcast/Joe-Ciancio-Maxsum-Consulting

Download the Episode Summary & Joe’s Contact Details: https://www.criticalfewactions.com.au/podcast/Joe-Ciancio-Maxsum-Consulting

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Or maybe you’ve hit a roadblock you can’t move past—a major challenge with no clear solution; and there’s no one in your world you can talk to about it.

I get it. Running a business at the top level can feel like you’re isolated. You’re expected to have all the answers—but what if you don’t?  The truth is, at our level, our role isn’t to have all the answers ourselves—it’s to find the right people who do. People who have faced these obstacles before and have the real-world experience to guide you and your team forward.

That’s why I created the CEO Masterclass—a 12-month, Deakin University MBA-accredited program designed exclusively for business owners and CEOs who are serious about transforming their businesses.

With 30+ years in business, working with hundreds of companies from $1 million to $100+ million turnover across three continents, I’ve seen firsthand the challenges leaders face—and I’ve helped them break through and achieve real results.

This isn’t another generic leadership course. It’s a highly focused, small-group program where you’ll work alongside your peers, on your business, break through barriers, and implement real-world strategies—not just to solve the problems holding your business back, but to accelerate your growth faster than you thought possible.

Find out more here: https://www.criticalfewactions.com.au/ceo-masterclass-book-a-call-with-john/

Follow me on LinkedIn:  www.linkedin.com/comm/mynetwork/discovery-see-all?usecase=PEOPLE_FOLLOWS&followMember=jdownes

Get access to exclusive #CriticalFewActions™ content here: https://www.criticalfewactions.com.au/podcast/

Oh, and every time I speak with an entrepreneur like Joe, I’m reminded of how crucial the right support system can be—whether it’s a coach, a peer group, or even a simple community of fellow founders. These interactions don’t just keep you accountable; they spark ideas and challenge you to go further than you ever thought possible.

Thanks for watching/listening, and I look forward to hearing your thoughts in the comments below.

#BusinessGrowth #TechFounder #ScalingUp #MidSizedBusiness .

#LeadershipInsights #BusinessCoaching #EntrepreneurialMindset