Industry News
July 2010
Meet the Leaders
Agel Enterprises, founded in 2005, is the world leader in gel-based nutrition. Corporate offices are located throughout the United States of America and worldwide including Australia, Colombia, Europe, India, Israel, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Nigeria, The Philippines, Russia, Singapore, Thailand, Turkey and Ukraine with operations in over 55 countries.
Agel Enterprises strives to empower individuals throughout the world to achieve new levels of health, financial success, and personal freedom.
Brief outline of roles and responsibilities and career to date Alvaro Sancho and Alejandra Herrera were Spain’s first Diamond Directors, joining the elite President’s Club only weeks after launching the enterprise.
The couple, who are proud parents of twin boys, have extensive entrepreneurial experience and are both business graduates. Spanish-born Alvaro has grown a thriving entrepreneurship consultancy in the last ten years and Alejandra, who was born and raised in Mexico before moving to Spain in 2000, started up her own successful business in the marketing and communication field.
Career milestone prior to current role
Alvaro: I am an entrepreneur, teacher and consultant who was able to put the first of my four projects into practice at the age of 23, before completing an International MBA programme. The project, ‘Baby Prix’, won an award for the best entrepreneurial project of the year. I am a Professor and, since 2000 I have worked with start-up businesses through a business school. One of my specialist areas is start-up funding and I have been able to use my extensive knowledge of Latin America, especially Mexico to help business start-ups.
Alejandra: I was a marketing and communication executive account manager and ran a successful consultancy.
Most important lesson(s) learned
Alvaro: The importance of team work and its impact in getting the results you and your partners are looking for.
Alejandra adds: Our entrepreneurial spirit has pushed us to be always open to new ideas and to analyse new opportunities.
They add: “I’d rather have one per cent of the effort of 100 men than 100 per cent of my own effort.” J. Paul Getty
What do you see as the biggest challenge to the direct selling industry?
Alvaro: To make people take this industry for real.
Alejandra: At first I was sceptical about Agel when my sisters told me about the opportunities but I was able to listen to what the company could offer and put my concerns behind me.
If you had your time again, would you do things differently?
Alvaro: No, everything that we have today is the consequence of what we´ve done before.
Alejandra: The experience is the way to success including the mistakes you make.
What are the qualities that make a good leader?
Alvaro: Our success has not been a coincidence. It has taken hard work, attending all our professional meetings and obligations, constancy and one more thing – surrounding ourselves with other professionals who are committed to Agel.
Alejandra: Self confidence and the ability to get the best out of others and to make people want to do what they have to do.
Enthusiasm and positive attitude versus experience and proven skills – which is best?
Alvaro: A mix of all of them, but there must always be enthusiasm and positive attitude. What you transmit is what really gets into people.
Alejandra: Experience with no passion will not take you very far. People decide to join because of people rather than the business. So first transmit the idea you can make it happen and then it will happen. Act as if you are unbeatable and remember people don’t know you are not.
What do you look for when recruiting for a senior position?
Alvaro: Commitment, a willingness to achieve new goals and loyalty. The rest of the things can be learned.
Alejandra: I prefer to see someone with the energy, passion and willingness to learn in the process. People who take responsibility and are not afraid of it.
Best advice you have ever been given?
Alvaro: People fight harder to avoid their fears than to achieve their dreams…it is your choice.
Alejandra: When you find yourself doing the same as most of the people, it is maybe time to stop and think about it. Opportunities appear when you do something different.Proudest professional moment
Proudest professional moment
Alvaro: Together, we have created an environment that supports the new team members as they enrol and emphasises the quality of Agel products – products we consume every day. We did not invent anything, we just followed the system we were taught, with a slight Spanish twist! We were the first Diamonds in our ‘Agel Effect Spain’ team but there will be others that will go even higher and that fills us with happiness.
Alejandra: Becoming independent…free.
One thing I wish I’d known when I started
Alvaro: I wish I knew that I knew nothing
Alejandra: To let others become leaders... that makes you the greatest leader in this business.
Leader whom you admire
Alvaro: The person who most impacted on my life was my father.
Alejandra: Those who give their life for others and fight for what they really believe like Mother Teresa of Calcutta, who worked tirelessly in poverty-stricken Indian communities.
