This week’s Spotlight features Principal Todd Smith. Based in Minnesota, Todd has been with CFAR for over two years and was promoted to Principal this month. With his unique perspective, he brings a deep experience in strategy, process improvement, and organizational alignment to his client engagements. Click here to read his full biography.
First and last name
Todd Smith.
What is your role at CFAR?
Principal.
How long have you been with CFAR?
Two years.
What do you enjoy most about your role?
Helping to prepare families for healthy, multi-generational ownership of their business enterprises.
What are three words you would use to describe CFAR?
Insightful, caring, and purposeful.
What motivates you to go to work?
Knowing that the work I am doing with family businesses has deep value to them and really makes a difference.
What has been your favorite memory at CFAR?
Being able to spend time in person with the whole team in 2019—let’s hope 2021 brings back this opportunity.
What is your favorite thing about working at CFAR?
Being associated with such a smart, focused, and deeply committed team of professionals.
In five words or less, what advice would you give for others in your profession?
Care about what you do.
What book are you currently reading right now?
I really enjoy fantasy books—swords, sorcery, all the nerdy stuff.
If you could gain a new skill in 10 minutes, what would it be?
The ability to speak fluent Spanish.
What are your top three publications that you read every morning?
Ha—I wish. How about CNN, The New York Times, and The Wall Street Journal online.
What is one thing—industry-related or not—you learned in the last month?
That Zoom wine tastings are not quite as fun as in person ones, but still pretty awesome.
What is one thing that made you smile recently?
My collie Angus—he is the go-to when a smile is needed.
If you could choose anyone as a mentor, who would it be and why?
Tough question. Honestly, it would probably be someone who was a writer as a calling—maybe George R.R. Martin? I still think I have a novel bottled up in there somewhere.
How do you define success?
Making a positive difference in the lives of my colleagues and clients.
What inspires you?
Sometimes inspiration is hard to find. But it shows up in small ways—kind gestures, notes from clients, displays of caring—often enough to keep me motivated.