High performance in the office: interview with Jose Ojeda

Published on July 22, 2021

Working in a start-up can be very hectic. There is a risk that social and ethical values can be forgotten in the rush for short term gains. At Vivent we work hard to make every decision based on our mission and core values. As a result, CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) is at the core of everything we do.

 

As we grow our team and hire new colleagues, we really need to ensure that these new hires positively contribute to our team by performing in fast-paced environments while embodying our core values.

 

We recently hired Jose Ojeda, as our Digital Marketing Manager. While working with us full-time, Jose is also pursuing a Diploma of Advanced Studies in Business Management at the University of Geneva. Being a former student-athlete and professional soccer player, Jose was quick to adapt to our fast-paced environment. Jose notes that his previous experiences prepared him and gave him the tools necessary to face challenges at hand:

 

 “I truly believe that elite-level athletes can excel in start-ups because through their sports-career, athletes are constantly working towards getting better and staying ahead of the competition. Athletes have to dedicate years of work and sacrifice to become an overnight success - just like start-ups.

 

Jose moved to the US at only 16 years of age: “I was forced to grow up in a sense. It’s not easy being away from your family, so you have to start finding solutions on your own. Combining academic studies with sports definitely teaches you how to efficiently manage time.

 

Screenshot 2021-07-22 094517

 

Elite-level athletes develop excellent discipline, consistency, and patience skills. They understand the value of small incremental gains to reach long-term goals. Successful athletes build routines to make daily improvements enhancing performance in the long-term. Whether it is on a football pitch or in an office, such skills are invaluable assets in generating high performance.” 

 

Hiring former athletes can also help in creating close-knit teams. Athletes adapt and adhere easily to a collective identity. “Athletes certainly understand the value in creating a positive team atmosphere. It is no secret that team chemistry can play an important role in performance. CSR policies contributing to creating a positive collective identity can then really resonate with athletes.”

 

We’re proud to have Jose as part of our team, bringing with him his strong work ethic and his encyclopedic knowledge of sports. 

 

To meet the rest of the team click here.

 

Share This Story, Choose Your Platform!

About the Author: Marina Martin Curran

Marina started her career in international development specialising in monitoring, evaluation, and impact assessment of animal health programmes. She has worked as a consultant since 2001 in areas relating to sustainability: environmental reporting, training and lecturing, and assessing community investments for corporate clients. She holds a PhD from the University of Edinburgh, where she investigated the relationship between corporate social responsibility and financial performance. Since 2008, she has carried out contracts for WWF, The Economist, the University of Geneva (arctic tourism), and lectured at HTW Chur, International University in Geneva, SUMAS and Business School of Lausanne in CSR and sustainability. Marina has worked for start-ups in the green energy and textile sectors.