Sydney Blake’s journey through the business world is a remarkable story of curiosity, determination, and entrepreneurial spirit that started at a young age and has led to the creation of VESTA Foundation Solutions in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. 

Sydney’s initiation into the world of business occurred in her early years, thanks to her parents’ home remodeling business. Even as a 10-year-old, she displayed an eagerness to be involved, offering her youthful assistance in any way possible. Looking back, she acknowledges that at that age, she might have been more of a distraction or cheap labor, but it was the beginning of her entrepreneurial journey. 

As she continued to grow, Sydney’s involvement in her father’s home inspection business paved the way for her to take on the responsibilities of running and operating a small foundation repair company nestled in the mountains of North Carolina. Over time, she and her team achieved remarkable growth, transforming the company’s annual revenue from $300,000 to an impressive $9 million. This journey was fraught with challenges, including scaling the business, team management, and the continual optimization of systems and processes. It was a wild and rewarding ride in the world of entrepreneurship and business management. 

Sydney’s entrepreneurial spirit extended beyond her own foundation repair company. She lent her expertise to other businesses in the same industry, assisting them in system development, CRM implementation, and the formulation of effective business strategies. This endeavor took her across the southeastern United States, providing her with invaluable insights from various business owners and employees. 

In 2013, Sydney embarked on a significant challenge by collaborating with a large foundation repair company based in Virginia. With over 300 employees and multiple offices, the complexity of the operation was substantial. She took on the responsibility of overseeing an office near Washington DC that was grappling with operational and profitability issues. It was an intense journey, marked by long hours and a lean administrative team of just three people. This venture tested her capacity and exposed her to the rigors of high-stakes business management. 

In 2016, when the company she was working for was sold to a private equity group, Sydney and her family were ready for a new adventure. Presented with an opportunity by a vendor supplying foundation repair products, they decided to make Oklahoma City their new home and opened VESTA Foundation Solutions. The name VESTA, inspired by the Roman Goddess symbolizing the protection of home and hearth, encapsulates their commitment to the well-being of their customers. 

Ensuring Safety and Property Integrity 

Vesta Foundation Solutions may not offer glamorous or exciting services, but they provide essential solutions for homeowners and businesses. The company specializes in four core services:

• Foundation Repair: Addressing issues related to the structural integrity of buildings, ensuring their stability and safety.
• Concrete Leveling: Fixing uneven or sunken concrete surfaces, such as driveways, walkways, and patios, to prevent tripping hazards and improve aesthetics.
• Dirt Crawl Space Repair: Addressing problems in crawl spaces, including moisture control, insulation, and structural repairs, to enhance the overall health of the building.
• Waterproofing Services: Protecting properties from water damage by installing systems that divert water away from foundations and basements. 

While these services may not be glamorous, they fulfill a genuine need for property owners. Structural issues can lead to a host of problems, and Vesta Foundation Solutions is dedicated to helping people address and resolve these issues to ensure the safety and integrity of their properties. 

Scaling a Business with the Right Team and Culture 

Scaling a business at a rapid pace is a significant challenge, but Sydney and her husband managed to grow Vesta Foundation Solutions from zero revenue to $5,400,000 in just three years. This remarkable growth required not only effective scaling strategies but also finding and developing the right team. 

One key to their success was implementing the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS), also known as Traction, by Gino Wickman. This system helped them identify and hire the right people for their organization, even if they lacked construction experience. They looked for individuals who exhibited certain qualities, such as integrity and problem-solving skills, and then provided the necessary training in the construction industry. 

Their leadership team, which now consists of nine people, includes individuals from various backgrounds, including investment banking, suicide prevention, the car industry, and 911 dispatch. This diverse team is united by their shared values and dedication to being good people, which has allowed them to excel in the construction business. 

Today, Vesta Foundation Solutions has grown to over 80 employees, operates in three locations, and repairs over 64 homes each week. Their success demonstrates the power of finding the right people and fostering a culture of excellence within the organization. 

