On December 4, our colleague Eduardo Fernandez, Director of Operations, celebrates his 17th anniversary at Esferize. He is the person who has been with the company the longest, apart from our CEO of course.
How did you start at Esferize?
In Facilities, when Esferize was made up of only three people. I came from a totally different world, I worked in an American multinational and decided to make a radical change. I started at Esferize as an installation technician, although I had no idea what a UTP cable was, I didn’t even know how to use a screwdriver.
Projects were coming in and they were assigned to me. Arturo told me that either I evolved or he didn’t see me there. He pushed me to take a step forward.
I was taking steps, making more effort, learning, learning technical things. I began to take on other tasks. I was in charge of Facilities. The first person in charge of Facilities.
I am now in charge of 30 people from different disciplines.
What would you say is the best thing about Esferize?
The closeness and the people. All the people are very involved in the company. They go all out and always add up.
Just look at the installers in the middle of the pandemic… The amount of travel, what they have put at stake and with personal issues in between. It’s a bit emotional, people have problems and they move forward and think about the company.
One of the best things about the company and why it has grown is the people.
What do you think is the key to Esferize’s success?
Its CEO. From the beginning, he has been very clear about what Esferize has to be and, afterwards, he has been adding concepts or key words to manage our day-to-day business. But, in the end, if you have a manager from the beginning who sees how you act towards the rest of the people, towards the client, the values you have to transmit… Arturo knew from the beginning the type of service he wanted to provide. And that has made things much easier.
In addition, if you already have a long-standing staff, as people come in, they adapt to the values and the essence is not lost.
What do you find vital in the company?
The personal evolution of people is very important. When you enter a job, on a personal level in life you have to keep evolving. You have to keep changing aspects of your life and fight to change them. People evolve here. I have seen evolutions here that are very gratifying.
What has Esferize brought to you?
Brutal changes. At the level of how I was and at the professional level. A very drastic evolution. I have seen myself at the limits of what I can really do.
An example?
I am going to tell an anecdote… I was very afraid of heights, but 14 years ago I had to climb a tower of 20/25 meters. It was windy and I reached the top with my eyes closed. I had to overcome my fear of heights that very day.
Finally, what don’t you want to change?
The evolution of people is very important in this company and, above all, we leave no one behind. There is a concern for the environment. I would not want that to be lost.
Thank you, Eduardo, for your evolution, for your perseverance and for these 17 years of work and companionship!
