After coming face-to-face with an unethical manager, Russ was forced to remove the rose-coloured glasses he had been viewing his corporate job with. Although loving the position, he faced the reality of not being able to work within an organization anymore.

This motivated his decision to branch off on his own and begin Verensics, where he is both CEO and Co-Founder. His company aims to remove the threat of unethical employees from other organizations. From managing expectations to believing in yourself to withstanding the ups and downs of being an entrepreneur, Russ has plenty of wisdom to let us in on.

What are three things every Entrepreneur should know?

Russ surprised us by saying that he was hoping we’d ask this first question, having done his research into our Amplify Your Business podcast. 

The first thing that Russ mentioned for other entrepreneurs to be aware of was that the movie that plays in your head when you decide to start down this path is likely a lot easier, a lot brighter, and a lot quicker to get to the good parts. Success in entrepreneurship is the culmination of millions of little micro-actions over the course of months and years. 

The next thing Russ brought up was the fact that entrepreneurship is a rollercoaster. There are big ups and (sometimes seemingly bigger) downs. There will be days when you don’t want to get out of bed then by the time noon rolls around you’re energized and you have so many new clients and it’s great. 

The next day it will be the opposite. 

If you don’t have the temperament or constitution to handle those ups and downs, it’s probably not the best path for you. 

Finally, Russ shared that you will doubt yourself as an entrepreneur. It’s you guiding the ship, there’s no manager to complain about and place the blame on. However, you also get to validate yourself through your own actions. Having experienced both corporate and entrepreneurship, Russ personally finds running his own business to be infinitely better.

What problem does your business solve and who are its customers?

Russ’s business, Verensics, addresses the problem of evaluating the life cycle of personnel risk within organizations. The services offered span from pre-employment screening and vetting to insider threat detection and employee investigations. Their main goal is to help corporate investigators and insider threat teams gain a comprehensive understanding of their employees to identify potential misconduct both efficiently and professionally.

The services that they offer have the added benefit of leveling the playing field for potential employees. Most businesses use a background check as the final decision as to whether or not someone has the integrity that they look for in employees, however, this isn’t comprehensive enough. People can have things scrubbed off their records with the right resources, there’s no context for those who do have something on their record, and, ultimately, many people may have clean records but muddy morals. 

The business uses an online interview platform designed to replicate the experience of a face-to-face interview with either an industrial psychologist or a seasoned investigator. This facilitates a thorough assessment of potential hires as well as existing employees, enabling organizations to make informed decisions about their personnel and how they may impact the business culture.

Verensics caters to larger corporate and small companies with a focus on helping them understand the individuals within their workforce, assessing their suitability for the organizational culture, and detecting any potential risks related to insider threats or misconduct.

What inspired you to become an Entrepreneur?

Russ’ decision to leave his corporate job and start Verensics was heavily influenced by a highly unethical manager, one who pushed him to break company protocols for personal gain – even involving dangerous situations. Witnessing the impact of this manager’s actions on the organization’s culture and integrity led Russ to question the accountability of the higher-ups who saw this going on and did nothing. 

Additionally, his position in the company meant that he and his family would have to live in a compound in a high-risk area – something he wasn’t willing to put them through anymore. The whole experience opened a deeper line of questioning in Russ when it comes to protecting organizations’ integrity and led to him leaving that job. 

He experienced an extreme mindset shift from being a “company guy” to never wanting to work for an organization again. As Russ ventured into the realm of technology and its potential to aid organizations, his experience remained etched in his mind. 

He recognized the critical importance of understanding an individual’s character, values, and integrity in the workplace. Russ identified a significant flaw in the conventional background check process, which relied on a system with inherent limitations – as mentioned above. He understood the need for a more comprehensive approach to assess and predict an individual’s impact on an organization.

This realization propelled Russ to establish Verensics, focusing on a structured interview-based approach to evaluate candidates and employees thoroughly. He aimed to rectify the imbalance in the hiring process and contribute to a more transparent and ethical work environment for other organizations.

Knowing what you know now, how would you have spent a million dollars when you first started your business?

If Russ were presented with a million-dollar investment at the outset of his business venture, his preference for cautious growth would lend itself to a strategic approach. Instead of rapidly expanding the team without a structured plan, he would have invested in a skilled and experienced sales director. This director would take charge of building and leading the sales team, leveraging their expertise to align with the company’s culture and objectives. The focus would be on quality growth and maintaining the envisioned organizational ethos.

A significant portion of the investment would be directed toward developing comprehensive sales and marketing strategies, meticulously crafted to effectively promote the business through targeted advertising and digital marketing campaigns. His goal would be to increase Verensic’s brand visibility, attracting more clients in a strategic and sustainable manner. 

Simultaneously, investments in the product would be made to refine the platform, enhance the user experience, and cater to the evolving needs of clients.

Russ recognizes the necessity of continuous improvement and innovation to stay ahead in the industry. Consequently, he would also have allocated funds to research and development efforts. This funding would facilitate ongoing advancements in technology, psychology, and investigative methodologies. 

He would also have established training programs and workshops to elevate the skills and capabilities of his team, ensuring that they stay at the forefront of subject matter expertise and sales acumen. 

That being said, Russ and his co-founder made the conscious decision to bootstrap the company because they have a very specific direction that they want to take the company in. Accepting funding from someone introduces the possibility of being malleable to their creative and strategic thinking.

What is your proudest accomplishment as an Entrepreneur?

Russ’ proudest accomplishment as an entrepreneur is simple: keeping his business running. He is proud that he and his team have achieved success while staying true to their vision. They’ve also effectively tackled a significant workplace issue – bullying, harassment, and unethical behavior – which makes work environments unpleasant. 

Russ finds immense satisfaction in providing a solution that helps individuals work in a healthier, more respectful atmosphere. They’ve positively influenced hiring practices, processing thousands of interviews each month; empowering organizations to screen candidates rigorously and make well-informed hiring choices. 

Whether filtering out problematic individuals or confirming good fits, Russ takes pride in leaving a lasting mark on the hiring process, ultimately enhancing workplace dynamics and ensuring others don’t experience what he did previously.

What big goals are you looking to achieve?

First and foremost, Russ aims to integrate structured interviews into every candidate screening experience, whether through his software or traditional face-to-face interviews. He strongly believes that understanding an individual’s character, integrity, and ethics requires engaging in meaningful conversations and getting to know them at a deeper level.

Additionally, Russ is focused on expanding internationally. Currently offering interview question sets in American English, Latin American, and Mexican Spanish, he plans to extend this reach to cater to the needs of clients globally. Russ recognizes the importance of addressing this problem on a larger scale, especially in regions where data integrity and hiring processes face unique challenges. 

Lastly, he hopes to enhance the platform’s capabilities to better support loss prevention teams and corporate investigators, facilitating faster and more effective handling of investigations, aligning with his commitment to creating a safer and more ethical work environment.

What big goals are you looking to achieve with your company? What successes have led to a point where you can aim so high? How has your company grown and fallen forward into the company you are today? We’d love to get into these questions with you to uncover your own Entrepreneur Story. Contact us today to share your story tomorrow.