Providing candid advice on the ups and downs of entrepreneurship, this book interweaves the world of tech start-ups, the American immigrant experience, and the realities of running a business with your life partner.
Across two decades as entrepreneurs, Elma and Dov Levy faced economic recessions, government shutdowns, work-life balance issues, leadership conflicts, and the emotions of letting go of their company Dovel Technologies – a technology consulting firm that they grew from a space in their attic to a multimillion-dollar operation with major government contracts. In this conversational and practical book they share insights on:
- How next-generation entrepreneurs can develop business relationships and networking skills, and maintain a high level of risk tolerance and manage risks strategically, including how and when to scale the business.
- How to stay true to guiding principles as co-owner spouses and woman-owned business entrepreneurs.
- What trends and opportunities to watch out for in a post-COVID-19 world.
Aspiring entrepreneurs, growth-focused founders, family business owners, and government and technology professionals will especially value the Levys’ business and personal success stories, with guidance on how to manage a marriage and business simultaneously, creating boundaries with a home office, and showing mutual respect in the boardroom.
Part 1: Prologue 1. The Dov and Elma Story 2. Dovel is Born Part II: Lessons Learned 3.Buidling the Corporate Infrastructure 4.Bagels on Fridays 5.Should Married Couples Run a Business Together? 6. Dov’s Tech Tales – the Only Constant is Change 7. Tolerating Risk 8. The BD Challenge & Chasing Rabbits 9. Letting Go 10. Preparing for Exit 11. Entrepreneurship Advice for All: From College Students to Experienced Founders 12. Why Travel Adventures? Part III: Epilogue 13. The Final Chapter 14. The World Post-COVID-19: Trends We're Following 15. Our Travel Adventures 16. Conclusion
Biography
Elma Levy is an entrepreneur, investor, leadership coach, and public speaker. She is cofounder and principal (with her husband Dov) of The Eldov Group, LLC, a boutique investment and startup advisory in the Washington, D.C. area. As an advisor to entrepreneurs, Ms. Levy provides advice on corporate governance, financial management, and tactical planning. In 2000, she cofounded Dovel Technologies, building and supporting information technology (IT) systems for the U.S. government. Over the next 18 years, she served as chief executive officer, and later as chair of the board, overseeing corporate governance and managing the company’s infrastructure development and growth through its 2019 acquisition. She is also a credentialed leadership, wellness, and life skills coach, and founder of Coach To Strength LLC.
Dov Levy is an entrepreneur, investor, and a leading expert in large-scale, mission-critical IT solutions. He cofounded Dovel Technologies and served as its chief technologist until the company’s acquisition in 2019, remaining a dynamic leader at the forefront of technological innovations. Over the past three decades, Mr. Levy served in technology leadership positions for the U.S. government's most significant mission-critical projects, including systems for the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Department of Defense (DoD). He is cofounder and principal (with his wife, Elma) of The Eldov Group, LLC, and a senior advisor for GrantSolutions.gov, managing a large-scale implementation of cloud computing, event sourcing, machine learning, blockchain, and artificial intelligence.
