Fernando is charismatic and humble; his soft, measured tone conveys calmness and a willingness to listen. With over 13 years at the oil services company Baker Hughes, he is now part of the team overseeing the company’s integration into General Electric. To find balance in his life, Fernando has focused on sports and on motivating others to achieve their goals.
“My story begins long before I received my college scholarship,” says Fernando when we mention the internship that launched his career, bringing the interview to a halt and forcing us to step into his reality.
The Beginning of Change
https://youtu.be/RmmAEksjIks?si=ztnmmxhuP-x6Zm2M
He says he comes from a humble family, with many conflicts and financial difficulties. “I started working at a very young age—practically as far back as I can remember—taking care of horses, working in a warehouse, and at a pharmacy until I joined Banco Santander.”
When he began his college studies, he was forced to drop out to focus on work; later, his restlessness and desire to better himself led him to consider studying at Universidad ORT Uruguay in Universidad ORT Uruguay.
The bank and the university supported Fernando's enthusiasm by providing him with scholarships and loans in exchange for maintaining good grades. That was the key to his redoubling his efforts each semester.
Toward the end of his studies, he began to be tempted by the idea of going abroad, and a posting on the college bulletin board opened that door for him. It was an internship in the United States, with the catch that he had to know English.
Although he didn’t speak English, his response—“I’ll start tomorrow”—impressed the executives, and Fernando was hired. “When you really want something, nothing can stop you. I wanted that job more than anything, and with that drive and determination, I learned English,” he says.
It took him some time, and he says there are still words he doesn’t know, but he emphasizes that there’s no need to be ashamed of what you do know: “English is just another tool.”
https://youtu.be/kyf-xVL7_6Q?si=qfPF10aU5-F6_opP
The professional challenge
After eight months of paperwork, he was finally able to travel to Austin and start his career in the oil industry.
At first, he worked in special projects management, but Fernando knew exactly what he wanted, and to achieve it, he continued to specialize.
“I have to admit that I found programming really difficult. I’m a more dynamic person with a different way of thinking. Although I worked in that field at first, I always felt motivated to do other things beyond what I had studied.”
That’s why he always kept in mind the importance of continuing his education to acquire new skills: “I studied Project Management Professional, and that’s when I moved away from the technical side; I also earned a master’s degree in business, studied strategy, and was able to focus on what I loved most, which was project management.”
https://youtu.be/h6eRi8EI5cI?si=sI9tik64TPQlf3nL
Sports as a tool
His role within the company has evolved over the years; until six months ago, he was president of a microseismic business unit that develops technology to monitor ground movements, but after Baker Hughes was acquired by General Electric Oil & Gas, he took on an executive role in the integration of the two companies, leading the Digital Solutions division and the pipe inspection business.
For Fernando, this presents a major challenge because the companies have “70,000 employees, with different cultures, processes, and technologies,” but he likes it and enjoys it. “I used to worry a lot about what came next, but not so much anymore.”
She has achieved this mindset in part thanks to sports: “It’s another tool that helps me focus, find balance, release energy, and de-stress.”
https://youtu.be/eiP-rBFXZbI?si=Y144q1UittDDiQ2n
Ironman and the Escape from Alcatraz
“I compete in Ironman events, the most demanding triathlons,” which involve a 4-kilometer swim, a 180-kilometer bike ride, and a 42-kilometer run. That’s why he trains every day: “I get up at five in the morning, ride my bike for an hour, then take a shower, have some coffee, and by seven I’m at the office. At 12, I go for a one-hour run, and by 1:15 I’m back at work.” On weekends, he also gets up very early and goes for a two- to three-hour run.
In both sports and his professional life, he takes a very systematic approach: “I set a goal and work toward achieving it; I know there are always setbacks and unexpected events, but you have to deal with them and keep moving forward.”
https://youtu.be/f8hJi0Fy13s?si=pVnkJt8kVolnM2JL
The skills needed to be a good leader
There is a clear parallel between his hobby and his professional career, both of which are built on discipline, training, goals, and certifications. “It’s not easy, and it’s not for everyone, but it can be done.”
In addition to sports, Fernando enjoys mentoring, encouraging, and motivating others. “I like mentoring; it gives me a sense of fulfillment. Uruguayans tend to say ‘it can’t be done,’ and if I can change that, it makes me happy.”
As a leader of many projects and large teams, he feels happy if he manages to motivate even one person: “My greatest joy is seeing someone I’ve influenced grow, and I believe a good leader is one who can influence others and inspire them to follow.”
https://youtu.be/lyfOBddWPvs?si=0TuUh6ZUKedJUx_7