1. PROFESSIONAL HISTORY

Previous professional history up to this moment: How did you start working?

I am a Computer Science Engineer from the Tecnológico de Monterrey and hold an MBA and a Master's in Economics.

My corporate journey began at Hewlett Packard where I held various Sales and Marketing positions from 1983 to 1992. There, I was honored with the PRESIDENT'S CLUB Award, reserved for the top 1% of the world's best salespeople.

Since then, I have accumulated over 30 years of experience in the sector, collaborating with companies such as Hewlett Packard, IBM, Oracle, Sugar CRM, and Salesforce. Before my current position at NEORIS, I was the CEO of Microsoft Mexico for four and a half years and served as non-executive Chairman for 6 months.

In addition to my corporate engagements, I am personally dedicated to other projects, among which I highlight the most relevant one, the "Albergue San Cristóbal," a sanctuary that provides shelter, food, medical care, and adoptions, with a capacity for nearly 1,000 homeless dogs.

Currently, I am an Independent Board Member of Reservamos.com. Additionally, I serve as an advisor to Redshift Corporation, a Cybersecurity for Unified Communications company located in San Ramon, California.

Who was your mentor, and why?

My father. He gave me the most important advice for my life. In 1972, he said, "Look, you need to be really good at mathematics to know how to calculate and charge what you earn. You need to speak English like a North American because the United States will continue to occupy a prominent place in the world economy for many years to come. You need to study computer science because computers will dominate the world." He told me this in 1972, a man who only had a third-grade education.

Another thing he told me—something that nobody would have expected—was, "You need to be the best speaker in the world, the best storyteller. Thirty or forty years ago, conflicts in the world were resolved with cannons; today, the word is the modern sword. That's why you need to be an eloquent speaker to open the doors of any place."

He said, "If you do these things well, you will have a successful career and be able to contribute to helping all the people you want." And indeed, that's how it has been. He has been an essential figure in my life, and I am very grateful for his valuable advice.

What does technology and digital environments represent in your life?

I am a strong believer in technology and the opportunities it offers in the sector. That's why I'm passionate about serving, training, and building world-class teams that bring success to our clients. NEORIS's culture and strong commitment to innovation present an important challenge in my career, one that I embrace with great enthusiasm. I am confident that together, we will achieve many successes. Building a better, responsible, and more sustainable future is one of the main challenges we share, and it's a unique opportunity.

2. PERSONAL CONTRIBUTIONS

Brief history of NEORIS

NEORIS is a leading global digital accelerator with over 20 years of experience, helping companies and organizations worldwide leap into innovation and embrace digital transformation in their businesses. We achieve this by designing and implementing disruptive and sustainable solutions that make their activities more efficient, competitive, and cost-effective.

Headquartered in Miami, Florida, NEORIS operates in the United States, Europe, Latin America, and India.

We are the first and only IT consulting firm in Latin America to receive SAP® Global Services certification, and we partner with industry giants like Microsoft, Amazon, and Salesforce.

With over 5,000 employees, NEORIS provides our business partners with industry insights and best practices primarily in four global verticals: Financial Services, Telco and Media, Manufacturing, Retail & CPG.

Tell us about your recent appointment, in what context did it happen, and why?

What are the competitive differences that make NEORIS stand out from other offerings in Mexico?

We have more than 20 years of experience as the digital partner of major companies around the world. We have received significant industry awards that speak to the excellence and quality of our work.

We combine in-depth industry knowledge with the highest technological expertise to create disruptive and sustainable solutions that help companies carry out their activities and processes more efficiently and competitively.

We assist over 350 clients worldwide, most of which are part of the Fortune 500 ranking, in implementing and adapting cutting-edge technology in their operations and processes.

We foster long-term relationships to drive innovation and create value; 55% of our clients have been with NEORIS for over 5 years, and 20% for over 10 years.

The importance of discussing digital transformation in Mexico. What does it entail? What is the current situation in our country?

Digital transformation in the country is no longer an option; it is a pillar for its development and requires generating a cultural shift, integrating digital tools and solutions in all areas of the country and business.

