The OGM | Hafiz Mitha, COO, Joi Media | December 9, 2013

Chief Operating Officer, JOI Media

Hafiz Mitha was born and raised in Calgary after his parents arrived from East African in the late 1970’s. Earning a Bachelor of Arts, Political Science degree from the University of Calgary, Hafiz’s natural route was Law School, however his entrepreneurial blood moved him towards co-founding JOI Media in 2008. A software development firm, his company brings web experiences people are used with consumer apps to the enterprise. Always examining business objectives, the web based applications aim to create an engaging user experience while creating a valuable ROI for the enterprise. Hafiz, alongside business partners Brock Murray and Pheak Meas operate JOI Media and also recently launched a white-label, enterprise crowdfunding platform that allows companies to showcase and fund employee and company projects, a mandate for many communications and corporate social responsibility teams. Katipult was a fitting platform to build as Hafiz and his team spearheaded their own community initiative since the inception of his company in 2008. JOI to the World, a gift box campaign that with the help of clients, and the local community, provides local non-profit organizations with basic necessities often taken for granted. To date, JOI to the World has raised almost $500,000 in necessities and online donations.

As Chief Operating Officer, Hafiz has developed an effective approach for client relations including managing expectations, project documentation and execution, and contractual negotiations. He combines his project management experience with customer service, to ensure JOI Media is an easy company to work with in all of our dealings. Being part of a team that strives to disrupt conventional practices, you can find Hafiz in boardrooms across North America working on innovate enterprise software solutions.

We asked Hafiz:

The OGM: What does sustainability mean to you?

Hafiz: Being sustainable is having the ability to make decisions that impact the longevity of whatever you are involved with. Having a team of individuals that respect eachother, adapting to changing trends and an open line of communication are key ingredients to sustainability.

The OGM: Have you had a mentor?

Hafiz: I have had the opportunity to work with some great mentors. Going on the old adage of “you don’t have time to make all the mistakes in the world” I try to learn as much as I can from people that we respect in all areas. Putting a board of advisors was one of the first things we did when JOI Media was launched. Business coaching, sales expertise, and industry approaches are all things that we look for and aren’t afraid to ask advice on.

The OGM: What does success mean to you?

Hafiz: Success is about enjoying the ride and not a final destination. Success to me is being able to look back and know that everyday you are moving forward, towards something that you can be proud of. We are most proud when we have positively affected the people we work with and have made an impact on their business. Therefore, adding value and success go hand in hand.

The OGM: If you were to describe your career in three words what would they be?

Hafiz: Relationships are everything!

The OGM: What advice would you give to someone looking for a career in the energy industry?

Hafiz: Some advice that I give to students and other prospects looking to get into the industry is to have a solid LinkedIn profile. This is extremely important, as this is usually the first point of real contact. Also, don’t be afraid to pick up the phone and ask to buy someone you respect coffee. You would be surprised at the results of a genuine reach out for advice.

The OGM: Describe a milestone in your career?

Hafiz: One of the most memorable events in my career was when we won the Emerging Enterprise of the Year award in 2011. Launching Katipult, earning the business of some great companies and reaching our goal for JOI to the World were contributing factors, and winning validated what we as a team were doing and felt like a great reward for the hard work to get to that point.

The OGM: Describe a challenge you faced in your career?

Hafiz: A challenge that we, and many other companies faced, was finding our identity. Figuring out not only what you are best at, but what really turns your crank are things that take time. When JOI Media made the decision to only focus on digital technology, we lost many great employees and had to turn down business…both very difficult things to do but necessary to be the best in one field versus good in many.

The OGM: What impact does technology have on your career?

Hafiz: Technology impacts my day-to-day operations more than anything else. Having the right tools to communicate with my team on a daily basis and managing projects are all done on a variety of applications that have become a indispensible part of my role.

Continue to the full interview --> here