“When you experience 3000% inflation, panic strikes”

What was your first job?

It was to take care of the balance sheets of a tourism and money exchange business in the CBD of Buenos Aires. I was 18 and had just finished high school. I had learnt accounting as one of my subjects at school and I wanted to put it into practice straight away. It was for four months until I started university, and I left to focus on my studies.

What’s the best money advice you’ve ever received?

The best advice was from my father: “Always save part of your salary.” Savings are critical (even if they are minimal) to make you think about the future and to create discipline around not spending everything you earn or, as we see in many cases, spending more than you earn. He was someone who understood finances. He never had a credit card; he believed in cash. He never borrowed.

What’s the best investment decision you’ve made?

It was to leave Argentina and look for a more stable economy such as Australia. When you experience 3000% inflation in a year and you don’t know how to keep the value of your money, panic strikes and there is nothing you can do to plan for the future. You are constantly in survival mode.

What’s the worst investment decision you’ve made?

I personally cannot recall ever having made a terrible investment

decision as I am very frugal and can moderate my impulses quite well. I would probably say that the worst decision would have been not to invest in property, for example on the Gold Coast.

Twenty-six years ago I went on a holiday and I saw some houses on a decent piece of land, one block from the beach, which cost $50,000. Now they cost $500,000 or more. I saw the potential even though I had just migrated to Australia and I thought it was a fantastic place to be.

What is your favourite thing to splurge on?

That would be great massages. When I can, I think of Bali and those beautiful two hours resting and having your body massaged in an inspiring location. Anything that can restore mind/body balance is a priority for me.

If you had $10,000 where would you invest it?

I would help someone I care about who wants to start a business. Money comes and goes so helping others grow and moving the economy is something that people who have money should do more often. Spot the talent, give them an opportunity by believing in them and give them some initial capital.

What would you do if you had only $50 in your bank account?

I would strategise on how I can make more money. Quickly! I would do whatever it takes to pump up that bank account. It does not feel good not to have any money. It prevents you from being productive and focused.

Do you intend to leave an inheritance?

I do intend to leave an inheritance to my children, not only to help them get ahead financially but also to help them learn how to invest, how to plan for the future, how to save, etc. I think it is a role that every parent should undertake. I see many parents who leave their children to their own devices and I think that is not the best way to care about the future generation.

What are the three things people can do to become a great leader?

Three important things are:

• Take care of the health of your brain. Making decisions, having good judgement (about money, for example) and acting in a compassionate way all depend on how well your brain is working.

• Get feedback from the people around you in terms of how you are acting, communicating, and solving conflicts. If you do not ask, how do you correct yourself?

• Take time to reflect on the impact that you have on others. Without introspection you are always rushing from one thought to another and never looking at the big picture and what may be hindering your performance as a leader.

My documentary Make Me A Leader sheds a new light on this topic and how to develop leaders of the future. It suggests a new mindset based on science that integrates our entire biological system from the brain down. We interviewed various experts and discovered how to adapt our brains in a changing world, where creativity replaces knowledge as our most valuable leadership quality.

Finish this sentence: money makes ...

... things easier until you go past the level of survival. If you have plenty, sharing some of it would help others who may not have the capacity or the possibility of generating it by themselves.