INNOVATION: INVESTING ON THE PRESENT
When addressing the main issue for this edition, Bergés refers to innovation as a key element in today’s corporate environment, which translates into opportunities to generate competitive leveraging. “Today, companies rely on information and access to technology to such extent, that they can innovate and develop strategies that set them apart from their market competitors, and gain access to continue doing business in a market that is getting more supersaturated every day.
INICIA is an asset management firm; when asked if this corporate group’s business model is different from other competitors in its sector,, she stresses that the tell-apart factor is targeting key talent. “The best of each sector we invest in, and whom above all, share our vision and values”.
So, do you see innovation as a competitive tool towards the Firm’s development and expansion?”
AB: “But of course! And markets are subject to constant changes; as an asset management firm, we are constantly exploring opportunities that lead us toward evolving with the times. I believe this is the trait that has led INICIA to successfully transcending in time, always pioneering from within, all the way until successfully rolling out our plans and actions. We are a firm that is known for its high level of flexibility, and we foster our partners to always be competitive and avant-garde”.
Corporate innovation influences productivity and competitiveness of all countries; in that sense, Bergés assures that INICIA has played an important role in the evolution of the Dominican system. “As a socially responsible business, we stake on mainstreaming the win-win paradigm”, which is based on the roll-out of avant-garde strategies that grow the productivity of all sectors we invest in, by promoting in-country competitiveness, and driving direct impact towards growing our national economy, by helping creating value, increasing skilled workforce, and technical and technological advancement”.
By elaborating on these traits and variables that secure the firm’s success, Bergés explained that their focus lies on selecting key talent that can produce sustainable value. “We target a select number of platforms with potential for high-level and long-term development within the NOLA (Northern Latin America) region. We invest in the former by partnering with specific specialized talent with vast knowledge and experience in their respective fields and industry”.
“Today, companies rely on information and access to technology to such extent, that they can innovate and develop strategies that set them apart from their market competitors, and gain access to continue doing business in a market that is getting more supersaturated per day.
INICIA invests through seven key platforms: Tourism and Real Estate; Energy & Industry; Financial Advisory Services; Food, Beverage & Retail; Media, Education and Asset Recovery. “We manage these investments alongside our partners and relying on specific talent, that shares our values and our long-term vision”, Bergés added.
So, do you consider it essential to own skills that set you apart from the key competitors”?
AB: “Competition is always healthy; this means that the market you are targeting brings something to the table re high business potential. The challenge lies in adding value that sets you apart from the rest, and for clients to recognize that value and contribute to it”.
So, in that same tenor, do you believe “Innovation” plays a key role in country development”?
AB: “To remain stagnant sets us back and threatens us with disappearing. Innovation is a necessity, it is the driving force for the sustainable growth of a nation, and one of the greatest challenges in the sectors that are part of the productive framework”.
Bergés assures that the winning formula in her field is rolling out sustainable actions, which aim to fulfill the market needs and creating shared value. “If our environment does not grow with us, then we’re just not growing”.
The prevailing conundrum since we began this interview is: How has the firm managed to innovate, given its inception since over a century ago? When Anyarlene Bergés refers to innovation, she means innovation as a constant and essential factor in the company’s growth.
AB: “Since the company’s beginnings, when the business model had an entirely different framework and was focused on other areas, such as the import/export of commercial goods, it later on diversified and included the sugar and agribusiness industry. The Firm has been constantly evolving, researching and analyzing new markets and opportunities.
Innovation is a key factor of business competitiveness, essential to respond to market developments and the new economy.
Per this affirmation, what are the effects of innovation when it comes to Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs)?
AB: “This is the road that leads a small business to turn into a medium-sized business, and then into a big business, and leads the big companies to internationalize and diversify, and invest in diverse markets, thus, driving great impact in the local economy, by creating value and employment opportunities’.
So, do you consider innovation as betting safely on the future?
AB: “Innovation is staking on the present, because through innovation, a company’s day-to-day agenda ensures tomorrow’s wellbeing for all productive parties. The actions we take now, in the present, will undoubtedly define our future”.
Seeing all from a professional point of view, as Head of Communications and Government Relations of INICIA, Anyarlene Bergés shares the keys to communicating change and innovation: “Learning new ways and means to communicating our messages has been the challenge faced by the many traditional companies. We have a new target audience that communicates and speaks another language, and this is what drives and forces us to change. Those whom do not communicate in an intelligent way, by using the proper channels, run the risk of losing their momentum to another, hence suffering considerable losses in their reputation”.
“It is always good to have competition; this means that the market you are targeting has high business potential. The challenge lies in adding value that sets you apart from the rest, and for clients to recognize that value and contribute to it”.
