Sam Thevanayagam didn't take the traditional path to success. He started Parts Life, Inc. at 44, sold his family home to fund it, and spent three grueling years in the red before breaking through.
What began as a pivot away from a struggling automotive market became a multi-company defense manufacturing powerhouse, supplying parts for assets like the B-52 bomber across all five military domains. In this episode, Sam shares the raw, unfiltered story of how he turned failure into fuel and built something worth passing to the next generation.
But the bigger story here is people. When Sam acquired DeVal Lifecycle Support out of bankruptcy, he didn't just buy a company, he inherited a wounded workforce. His strategy wasn't to throw money at it. It was oatmeal on Fridays, learning every name on the floor, and going after hearts before heads. Sam breaks down how he built a "sticky culture" rooted in meritocracy, servant leadership, and a mission to help every employee reach their God-given potential, including hiring a 74-year-old when most companies wouldn't.
Key Takeaways:
Learn on someone else's dime first — Sam spent 12 years in manufacturing before starting his company, and credits that experience as the foundation of everything
Sacrifice is non-negotiable — selling the family home and taking on credit card debt were hard realities, not just motivational talking points
Pivot fast — when automotive dried up, Sam recognized where his skillset was actually needed and moved into military/defense
Cultural transformation takes time and presence; Sam had to lead change from the front, personally and consistently
Start with a small, trusted group to carry your vision — then let it crack and spread
A problem that can be solved with money isn't the real problem — workforce trust and transformation require a different currency
Humility and curiosity are the two skills that outlast any strategy — what got you here won't necessarily get you there
Connect with Sam Thevanayagam:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/samthevanayagam
Connect with Kamila Adamatti on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kamila-adamatti
Visit the Shift Happens website: https://shifthappensthepodcast.com/
Tone Up Business Consulting: https://toneupbusiness.com/
We hope you enjoyed this episode of the Shift Happens Podcast.
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Listen to Shift Happens on these podcast platforms:
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3FLkuYKoB8ultitr23MPj2
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/shift-happens-podcast/id1814603417
Amazon Podcasts: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/fa0cf758-f9fb-4cda-9ed8-55e04ec6b51f
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