Todd Federman

Managing Director, North Coast Ventures

Education: MBA, Duke University; bachelor’s degree in finance, Kent State University

How I Approach My Day: I try to focus on the few things that matter most, move them forward and stay available to the people and companies that need me. In venture, the day can shift quickly, so I try to stay disciplined but flexible.

What Success Looks Like to Me: Success is helping build companies, relationships and institutions that last. For me, it means seeing entrepreneurs, investors and the Northeast Ohio ecosystem move farther and experience wins because of the work we do.

What I Look for in a Leader: I look for clarity, judgment, humility and follow-through. The best leaders make hard decisions, communicate plainly and bring people with them without needing all the credit. 

Favorite Quote: “Plans are useless, but planning is indispensable.” — Dwight D. Eisenhower

An Important Lesson I Learned: Trust compounds. The best opportunities usually come from doing what you said you would do, treating people well and staying in the game long enough for good things to happen.