Felipe Montoro Jens

Always be focused on the main goal to be achieved and what exactly has to be done in order to achieve it.

 

Felipe Montoro Jens is a well known name in the finance industry in Brazil. Felipe is primarily known as an infrastructure projects expert, and consultant on various infrastructure projects throughout Brazil. He’s also well known for his work on helping advise business arrangements between the Brazilian government and private industry. An arrangement that’s referred to as Public Private Partnerships (PPP).

In one of his previous positions, Jens worked at Enel Group S.P.A, in the project development and structured finance area. Felipe also has had the privilege to work with numerous other professionals and companies throughout his long career. For example, Luciano Nitri Guidolin, Paulo Oliveiro De Melo to name few. Felipe’s extensive experience has greatly assisted him in his career and has also made him a widely recognized figure in infrastructure.

Felipe Montoro Jens holds multiple positions on the boards of several different companies in Brazil. In addition to his consulting work, Jens is working as Chairman at Arboreoland Empreendimentos Imobiliários, Director at Fonte Nova Negocios e Participaçoes SA, Concessionaria do Centro Administrativo, an Executive Officer at Concessionaria Interoceanica Sur Tramo 3 SA, AC Energia SA, Concessionaria Interoceanica Sur Tramo 2, Empresa de Generación Huallaga SA, Concesionaria Travase Olmos and H2olmos. He is also working as Principal at Peru Inversiones En Infraestructura SA and Marañon Energia SA.

Felipe Montoro Jens began his collegiate education at Oregon University in 1998. But later that same year he shifted to UC Santa Barbra. Mr. Jens has a Bachelor degree in Spanish and History followed by Masters degree in Kinesiology and Health Promotion. Felipe also holds an additional undergraduate and post graduate degree in Business Administration from Fundao Getlio Vargas, and American Garvin School respectively.

What does your typical day look like and how do you make it productive?

Typical Day: Breakfast, Gim/Running, Work. At work: 1-2 conference calls with financial institutions / partners (in joint investments) / potential investors. 2-3 internal/external meetings. Review contracts / agreements and write reports (to the Board of Directors) about the most relevant investment’s challenges / outcomes.
To be Productive: Avoid social media and small talks at office, focus on import discussions. Be precise with the words and avoid long hours’ meetings… “Less is More”.

How do you bring ideas to life?

Reading “serious” and “curious” news, watching good movies and discussing/getting together with smart people.

What’s one trend that excites you?

To live, eat and dress in a more informal and healthy way.

What is one habit of yours that makes you more productive as an entrepreneur?

Always be focused on the main goal to be achieved and what exactly has to be done in order to achieve it.

What advice would you give your younger self?

Always do your best (no matter what you are doing). Be impeccable with your words and don´t make assumptions, ask. Focus, live and enjoy the present. The past is already gone and the future is totally uncertain.

Tell us something that’s true that almost nobody agrees with you on.

Things have to be always clean and in the right place.

As an entrepreneur, what is the one thing you do over and over and recommend everyone else do?

Review, review and review your presentations and reports. There is always room to improve what you are doing and to be more precise.

What is one strategy that has helped you to grow your business?

I was barely satisfied with my outcomes. Not that I was unhappy, but I (almost) always found a way to improve what I was doing.

What is one failure you had as an entrepreneur, and how did you overcome it?

I was not able to motivate my team to work with as much passion as myself. Honestly, I think that I did not overcome that yet (and I am still working on…).

What is one business idea that you’re willing to give away to our readers?

If I have this business idea, I will do it myself !! But I could definitely see private ventures in America, especially those focused on infrastructure, being the way to go given current leadership there.

What is the best $100 you recently spent? What and why?

Spend the afternoon with my entire family in a fish restaurant, celebrating my sister’s birthday. The location (in front of the sea) and the atmosphere of the local place allowed the whole family to enjoy a marvelous sun set and to share the joy of life.

What is one piece of software or a web service that helps you be productive? How do you use it?

My banking app. All payments, transfers and investments can be made very easily and fast, wherever I am (with an internet connection).

What is the one book that you recommend our community should read and why?

“Sidarta“. It explains and shows the importance to find internal personal balance using things that are already available (for free) in the nature.

What is your favorite quote?

Just keep walking.

Key learnings:

1. Put all your efforts while performing something. It does not matter what you are doing. It has to be the best of you.
2. Never give up. If there is a will there is a way. People that really want to achieve something find a way not an excuse.
3. To focus in the present means that you won´t accommodate with past results and will not suffer for things that didn´t happen yet (and sometimes it never will).
4. Always work and live with people that are smarter and “better” than you. This will always enrich your life.
5. Keep yourself healthy and moving all the time. You never know when the “perfect wave” will appear to you.