LO QUE NO MATA FORTALECE

El proyecto Alcatraz es la historia de cómo transformar un revés en una fortaleza. Es un ejemplo de liderazgo, emprendedurismo, negociación, y responsabilidad social corporativa. Es un caso que ya se estudia en las mejores escuelas de negocio del mundo.

Los hermanos Vollmer heredaron en 1996 un proyecto, Santa Teresa. “Estaba agonizante, adolecía de una total falta de liderazgo y foco en el negocio”. Aunque fue declarado inviable por todas las posibles fuentes de financiación, ellos apostaron por una reestructuración que requería:

• Creer testarudamente en el proyecto
• Cambios radicales en la cartera de productos
• Remar sin parar y sin mirar a los lados.

COMO EL AVE FENIX, RON SANTA TERESA, RENACE DE SUS CENIZAS

En enero del 2000 la empresa es portada de los diarios económicos como ejemplo empresarial de reflote de una compañía. Pero ese mismo año y mientras se está fraguando la nueva Constitución se produce la “invasión” de Santa Teresa por un grupo de casi quinientas familias.

“Decidimos no ser víctimas pero tampoco victimarios” Afirma Henrique Vollmer. Y se pusieron a negociar. Omar Rodríguez, cabecilla de los invasores, las autoridades y los Vollmer llegaron a un acuerdo. Los invasores, la mano de obra y el gobierno las infraestructuras. Ellos, la tierra y el proyecto.

ME INVADES EL TERRITORIO TE INVADO LA MENTE

“El mapa tiene que ampliarse y no puede limitarse al terreno”. Y así es como surge un proyecto que implica vivienda, valores, estrategia, turismo, seguridad y en definitiva desarrollo.

Aunque se hace un gran esfuerzo en educación sobre droga y violencia se produce un terrible ataque a un inspector de seguridad. Entre las dos opciones posibles, no hacer nada o desencadenar una escalada de violencia los Vollmer deciden una tercera opción: Negociar y de esa negociación surge la oportunidad.

ALCATRAZ, LAS PEORES CARCELES SON NUESTRAS PROPIAS MENTES

Se localiza a los agresores y se les ofrece un trato: Trabajo no remunerado durante tres meses y el compromiso de transformarlo en un puesto fijo. Al principio sólo eran dos, y fueron ellos mismos quienes propusieron incluir en el proyecto a un grupo de compañeros de la primera mara. Se presentaron 20. Pero Alcatraz sigue adelante y reta a la mara del cementerio a unirse al proyecto.

El rugby es la herramienta que sirve para encauzar la energía negativa y convertirla en positiva “todos ellos son líderes a su manera”. http://www.proyectoalcatraz.org/

Cada alcatraz supone 2.000$ al año, y al principio su productividad es baja, pero una vez involucrados en el entorno laboral estos chicos no tienen precio para las empresas de seguridad. Muchos de ellos acaban siendo emprendedores en microempresas de transporte o alquiler de maquinaria agrícola.

Henrique Vollmer comenta el proyecto con los estudiantes del club de Venezolanos y del Net Impact IE Chapter

Find enclosed the summary regarding the conference offered by Sonia Fernandez, Managing Director of Match.com. Due to the exams many of you could not do it. You can read this and take notes...

Dalina, Mary Margaret and Marion, coordinators of IE’s Women in Business Club (WIB) along with Juan Diaz-Andreu, our IT and Entrepreneurship professor, organized this event with Sonia Fernandez, the author of “Dos Grados: Networking, cultiva tu red virtual de contactos.” A great book that describes the best practices of the art and ability that every manager who wants to reach top positions should be an expert on.

Professor Juan introduced Sonia and referred to the article of Herminia Ibarra, OB professor at Insead, who points out three types of networks that are equally important for business: operational, personal and strategic. The first two relate to daily work and personal life contacts, while the last one relates to those contacts that allow you to continue to develop professionally. They require an extra effort but, “these are the networks that people often use when they want to make a career move”.

As an experienced MBA from Standford University, Sonia Fernandez started her conference with an incontestable statistic: only 20% of job offers are advertised in the press, internet or other media. This means that 80% are managed some other way. She also discussed culture differences. For some cultures, using personal networks to get things is perceived negatively, but for other cultures it is clearly the way to go.

But do you really need to build such networks? Even though you are clever, experienced, and hold a master degree from a prestigious international school? YES YOU HAVE TO.

Sonia explained the importance of “connectivity” and “social capital,” two basic terms coined when talking about networking. She also explained the well-known concept “Six degrees of separation.” She decided to call her book “Two Degrees” or “Dos Grados”, revealing the further revolution that the internet has brought to personal and professional relationships. We are even more closely connected than ever before.

