At 14, Victor arrived from Moldova with no English and a lot to prove. Today he leads teams in finance—and credits his results to an iron morning routine (steam sauna → 3°C cold plunge) and a mindset he calls “mental calluses.” In this Built in Canada episode, Victor explains why Canada is kind but competitive, how to lead when you’re the youngest in the room, and why success starts outside your comfort zone.


Key ideas:
• Kind country, competitive market—deliver on promises.
• Routine drives results: do hard things first.
• Leadership = mission + adaptation + outcomes.
• Growth mindset: win or learn—never lose.

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#BuiltInCanada #ImmigrantSuccess #MoldovaToCanada #MorningRoutine #ColdPlunge #MentalToughness #Leadership #CareerGrowth #Discipline

At 14, freshly arrived from Beirut’s Armenian district, Ishkhan grabbed a snow shovel to help his family—and never stopped moving. In this candid Built in Canada episode, he breaks down why Canada rewards early risers and doers, how family support made his business possible, and why money isn’t the goal—time and quality of life are.

⏱ Timestamps
00:00 – “This country isn’t for the lazy”: 5AM starts, work ethic, family support
00:34 – Intro & why these stories matter
00:57 – Arriving before high school: Canadian citizen, Lebanese-Armenian roots
02:53 – Growing up in an Armenian enclave; English as a new language
04:16 – First impressions: winter, clean air, and “money doesn’t grow on trees”
05:09 – Fitting in at school, heavy accent, learning fast
07:34 – First hustle: shoveling driveways to buy shoes (and dream cars)
09:46 – Choosing welding/co-op; getting certified before graduation
14:50 – First venture (2009–2011): mobile welding during a recession—hard lessons
17:15 – Bridge repair emergency work & making ends meet
18:00 – Back to 9–5: welder → field supervisor at top steel firms
19:36 – 2020 leap: starting a business amid COVID; partnership origins
21:58 – Splitting roles: ops vs. engineering; building a lean, capable team
24:31 – Naming the company; seeing the brand through the family’s eyes
25:46 – The CFO at home: how his wife’s finance skills made it possible
27:51 – Advice: don’t chase hype; money ≠ happiness—optimize for time
29:10 – Why his crew starts at 5AM (and finishes by your lunchtime)
31:14 – The “9AM problem”: how late starts steal family time

What does it take to leave behind uncertainty, start over in a new country, and build a successful diamond business in one of the most competitive markets in the world?

In this episode of Built in Canada, Taron shares his journey from Armenia to Canada, his early struggles during the 2008 financial crisis, and how he transformed challenges into opportunities by launching PT Diamonds in 2010.

You’ll hear about:
⏱ Timestamps
00:00 – Why risk is necessary to achieve dreams in Canada
01:25 – Moving from Armenia & starting fresh in Canada (2008)
03:37 – Early career in Armenia’s diamond industry & training in Antwerp
05:56 – Struggles as a newcomer during the financial crisis
07:30 – Taking the leap: founding PT Diamonds in 2010
09:26 – Trying different businesses to learn the Canadian market
11:15 – The power of positivity & surrounding yourself with the right energy
13:36 – Competing in Toronto’s competitive business environment
16:27 – Expanding PT Diamonds internationally & leveraging Antwerp connections
19:20 – Adapting to change: synthetic vs. natural diamonds
22:35 – Sharing knowledge through “Lunch & Learn” sessions at George Brown College
25:59 – Who Taron would love to learn from over lunch (Jon Stewart!)

💎 Taron’s story is about taking risks, staying positive, and believing in your ability to stand out — no matter the competition.

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