Episode 6: One-Man Show to Portfolio CEO - Lessons not found in school with Jean-Francois Rousseau

Built to Last

In this candid and thought-provoking episode of Build to Last, we sit down with serial entrepreneur Jean-François Rousseau (JF) for a wide-ranging conversation about building enduring businesses, navigating acquisitions, and the lessons only failure can teach.

JF shares his remarkable journey—from being “forced” into entrepreneurship at 16 to building a portfolio of companies with over 100 employees. With a sharp eye for opportunity and a people-first approach to leadership, JF reveals the real challenges of scaling, exiting operations, and balancing multiple ventures. The conversation flows through hard-earned wisdom about letting go, building trust, and staying relentlessly focused on learning. If you’ve ever thought about buying a business, leading through change, or building a team that runs without you—this episode is a goldmine.

🔗 Links and Resources Mentioned

Connect with Jean Francois on Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeanfrancoisrousseau/

Entrepreneurs' Organization (EO) – A global peer network for entrepreneurs - https://eonetwork.org

Wallace McCain Institute – An Atlantic Canadian Entrepreneurship peer group - www.wallacemccaininstitute.com

Henry Mintzberg – Canadian academic and author known for work on business strategy - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Mintzberg

Warren Rustand – Renowned leadership speaker and mentor - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warren_S._Rustand

EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating System) – A business management framework - https://www.eosworldwide.com/what-is-eos

EMP Program (Entrepreneurial Masters Program) – A program for growth-minded business leaders - https://www.eoapac.com/upcoming-events/entrepreneurial-masters-program-emp

The Hummingbird Project – Feature film JF worked on as a technical advisor - https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6866224/

Crucial Conversations – Book on effective communication in high-stakes situations - https://cruciallearning.com/books/

Jim Collins' Great by Choice – Business book on building enduring companies mentioning the concept of Return on Luck https://www.jimcollins.com/books/great-by-choice.html

Quotes Worth Sharing

“The worst thing I can do is believe I’m right. Always assume you’re wrong and try to prove otherwise.”

“If I do one thing in a day—and it’s the right thing—that’s enough.”

“You don’t need to be everywhere all the time. You just need to show up when it counts.”

“Integration is more important than the price in any acquisition. If you lose the team, you’ve lost everything.”

“Being vulnerable earns trust faster than being impressive ever will.”

Breakdown with Timestamps

• 10:00 – School vs. Real-World Learning -Degrees vs. the school of hard knocks
• 14:00 – From One to Many: Building Multiple Companies
• 24:00 – Letting Go to Scale Up Why hiring for leadership—not skills—made all the difference
• 31:00 – Buying vs. Building Businesses The importance of understanding a seller’s true motivation
• 40:00 – Due Diligence & Integration Lessons - What JF looks for (and avoids) in acquisitions
• 45:00 – Leadership, Learning & Legacy - Prioritizing family, personal growth, and volunteering
• 54:00 – Language, Culture, and Entrepreneurship in Quebec
• 1:03:00 – Peer Groups & Entrepreneurial Loneliness - Why peer groups changed JF’s life
• 1:24:00 – Partnership Wisdom - Lessons from good (and bad) business partners

Chapters

1. Episode 6: One-Man Show to Portfolio CEO - Lessons not found in school with Jean-Francois Rousseau (00:00:00)

2. School vs. Real World Learning (00:07:11)

3. From one to many companies, lessons learned (00:12:00)

4. Buying and Building (00:28:00)

5. Understanding life priorities (00:45:00)

6. Peer Groups and Loneliness (01:06:00)

7. business Partnerships that last (01:23:00)