logo
episode-header-image
Apr 2024
1h 54m

#122 - Mark Hoffman-Davis, CEO of SYC Li...

SynergyIQ
About this episode

Curious How a CEO Can Influence Both Corporate Success and Community Well-being?

Don't miss our latest episode of the Creating Synergy Podcast, where we explore the profound impact of leadership through the lens of Mark Hoffman-Davis, CEO of SYC Limited. 

Here’s why you need to tune in:

  • From CIA Backgrounds to Global Shifts: Understand the unique upbringing that shaped a future CEO—from secretive family roles to adapting to new cultures.
  • Leadership Lessons from McDonald’s to the C-Suite: Hear about the unconventional path from managing a fast-paced fast food outlet to leading major corporations, and the critical lessons learned along the way.
  • Transformative Work Ethic: Delve into Mark’s teenage years of balancing school with managing a busy McDonald's, fostering a work ethic that would define his career.
  • Strategic Business Moves: Discover the strategic decisions behind the exponential growth at Academy Cleaning Services, where Mark expanded the staff from 80 to over 2,000.
  • Navigating Corporate and Community Impact: Gain insights into the challenges of aligning corporate strategies with community needs, a balancing act that Mark handles deftly as the CEO of SYC.
  • Tech Innovations in Social Services: Learn about SYC’s approach to integrating technology with human-centered services, particularly in mental health and housing, and the future vision for digital transformation in the social services sector.

This episode provides rare insights into the making of a leader who’s not only at the forefront of business innovation but also deeply committed to social impact. Tune in, get inspired, and maybe steal some of his secrets for yourself! Don’t forget to subscribe – you won’t want to miss this!


TIMESTAMPS:

[2:03] - Early Life and Move to Australia
[6:21] - CIA influence from Mark's father
[8:12] - Lessons in Hard Work
[18:19] - Childhood Lessons
[27:21] - Leadership at a Young Age
[44:43] - Career Progression
[50:38] - Customer-Centric Philosophy
[1:04:46] - Transition to CEO of SYC
[1:29:20] - Technology in Human Services
[1:41:39] - Vision for the Future


Where to find Mark Hoffman-Davis


Books mentioned in the episode


Join the conversation on Synergy IQ on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram (@synergyiq).

Access SynergyIQ Website to get to know more about us. 

Say hello to our host Daniel Franco on LinkedIn.

Up next
Feb 2025
#139 Justin Coombs, COO at AusHealth on Revolutionising Healthcare Through Innovation
What if the next big medical breakthrough was already sitting in a lab, waiting to be discovered? In this episode of Creating Synergy, we sit down with Justin Coombs, Chief Operating Officer at AusHealth, to dive into the groundbreaking advancements shaping the future of medicine ... Show More
1h 45m
Jan 2025
#138 Pauly Vandenbergh, Indigenous and Multicultural Engagement Manager at AFL, on Creating the Third Space and Building Bridges Between Cultures
In this compelling episode of the Creating Synergy Podcast, we sit down with Pauly Vandenbergh, Indigenous and Multicultural Engagement Manager at AFL and Co-founder of Munda Wines to explore the transformative concept of the "Third Space." Pauly shares powerful insights about br ... Show More
1h 44m
Jan 2025
#137 Donny Walford, Founder of Behind Closed Doors on Breaking Barriers: Leadership, Resilience, and Redefining Success
🎙️ What does it take to break through barriers and redefine what’s possible in your career and life?In this empowering episode of the Creating Synergy Podcast, we sit down with Donny Walford, Founder of Behind Closed Doors, a trailblazer in business and a fierce advocate for wom ... Show More
1h 48m
Recommended Episodes
Oct 2024
Greg Larkin | Tackling Innovation Roadblocks
To survive over the long term, businesses must constantly innovate and transform. All too often, however, forces inside companies stifle this change. Greg Larkin has built a career as an internal disruptor. In his view, anyone who seeks to innovate from within, to transform a leg ... Show More
33m 55s
Apr 2024
The Transformative Power of Change & Giving Back, w/ Rodric Lenhart
Rodric Lenhart is a dynamic force in the world of finance, blending his expertise in investment strategies with a passion for driving positive change. He’s also an author, a lifelong entrepreneur, and a coach who helps entrepreneurs and owners build businesses that fit their live ... Show More
50m 49s
Sep 2023
609: Decision Sprint: The New Way to Innovate into the Unknown and Move from Strategy to Action (with the first Chief Digital Officer in the history of the Fortune 500, Atif Rafiq)
Welcome to an interview with the author of Decision Sprint: The New Way to Innovate into the Unknown and Move from Strategy to Action, Atif Rafiq. In this book, Atif shares the breakthrough methods to put your company on the path to innovation, creativity, and growth. Atif has wr ... Show More
52m 37s
Oct 2024
The Secret Daily Habits For Ultimate Performance & Productivity | Verizon CEO
In this inspiring episode of the School of Greatness, I sit down with Hans Vestberg, the visionary CEO of Verizon. From his humble beginnings in Sweden to leading one of the world's largest telecommunications companies, Hans shares invaluable insights on leadership, innovation, a ... Show More
56m 39s
Mar 2025
178 - The CEO Playbook for Leading Change and Overcoming Resistance in 2025 with Nellie Wartoft
Want to establish authority and lead with confidence from Day One as a CEO? Grab your FREE copy of “10 Foolproof Ways New CEOs Establish Authority From Day One” and start leading with confidence today! 👉 Download Now - https://bit.ly/10-foolproof-ceo-strategies ----------------- ... Show More
40m 36s
Nov 2024
Transformational Leadership
Welcome to another insightful episode of "Accelerate Your Business Growth." Today, we're thrilled to have Brenda Neckvatal, a two-time best-selling author, award-winning HR professional, and serial entrepreneur featured in prominent publications like Forbes and Fast Company. Bren ... Show More
34m 54s
Jan 2025
521: Ex-Accenture Global CEO on Transformation: Human-Powered Leadership in a Disrupted World
Welcome to Strategy Skills episode 521, an interview with the author of Essential: How Distributed Teams, Generative AI, and Global Shifts are Creating a New Human Powered Leadership, Dr. Christie Smith.   In this episode, Christie shares her career journey through boutique firms ... Show More
52m 32s
Apr 29
The Future Won’t Wait: How to Build When Everything’s Changing | GaryVee Samsung Keynote
In today’s episode of The GaryVee Audio Experience, we're sharing a powerful keynote Gary gave at Samsung — all about leadership, adaptability, and thriving in the face of chaos.Gary dives deep into why the old rulebooks for business no longer apply, and how kindness, accountabil ... Show More
39m 7s
Aug 2024
#200 Brian Halligan: Building HubSpot into a Multi-Billion Dollar Company
From Cambridge startup to NYSE heavyweight, HubSpot co-founder Brian Halligan reveals the sophisticated frameworks behind scaling a $30B enterprise. Now a Sequoia Capital Senior Advisor, Halligan shares rare insights into the nuanced decisions that separate exceptional companies ... Show More
1h 4m
Jul 2024
Ep. 19 The Art of Problem-Solving: strategies behind the growth of Revolut Business
How do you look at what you have today to get to something better? Manuel Soto, Head of Operations for Revolut Business, chats with host Alex Carril about how creative problem-solving is at the core of a company’s success, and how we do it at Revolut. From the process of developi ... Show More
28m 5s