Management Consulting
From industry and market research, to opportunity spotting and strategy development, to operations and marketing plans, to execution and management, our team of professional consultants has over 350 years of combined experience to assist your business.
Black Swan Consulting
A Black Swan is an unexpected event that has wide ranging unpredictable consequences on many industries, and is often the cause of major volatility, such as the COVID-19 Pandemic. We can help your business increase resilience, improve
adaptability, and minimize risk.
Education Technology
We invest in, and consult for Ed-tech companies across Canada. Our team has more than 100 years of combined experience in higher education. Whether you are in the seed stage, pre-revenue stage, or seeking additional funding to scale,
we can help.
Investment Support
With our 300+ years of combined experience, we created an analysis tool to better determine which businesses are ideal for investment, which need more work, and which are likely to require a pivot. Let us help your company improve
their position, and find funding!
Our Mission
To add meaningful value to our clients, improve their position, and give them a competitive advantage using valid, robust, and timely strategies.
A few things we’re great at
Opportunity Spotting
Do you have a Clear Understanding of the Opportunities in your industry and markets?
Business Planning
Do you have a Marketing Plan, Operations Plan and Financial Plan that are based on SMART goals?
Strategy Development
Have you developed a Value Proposition that is sound, cogent, and unbiased? Have you Validated your value proposition?
Value Creation
Maximizing Value is why you hire great managers. Creating Value is what entrepreneurs and consultants are brought onboard to do. Create new value, and gain a competitive advantage.
Executive Coaching
Are you a Subject Matter Expert in you industry? Are you aware of the trends and factors affecting change in your industry and market?
Diagnostics
We use the most robust diagnostics and planning tools including the business planning methodology to determine what is taking place, what needs changing, and how to make it happen.
The Secret to Success
Slow careful planning, followed by rapid execution:
We specialize in Black Swan Consulting, Management Consulting, Entrepreneurship & E-Commerce Solutions. We bring a research-driven and entrepreneurial approach to problem solving and value creation. We help you stay on top of industry and market changes, make more informed decisions, and take the initiative to create real meaningful value.
Education Technology:
We are looking for education technology companies that want to grow. Our combined experience in higher education and consulting gives us the knowledge and network to help education technology companies better reach their goals, create value, and scale. We consult for, invest in, and run education technology companies ourselves, as the education industry is very near and dear to our hearts!
The CMC Difference
You will have access to several Certified Management Consultants (CMC). CMCs are the highest echelon of consultants worldwide, have the highest degree of professional ethics, and can work in over 40 countries without a Visa.
We bring the experience and expertise of consultants with graduate and doctoral degrees.
Value Proposition & Validation
Have you developed a Value Proposition that is sound, cogent, and unbiased? Have you Validated your value proposition?
Validation is as important as value proposition development. Like the laser-disc, something can be of high value, but not be valued highly.
Not Planning is Planning to Fail
Most new businesses fail within the first few years. A proper business plan is designed to minimize risk, maximize value, and foster innovation, giving your business a long-term competitive advantage.
Industry & Market Analyses | Opportunity Spotting | Marketing Plan | Operations Plan | Financial Plan
Robust Tools
Our team utilizes multiple tools and methodologies to help your business better plan for the future.
From basic tools like SWOT and PESTEL, to more advanced tools like The Business Planning Methodology, 9×9 Consulting Grid, 40+ Point Business Inspection and Optimizer, we have what it takes.
How can we help you find the right path?
Meet the Team
Rahi S. Tajzadeh
CMC, MScM, BComm
Planning, Research, Strategy
Dr. Agostino Menna
PhD
Investment, Research, Strategy
Neil Cosby
MBA, CHRL
HR, Business Development
Ayoob Faraji
BSE
Full Stack Web Development
Robert Coffey
BComm, CA, FCA, FCMC, KCStG
Mergers/Acquisitions, Strategy, Financing
Alex Laraia
Senior I.T. Leader, I.T. Infrastructure, Business Transformation
Jiri Fiala
BA
Data Security, PIPEDA, GDPR, Strategy
Bahareh Attari
BSE
Full Stack Web Development
Aron Pervin
CMC
Family Business Planning, Strategy
Michael McEvenue
Data Visualization, Graphic Design, Communications
Ronald McMeeken
CFP / CPA (fmr)
Finance, Accounting, Planning, Strategy
Jeremy Buzanis
BComm
Digital Advertising, Marketing
Professional, Experienced, Experts
CMC & FCMC
The Certified Management Consultant (CMC) designation is the profession’s only international certification mark, recognized in over 50 countries. It represents a commitment to the highest standards of consulting and adherence to the ethical canons of the profession.
Web Development
Whether you need a full stack developer, or just an upgrade to your user interface, we have at least three team members that can help you to make your website modern, streamlined, and professional.
