When asked what forces make a company a winner, Marc-André Bovet spontaneously answers resilience. “Companies, whether small, medium or large, that made it through the two years of COVID-19 where everything was completely out of control have had to reinvent themselves in one way or another,” he says. -he. Nobody had a crystal ball, or a plan B or C that spelled out what to do in the event of a pandemic. Each company therefore had to be flexible and agile. “Before, well-established players could sometimes operate on autopilot and surf, for example, on the success of a product,” he adds. But today, yesterday’s success does not guarantee tomorrow’s success. »

In troubled waters, but also to continue to stand out from the competition, creativity is essential. “Companies that have standout successes show a lot of creativity,” notes Marc-André Bovet. To achieve this, the entrepreneur cannot act alone, but must be well surrounded. The diversity of the team has therefore become essential. “But it’s not about diversifying for the sake of diversifying in order to put forward that you have so many people from this minority group, then so many people from this other group,” he says. No, I’m talking about people who have really understood the strength of being able to count on people from different backgrounds and for whom diversity has really taken root in the company. These organizations have multiple perspectives around the table and can make better decisions, be more innovative. »

Entrepreneurship isn’t what it used to be. “Before, business people asked questions about about five or six variables, such as human resources, capital investments, working capital and debt,” notes Marc-André Bovet. But now the stakes have multiplied and they touch on all sorts of areas, from cybersecurity to procurement to labor shortages. “Today, entrepreneurship is much more involved on a daily basis,” he says. Entrepreneurs really have to learn to juggle several variables, and there are always new ones being added. It is certain that we look in their application file how they manage to get out of it. »

To shine at the Mercuriades, you also have to dare to put yourself forward. “I think that in Quebec, we still have a little misery with success, we have an obligatory humility, because we are afraid of being judged,” says the entrepreneur. Moreover, Les Mercuriades asks for the financial statements of the companies that apply. “It’s a hindrance for some private companies who don’t want to show their numbers,” he adds. But for us, it is important to ensure the sustainability of the companies we select. I think we need to stop being afraid to promote success and see more entrepreneurs celebrate their success. »