Based on Sonia’s opinion, it is difficult to keep more than 250 contacts or people who would return your phone call if you left them a message. It does not have to be so difficult to:

1. Manage to have a lunch from time to time with someone that can be the touchstone of your strategic network.

2. Try to put people in touch who you know would benefit from knowing each other.

3. Keep an agenda!

4. Attend conferences and other activities.

5. Do not use the network only when you need it.

Therefore, suggestions are to:

1. Build up your networking diagram: Build a list of the contacts with name and surname who would return your phone calls.

2. Make networking a part of your daily routine and work in advance: Keep your CV in shape. If you are an entrepreneur, do not wait to polish your business plan the night before your unexpected appointment with your angel investor.

3. Do not look for excuses: “I am shy”: Everybody is shy! “I do not have time”: Make time!

4. Do not put anybody in uncomfortable situations: “You told me you would introduce me to…”

5. Do not get anxious: Professional life is a cycle. Sonia explained to us that in the late nineties, during the dotcom crash, many people became unemployed, and those who got a job first were probably those who managed to keep calm. Do not worry that your friends get a job before you. It is irrelevant!

6. Do not forget the person who helped you: even though you most likely did not get the job through him or her.

7. Do not promise what you cannot do.

8. Do not make someone feel unimportant.

9. Take a risk! Meet new people. In some cultures people usually ask, “Who is going? Nobody I know? Then I do not want to go…” NO!! It is better if you do not know anybody, you will meet new people. Besides, many people are there in the same situation; they do not know anybody either.

10. Develop your hobbies and join associations related to your interests: If none exist, create them!

11. Be a host!: Be a connector and share different networks.

12. Request advice from people you admire.

13. Give first, you will receive later.

Juan finished this brilliant exposition with a very practical wrap up:

Accept your imperious need of networking.
Relocate your time.
Read the book and follow the instructions… if she asks you to close the book and draw your social diagram, Do it!
Invest and get used to not getting a return from anyone.
Be special, a hand written letter can make the difference.
Do not ask for job but for advice… the business world is full of egos.
Join the Alumni Association and be active. Join other Associations such as the “Ryder Club”.
Yes, we know that Sonia and Juan said only obvious things, but among their “dos” and “do not’s,” all the attendees agreed they had found at least ten ways to improve their network."

Estimado amigo del IE:
El Club de Venezolanos del IE y el Net Impact Club les invita a participar en la presentación que ofrecerá el empresario y emprendedor social Alberto Vollmer, Presidente de la empresa Ron Santa Teresa, acerca de uno de los proyectos de responsabilidad social más exitosos de Venezuela: El Proyecto Alcatraz.
Martes 29 de Mayo
16h30-18h30
Aula Magna
Invitado especial: Alberto VollmerDirector del Proyecto de Responsabilidad Social “Alcatraz”
Luego de la actividad se ofrecerá un Cocktail con los productos de Santa Teresa.

Favor confirmar asistencia al e-mail ClubVenezuela@ie.edu L as plazas al evento son limitadas.

Para mayor información sobre este evento, pincha en "more"

Que es Alcatraz? Es una ONG que se encarga de reclutar a jóvenes con serios problemas de conducta, impartiéndoles educación en valores, trabajo comunitario y asistencia psicológica para luego reinsertarlos en la sociedad y de esta forma contribuir a solventar dos grandes problemas: delincuencia y desempleo.

http://www.proyectoalcatraz.org/espanol/video.htm
Entre los logros de este proyecto a nivel mundial se encuentran:
Ser seleccionado como caso modelo por la Red de Conocimiento para el Emprendimiento Social (Social Enterprise Knowledge Network) liderado por el profesor James Austin de la Universidad de Harvard.
Segundo lugar a nivel mundial en la Conferencia sobre Juventud, Paz y Desarrollo en Sarajevo, Bosnia, organizada por el Banco Mundial. (Septiembre 2004).
Contribuir con la drástica disminución de hasta un 40% de los índices delictivos en la zona de alcance del proyecto.
Haber participado por dos años consecutivos como equipo en el Campeonato Internacional de Rugby "7 A-Side".
Si deseas conocer más acerca del Proyecto Alcatraz y acerca de la buena gestión de la empresa privada en Venezuela asiste a la presentación que tendrá lugar el martes 29 de mayo desde las 4:30 hasta a las 6:30 pm en el Aula Magna. La charla será impartida en español.

Se ofrecerá un Cocktail al finalizar el evento. CONFIRMA TU ASISTENCIA!

Hola a todos,
Como ya sabéis, el Consulting Club y el Careers Center acogen a ACCENTURE este Lunes 28 a las 13:30.
El objetivo de este evento es el de presentar el reciente cambio de enfoque de ACCENTURE hacia la Consultoría de gestión.
Por cierto, ACCENTURE esta ahora buscando talentos y eso supone una gran oportunidad de trabajo.
El evento se hará en español.
Quedan muy pocas plazas para el evento.
Por favor regístrese en www.careers.ie.edu en la sección “Presenta/Foros”.
Nos vemos allí!!
(English version below)

Dear All,
As you already know, the Consulting Club and Careers Center are welcoming ACCENTURE this Monday 28th at 13:30.
The objective of this presentation is to introduce the recent change of Accenture, now focusing more on management consulting.
Of course, Accenture is now looking for talent, thus creating interesting career opportunities. The event will be held in Spanish.
There are very few places left so jump on the occasion.
Please register at in the section “Presentations”.

