Executive Interviews
Executive Interviews
An Interview with
Israel Pons
CEO
Pitch at The Beach
Pitch at the Beach is the perfect event to connect the best projects in the Americas with top Angel Investors from around the world! Join us at one of the most beautiful and amazing beaches from Mexico and the world.
Industry:
Financial Services
Mexico
Location:
Publish Date:
6/19/2020 7:02:09
Website:
Tell us about your background, and what are you most passionate about?
Israel developed his academic and professional career during his 24 years in the UK, where he served 5 years as Operations Director for the largest leisure company in Europe. He became an entrepreneur and founded 4 companies in the UK, 3 of them were sold successfully. He became an Angel Investor and decided to move back to Mexico. In Mexico, Israel became a Director of International Expansion for a Digital Financial Inclusion Model
How has your industry been changing in recent years? What are the biggest challenges you think your industry will face in the next 3-5 years?
The growth in early stage investment is growing exponencially in recent years, emerging markets have seen a great influx of these investors. The largest and more pressing challenges is to generate secondary liquidity markets within the early stage investment and mostly in the new technologies, this should create innovation under investment and also attarct a diverse pool of angel investors and VCs
What personality traits make you such an effective or influential leader? In a few words, how would you describe your leadership philosophy?
Look for the human connection first, move onto personal values and lstly understand the long terms goals of the members f team that works with me. Make sure you are responsible for the rsult you generate.
How would others define your communication style? Do you prefer to be close to your employees or maintain a healthy distance, and why?
Direct, precise and concise. Altough I do get close to my team I try not to get involved too much in their private issues.
Can you describe a time when you had to make a tough decision (e.g. budget cuts, organizational restructuring, market withdrawal, etc.)? What did you do and what was the result?
Having to let people go thanks to moving markets or drop in revenue is probabaly the toughest decisions ever. I feel a great relief when you are staright with people and yourself when things dont work out.
What does the future hold for your company after the COVID-19 pandemic? How will the “new normal” look like in the next 1-2 years?
I believe there will be chgallenges in all areas not just in certain industries...the new reality will be to do more with less...be more selfish but more equal...be firm and be clear with the team and customers...and we will all create more meaningful relationships, business and personal.
What is your advice to other leaders on how to ‘thrive, not just survive” in the face of economic difficulties and tough business environment?
Cut back, rethink,depoy and execute faster...above all be more human with your customers.