Embracing Generational Diversity 

Sydney takes pride in the development of the Vesta Foundation Solutions team, where a significant 62% of the employees belong to Generation Z. Rather than making fun of generational differences, they have embraced the unique characteristics of each generation, recognizing the advantages this diversity brings to their business. 

This emphasis on generational diversity has led to a heightened focus on communication methods, training and development, and personal growth for every employee. It has been an evolutionary process that has not only benefited their business but has also allowed Sydney and her husband to consult with other companies and develop software solutions to support growth in the skilled trade industries. 

Furthermore, this journey has led to the creation of a non-profit organization called Construct My Future Camps, which offers educational programs during the summer to middle school students. These programs aim to showcase the numerous opportunities available in the trades, helping to inspire and educate the next generation about the potential in these fields. 

Recognizing Achievements and Inspiring Innovation 

Sydney and the Vesta Foundation Solutions team don’t typically boast about their achievements, but they take immense pride in the recognition they receive, such as being named to the INC 5000 list for three years in a row, winning Business Journals’ Business of the Year award, and receiving Most Influential CEO awards. Instead of simply celebrating these accolades themselves, they choose to share the experience with their employees, especially those who might not have had the opportunity to attend major networking events and awards galas.

Seeing the reactions of their team members when attending such events has been truly rewarding. These experiences have sparked innovation within the company, with their team dreaming up new initiatives. Currently, Vesta Foundation Solutions is undergoing a major waste and recycling initiative to reduce steel and company waste by over 10%. They are repurposing waste products, eliminating disposable Tyvek suits for their teams, and promoting more environmentally friendly products, like their concrete lifting foam made from 90% recycled material. All of these environmentally conscious efforts have originated from the creative minds of their employees, and Sydney and her team are excited to continue such initiatives.

A Fundamental Quality in Leadership and Business Growth 

When asked about the qualities that are most important to her regarding leadership and growing a business, Sydney places kindness at the top of the list. In her experience, the best leaders she has worked for were kind individuals. She believes that kindness can make a significant difference, especially in a growing company where there can be a lot of challenges and mistakes.

In contrast, being unkind or a “jerk” is the opposite of a leadership trait that she values. Sydney and her team actively instill kindness in their company culture and aim to improve qualities like humility, emotional intelligence (EQ), and accountability. While all leaders must hold people accountable, she finds that it’s much easier to do so when kindness and these other positive traits are present.

Approach to Work-Life Integration 

Sydney brings up an important perspective on the concept of work-life balance. Instead of promising or expecting a strict separation between work and personal life, she advocates for the idea of work-life integration. This approach acknowledges that work and personal life often intermingle and affect each other, and it focuses on finding ways to make the two aspects complement each other. 

By adopting a work-life integration mindset, VESTA Foundation Solutions aims to create an environment where employees can effectively manage their work commitments while also addressing their personal needs and responsibilities. They provide support in the form of mental health programs, financial literacy resources, and flexible schedules to accommodate various life circumstances, including family changes. 

Additionally, Sydney and her team are open to sharing their systems, processes, and advice with other businesses, demonstrating a willingness to help and support the broader business community. 

This perspective recognizes the complexity of modern life and strives to create a more flexible and accommodating work environment, which can ultimately lead to higher employee satisfaction and retention. 

Advice to Aspiring Entrepreneurs 

When advising other aspiring entrepreneurs about pursuing their dreams, Sydney emphasizes a few key points:

• Have Fun: She believes that life is too short to be stuck in a job that isn’t enjoyable. Having fun should be a fundamental part of the entrepreneurial journey.
• Build a Complementary Team: Sydney stresses the importance of assembling a team that complements your weaknesses. Surrounding yourself with people who provide constructive criticism and support can help prevent potential disasters.
• Think Long-Term: She encourages entrepreneurs to adopt a long-term, evergreen mindset when making decisions for their business. Instead of making hasty decisions, she suggests considering what choices will lead to the company’s success not just now, but for the next 100 years. 

These principles reflect Sydney’s belief in creating a positive, sustainable, and enjoyable entrepreneurial journey. 

Website: vestafoundationsolutions.com