Even when our processes seem as efficient as possible I want to be sure that there is not something that we could be doing that would be more efficient
The co-founder and CEO of Andina Acquisition Corporation, Luke Weil sees a great deal of opportunity in the Andean region of South America. With Andina Acquisition Corporation, Mr. Weil has capitalized on countless entrepreneurial opportunities while also connecting foreign investors with local, privately owned South American businesses. Through the efforts of his company, Mr. Weil has created an opportunity for mutually beneficial relationships for all of the parties involved, stimulating growth in the region by providing access to capital along with the company’s exceptional business acumen. The company, which is traded on NASDAQ, has been hailed for its entrepreneurial efforts in South America and is clearly poised for significant and long-term success.
Mr. Weil’s entrepreneurial efforts are not limited to Andina Acquisition Corporation, as the graduate of Brown University and Columbia University Business School is also a board member of SKURUN, Runa Clean Energy, the Fortune Society and LW Air. These varied business pursuits are in addition to his vast charitable and philanthropic efforts, as Mr. Weil has demonstrated a clear commitment to using his achievements in business to stimulate positive social change throughout the world. Mr. Weil has enjoyed sustained success in his vast entrepreneurial ventures, and his business acumen is only exceeded by his desire to leverage his success into positive social change.
Where did the idea for Andina Acquisition Corporation come from?
I had visited South America on several occasions and had seen firsthand that there were many local and privately owned businesses that were wonderfully positioned for growth but lacked access to capital and professional guidance. The idea for Andina Acquisition Corporation came from simply recognizing that there was a need that we could fill in this Andean region of South America through our expertise and our access to the kind of capital necessary for long-term and sustainable growth.
What does your typical day look like and how do you make it productive?
I like to stay active, so I am a very early riser. After a morning workout –- it may be swimming, weight training or cycling –- I head to our offices and begin organizing my schedule for the day. My responsibilities are constantly shifting depending on the businesses and investors we are working with, so I rarely have a defined daily schedule. I am mostly in meetings, and a good portion of my day is spent either preparing for those meetings or taking action based on what was discussed and agreed upon.
How do you bring ideas to life?
I find inspiration everywhere I go, and I believe that is because I learned long ago that it is important to keep an open mind to all ideas. I make sure that I thoroughly evaluate every idea that I have or that is presented to me so that I can find a way to best implement the idea in a way that benefits the company. I collaborate with others frequently and spend some time in quiet reflection, and it is in this way that these wonderful ideas just come into my mind each and every day.
What’s one trend that really excites you?
There are so many encouraging trends in business today, but the fact that there are so many investors who are recognizing the opportunity we have in South America is really exciting for Andina Acquisition Corporation in particular.
What is one habit of yours that makes you more productive as an entrepreneur?
I understand the value of a strong work ethic, and I have tried very hard to cultivate that within myself so that I am consistently productive in a way in which my staff can follow suit. I feel that creating a culture in which we value the efforts of every member of the team is exceptionally important.
What was the worst job you ever had and what did you learn from it?
I learned that holding the worst job in the world is much more preferable than holding no job at all. We should never hold a negative perception toward any employment opportunity, as there is no benefit in doing so for anyone involved.
If you were to start again, what would you do differently?
I truly believe that we have done everything exactly as we should have. We saw an opportunity and immediately capitalized on it in a way that has led to immediate success.
As an entrepreneur, what is the one thing you do over and over and recommend everyone else do?
I constantly re-evaluate just about everything we do. Even when our processes seem as efficient as possible I want to be sure that there is not something that we could be doing that would be more efficient. Doing this has helped to ensure that we are always operating in a manner that is as optimal as possible.
What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business? Please explain how.
Growth can only occur if you are providing something that is truly valuable. Whether that is a product or a service, the company has to provide something that will hold consistent value in the marketplace. We have grown due to the fact that our services fill a specific need that is valuable to a great deal of people.
What is one failure you had as an entrepreneur, and how did you overcome it?
I am grateful that even though I have been involved in a great deal of entrepreneurial pursuits I have yet to experience failure on any large scale. We have always worked very diligently to ensure that any business we bring to market is poised for long-term success, and I believe that we have been keen evaluators in this regard.
What is one business idea that you’re willing to give away to our readers?
Our ideas are like currency, and I believe they should not be given away so freely. I will say, however, that it is just as important to cultivate ideas of our own as it is to recognize the outstanding ideas of others.
What is the best $100 you recently spent? What and why?
I attended a charity dinner in support of a number of important environmental issues. The dinner was quite a bit more than $100 per plate, but the cause was absolutely worthwhile.
What software and web services do you use? What do you love about them?
We have developed all manner of software and web services that are designed specifically for our business needs. Having this software available to us has made us all much more effective as entrepreneurs.
What is the one book that you recommend our community should read and why?
I just read “Abundance” by Peter Diamandis and Steven Kotler, which discusses the many trends that will influence entrepreneurs in the future.
What people have influenced your thinking and might be of interest to others?
After reading his book, I have been very interested in the work of Dr. Diamandis. He has some keen insights that I have been able to apply in a number of my own entrepreneurial pursuits.
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Mario Schulzke is the Founder of ideamensch, which he started a decade ago to learn from entrepreneurs and give them a platform for their ideas.