Rodolfo de Felipe
CEO at Compañía Argentina de Servicios Portuarios S.A.
Rodolfo Felipe is a lawyer and businessman by profession. Married with three children. Mr. Felipe holds a Master’s degree in Local Economic Development from the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (Spain). Rodolfo is President of the Fundación de Acuerdo, non-governmental organization dedicated to human and local development. He held various public offices and other private organizations. He is the founder, shareholder and director of Compañía Argentina de Servicios Portuarios S.A., the largest operator of general cargo in the country, with operations in several public and private port terminals of Argentina. He is also President of LIDE Argentina, an organization that brings together CEOs and presidents of the largest companies in the country. He is also a presenter of radio and television. He resides in Argentina. He enjoys motor racing, yachting, tennis, soccer and now a great golf enthusiast.
Mr. Felipe, who is your hero?
I have four heroes: my father, now deceased, and my three children.
What’s the single best piece of business advice that helped shape who you are as an entrepreneur today, and why?
Focus ... and especially “patience and perseverance”. Succeed as an entrepreneur in my country requires 10% inspiration and 90% perspiration.
What’s the biggest mistake you ever made in your business, and what did you learn from it that others can learn from too?
Trust who should not be trusted. I learned to distrust.
What do you do during the first hour of your business day and why?
I organize my day, placing my tasks in a quadrant with "urgent" and "important" variables.
Who is your company's target customer?
Importers and exporters of general cargo.
What’s your best financial or cash-flow related tip for entrepreneurs just getting started?
The successful financial formula in Argentina is "cash and courage …".
Quick: What’s ONE thing you recommend ALL aspiring or current entrepreneurs do right now to take their business to the next level?
K + A x A (knowledge + ability x attitude) ... permanent.
What’s your definition of success? How will you know when you’ve finally “succeeded” in your business?
For my business is a means, it is not an end in itself. And it is a means to achieve happiness. Happiness is synonymous with freedom. I´m happy and I cannot give an objective evidence of success ... because happiness and freedom are concepts that do not support quantitative measure.
What is your favourite quote?
"What happens is convenient. And it's perfect ... because it is God's work ".