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
We have over 300 years of combined experience in building and improving businesses. We understand business and profit potential. From due diligence to funding preparation, let us help you find the right investments, or improve your
odds of being funded!
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
Marilyn Tian
MBA
Marketing, Business Development
Michael McEvenue
Data Visualization, Graphic Design, Communications
Ronald McMeeken
CFP / CPA (fmr)
Finance, Accounting, Planning, Strategy
Aron Pervin
CMC
Family Business, Succession Planning
Lou Vescio
MEd
Education, Business and Community Development
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. Our CMCs can
work in over 40 countries without a visa! So, let us come to you and make things easier.
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.
Advanced Diagnostics & Analyses Tools
Business Planning Methodology
We have spent the last 15 years honing and perfecting the Business Planning Methodology (BPM). BPM is a robust analysis tool that helps organizations better understand their industry and markets, spot potential problems, identify areas of concern, and determine the viability of a company’s business plan. BPM is the most comprehensive diagnostics and consulting tool.
Management Reporting
The Management Reporting Tool is a comprehensive look at daily operations and management of resources. It was developed by Mr. Robert Coffey, and has been proven to better identify areas of concern, weaknesses and strengths, trends, potential new opportunities, and improve the bottom line.
Opportunity Spotting & Diagnostics
The Big Leaf team has developed a simple, effective, and flexible diagnostic and opportunity spotting tool that quickly and effectively identifies what areas a business and its team are lacking experience or resources, where there are opportunities for improvement, what needs to change, whether a company is ready for further investment, and whether a business plan is built on valid arguments.
Interpersonal Organizational Trust
The Interpersonal Inter- and Intra- Organizational Trust Tool (ITT) was developed by Dr. Gedeon and improved upon by Mr. Rahi Tajzadeh. It is a unique tool measures, manages, and repairs interpersonal trust within or between members of organizations. It is a cutting edge tool, built on a foundation of science, which helps organizations identify and repair interpersonal trust without pointing fingers.
Portfolio
A small sample of the many great organizations our team has worked with
Our Incredible Team is Here to Help
Mr. Tajzadeh is a Certified Management Consultant, Master of Science in Management, and a Bachelor of Commerce specializing in strategy, research, and entrepreneurship.
He has over 15 years of business management, consulting, and start-up experience in a wide range of industries. As a leader, consultant and researcher, he is active at every level of strategy crafting from data analysis, to opportunity spotting and execution. He specializes in innovation, entrepreneurship, intrapreneurship, value proposition development, analysis, and strategy.
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.
Marilyn is a multi-media marketing expert with a robust international network. She is the President and CEO of
Business Link Media Group, which is an industry leader in the publishing of B2B direct mail newspapers, magazines, specialty publications and event programs, as well as marketing through social media and online platforms.
Marilyn also orchestrates the prestigious 40 Under Forty Business Achievements Awards in Niagara and Hamilton Ontario.
Her other publications include Health, Wellness, and Safety; Business Link Hamilton; Made in Niagara; and more.
Marilyn brings with her decades of experience, her award-winning team at
Business Link Media Group, and her ever-growing network of quality businesses and high net-worth individuals.
Lou has spent the past 36 years developing and motivating academic, business and community leaders; enhancing their professional and personal skills. Best known for his Coach-Approach to leadership and training, Lou has helped countless leaders and administrators to be more effective and productive in their business roles while realizing their highest potential.
As Co-Founder of Discitus Consulting, Lou works with CEO’s, executives and team members at all levels. His passion, enthusiasm, and contagious optimism helps improve organizational health. Lou’s Clients love his flexible approach to tackling difficult issues through clarity and accountability.
Lou helps his Clients function more effectively by implementing the principles of Patrick Lencioni’s Five Behaviors of a Cohesive Team – trust, debate, commitment and clarity, and accountability to ultimately focus on collective results.
As a pioneer of executive Coaching in education in Canada, Lou models the Coach-Approach inspiring leaders to be more mindful and effective.
Client Testimonials
Dont’t take our word for it – here’s what our clients say:
The project has been moving along quickly and the survey has been an effective tool for addressing the target market. The Big Leaf’s marketing knowledge and expertise have helped the partner understand their business. They’re responsive, flexible, and answer questions in a quick turnaround.
Sara Torki
OTE Studios
The Big Leaf provided valuable research and insights into the North American marketplace, identifying markets like universities and helping with how to refocus overlaps between Canadian and EU laws. They’re incredibly affordable and transparent, providing clear and accessible work.
J. F.
Privid (formerly Biolock Inc.)
From the start, The Big Leaf built their client from the ground up. Their accommodating approach complemented their efficient, attentive workflow. The team’s organized project management style was also noteworthy.
Chris Stigas
HandiHelp
Recognition
The Big Leaf stands out from the competition.
As of September 1st, 2020, The Big Leaf is ranked as one of:
The Top Corporate Training Companies in Canada
The Top Consulting Firms in Canada
The Top Market Research Companies in Canada
We are humbled and honoured to be recognized by our clients, and thank them and our team for making The Big Leaf a high-value service provider.