See you there.

If you are into finance, then mark your calendar because on Wednesday 23rd of May, the Finance Club organizes the “Private Equity Day”

Agenda
- Panel discussion (17h30-19h30) / Aula Magna / María de Molina 11
A group of 6 Private Equity funds will discuss the following topics:
- “Private Equity- the years ahead; Opportunities and Threats” (Analyze Emerging Sectors & Markets, their attractiveness, Renewable Energy Resources Changing regulations, perception, impact of PE going Public: e.g. Blackstone)
- “What makes a company choose Private Equity over other forms of funding?”

- Cocktail (19h30) / Aula Magna

SPONSORED BY

>>>> REGISTRATION starts today Thursday 17 of May.
Send “PEDay” to finance.club@ie.edu to register!!!!
First come first served!

SPONSORED BY
TechIE Tuesday: “The Digital World Ahead”
Have you ever thought of creating an internet start-up and reap the benefits like in the latest successful tech IPO's?
Are you interested in a career in the telecom sector and want to know the hottest issues from top companies in the industry?

Date: Tuesday, 22nd of May
Venue: Aula Magna, Instituto de Empresa Business School (María de Molina, 11)
Agenda:
16.00 – 16.15 : Opening & welcome
16.15 – 17.15 : Entrepreneurship workshop: Mobuzz TV, Anil de Mello, CEO, introduced by Enrique Dans
17.15 – 17.30 : Break time
17.30 – 19.00 : TechIE Panel "Co-opetition in the telecoms & internet", moderated by Enrique Dans
José María García, Multi-sector Industry Leader, Google
Gonzalo Guirao, Director of Interactive Entertainment, Zinkia
Fernando Molina, Director of Products and Services, Vodafone
19.00 – 20.00 : Cocktail & networking

MANDATORY REGISTRATION at techie.club@ie.edu

¿Dónde / Where? Baradá MAP
¿Qué/What? Bar of the week
¿Quiénes/Who? Compañeros del IE y amigos/IE and friends
¿Cuándo/ When ? VIERNES, 4 de Mayo 2007
¿Horario/Schedule? 00:30H a 6:00H.
¿Dirección/ Address? Serrano nº63 (en la esquina Calle de Juan Bravo), debajo del puente de Juan Bravo. (Just opposite to “La Botellita”)
¿Metro? Rubén Darío o Serrano

(Español)
¿Oferta Especial? Copas a 6€. Dile al portero que eres un estudiante de IE.
(English)
Special Offer? Cocktails at 6€. Just tell the staff at the door that you are from IE.

Want to get in contact with BOTW?
If you want to get in contact with BOTW, write an email to botw@ie.edu

Following students' requests, we are delighted to invite you to our next conference focused on: "how to do effective networking in the business environment." For this conference, we have invited Sonia Fernández, Country Manager of Match.com Spain.
AGENDA
19.00 - 19.05 Objective of today's event by WIB Members.
19.05 - 19.20 Introduction and presentation of Sonia Fernández, GM Match.com by Juan Diaz-Andreu, Professor at IE
19.20 - 20.00 Sonia Fernandez Networking Presentation and Dos Grados book introduction 20.00 - 20.45 Q&A

ROOM S-001 (Serrano 105).
Conference will be done in English
If you wish to register, please send an email to wib@ie.edu.

SPEAKER BACKGROUND
Before joining Match.com, Sonia worked in the strategy group of Prisacom (Internet division of media group Prisa). Prior to that, she was one of the founders of MercadoLibre (Internet auction site), starting its operations in Spain in January 2000. Sonia’s background is in investment banking, where she worked in the Corporate Finance group of Lehman Brothers in both London and New York. She is also experienced in private equity, having worked at 3i in Spain. Sonia earned a BA in Business from ICADE (Spain) and an MBA from Stanford University. She has published a book about networking called, “Dos grados networking: cultiva tu red virtual de contactos” and is currently the President of the Stanford Alumni Association in Spain, as well as a member of the International Women Forum. Sonia is married and has a daughter.

The Finance club offers you next Tuesday 8th of May at 19h, Serrano 99 in S-201 a discussion about:

“Spanish Stock Exchange market, Institutions and Organisation" (i.e. how it works and the basics of a stock exchange)
The discussion will be conducted by Mr. José Antonio Pérez from the Spanish Stock Exchange / BMEX
Download file to see his CV

The event will last about one hour and the places are limited! Don’t forget to register at finance.club@ie.edu indicating Stock exchange!!!

Please do it by today, Friday 4 of May so that you can book your place!