With nearly two decades of experience in the field of process automation, digital technology, and artificial intelligence, I am a results-oriented manager with a passion for challenges and innovative projects. I work with fast-growing, high-tech teams and products that integrate R&D and innovation strategies in a pragmatic way. Seeing the positive impact mentorship had on my career, I'm passionate about helping others achieve similar success through mentorship.
My Mentoring Topics
- Onboarding acquired companies and products
- Strategize and scale a business from scratch
- Creating a sustainable culture of excellence: human values, teambuilding and mentoring
- Working with distributed teams: developing a successful organization in EU & LATAM
- "pragmatic business": reduce production cycles, help adding new logos and accelerate organic growth in existing customers
- Building global products
J.
6.November 2023Muy buena mentoria aprendi mucho la recomiendo.
G.
25.September 2023Muchas gracias por tu tiempo Alberto!
Designing Your Life - How to Build a Well-Lived, Joyful Life
Bill Burnett, Dave Evans
Key Facts and Insights from the Book Life Design Approach: The book presents a novel approach to life design, based on the same problem-solving principles and strategies that Stanford's d.school uses for product design. Reframing: The concept of reframing is central to the book. It helps people to perceive their problems from a new perspective and find innovative solutions. Prototyping: The authors use the concept of prototyping borrowed from product design, suggesting readers to build three prototypes of their future to explore possibilities. Gravity Problems: The book introduces the concept of 'gravity problems' - problems that are unsolvable and require acceptance rather than solution-seeking. Dysfunctional Beliefs: The book talks about the power of dysfunctional beliefs and how they can limit our potential and happiness. Energy Engagement: This concept is about identifying activities that energize us and incorporating more of them into our lives. Designing Your Work Life: The book extends life design principles to career planning, job search, and job crafting. Building a Team: The authors emphasize the importance of building a supportive network or team for a well-lived, joyful life. Failure Immunity: The book promotes the idea of becoming immune to failure by learning and growing from it, rather than fearing it. Resilience: The authors emphasize resilience as a key factor in dealing with life's challenges and designing a joyful life. Mindfulness: The book advocates mindfulness as a tool for self-awareness and better decision-making. In-depth Analysis of the Book "Designing Your Life - How to Build a Well-Lived, Joyful Life" by Bill Burnett and Dave Evans is a revolutionary book that applies design thinking to the most complex design problem of all — our lives. As a professor who has been dealing with these topics for many years, I found the book to be a refreshing and innovative approach to tackling life's challenges. The authors introduce the concept of designing our lives just like a product designer would design a product. They suggest a systematic, step-by-step approach, starting from identifying where we are currently, brainstorming about where we want to be, and then creating a plan to get there. Reframing, an essential tool in design thinking, is used to change our perspective on problems. By reframing problems as opportunities, we can come up with innovative solutions. For instance, instead of seeing a job loss as a disaster, we can reframe it as an opportunity to explore new career paths or start our own business. The book introduces the concept of 'gravity problems', problems that are unsolvable, like gravity, and should be accepted instead of wasting energy on trying to solve them. This concept resonated with me because it's a common mistake to focus on things we cannot change, instead of focusing on areas where we can make a difference. Prototyping is another significant concept in the book. The idea is to create several prototypes of our future, experiment with them, gather feedback, and refine our plans based on the feedback. This iterative approach reduces the risk of making big life decisions based on assumptions and enables us to learn from our experiences. The Energy Engagement concept involves identifying activities that give us energy and incorporating more of them into our lives. The authors suggest keeping an activity log, noting how engaged and energized we feel during different activities, to find what truly brings us joy and satisfaction. The authors also talk about dysfunctional beliefs that can limit our potential and happiness. They encourage us to challenge and change these beliefs, freeing ourselves from self-imposed limitations, which is a powerful concept that aligns with cognitive-behavioral therapy principles. In terms of career planning, the authors extend the life design principles to Designing Your Work Life. They provide practical advice on job search, job crafting, and creating a fulfilling and meaningful career. The importance of Building a Team is emphasized throughout the book. The authors suggest that we need a supportive network of people who can provide feedback, share their experiences, and help us in our life design journey. The authors encourage us to develop Failure Immunity by shifting our perspective on failure. They suggest that we should see failure as an opportunity to learn and grow rather than as a negative outcome to be feared. Resilience is identified as a key factor in dealing with life's challenges and designing a joyful life. The authors provide strategies to build resilience, such as developing a growth mindset and practicing stress management techniques. Finally, the authors advocate Mindfulness as a tool for self-awareness and better decision-making. They suggest that by being present and mindful, we can make more thoughtful and conscious choices in our life design process. In conclusion, "Designing Your Life - How to Build a Well-Lived, Joyful Life" provides a practical, hands-on approach to designing our lives. It combines principles and strategies from design thinking, positive psychology, and cognitive-behavioral therapy, providing a comprehensive guide to creating a fulfilling and joyful life.
