Be more proactive and less reactive in your organization.
Mr. Alexandro Rovirosa is the founder and CEO of Roma Energy Holdings, an Exploration and Production (E&P) company for the Oil and Gas Industry established in Texas. Alexandro Rovirosa has actively participated in the oil and gas industry in Mexico with multiple companies as a PEMEX (Petroleos Mexicanos) contractor for the past 15 years, providing services related to the construction and maintenance of Oil and Gas facilities and pipelines, as well as other support services for the E&P industry in Mexico.
Where did the idea for Roma Energy Holdings scome from?
On December 20, 2013, the Mexican Government signed constitutional reforms related to Mexico’s energy industry known as ‘Energy Reform’. Prior to that reform, Petroleos Mexicanos (PEMEX), Mexico’s state-owned energy company, controlled all business related to Mexico’s oil and gas supply chain. Following this reform, and for the first time in nearly 80 years, the Mexican energy industry was open to private companies. Since that moment, I started working through the idea of Roma Energy as an exploration and production company for the Mexican oil and gas industry. We bring all of the expertise and knowledge from this sector in the United States to this new opportunity in Mexico.
What does your typical day look like and how do you make it productive?
My day is spent managing our service companies for the E&P sector in Mexico, and running Roma Energy. Although they are two businesses with related activities, they are very different from each other, in the service sector we work for other companies – mainly PEMEX in Mexico. With Roma Energy, we are working to create our own E&P company, so I don’t have a chance to have many ‘typical days’. Basically every day I have calls and videoconferences with our teams located in different parts of Mexico, and our headquarters based here in The Woodlands, Texas. A lot of my time is also spent traveling back and forth between the two countries to properly manage the companies.
How do you bring ideas to life?
As an entrepreneur, it’s very clear to me that an idea is only as good as its execution – it’s a basic rule. Also, mentorship and guidance are fundamental. Being able to work through ideas involves the right teamwork to build out a strategy. It’s important to think outside the box in creative ideas and execute to achieve the best result.
What’s one trend that excites you?
Sustainability is key in our future, so we need to work in the right balance between growth and a more healthy environment. Today fuel is necessary for everything, and natural gas is the cleanest kind of fuel out there. The increased use of natural gas can significantly improve local air quality and public health, as well as reducing carbon dioxide emissions. Because of this, the LNG Power Plants are the trend that excites me most. The ability to use natural gas for power generation is an ideal complement to renewable energy generation which I think needs to be our future, like wind and solar power. Great solutions, but still intermittent and inconsistent. Natural gas power plants can be quickly turned on and off to help provide consistent electricity production when solar or wind resources fluctuate, so the combination of all these resources and technologies can give us the energy that we need in a more eco-friendly way.
What is one habit of yours that makes you more productive as an entrepreneur?
Trying to be proactive all the time. focusing on what’s important, not just what’s urgent. Right now everything is more reactive than proactive, I prefer to do things in a proactive way to achieve the goals most needed in my organization.
What advice would you give your younger self?
Keep dreaming big and listen to those around you.
Tell us something that’s true that almost nobody agrees with you on.
Most people believe that working very hard and long will bring them the life they desire, but the truth is hard work is not enough – smart thinking combined with smart work is what really make you succeed.
As an entrepreneur, what is the one thing you do over and over and recommend everyone else do?
As an entrepreneur, you have to always encourage your team. No matter what sort of entrepreneur you are, you have to have some sort of team backing up your success and they need to be empowered.
What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business?
Always set goals for both the mid term and long run. Focus on what makes you thrive and use it to reach these goals. Again try to be proactive and not reactive.
What is one failure you had as an entrepreneur, and how did you overcome it?
The exploration and production industry is a very high-risk/high reward business. There was an instance that I decided to make a very risky move that almost cost me everything, and learned the hard way that you better diversify your investments.
What is one business idea that you’re willing to give away to our readers?
The energy business drives me. Better ways to save energy combined with technology can be a great business. For example, there are currently intelligent switches that control the lighting of the house and I think that a way to complement this technology could be to design a plug and play intelligent electric outlets, which cut off the electricity consumption of all those devices that do not need to have power all the time, but which, when connected consume energy. Then I would combine all of this in a simple-to-use app that helps to manage and cut electricity bills and consumption.
What is the best $100 you recently spent? What and why?
Investing in networking. The best advice often comes from unexpected sources, which is why it’s crucial for entrepreneurs to prioritize building varied professional networks. So having a lunch, dinner or any other social interaction with other entrepreneurs can help you a lot.
What is one piece of software or a web service that helps you be productive?
Having most of my operations in Mexico and my headquarters in Texas, technology and software are very important in our daily basis operations. I feel we get the most use out of all the software or apps for videoconferencing and remote team work, like GoToMeeting, etc. Those help me a lot.
What is the one book that you recommend our community should read and why?
The Prize: The Epic Quest for Oil, Money and Power – Daniel Yergin
This book is a great history lesson on the development of the oil age and insight into the political, economical, and environmental fronts which to me is fascinating.
What is your favorite quote?
Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler – Albert Einstein
Key Learnings:
● Oil and gas industry is open for business in Mexico
● Exploration and production is a high risk/high reward business
● Sustainability is key in our future
● Be more proactive and less reactive in your organization
Connect:
Carlyn runs the day-to-day publishing operation here at ideamensch and interacts with our awesome customers and entrepreneurs. She is likely editing this with a cat on her lap.