Since the pandemic, we have learned more than ever the value of technology (data, AI, and Machine Learning have become our allies) and the value of time and service. Our business partners, customers, and consumers appreciate quality, immediacy, and the ease of obtaining a service, completing a transaction, or resolving a simple query.

The technology industry is a $4.5 trillion market worldwide, representing approximately 4.5% of the global GDP, but it is on track to grow to 10%, which means there is significant growth potential.

In the specific case of NEORIS, how can you contribute to Mexican companies standing out after the pandemic period? What specific local challenges do you encounter, and what innovations do you propose?

I believe we are at a crucial moment for NEORIS, as Mexico is transitioning from being the 15th-largest economy in the world, with a GDP of $1.2 trillion, to becoming the 7th or 8th-largest economy, with a GDP of $3 to $4 trillion.

During this transition, there will be tremendous value generated in terms of culture, technology, education, and societal evolution. We have a significant opportunity to collaborate, hand in hand with all Mexican companies, in this journey to digitally transform their businesses.

A clear example in Mexico is nearshoring. Figures indicate that about 60% of the $17 billion nearshoring investments will happen between the area of Monterrey in Nuevo León and Saltillo in Coahuila, and NEORIS is at the core of where this phenomenon will occur, which is economically significant.

NEORIS has a great opportunity to capitalize on this juncture and help the country attract a large share of this investment and drive the economic growth it will generate.

Explain the importance of having a strategic ally like NEORIS.

Digitalization presents significant challenges for companies, from understanding the language to setting proven results in business agility and efficiency. That's why it's important to have an expert who not only understands the challenges of different industries but also embraces them and guides companies on the path of digital transformation. At NEORIS, we are not just technology experts; we are part of technology. We design and implement digital solutions that promote real changes in business models and cultivate a culture of continuous improvement.

We develop strategies focused on people, processes, industries, technology, data, and management. We are allies to some of the most important companies in our country and the international market.

Plans and future of your organization and personal goals

We aim to elevate our relationships with clients to a more strategic level, better understand their businesses, and assist them in projects that generate short-term efficiencies, medium-term competitive advantages, and long-term disruption. The sectors we focus on in Mexico are Financial Services, CPG and Retail, Telecommunications, and Manufacturing.

Our people are the great differentiator in our company—committed, knowledgeable, and customer-oriented.

Anything else you would like to add?

+ LEADERSHIP

How do you empower your team to exercise their leadership?

By creating a clear and challenging vision based on the market opportunity I see, involving them in the genesis of that vision, discovering that you will never be ashamed of being brave, and that the best part of your career comes when you cross the river of fear.

Then, empowering them to form their teams, design goals that contribute to the vision we defined, and establish clear metrics indicating progress in the right direction.

How do you establish successful work and personal relationships?

By creating an environment where everyone feels safe, with the freedom to make decisions and experiment, where they can learn without fear of making mistakes or being judged or reprimanded. Always providing constructive, constant, direct but respectful feedback, eliminating qualifying adjectives and focusing on facts and figures.

3. CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE POSITION TO THE INDIVIDUAL

Teamwork

How do you get along with your team?

I develop teams where there is a profound respect for people and their talents, with a philosophy of learning, shifting from "knowing it all" to "wanting to learn everything," where that spirit of learning is the driving force behind our relationships and the business.

I never give orders to anyone. I ask many questions so that, together, we arrive at the right solutions. When we make mistakes, we learn, experiment, and move on to the next challenge.

What is your leadership style?

It is an inspirational style, creating a vision that is a great aspiration, challenging, energizing, an adrenaline injection of how we can contribute to the development of our country and our clients. We are on a journey to become one of the world's largest economies, and that is exciting. Understanding how we can deliver a better Mexico to our children than what we received, a more just, inclusive country for women and minorities, more sustainable, and more humane.

Once my colleagues embrace that inspiration and energy, I set them free to create, and I am amazed by the results they can achieve.

I seek to create an environment where we share our dreams, our laughter, learn from our mistakes with love, and recognize the blessings God has given us.

Based on my personal and professional experiences, I position myself with my colleagues not just as a career or job mentor but as a life mentor to help them achieve happiness, with a comprehensive view of each individual as a person, partner, family leader, and NEORIS collaborator.