RETHINKING BUSINESS
A common feature among companies that have been successful in promoting innovation is their confidence in their teams and ensuring they have developed the right working environment for creativity to flourish.
Inda González MARKETING DIRECTOR, BAXTER MEXICO, CENTRAL AMERICA AND CARIBBEAN
AFTER 25 YEARS in this business and based on my experience in Baxter, what should come first is being open, making people feel comfortable to share their ideas and go against the status quo. However, most importantly, we need to provide a space where people feel contented so innovation can flow naturally. We work hard to dispel the notion that innovation is hard, and our product development team knows that each and every one of them can do something different from their usual task and position. We go even further by offering initiatives wherein our collaborators are free to propose projects and ideas linked to innovation. We announce the best ideas and then offer them a prize, with the possibility of making them a reality. Another important thing is our marketing and commercial departments. We like working as closely as possible with our clients and truly listening to them. When you are there for your client and listen to their needs, you can provide valuable, innovative solutions that can solve problems on a bigger scale.
Vincent Speranza MANAGING DIRECTOR, ENDEAVOR MEXICO
THE RELATIONSHIPS we build with the best entrepreneurs inspire us, and thus Endeavor is a reflection of them and their work. Based on our experience, our entrepreneurs embrace change and innovation as part of their professional growth. We also maintain a constant sense of unconformity with our work so we can challenge ourselves further and keep up with what the market requires and spur innovation. Another thing we do is always think one step ahead, predict what is to come, and discuss our ideas for the future but always keeping our mission in mind. This is a healthy way to work because we can mold our vision without straying from our purpose. But to accomplish that, the way we build our team is key. It is an ongoing process to encourage Endeavor tribe so that they welcome and cherish innovation, and what that means is to be daring, create, try, make mistakes, and try again, but also to know when to stop. For this to blossom, you need to immerse your workers in this culture and train them to think ahead and around innovation.
Alberto Jose Alesi MANAGING DIRECTOR, MANPOWER
WE LAUNCHED A STUDY called the revolution of skills a few years ago, and we were right about what our clients and economies were telling us about the switch from transactional skills to strategic skills. In terms of how we can compare skills, we just launched the 2021 research where we announced the top 10 skills that will be in demand. Number one for this year is accountability. Adaptability is second, followed by taking initiative, reasoning, and problem solving. It is key to keep your teams engaged in a virtual setting. Critical thinking and analysis are crucial in STEM. Job availability has increased for people in call centers, e-commerce, and retail companies that have had to change from physical to virtual stores. One of the main areas of research in terms of skills is creativity, learnability, curiosity, and collaboration. We still have a shortage of talent, and in mid-2021 we launched a survey looking into the growing shortage of talent. It is a challenge for HR departments to provide higher budgets to develop skills.
Luis Férez VP & CCE (COUNTRY CHIEF EXECUTIVE), INGRAM MICRO
WE HEAVILY PROMOTE DIVERSITY because, in the end, Ingram is a company of people. We do not have a product offering as such; we have a service offering and create our own products. In the end, we rely on people’s capabilities. We are not concerned with nationalities, sexual preferences, race, or anything else. We only want to have the most capable people to do the job we are looking for. That is how we are setting up our company culture and our search for talent. We are a highly inclusive company. We pay close attention to capabilities and make our recruiting decisions based on that. Today, we have one of the best teams among all the technology companies. We have a great team that is a well-oiled engine in terms of the capabilities of the people we work with. Ingram cares a lot about its people and has launched many initiatives to maintain a good work environment. In fact, we are one of the best companies to work for in Mexico. We offer a great deal of training, flexibility, and benefits to attract the best talent.