SpaceDev's CTO Among the Top 25 Figures Driving Local Technology
May 31, 2024
Montevideo, Uruguay
On May 31st, Experis presented the book "25 Leaders Transforming Technology in Uruguay," recognizing the professionals driving the advancement of the ICT sector in the country. The event, held on the 22nd floor of the World Trade Center Montevideo Free Zone tower, was attended by prominent industry figures, including the President of Uruguay, Luis Lacalle Pou.
Experis, a ManpowerGroup brand, focuses on attracting and hiring tech talent. Its specialization spans five areas: Business Transformation, Cloud and Infrastructure, Digital Workspace, Cybersecurity, and Enterprise Applications. Through Experis Academy, the company collaborates with educational institutions to develop curricula focused on the most in-demand skills, promoting business success in a constantly evolving job market.
The concept behind the book arises from the challenges of finding, hiring, and retaining employees. This aspect of the tech world changed significantly and abruptly during the pandemic, as the sector had to adapt while dealing with its inherent highs and lows. Experis' book gathers reflections from 25 leaders on the present and future of technology in Uruguay.
Among these distinguished personalities is Juan Manuel Sobral, CTO of SpaceDev. "Digital literacy and the ability to adapt to technological changes are everyone's responsibility," he states in one of his highlighted quotes, calling for action in navigating today's complexities in an informed and secure manner. This sentiment echoes his talk on smart wallets and mass adoption.
Another key point in his testimony focuses on the challenges SpaceDev faced when specializing in blockchain and web3 (without abandoning full-stack services and projects). In addition to strategizing and supporting changes across various departments, such as marketing, it was necessary to convince the team that this was a technology worth learning and investing resources in.
"When it comes to retaining talent, the most important thing is a strong internal culture", adds Juan Manuel, emphasizing the importance of transparency and what companies can do to strengthen employees' sense of belonging. He concluded on a positive note regarding the progress and talent level of the tech industry in Uruguay, suggesting several measures to make it more inviting as an innovation hub.
The book (in Spanish) can be downloaded after filling out a short form here. Experis' strategic partners include CUTI, IT Builders, and Uruguay XXI.
"With great power comes great responsibility. This phrase is perhaps best known to those in the tech community, as it was said by Peter Parker's uncle in Spider-Man (2002), but digital literacy and the ability to adapt to technological changes are everyone's responsibility."