We can also help you add e-commerce capabilities. Reach out and ask us how we can help you today!
Family Business Consulting
Family businesses encounter unique challenges and obstacles that can seriously hinder business performance, resiliency, adaptability, and probability of long term success.
Our team of CMCs and professional consultants are trained to work within the landscape of family business, with decades of combined experience.
Education Technology Investment
The Big Leaf’s team has more than 100 years of experience in education in a variety of roles and capacities. We actively seek out high-potential, scale-ready education technology firms to assist. We can help the right firms raise funding, add value, create value, and foster innovation. From Business Planning to Validation, Coaching to Fund Raising, we can are here to add real, meaningful value.
Portfolio
A small sample of the many great organizations our team has worked with
More Information About Our Incredible Team
Mr. Tajzadeh is a Certified Management Consultant, Master of Science in Management, and a Bachelor of Commerce specializing in strategy, research, and entrepreneurship.
With a background in entrepreneurship, consulting, and research, I bring a unique perspective and set of tools to better identify opportunities, craft strategy, and execute. I can help to improve the position of the company, while adding real value to the customer.
Dr. Agostino Menna PhD received his doctorate in Economics from the University of Toronto. He is a seasoned professor of entrepreneurship, business management, and economics with over 15 years of experience.
Dr. Menna can help you identify opportunities, threats, create value, and prepare for the unexpected. Dr. Menna is our lead in education technology investments.
Neil is more than a Certified Human Resources Leader and MBA, he is an experienced business development manager, entrepreneur and professor.
Neil is passionate about HR, and has more than two decades of experience helping small to medium businesses develop their team and their customer base
Ayoob is an expert full stack web developer. His experience is vast, his work is very high quality, and his skill set is very deep.
Ayoob can develop a site from scratch, and integrate E-Commerce solutions to existing sites. He is adept at PHP, SQL/MYSQL, Java, HTML5, CSS 3, Bootstrap, WordPress, REST, and more!
Bob Coffey is a Management Consultant, Advisor and Coach.
He is the retired vice chair and head coach of KPMG. He is also a past Vice President of Geneva Merger & Acquisition Services of Canada (Ont.) Inc. He was also a key advisor to an Ontario Health Care provider on budgeting, finance and service delivery He’s known professionally as “THE COACH”.
Mr. Coffey became a Chartered Accountant in 1959, becoming a senior business advisor and management consultant to industry and government. He has participated in a number of Royal Commissions and has lectured at McGill University and the University of Toronto on costing and budgeting. He has held numerous executive and management positions including Managing Partner for Canada of the Management Consulting Services for Ernst & Whinney, Executive Partner, Thorne, Ernst and Whinney and Vice Chairman of KPMG. Mr. Coffey remains active in the field of mergers and acquisitions, corporate growth and finance, corporate turnarounds, and is a co-author of Purchase and Sale of a Business.
Alex is an IT leadership professional with over 2 decades of senior management experience leading and building high performing IT teams. Under his leadership, Alex and his team have delivered innovative, customer-focused, transformational IT solutions in national, international and global organizations.
Alex thrives in solving IT business problems, is a hands-on leader, passionate about delivering sustainable results through process improvement, coaching IT teams and by developing future leaders.
Over his 25-year career, Alex has specialized in: IT Infrastructure, Systems Architecture and Integration, Cyber-Security, Data Protection, Policy Development and Governance, Networks, Telecom, Unified Comms and Collaboration Systems, Mobile Device Management; Contact Centre Technologies, On-Prem and Cloud Migrations. Alex developed and honed his business skills by working through many corporate M&A’s while being mentored by industry-changing Canadian CEO’s.
Jiri is a Data Security expert who can help your company with PIPEDA and GDPR compliance.
Jiri also offers custom hardware, software, and block-chain based solutions for your data security and integrity.
Bahareh is a seasoned web developer with a passion for entrepreneurship and value creation. She is an expert in MySQL, PHP, Java, HTML5, etc.
Bahareh will help you to better understand your online potential, develop E-Commerce Solutions, and improve your online presence.
Aron brings more than five decades of experience consulting businesses large and small, family businesses, as well as consultants.
Aron is a family business and succession planning development expert.
Michael’s expertise in data visualization, data analysis and business intelligence helps you to better understand your data, customers, opportunities and risks.
Michael can assist your company in critical decision making, foster change, drive new initiatives, and improve business performance.
Mr. McMeeken is a former CPA/CFP with more than 60 years of experience in accounting, finance, and small business management.
He has lead start-up and small businesses, and is a regular contributor to the boards of several businesses in Toronto and the Greater Toronto Area.
Jeremy is a digital marketing expert with a focus on Professional Platforms, Lead Generation Processes, Lead Capture Processes, and Lifetime-Value Optimization Processes.
Jeremy also offers various complimentary services to add value to your project and better control your message, voice, and brand.