ViewValue Proposition Design - How to Create Products and Services Customers Want
Alexander Osterwalder, Yves Pigneur, Gregory Bernarda, Alan Smith
Key Facts and Insights: Value Proposition Design (VPD) helps you tackle the core challenge of every business – creating compelling products and services customers want to buy. VPD is a step-by-step process that allows you to systematically understand customer needs and design value propositions that meet those needs. It provides you with a set of tools and techniques to visually map out and test your value propositions. The book presents a Value Proposition Canvas, a practical tool to design, test, build, and manage value propositions. VPD emphasizes the importance of understanding your customer's jobs, pains, and gains to create a product or service that fits their needs. The book introduces the concept of ‘Fit’ between your value proposition and the customer profile. Through the process of Prototyping, you can visualize your ideas, get feedback, and iterate until you find a solution that works. Testing is crucial in VPD. You need to gather evidence and learn from the market to reduce the risk of failure. VPD is a part of the larger Business Model Canvas approach, which complements the process by looking at how your company can deliver, create, and capture value. The book is rich in examples and case studies that demonstrate how businesses have successfully implemented these concepts. VPD is a continuous process. It does not stop once you have found a successful value proposition. You should continue testing and iterating as your market and customers evolve. An In-depth Analysis "Value Proposition Design - How to Create Products and Services Customers Want" is a detailed guide that provides businesses with a systematic approach to understanding customer needs and creating compelling value propositions. Value Proposition Design (VPD): Understanding and Designing for Customer Needs VPD is a customer-centric approach that emphasizes the need to understand your customer's jobs, pains, and gains. This understanding forms the basis for creating products or services that meet these needs. This is a vital shift from product-centric to customer-centric thinking, which aligns with the modern marketing concept of putting the customer at the center of your business activities. The Value Proposition Canvas: A Practical Tool for Value Proposition Design The Value Proposition Canvas, introduced in the book, is an invaluable tool that helps businesses visually map out their value proposition and customer profile. The canvas consists of two sections - the Customer Profile (jobs, pains, gains) and the Value Map (products & services, pain relievers, gain creators). The 'Fit' between these two sections is what creates a compelling value proposition. Prototyping and Testing: Reducing the Risk of Failure Prototyping and testing are crucial elements of VPD. By visualizing your ideas, gathering feedback, and iterating, you can refine your value proposition until you find a solution that works. Testing allows you to gather evidence and learn from the market, thus reducing the risk of failure. VPD and the Business Model Canvas: A Holistic Approach VPD is a part of the larger Business Model Canvas approach. While VPD focuses on designing compelling value propositions, the Business Model Canvas looks at how your company can deliver, create, and capture value. This holistic approach ensures that your business model is viable and sustainable. Real World Examples and Case Studies: Learning from Success Stories The book is rich in examples and case studies that demonstrate how businesses have successfully implemented these concepts. These real-world examples provide valuable insights and learning opportunities. VPD as a Continuous Process: Adapting to Market and Customer Changes Finally, the book emphasizes that VPD is not a one-time process. As your market and customers evolve, your value propositions should too. This continuous testing and iteration are what ensures your business stays relevant and competitive in the long run. In conclusion, "Value Proposition Design - How to Create Products and Services Customers Want" is a must-read for any business looking to create compelling products and services. Its systematic approach, practical tools, real-world examples, and emphasis on continuous learning and iteration make it a valuable resource for businesses of all sizes and industries.
