Hi, I’m
Russ Patterson
CEO & Founder
Tech Business Leader
Strategic Growth Architect
Product Guru
Builder of Positive Cultures
About
My name is Russ Patterson. I’m an experienced tech leader based in Toronto, Canada and I’m seeking a new role.
I’ve got over 30 years of product management, P&L ownership and people leadership experience including 15 years in senior leadership roles at eBay Inc.
While I have thrived in roles at large businesses, I enjoy the challenges and excitement of working with earlier-stage companies. I’ve held roles at 8 start-ups covering every stage from bootstrap to IPO. I’ve been the CEO of a Marketplaces start-up that reached IPO, of an early-stage MedTech AI start-up that I co-founded, and most recently I was President and CEO of a Series B Marketplaces business.
An award-winning people manager, I create high-performing cultures and resilient teams that deliver results. Drawing from decades of leadership experience in high-pressure tech start-ups, I keep businesses on track through adversity, and I keep teams on task and organized through storms, turnarounds and cultural resets.
I enjoy the challenge of pitching for capital. With well over 100 failed pitches under my belt, I’ve also tasted success, raising over $8M from VCs, angels, PE firms and high net worth individuals.
A veteran of top accelerator programs, I have taken companies through VentureLab, WeWork Labs, NextAI, Ontario Bioscience Innovation Organization and Creative Destruction Lab.
I’ve recently launched a video podcast called LEAD and WIN THE ROOM with Russ Patterson to share leadership best practices. It’s now available on Spotify, YouTube, and other podcast platforms.
Skills Profile
Leadership
Drawing from decades of leadership experience in high-pressure tech start-ups, I keep businesses on track and keep teams on task and organized through storms, turnarounds and cultural resets.
Strategic Planning
I've led or contributed to countless strategic planning exercises over the years. I run consultative and thoughtful processes and solve for goal alignment rather than consensus.
Culture
An award-winning people manager, I lead through my personal values: honesty, authenticity, transparency, inclusiveness and empowerment. I create highly engaged teams and bring regretted attrition to an end.
Coaching
I believe in hiring creative and capable people, setting clear goals for them, and coaching them to success rather than adopting a highly directive, top-down leadership style. I have extensive experience coaching and mentoring other leaders with using this power approach to unlock greater results.
Communications
Communications have always been a key strength for me. I am highly adept in switching modalities for different audiences, in putting complex concepts into plain language, and in using honesty and transparency as my secret weapon.
Product Strategy
Having been in product roles of one kind or another for over 30 years means I have developed and delivered more product roadmaps than you can shake a stick at..
Sales & Marketing
I have led sales and marketing teams and have a strong understanding of digital marketing channels, from paid search, display networks and paid social to CRM omnichannel and search engine optimization.
Budgets & Forecasting
Having been a P&L owner for more than 15 years, I've become skilled at preparing budgets and forecasts, either hands-on or in partnership with an FP&A team
Project Management
There are a few secrets to getting things done efficiently with any project team: communication, structure, regular meetings and simple documentation. I'm good at this, and I'm good at teaching others to do it effectively.
Capital Markets
I enjoy the challenge of raising capital from individuals, venture capital firms, angels, and angel groups and from non-dilutive sources. I have raised over $8M in capital for pre-seed, mid-stage and post-IPO businesses
Resume
Producer & Host, LEAD and WIN THE ROOM podcast.
While seeking my next role, I decided to try to give back with a new video podcast for people managers. Now available on Spotify, YouTube and other podcast platforms, the series draws on my experiences as a leader, leadership coach, and mentor, and from working with some exceptional role models, authors and leadership trainers.
President & CEO, MaxSold
Raised over $5M in capital. Reduced OpEx and headcount by over 50%. Strengthened margins. Increased NPS scores from both buyers and sellers. Repaired culture. Successfully carried the business through a restructuring and sales process.
COO, MaxSold
Delivered immediate results as COO and was elevated to CEO in just 4 months.
Co-Founder & CEO, Halterix
Raised $235k pre-seed. Bootstrapped operations, team, and advisors. Completed proof-of-concept app and gained early traction with strategic prospects. Attended top accelerators Ontario Bioscience Innovation Org, Creative Destruction Lab, VentureLab and Next AI.
CEO, Spacefy
Completed $1.4M private placement underwritten by Leede Jones and assisted with IPO. Doubled available rental inventory in one year and increased bookings by 80%.
Co-Founder, CTO / CPO, Homex
Key contributor to initial business and technical strategies. Bootstrapped a software development centre in Toronto, hiring a top-notch CTO and 14 developers and interaction designers.
Country Co-Manager / COO & Director of Product Management / Senior Product Manager, eBay Canada Ltd.
Shared top-level P&L responsibility for $1B+ eBay Marketplaces business in Canada. North American business owner for key buyer flows on both eBay.ca and eBay.com including homepage, registration flow, checkout, view item page and more. Shipping and cross-border trade subject matter expert.
Content Manager, BizSmart
Product Development Manager, SalesDriver
Web Product Manager, Aucxis / e-Auction
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Web Leader / Corporate Webmaster / Marketing Consultant Royal Insurance / Royal & Sun Alliance / RSA Canada
Toronto Metropolitan University (Ryerson)
Film Studies BFA Program, School of Film and Photography.
York University
Business & Economics
COMPLETED
RAISED
EXPERIENCES
Russ is the type of leader that you hope to have the opportunity to work with and learn from at some point in your career. He's the very definition of a great CEO as he leads by inspiring others and not by rank. Any organization, and the people in it, would benefit immensely from having him at the helm.
If you want an executive whose employees will feel respected and valued enough to stick around through the hard times, and whose first thought in a crisis is "Oh the CEO of my company is the guy I should turn to about this," then Russ is your guy.
It's been a privilege to have Russ as a manager. I would unhesitatingly recommend him and would jump at the opportunity to work for him again.
Just wanted to reach out to say what a privilege it has been to work with you... You have made this company something that everyone is proud to be a part of.
Working with Russ it was clear why he is a key player in the success of eBay.ca. He delivers what he says he will and is well respected as a result.
Knowing where you stand in regards to the LGBT community, your allyship and your close relationship to the subject really made me feel safe and comfortable working for MaxSold.
Russ is a genius.
Contact
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CEO
President
General Manager
Country Manager
Chief Operating Officer
Chief Product Officer
Chief of Staff
Turnaround Specialist
Leadership Coach & Mentor
Capital Markets Consultant
Portfolio Company Advisor for VC or PE Firms
Advisory Roles
Independent Board Member
Maker of Pancakes
Keyboards and Backing Vocals
