Article
People Power
April 21, 2025
In the last of our four-part series of blogs about the growth of CDN Controls, CEO/co-founder Dean Fraser talks about how they’ve built the diverse team that’s helped them to grow at an incredible rate.
Many people think that an entrepreneur’s success, through determination and hard work, is theirs alone. In reality, the people you surround yourself is critical, and Fraser and I often talk about how it takes a village for a successful CEO – and a great company – to grow and thrive.
For Fraser, people really are at the heart of their success:
- The accomplished and skilled people they attract
- The strength of their strong community relationships and partnerships, especially those with the indigenous community
- Their close-knit, ‘work hard, play hard’ culture
- A network of people who provide insight, guidance and direction when needed.
Listen to us talk about the benefits of surrounding yourself with good people here.
Different Skills, New Perspectives
When Fraser and partner/COO Nick Stewart first started CDN Controls, hiring people who understood their Electrical and Instrumentation (E&I) business made sense.
But, as they grew, they had to expand their thinking.
“When you first start a business anyone (can) come into management or senior management. But when you scale and get to a certain size, you…need different skills, different heads and different mindsets, all looking to achieve the same goal.”
“In order for us to do what we want to do, we need exceptional people on the team.
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One example is when, in 2015, they hired a CFO who wasn’t familiar with the E&I business.
“A big step for us was when we hired a great CFO, (which) we’d never had before. As you grow, you get an opportunity to bring more and more people into the business who have really good business acumen. They help you to see a different perspective.”
And like others they’ve since hired, people with the right skill sets no longer need to know the E&I business. As Fraser says, they can learn. Listen to Fraser talk about building a team of great people.
Surround Yourself with Good People
Beyond diverse skill set and perspectives, a fit with their “heart and hustle” culture is essential.
“You have to have amazing people working with you, arm-in-arm. It just helps make everything better. You want people that have similar values and who agree with the culture throughout the organization.
“You can have the best customers in the world and the best services, but without great people, it doesn’t come to life.” Listen to Fraser talk about surrounding yourself with great people here.
Want to hear more? Here is the link to our recent CDN Case Study and watch the full interview with Fraser below.
About Lawrence & Co.
Lawrence & Co. is a growth strategy and leadership advisory firm that helps mid-market companies achieve lasting, reliable growth. Our Growth Management System turns 30 years of experience into practical steps that drive clarity, alignment, and performance—so leaders can grow faster, with less friction, and greater confidence.
About Kevin Lawrence
Kevin Lawrence has spent three decades helping companies scale from tens of millions to hundreds of millions in revenue. He works side-by-side with CEOs and leadership teams across North America, the Middle East, Asia, Australia, and Europe, bringing real-world insights from hands-on experience. Kevin is the author of Your Oxygen Mask First, a book of 17 habits to help high-performing leaders grow sustainably while protecting their mental health and resilience. He also contributed to Scaling Up (Rockefeller Habits 2.0). Based in Vancouver, he leads Lawrence & Co, a boutique firm of growth advisors.