In this Mentor Spotlight get to know our Endeavor Mentor André Andrade, Vice President LATAM at Bemobi.
Why did you decide to join the Endeavor Network?
Both in my professional and personal life, I am a firm advocate of the concept of giving back. I see Endeavor Miami as the perfect organization to achieve this.
Tell us about your background and why you decided to become a mentor.
The first part of my career was built working for the two major telecommunications groups in Latin America, America Movil/Claro and Telefonica/Vivo. I then transitioned to the start-up world joining Movile as their Sales Director for Brazil, being promoted to Head of Sales for Latin America, and finally to COO of the company. Movile became one of the first Brazilian unicorns. As CEO of Novitech (another start-up), I was the leading executive in selling the company to Nuance Communications and decided to join the new company as GM for Latin America. At Nuance, I expanded the Voice AI business to the region and had the opportunity to work with North America Telcos. At one point during my tenure at Nuance, the company decided to sell the business they had acquired from Novitech four years earlier – a process that I also led successfully to find a new home for that business.
Throughout my 25-year career, I have been fortunate to learn from great entrepreneurs, executives, and amazing co-workers. I believe it’s now time to pay it forward mentoring great founders and their amazing businesses as they work their way to success.
What are the most important qualities and characteristics that mentors should have?
Be a good listener. Understand the pain points and in which of these can you provide valuable and helpful insights. Provide high-level feedback, remembering that the execution is the founder’s responsibility.
Any general advice for entrepreneurs?
Think Big, Be Bold, Be Resilient.
What are you reading?
Heart And Sell and The Next CMO (this last one was written by two colleagues).
These responses have been edited for grammar.
