From Chile to the world. Interview with Hugo Espinoza

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An interview that not only stands as a symbol of individual progress built on education and intelligence, but also addresses the key insights for young people entering the future world of work

In a world where technology changes at the speed of light, few career paths manage to bring together the expertise of large global corporations with the entrepreneurial spirit of startups. Hugo Espinoza, born in Chile, is one of those exceptional cases. From a very young age, he held regional leadership positions in multinational companies, participating in the expansion of technological solutions that marked milestones in Latin America. Later, he was a protagonist in the adoption of the cloud in giants such as Adobe and SAP, at a time when those transformations were defining the course of the entire industry.

Today, its story is intertwined with N5, a software company focused on banking and insurance, which combines innovation in artificial intelligence with a clear vision of real impact on customers. Its arrival means the union between the structured experience of corporations and the agility of new players seeking to transform the market.

In this exclusive interview, Espinoza shares his first-person journey: the key learnings from his career, his vision on leadership with integrity, the challenges of balancing work and personal life, and how he sees the role of AI in the democratization of financial services. A close conversation that reveals how the future of technology with purpose is built, from experience and passion.

Hugo, this talk is a pleasure for us.

We would like to know a little about your professional career, told in the first person.

Hugo Espinoza.: I divide my career into two major stages. At first, I was involved in the development of multinational high-tech companies in Latin America. From the age of 26 I assumed regional roles; It was like starting from within: designing strategies, recruiting teams and taking on expansion, but with the support of a large corporation.

Then, I led the technological evolution in pioneering companies: from clinical informatics solutions in the ’90s to promoting the cloud at Adobe and developing the cloud business at SAP. It was almost 25 years of continuous transformation.

What led you, in 2017, to move to a more entrepreneurial environment?

Hugo Espinoza: It was the desire to apply everything I learned in my own project. I was a shareholder and leader of a company for three years, and since then I have worked in smaller companies, where every decision has a big impact. During the last 7 years, I was in companies with a turnover between 10 and 20 million dollars, with a focus on doubling the business year after year.

Today you have landed in a software firm for Banking and insurance called N5. How do you connect the experience of those two stages that you point out in your past, with your current role in N5?

Hugo Espinoza: N5 represents a great challenge today: an innovative company with a market vision and a differentiated product. My contribution is to accelerate its growth, formalize methodologies and promote an ecosystem of partners, just as I did at Adobe. Boosting indirect sales with regional partners is key to scaling without oversizing resources for operations.

When we meet a personality who has made a career like yours, we have no right to avoid this question: What keys do you consider fundamental to climb professionally?

Hugo Espinoza: I believe that there are three pillars that lead you to professional success.

First: Take advantage of opportunities. Know how to recognize them. Be attentive to the doors that open.

Then, it is fundamental. Be prepared. You must prepare for when opportunities come. In my case, I had a very good academic performance. And in that sense I was well prepared. However, at 27, I received a very important proposal. I knew how to see in her an opportunity that I had to take and I had the attitude to prepare myself so as not to miss her. So, I applied to learn English in a month because I had to present a strategy for Latin America in Boston… And it went very well.

And thirdly, it is essential to lead with integrity. We always talk about teamwork. But it is not always applied with the integrity that a leader should have. It is necessary to work as a team, really. Lead with authenticity, empathy, and lead by example.

For leaders, who are often captives of work, it is not easy to combine work activity with family. How would you say you solve that challenge?

Hugo Espinoza: I think there is no real success if you sacrifice your personal life.

In my case, I set out to give the quality of my time, to dedicate the best care to my family. I had challenges that took me away from home every two weeks and even so, traveling, I put this resolution first. When he was there, he was truly present.

What do you hope to achieve in N5?

Hugo Espinoza: My expectation is to help transform N5 into one of the best technology companies in the world. The market vision is unique, clearly solves real problems and provides solid value. With more systematic execution, we can scale, win customers, enter new countries, and build on firm foundations.

How do you see the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in all this?

Hugo Espinoza: AI is a powerful tool that automates tedious tasks and improves the efficiency of human work. But there is still more “hype”—exaggerated expectations—than tangible projects. At N5, we use AI as a support for the person, not as a replacement. And we do this through solutions like Alfred and Pep that could even democratize financial access. That inclusion would occur thanks to the reduction of banks’ current costs to operate.

For someone who is just starting out, what would you say the world of work is like with the incorporation of Artificial Intelligence?

Hugo Espinoza: Education is key. It is not enough to know how to use tools, you have to understand how they work, their bases and limits. The ethical and moral depends on each person. AI is here to stay, but it requires understanding, control, and transparency. We must not be trapped in “black boxes”, closed and inaccessible, where the way in which information is processed and “thinks” by AI is opaque.

One last question: Your contribution is not limited to assembling teams, assisting them and guiding them. You also have direct contact with customers. What inspires you most about working in front of the client?

Hugo Espinoza: What motivates me the most is to see successful projects and satisfied clients. I love transforming problems into technological solutions and being part of real change. That is what drives my work every day.

Thank you very much, Hugo, for this opportunity and for the inspiring message you leave us!

An example of teamwork, innovation and adaptation to the dynamic challenges of our time, Espinoza has shown us his trajectory from technology giants to entrepreneurship, with a clear vision: innovation, human leadership and growth with purpose. N5 has in it a passionate engine to continue consolidating itself as an undisputed global benchmark.

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