“I want to get more involved with the university and try to align our company with this great academic institution. I think that we could do a lot of things together, so I’m excited about that.”
Soon after Sam Kersheh began studying as an undergraduate at Concordia in the early ’90s, the North American economy went into recession. His family’s business selling sleepwear, underwear and swimwear was hit hard. Kersheh considered all options to immediately help the difficult situation the business was in, including entering the company.
Fortunately, Kersheh decided the best long-term strategy for success would be to complete his business degree. Equipped with this new knowledge, he immediately joined the company his father founded in 1978. Together, they gradually reinvented the designing, manufacturing and marketing business with creativity and perseverance.
“We had lost a lot of our retail partners and then, one partner at a time, we started to rebuild. Then we took on new ventures and new marketplaces. We are where we are today as a result of that vision,” said Kersheh, now CEO of The Kersheh Group, which does business with retailers such as Costco, JCPenney and Walmart, as well as directly to customers with Amazon and other marketplace platforms.
Most important part of the business
“I’ve been very fortunate to work with a great group of people in our organization, and that helped put ourselves in a position where we could be competitive and grow.
“I’m really excited to lead such an incredible group of talented individuals and my role is evolving to one more of coaching, inspiring and influencing rather than just managing operations. It’s a great place to be today.”
A cause he supports
“Recently, I have made a concerted effort to reconnect with Concordia University through the CEO mentorship program, where alumni professionals share experiences and give advice on how to become successful in their industries.
“I think it’s a fantastic opportunity to be able to lead and influence some of these wonderful up-and-coming students.
“I want to get more involved with the university and try to align our company with this great academic institution. I think that we could do a lot of things together, so I’m excited about that.”