Social media is the most disruptive form of communication humankind has seen since the last disruptive form of communications, email.

HootSuite never had a big launch. We were lucky to even have office space.

Not using social media in the workplace, in fact, is starting to make about as much sense as not using the phone or email.

What drives me is the prospect of turning an obstacle into a business opportunity, and then growing that into something lasting and rewarding.

Everyone told me you can't build a major tech company in Canada. There just aren't enough investors or engineers or top-level managers. Each day, I'm driven to prove them wrong.

When I was in high school, I loved paintball. I saved up my allowances and started my own paintball supply company. Everyone thought I was just some obsessed kid, but today the company is one of the biggest paintball suppliers in Canada.

I was told I had to go to business school to succeed. I gave it a shot, but eventually dropped out to bootstrap a restaurant with just a Visa card and a $20,000 line of credit. Everyone told me restaurants were hard work (and they were right! I have so much respect for anyone in the restaurant business). I ran the restaurant for two years, sold a franchise, decided to change paths, and sold the whole operation at a modest profit.