A penniless youth who founded a business that generates $ 1.3 billion

Ronald Reuben, born in Montreal, is the founder and CEO of Groupe Medicom. Since the company was founded in 1988, in response to the AIDS pandemic, Ronald has established a global healthcare business focused on infection control, with sales and manufacturing divisions in Canada, the United States, in Europe and Asia.

Which city are you from?

I am a proud Montrealer born in the Côte-des-Neiges area. My parents are Iraqi immigrants who came to Canada to live for a better quality of life and for the freedom to live.

Was your mother a single parent?

My mother is now 85 years old and if it hadn’t been for her, I don’t know what would have happened to me in my life. My parents divorced when I was very young. Because of the pandemic, I find it difficult because I can’t see her more often.

How did your mother’s advice influence you?

I am an only child. Mom always made me understand that, in life, you have to believe in our means to be successful.

At what age did you start working?

I started at the age of 14 to collect money and buy products to resell in wholesale stores on Saint-Laurent Street.

What were the profits used for in your life?

My mother worked very hard to pay for the expenses of a house. My money allowed my mother to make ends meet.

You shared quite original gastronomic outings with your mother.

I was very young, I will never forget the beautiful moments of gastronomy that I shared with my mother. When we had the means to spoil ourselves a little, we would go and try Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) on Decarie Street. Even today, these are beautiful moments in my life that I cannot forget.

When you were young, did you work for Canadair?

I went to school in the Côte-des-Neiges district. After my classes and during the weekend, I headed for the Canadair company, which is now Bombardier, located in Ville Saint-Laurent.

What was your job?

Among other things, I was a maintenance worker. I found a way to balance my school and work schedules so that I could work 40 hours a week.

Would you like to be an artist?

As Claude Dubois sings so well, “I would have liked to be an artist”. Not to be confused, he wouldn’t have been a singer or an actor, but even today, I would like to be an artist-painter.

What brand was your first car?

I didn’t have a lot of money, so I had a BMW.

Wait a minute, a BMW!

(With his mocking laugh) BMW means “Bus Metro Walk”.

Did you like reading?

In my youth, I liked to read history books on politics.

Have you finished your studies at Harvard Business School?

My studies allowed me to attend elementary and secondary schools in Montreal, McGill University and, ultimately, Harvard Business School.

Who believed in you in business?

My lawyer gave me my first chance. There were three of us willing to invest $ 10,000 each to start a business. I did not have the sum. He took me aside to tell me that he was advancing me the sum of money.

Who is the businessman who advised you?

Without a doubt, Morris Goodman, Founder and Chairman of the Board of Pharmascience.

Who are the people you love the most?

My mother, this wonderful woman who taught me the values ​​of life, my wife, my daughter and my son.

As a father, what is your greatest pride?

I would rather say that is what my wife and I instilled in our children. We are proud to be Quebeckers. The French language is a priority for us.

Having a hard time in your life?

My parents’ divorce has definitely marked my life, as I have to admit that sometimes I missed my father’s presence.

Has time allowed you to reconnect with your father?

In 2003, a friend of mine contacted me to let me know that he had met my father. Our first meeting was cordial, then everything went well with him until his death a few years later.

You founded your company, AR Medicom, in 1988.

It is a global healthcare company headquartered in Montreal. I never thought it would be active in over 100 countries, including Canada, the United States, the Netherlands, France, China, Taiwan and Japan.

How many masks do you make per day in Montreal?

Currently, at the Saint-Laurent plant in Montreal, we manufacture a million masks per day.

Do you like advising young entrepreneurs?

I appreciate every opportunity a young person gives me the chance to help. My message is not complicated: you have to believe in yourself, especially in difficult times.

Are you proud of your career path?

I never thought that a penniless kid could have started a business that today generates over $ 1.3 billion.

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