Growth • Transformation • Exit Readiness
EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP FOR BUSINESS GROWTH.
Zain Mahmood
Introduction
Zain brings leadership experience across multiple sectors, focused on helping small- to mid-sized business owners—both privately held and private equity–backed—achieve their goals around profitability, growth, and exit readiness.
In interim and fractional leadership roles, we partner with companies to accelerate performance, scale innovation, and reach the next level of excellence by building high-performing “A” teams and executing on high priority projects.
With a background in engineering and business and leadership in building materials, construction chemicals, automotive, electronic equipment, environmental technology, and distribution we bring a track record in strategic transformation, mergers and acquisitions, and exit preparedness.
ABOUT ZAIN
Back Story
Zain Mahmood was born and raised in Bangladesh, where he developed an early ambition to pursue higher education in the United States. At 18, he set out on his own—leaving his family behind—to begin his journey in Industrial Engineering at the University of Missouri–Columbia.
Zain pursued a Master’s in Manufacturing degree from the Business School at University of Toledo and started his early career in NW Ohio.
Zain has lived in 7 states in the mid-west, mountain, eastern and southern US.
Zain had 3 “dream” jobs early in his career!
SETUP AN INTRODUCTORY DISCUSSION
Early Career
After generating more than 2X in new sales for a small, family-owned metal forming business, Zain was promoted early in his career to Operations Manager, where he led operations for a 50-person manufacturing site.
He then joined AlliedSignal, gaining experience in its automotive group at a 900-person, 24/7 union facility. Next, Zain became Director of Six Sigma at AlliedSignal Laminate Systems, where he was recognized as the team’s Most Valuable Player.
Zain went on to serve as Business P&L Vice President at Johns Manville, a Berkshire Hathaway company. In this role, he successfully transformed a $350 global business from declining profitability into one of the fastest-growing, increasing revenue, profitability and market share—an achievement that earned him the JM Summit Leadership Award.
Transformation & Growth
We took a mid-sized company with declining profitability and, over five years, doubled its revenue, significantly expanded margins, and increased the private owner’s valuation by 2.5x. During his tenure, he built a high-performing team that revitalized the company’s R&D portfolio, reinvented its aftermarket business, and expanded into three new high-growth markets and regions. The company continues to grow successfully, pursue acquisitions, and serve its customers effectively.
Passion and Family
Zain is passionate about teaching and mentoring startups and entrepreneurs. For over five years, as a certified mentor for the Venture Mentoring Team (VMT), he has served as an active coach to a range of ventures, from boat dock leasing concepts to cybersecurity companies.
More recently, Zain joined Watson Institute as a preceptor, guiding founders through cohort-based programs across a variety of business topics.
Outside of work, Zain is a proud “girl dad” who raised two daughters as a single parent. He enjoys boating, traveling, discovering hidden “hole-in-the-wall” restaurants, and bringing friends together to connect.