Jorge Clemente Gonzalez Abundes: I Think It and Software Companies Are Becoming More Relevant in Texas Each Day and the State Is Very Welcoming of Foreign Entrepreneurs and Businessman Like Me

Jorge Clemente Gonzalez Abundes of Digitalhype.

Tell us about yourself?

I’m 32 years old, I’m happily married with Paola, who is very supporting of my entrepreneurial spirit. I enjoy spending time learning in any of its forms, gardening and watching tv.

During the last 11 years, I’ve promoted technology, entrepreneurship and digital transformation in Mexico.

Recently I’ve switch my purpose and the purpose of the company to create progress opportunities to people with different origins and conditions in Latin America connecting them with US companies.

I founded Digitalhype 8 years ago and we are providing training and collocation services that help to reduce the talent shortage US and increasing competitiveness in underdeveloped regions.

My vision is to replace traditional nearshoring with a more sustainable an human centered model that boost the power of diversity and bi-cultural collaboration.

What lessons has being an entrepreneur taught you? 

Its a long list but will summarize to the following main five:

1.- Never stop learning, 2.- Focus on the people, 3.- Be ready to work hard but focus on working smart; 4.- Trust your instincts and your emotions, 5.- Superior purpose and vision is always more important than immediate rewards.

If you could go back in time to when you first started your business, what piece of advice would you give yourself?

Focus on developing your softkills and network more than your hardskills. Learn how to communicate, delegate, be emotionally intelligent and build a strong business network.

A lot of entrepreneurs find it difficult to balance their work and personal lives. How have you found that?

Its difficult indeed, I don’t have the perfect formula yet and honestly, I think it would be different for each person, but something I can tell; Work never ends, the more you work, the more work you found you have.

What I feel works better for me is attaching to certain routines like waking up earlier, having a moment for prayer, exercise, having a decent breakfast and adjust to schedules just as if you were a regular employee that will force you to be more respectful with your time. Be ready to negotiate your personal time and learn to say no, even to yourself.

Give us a bit of an insight into the influences behind the company?

The company was first founded to build mobile applications that my partners and myself had in mind, we failed to market them, so we decided to offer software development services for other companies and entrepreneurs.

After several projects we realized that is always about people, is always about talent. Project success or failure depends on the people.

If we create better opportunities for the people and they can find a challenge, they receive praising and proper compensation they will be committed and productive.

Companies are desperate to find the talent they need, specially software engineers but sometimes competition make them spend most of its resources focusing on the technical and business and let behind the human aspects.

That’s why we say we are the people behind technology.

We focus on helping our customers finding, training and managing talent in Mexico creating a virtue circle because they find the talent they need, they provide better career opportunities to people and we facilitate the people management to ensure the remote and intercultural collaborations becomes a success for everyone.

What do you think is your magic sauce? What sets you apart from the competitors?

We have built an great environment based on human relationships and business ethics.

Our employees are happy and we a very low attrition, less than 8%. We launch Gallup’s Q12 Employee Engagement Survey each semester using a 1-5 scale, we are always above 4.5.

That’s its something I’m really proud off. Average attrition rates in our industry is in between 20-30%.

What this mean to our customers is that people have the right context and environment to deploy the best of themselves,. so they can rest assured that when they outsource with us people will deliver quality and innovative work.

How have you found sales so far? Do you have any lessons you could pass on to other founders in the same market as you just starting out?

Sales is the blood of your business.

You need to invest on your marketing and sales team, never stop investing on that or your business soon will be in bankruptcy.

What is the biggest challenge you have faced so far in your business, and how did you overcome it?

Growth. Growing hurts, you need money, you need a team, you need to keep what you have but do more than just that. You need put yourself under strain and high pressures.

Sustainable growth is only possible if you surround yourself with experienced mentors and advisors.

What do you consider are the main strengths of operating your business in Texas over other states in the US?

The economy of the state is blooming in different sectors and industries.

I think IT and Software Companies are becoming more relevant in Texas each day and the state is very welcoming of foreign entrepreneurs and businessman like me.

Are there any disadvantages of operating our business in Texas?

So far I haven’t found disadvantages of operating in Texas.

Texas has a pretty diverse population. How have you found the quickly changing demographics have impacted your business? Have you got new opportunities? Managed to expand your business into new areas?

As a Mexican entrepreneur doing business in Texas that is a positive thing. I truly believe that collaboration between different cultures, origins and background boost the economy and the innovation.

It is often reported that, in Texas, politics and business are intertwined. Have you noticed this? Has it impacted your business?

I’m used to that, and it has not affect my business so far. I hope it doesn’t.

With rising prices across Texas (and the US as a whole) have you been impacted? Do you have a plan for dealing with inflation going forward?

Not specifically for the recent inflation, for us that effect began some months ago. Our main asset and cost comes from the compensations we provide to our people.

We have seen a raise an average of 20-30% in salaries of IT related profiles during the last 2 years.

What do you want to accomplish in the next 5 years with your business?

We want to be a brand recognized in the US, build a multi-sided platform to identify what we call High Potentials, High experience, Low English among Latin American Talent and help to develop their language skills and connect them with top 5000 US companies.

And finally, if people want to get involved and learn more about your business, how should they do that?

You can always contact us via our webpage or drop me a line to [email protected]. I will be more than happy to hear how can we help.

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