ViewThe Phoenix Project - A Novel about IT, DevOps, and Helping Your Business Win
Gene Kim, Kevin Behr, George Spafford
Key Facts and Insights from "The Phoenix Project" The Three Ways: The first principle, known as "The flow of work from left to right," emphasizes the need for work to be visualized and flow smoothly from development to operations to the customer. The second principle, "Amplify feedback loops," underscores the importance of creating channels for necessary adjustments. The third principle, "Continual experimentation and learning," promotes a culture of continual experimentation, taking risks, and learning from failure. DevOps: The book emphasizes the critical role of DevOps in modern IT operations and how it can help businesses win. DevOps represents the integration of development and operations teams to deliver better, faster, and more reliable outcomes. IT as a competitive advantage: The book argues that IT is no longer just a support function but a strategic asset that can provide a competitive advantage when managed effectively. Importance of Visibility: The book stresses the importance of visibility in IT operations. It emphasizes the need for clear visibility of work-in-progress, flow, and feedback to reduce wastage and increase efficiency. Work in Progress (WIP): The book highlights the dangers of excessive WIP and how it can lead to burnout and inefficiency. It recommends limiting WIP to improve flow and efficiency. Technical Debt: The book discusses the concept of technical debt and how neglecting it can lead to long-term inefficiencies and increased costs. Value of IT operations: The book underscores the value that IT operations bring to a business, emphasizing the need for organizations to invest in their IT operations. Culture of Learning: The book advocates for a culture of learning where failures are seen as opportunities for learning, not blame. Infrastructure as Code (IaC): The book introduces the concept of Infrastructure as Code, a key DevOps practice that involves managing and provisioning computer data centers through machine-readable definition files, rather than physical hardware configuration or interactive configuration tools. Automation: The Phoenix Project highlights the importance of automation in reducing errors, freeing up human resources, and increasing efficiency and productivity. Managing Bottlenecks: The book discusses the Theory of Constraints and how managing bottlenecks in any process can improve overall performance. In-depth Analysis "The Phoenix Project" presents a compelling case for the integration of development and operations teams through a method known as DevOps. This critical shift in IT operations management can best be understood through the lens of The Three Ways. The first way emphasizes the need for work to flow smoothly from development to operations to the customer, a principle that is at the heart of DevOps. The second way underscores the importance of creating channels for necessary adjustments or feedback. This feedback loop is an integral part of the DevOps culture as it helps teams to identify and rectify issues promptly, thereby improving the quality of outcomes. The third way promotes a culture of continual experimentation, learning, and understanding that failure is a part of this process. The authors, Gene Kim, Kevin Behr, and George Spafford, argue convincingly that IT is no longer just a support function but a strategic asset that can provide a competitive advantage when managed effectively. This is a significant shift from traditional perspectives and places IT at the heart of business strategy. The book also emphasizes the importance of visibility in IT operations. It is essential to have clear visibility of work-in-progress, flow, and feedback to reduce wastage and increase efficiency. In this context, the book introduces the concept of technical debt, which refers to the future cost of correcting shortcuts taken in system development or maintenance today. If neglected, technical debt can lead to long-term inefficiencies and increased costs. One of the key insights from the book is the dangers of excessive Work in Progress (WIP). Too much WIP can lead to burnout and inefficiency. To address this, the authors recommend limiting WIP to improve flow and efficiency. This is a core principle of lean and agile methodologies, which aim to reduce waste and increase the delivery speed. The Phoenix Project also introduces the concept of Infrastructure as Code (IaC), a key practice in DevOps. IaC involves managing and provisioning computer data centers through machine-readable definition files, rather than physical hardware configuration or interactive configuration tools. This is a significant shift from traditional IT operations and provides a more efficient and reliable approach to managing infrastructure. Automation is another key theme in the book. The authors highlight the importance of automation in reducing errors, freeing up human resources, and increasing efficiency and productivity. This is a key practice in DevOps, where the aim is to automate as much of the software delivery pipeline as possible. Finally, the authors discuss the Theory of Constraints and how managing bottlenecks in any process can improve overall performance. This is an essential principle in operations management and is particularly relevant in the context of IT operations, where bottlenecks can significantly hinder the delivery speed. In conclusion, "The Phoenix Project" provides a compelling case for adopting DevOps and rethinking the role of IT in business strategy. The principles and practices discussed in the book have the potential to transform IT operations and help businesses win in a competitive environment.
