On the lighter side of things, we ask Luiz Cesar Baptistella, CEO and Co-founder, Aoop Cloud Solutions, what makes him tick.
What would you describe as your most memorable achievement?
Without a doubt, it was creating Aoop. We conceived a modern, innovative and agile company. Here people develop, share their knowledge and have a real opportunity for accelerated growth.
We also practice the culture of ‘you must be happy’ daily. It means that no matter the difficulties, we always try to take things lightly and focus on resolution.
The company is only five years old, but we are already leaders in our segment, which shows that we are on the right track and will continue to innovate.
What first made you think of a career in technology?
I have always been passionate about IT. I started very early, at the age of 16. I started as a mainframe operator, and then I had the opportunity to work in almost all areas within IT, passing through several national and multinational organizations.
Because I started very early in the area, I decided to graduate in Business Administration with an MBA in Marketing and Agile Exponential Management. It gave me a better business vision and helped me to always look at IT as an essential pillar of business results.
What style of management philosophy do you employ in your current position?
At Aoop, we adopt the agile management model. Here, the entire structure is based on Tribes and Squads, which allows us to have a leaner and much more fluid structure, with few levels and full access to top management.
We also practice a very participatory model that promotes and encourages constant innovation. We can innovate, make mistakes wisely and correct them quickly.
We understand that this is necessary for the evolution of a company that seeks to lead in its segment.
What do you think is the current hot technology conversation topic?
Many exciting and disruptive subjects will always be on the agenda of technology, such as Quantum Computing, Blockchain, Web3 and the Metaverse. However, the issues we address the most with our customers are always related to the Digital Transformation journey in business, highlighting topics such as cloud infrastructure, Software-as-a-Service (SaaS), low-code platforms, data security and digital experiences.
How do you deal with stress and relax outside of the office?
I do not have a specific recipe for relaxing. I try to do things I enjoy, like exercising, playing soccer, watching a good movie, going out, going to a good restaurant and being with my family. I also have a lot of fun learning new things. Cooking, for example, is a subject that I am getting better at.
If you could go back and change one career decision, what would it be?
Perhaps I would have earlier ventured into some good ideas that ended up on paper.
What do you currently identify as the top investment areas in your industry?
Definitely, it is the investment in creating digital service experiences and information security.
What are the specific challenges of the region when implementing new technologies in Latin America?
A major challenge we currently face worldwide is the shortage of specialized technology professionals. There is an enormous shortage in practically all areas of technology on all continents. Latin America and Brazil, which are among the Top 10 consumers of IT services, have been suffering from this deficit for years.
In the case of emerging or disruptive technologies, such as low-code platforms, this shortage is even worse. We practically have to train professionals in Latin America to meet the ever-increasing demands.
At Aoop, for example, we created a talent training academy called Shark Academy. Last year, the academy trained more than 600 professionals free of charge to work in our company and to serve the entire ecosystem in the region.
What changes have you seen in your job role in the last year, and how do you think they will develop in the next 12 months?
As CEO, I try to be aware of everything happening in our market, mainly regarding innovations and trends, to encourage leaders to create new solutions and services.
In addition, I highlight the need for the CEO to focus more on the essence of his business, practicing the culture, developing his purpose and being a great example of engagement and propagator of his organization’s culture.
What advice would you give someone aspiring to a C-level position in your industry?
I suggest that these professionals play their role with love and determination, in addition to seeking to be an agent of innovation. In this way, they will be able to bring ideas and suggestions to improve the daily lives of their team members.
A professional with these characteristics will collaborate with the growth of the company. For this, they need to do their best every day, have a well-defined goal and have the courage to overcome difficulties.
