The third event in the Compadres Campfire series, a platform for creative entrepreneurs, CEOs, and CMOs, has featured Steven Marks, Founder and Co-Chief Executive of Guzman y Gomez (GYG). The event was hosted by Compadres Founder, Clive Burcham, at the Association for Data-driven Marketing and Advertising (ADMA) offices.

Steven Marks co-founded GYG in 2005 and led the company to a $3 billion IPO on the ASX. At the event, Marks shared his personal and entrepreneurial journey, including the challenges and triumphs he experienced while building GYG. He emphasised the importance of values in business success and the need for a clear vision for a brand.

"When you build a business, you need to figure out where your greatest contribution is and mine is in hunger, humility and curiosity. You learn early on that your values must mean something and you can't let people in that don't share yours. I never compromise on my values. My team doesn't have to ask me anything because the answers to their questions are always found in the values. As a brand you also have to stand for something, you have to have a vision. I have a very clear vision for GYG to be the go-to fast food option for this generation but I can't just direct people to my vision, I have to influence them and help them understand why it is significant and it then becomes a part of their mission to make it happen," said Marks

Marks also discussed his personal life, including balancing the demands of running a billion-dollar enterprise with being a dedicated father, friend, and community member. He spoke about the changes he implemented in his interactions to ensure everyone feels inspired.

"When I started building GYG I referred to it as a big family because I am obsessed with my people and I hold a huge accountability to them and their families. I believe in deep trust and great people. My team signed up because they believe in me and I am determined to not let them down but a health scare made me re-evaluate. It was there that I realised I was putting so much energy into my business, my team, my community and my own family and spread so thin I was perhaps becoming less productive. I want people to feel inspired when they are done with me, so from the top down I instilled some changes around interactions so that everyone feels inspired," said Marks.

Clive Burcham, known for his holistic business advisory approach, led the discussion. Burcham is a third-generation farmer and entrepreneur who has founded or co-founded ten organisations, including The Conscience Organisation and Compadres.

"The thing that keeps me close to people like Steven is his business principles, his community principles but even more than that, his family principles. I am a firm believer that it is possible to have the best of both worlds by knowing where to focus your energy and when. People in business succeed because of the decisions they make at their peaks and the good things that happen in their lives, but as Steven shared, the success often comes more from the pain, challenges, breakdowns, loss and discomfort. This is life's greatest gift; the wisdom of our scars," said Burcham

"I have founded and Co-Founded a bunch of organisations. Out of that, thousands of lessons, losses and wins. Sometimes I feel like no one has failed more than me. May my scars be your wisdom. My purpose is to make a difference to people, and to help them make a difference to people in their lives; to their families, their shareholders, staff and communities," Burcham added.