ViewNever Split the Difference - Negotiating As If Your Life Depended On It
Chris Voss, Tahl Raz
Key Insights from the Book: The principle of tactical empathy: Understand and recognize the emotions of your counterpart and respond to them in a thoughtful manner. The power of mirroring: Imitate the language and behavior of your counterpart to build rapport and trust. The effectiveness of calibrated questions: Ask questions that allow your counterpart to have control, but steer the conversation towards your desired outcome. The significance of active listening: Listen carefully to what your counterpart is saying and respond accordingly. The role of patience: Give your counterpart time to respond and don’t rush them into making a decision. The importance of a "no": Getting a 'no' is not a failure, but rather an opportunity to understand your counterpart's fears and concerns. The “Ackerman Model”: A strategic bargaining method developed in the FBI, which involves setting a target price, then using a series of calculated offers and conciliatory gestures to reach it. The concept of "Black Swans": Unforeseen events or pieces of information that can dramatically impact the outcome of a negotiation. The value of loss aversion: People are more motivated to avoid losses than to achieve equivalent gains. The utility of "that's right": Getting your counterpart to say "That's right" instead of "You're right," ensures they feel understood and agree with your viewpoint. The "7-38-55 Percent Rule": In communication, 7% of a message is derived from the words, 38% from the tone of voice, and 55% from body language and facial expressions. An In-Depth Analysis of the Book "Never Split the Difference" by Chris Voss and Tahl Raz is a compelling exploration into the art of negotiation. Drawing from his experience as a former FBI hostage negotiator, Voss provides readers with practical techniques to improve their negotiation skills. Understanding and Using Tactical Empathy Tactical empathy is at the heart of successful negotiation. It revolves around understanding and acknowledging the feelings and mindset of your counterpart. By doing so, you can navigate the negotiation process more effectively and achieve favourable outcomes. As a negotiator, it's not enough to understand what the other party wants; you must also comprehend how they feel. This emotional intelligence enables you to build a connection and establish mutual trust, increasing the likelihood of a successful negotiation. Mirroring, Calibrated Questions and Active Listening Voss also highlights the importance of mirroring, calibrated questions, and active listening. Mirroring, which involves imitating your counterpart's language and behaviour, can foster a sense of familiarity and rapport. Calibrated questions, on the other hand, allow you to steer the conversation without appearing aggressive or domineering. These questions typically start with "what" or "how," prompting your counterpart to think deeply and contribute valuable information to the discussion. Active listening is equally crucial. By paying close attention to your counterpart's words, you can identify underlying concerns or interests that may be key to the negotiation. This also signals respect and sincerity, strengthening your relationship with the counterpart. The Value of Patience and the Power of 'No' Patience is a virtue in negotiation. Voss emphasizes the importance of allowing your counterpart sufficient time to respond. A hurried negotiation is unlikely to yield optimal results. Moreover, contrary to common belief, receiving a 'no' from your counterpart is not necessarily a setback. Instead, it can serve as a stepping stone to understanding their fears and concerns better. It gives you the opportunity to address those issues and make a more persuasive case. The Ackerman Model and the Concept of Black Swans The Ackerman model is a bargaining method that involves setting a target price, then using a series of calculated offers and conciliatory gestures to reach it. This method, which requires patience and strategic thinking, can be highly effective in achieving your desired outcome. Voss also introduces the concept of 'Black Swans' – unexpected events or pieces of information that can dramatically alter the negotiation landscape. Identifying potential Black Swans and preparing for them can give you a significant advantage. Loss Aversion, 'That's Right' and the 7-38-55 Percent Rule The book also delves into the psychology of negotiation, discussing concepts like loss aversion and the power of the words 'That's right'. People are typically more motivated to avoid losses than to achieve equivalent gains, and this can be leveraged in negotiation. Getting your counterpart to say 'That's right' instead of 'You're right' ensures they feel understood and agree with your viewpoint. The former indicates genuine agreement, while the latter often signals appeasement. Lastly, Voss presents the "7-38-55 Percent Rule," a principle that underscores the importance of non-verbal communication. It posits that only 7% of a message is derived from words, while 38% comes from the tone of voice, and 55% from body language and facial expressions. In conclusion, "Never Split the Difference" offers a wealth of practical strategies and psychological insights for effective negotiation. It challenges traditional notions, encouraging readers to perceive negotiation through a different lens. Whether it's in a professional context or everyday life, these techniques can undoubtedly enhance your ability to negotiate successfully.
