Jean-Emmanuel Hay: The geopolitical situation in the Americas can be quite challenging. How do you deal with that? Eduardo Baquero: You really have to live from the Rio Grande to C holla to fully understand how it works. As of early this year, there have been several political changes in the northern part of the continent that have made things even more complicated. One of our key strengths is the professionalism of our team. For example, Julianna Hill, CEO of APG USA, is an outstand- ing professional: no problem is too big for her to solve ! Across the continent, from one country to another, the political situation can vary greatly. Mexico, for instance, has grown significantly, even though I may not always agree with the current political direction.However, every local office knows how to navigate its environment. Being local means not only knowing the rules but also understanding how to work around challenges when they arise. Jean-Emmanuel Hay: Do you have a memorable anec- dote related to APG? Eduardo Baquero: Yes, I do. My first APG meeting took place in Rio de Janeiro, during a training session. I had invited a friend and former senior executive from a U.S. airline to join me, as I hoped to develop APG in Venezuela with him. Later, I took on responsibilities in several other countries. During that first training session, I thought, “What could
me for a coffee. We went out together, and since that day, I have been completely dedicated to APG. I am now 101% committed to APG, fully involved with Sandrine de Saint Sauveur in business development. My professional life has been built around APG over the years, and it turned out Raul was right, I should have joined earlier. The magic of it all also lies in Sandrine’s leadership. She has been an extraordinary leader, following in the footsteps of Jean- LouisBaroux, our founder and the driving force behind it all. Sandrine has become a remarkable leader. We trust each other deeply, and what she has achieved, growing the company, strengthening it, and enhancing its global reputation, is truly impressive. Jean-Emmanuel Hay: You are based in Panama City, which is a central hub for the Americas. How do you coordinate APG’s business partners across such diverse countries? Eduardo Baquero: One of the key strengths of APG is the close relationship between the country heads. We are not merely business partners, that is precisely the magic of APG. These personal connections make everything easi- er. It doesn’t mean we always agree or that everything is perfect, but because of these strong relationships, com- munication flows naturally. We meet three times a year: during our Annual Regional Trainings, held somewhere in the region; at the Annual General Meeting, which takes place somewhere else in the world; and at World Connect. These events give us
“YOU MAY HAVE 30 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN AVIATION BUT WHEN YOU JOIN APG IT’S AN ENTIRELY DIFFERENT GAME”
opportunities to discuss, analyze, and even challenge our- selves to improve. Beyond that, whenever I visit a country where we have an airline client, I reach out to the local team. My office also plays an important role in supporting regional train- ing. It all comes down to maintaining strong relationships. It’s much like managing a top football team, you have 23 star players, each of them highly talented and valuable. You must recognize that everyone is a leader in their own country, outstanding professionals in their own right. It’s important to respect that and understand that, while there are general rules, each one leads independently in their market.
they possibly teach me? I’ve been in aviation for so many years.” But as the session began and one of our products was being explained, I quickly realized I was lost, completely lost, just like a distracted student missing a key lesson at school. I noticed that Gustavo de Hostos seemed equally distracted, perhaps already thinking about dinner. After the session, I approached Sandrine, whom I had just met, and asked if I could invite her for a drink before din- ner so she could explain the IBCS system again. She kindly agreed, and we met at the hotel bar. She went through it all once more, but to be honest, I still didn’t understand a thing. I was frustrated, I was supposed to be the expert, and yet I couldn’t grasp it. I nodded politely, pretending I understood.
51
BORN TO BE A BIRD BY CLASS & RELAX
Made with FlippingBook - professional solution for displaying marketing and sales documents online