ViewRompe la barrera del no - Negocia como si te fuera la vida en ello
Chris Voss
Key Facts and Insights Emotional intelligence: The ability to understand and manage your own emotions, and those of the people you're negotiating with, is a critical skill. Active listening: This involves not only hearing the words that another person is saying but also understanding the complete message being sent. Tactical empathy: This is about understanding the feelings and emotions of the other person, and then responding in a way that leads to trust and a positive outcome. Calibrated questions: These are questions designed to make the other person feel in control, but also lead them towards a desired outcome. Mirroring: This technique involves mimicking the other person’s language and behavior to create rapport. Labeling: This involves identifying and naming the other person's feelings to show understanding and empathy. The 'That's right' breakthrough: This is the moment in a negotiation when the other person feels completely understood and says 'That's right'. The Ackerman model: This is a systematic method of negotiation that involves several stages, from setting a target price to calculating three progressive offers, ending with a number that’s non-rounded. Non-verbal communication: Understanding the importance of body language, tone of voice and other non-verbal cues in negotiation. The power of 'No': Knowing how to say no in a way that keeps the negotiation going, rather than ending it. In-Depth Analysis and Summary The book focuses on a variety of negotiation techniques, many of which have been developed and refined by the author, Chris Voss, during his career as an international hostage negotiator for the FBI. The techniques are designed to be used in any negotiation situation, whether it's buying a car, negotiating a business deal, or handling a hostage situation. The first key concept discussed in the book is emotional intelligence. This is the ability to understand and manage your own emotions, and those of the people you're negotiating with. Voss argues that in a negotiation, emotional intelligence is more important than rational thinking. He suggests that people are not as rational as we like to think we are, and that our decisions are heavily influenced by our emotions and subconscious biases. The second key concept is active listening. This is not just about hearing the words that the other person is saying, but understanding the complete message being sent, both verbally and non-verbally. This involves paying attention to the other person's body language, tone of voice, and other non-verbal cues, as well as the actual words they are saying. The third concept is tactical empathy. This is not just about understanding the other person's feelings and emotions, but responding in a way that leads to trust and a positive outcome. Voss suggests that by showing that you understand how the other person is feeling, you can build rapport and trust, and make it more likely that they will agree to your terms. The fourth concept is the use of calibrated questions. These are questions that are designed to make the other person feel in control, but also lead them towards a desired outcome. The idea is to ask questions that can't be answered with a simple yes or no, but require the other person to think and engage with the question. The fifth concept is mirroring, a simple but effective technique that involves mimicking the other person’s language and behavior to create rapport. This can be as simple as repeating the last few words they said, or copying their body language. The sixth concept is labeling, which involves identifying and naming the other person's feelings to show understanding and empathy. This can help to defuse negative emotions and build trust. The seventh concept is the 'That's right' breakthrough. This is the moment in a negotiation when the other person feels completely understood and says 'That's right'. Voss suggests that this is the moment when the balance of power in the negotiation can shift in your favor. The eighth concept is the Ackerman model, a systematic method of negotiation that involves several stages, from setting a target price to calculating three progressive offers, ending with a number that’s non-rounded. This method is designed to make the other person feel that they are getting a good deal, even if they are actually agreeing to your terms. Finally, Voss discusses the power of saying no in a negotiation. He argues that saying no is not the end of a negotiation, but a critical part of the process. He suggests that by saying no in the right way, you can keep the negotiation going and eventually reach a favorable outcome. In conclusion, this book provides a comprehensive guide to negotiation, based on real-world experience and backed up by psychological research. It provides valuable insights and practical techniques that can be used in any negotiation situation.
ViewGetting Things Done - The Art of Stress-Free Productivity
David Allen
Key Insights from "Getting Things Done - The Art of Stress-Free Productivity" by David Allen Allen's 5-step process for managing workflow: capture, clarify, organize, reflect, and engage. The concept of "Mind like Water": Allen's metaphor for a mental state that is both relaxed and ready to engage with incoming tasks and information. The importance of immediate decision-making to avoid procrastination. The "Two-Minute Rule": If a task takes less than two minutes to complete, it should be done immediately. The significance of using a trusted system to manage tasks and information. The role of regular reviews in maintaining control and perspective over tasks. The use of context-specific task lists to streamline action. The emphasis on outcome-based thinking to clarify what constitutes 'done' for a task. The need to break down projects into actionable tasks. The idea that free time is not always leisure time: it can be used for thinking, planning, and organizing. An In-Depth Analysis of "Getting Things Done - The Art of Stress-Free Productivity" "Getting Things Done - The Art of Stress-Free Productivity" is a seminal work by productivity consultant David Allen. It presents a comprehensive methodology for managing tasks, projects, and commitments, with the aim of achieving stress-free productivity. Allen's 5-step process for managing workflow is at the heart of the book. The process begins with capturing all things that command our attention; next, it involves clarifying what each item means and what to do about them. The third step is to organize the results, which are then reviewed in the fourth step. The final step is to simply do the tasks. A key concept in Allen's methodology is the state of having a "mind like water". This metaphor, borrowed from martial arts, describes a state where the mind is calm, focused, and ready to respond to whatever comes its way. This is an ideal state for productivity, which Allen argues can be achieved by properly managing our tasks and commitments. Allen's methodology emphasizes the importance of immediate decision-making to avoid procrastination. He introduces the "Two-Minute Rule": if a task takes less than two minutes to complete, it should be done immediately. This saves time and effort in the long run, as it eliminates the need for additional organizing or scheduling. The use of a trusted system to manage tasks and information is another key aspect of Allen's methodology. Such a system could be a simple paper-based planner, a sophisticated digital tool, or anything in between, as long as it reliably captures and organizes tasks and information. Regular reviews play a crucial role in maintaining control and perspective over tasks. Allen recommends weekly reviews as the minimum frequency. Reviews allow us to update our systems, reassess our priorities, and prepare for upcoming tasks. Allen also recommends the use of context-specific task lists. Instead of a single, overwhelming to-do list, Allen suggests creating multiple lists based on context, such as "At Home", "At Office", "Calls", "Errands", etc. This helps us focus on tasks that can be done in our current context, making our work more efficient. Outcome-based thinking is another central concept in Allen's methodology. By clearly defining what constitutes 'done' for a task or a project, we can focus on the desired outcome, which makes our action more purposeful and effective. Allen also emphasizes the need to break down projects into actionable tasks. A project, in Allen's definition, is any desired outcome that requires more than one action step. By breaking down a project, we can overcome the inertia and ambiguity often associated with big tasks. Finally, Allen points out that free time is not always leisure time. It can also be used for thinking, planning, and organizing. By using our free time productively, we can reduce stress and increase our control over our tasks and commitments. In conclusion, "Getting Things Done - The Art of Stress-Free Productivity" provides a comprehensive and practical methodology for managing tasks and commitments. By applying Allen's methodology, we can achieve a state of stress-free productivity, where our mind is calm, focused, and ready to engage with whatever comes our way.
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J.
12.February 2024I enjoy my sessions with Alberto. He has excellent communication and the best attitude to help you understand some parts of the business and give the best practices to apply a framework in your project. Also a good listener because in my first session, I mentioned something, and in the next one he brought up a subject that gave me excellent ideas to apply in my job. I highly recommend Alberto, especially in Data and Project Management where we have been talking.