How do two enterprising doctors<\/strong> who would end up forming a leading medical company in Venezuela start their careers? What to do when life makes you decide between two options? How is surfing related to running a business?<\/p>\n Today in N5 CIZ<\/a>, Julian Colombo interviews Andr\u00e9s Simon Gonz\u00e1lez Sil\u00e9n, CEO of Grupo Venemergencia and co-founder of Asistens \u2014 recognized companies in the health area.<\/p>\n Here are the key points from the interview and the most valuable lessons we learned. We invite you to watch the full video so you don’t miss the beginnings of two enterprising doctors and how they impacted the health area in Venezuela.<\/p>\n Andr\u00e9s’s childhood was closely related to the sea. When he was a boy he lived near the coast and used to go fishing many times with his father.<\/p>\n On the part of his family, he was closer to medicine. Andr\u00e9s describes his father as someone whose goal was to achieve the maximum academic achievement of his children.<\/strong> So much so that his brother went to Wales, his sister to Singapore, and he went to England to study.<\/p>\n Andr\u00e9s had a childhood that he remembers as “super positive”. His childhood dream was to become a fisherman, combining two things that he was passionate about. However, when he grew up he ended up opting exclusively for medicine.<\/p>\n In his first year of medicine, Andr\u00e9s met Luis Vel\u00e1zquez, who would eventually become his business partner. With him they would be spectators of multiple real medical cases in a hospital, and this would lead them to start giving first aid courses on weekends.<\/p>\n Starting their third year of medicine, both founded Vemergencias, their first company, to give first aid courses.<\/p>\n That would be the first of a series of ventures that over time would lead them to manage what today is the leading company providing emergency services, ambulances and telemedicine in Venezuela.<\/p>\n Thanks to all this, at the time of graduation they were already in charge of a company with more than 40 employees. Even their fellow graduates came to offer their resumes to work with them.<\/strong><\/p>\n Now that 2010 has arrived, a dilemma presents itself to both partners. On the one hand, they could continue in a linear way with their medical career and end up practicing as specialists and p. On the other hand, there was the opportunity to continue with the company.<\/p>\n It was a difficult decision, but in the end they ended up choosing the company. Well, as Andr\u00e9s comments, they were no longer going to treat one patient at a time, but millions of them.<\/strong><\/p>\n After that, he promised himself that he would not study anymore, but he was unable to complete the promise. Soon after, he was already doing a diploma in occupational health, and later he would end up going to Harvard to extend his studies.<\/p>\n As we have seen in other interviews, sometimes plans change. The important thing is to know when it is necessary to take another course<\/a> and do it.<\/p>\n At some point in the interview, Juli\u00e1n is interested in how Andr\u00e9s manages his time, being the head of such an important company.<\/p>\n To this, he comments that the key to keeping your schedule on track and getting all your tasks done is a support team you can trust.<\/strong> He calls it “Simon’s company”. These are people who help you in multiple aspects of your business and personal life.<\/p>\n In addition to that, Andr\u00e9s confesses that he hardly says “no” to something. His schedule fills up pretty quickly, but that’s exactly why he’s motivated to keep his time organized.<\/p>\n However, Simon insists, it would be impossible for him to keep up if it weren’t for his team.<\/p>\n One of the things that motivated Andr\u00e9s from the beginning when it came to moving forward with his insurance service was the situation faced by Venezuelans who had gone abroad and their relatives continued to send them money but.<\/p>\n This situation is particularly difficult when it comes to a medical emergency. Many times a problem occurs, and that person who was trying to progress in another country ends up sending their savings to their relatives so that they can be attended to.<\/p>\n That is why Andr\u00e9s had the idea of \u200b\u200boffering health insurance to people outside of Venezuela<\/strong>. This way they would be covered in case something happens.<\/p>\n\nThe Importance of a Positive Childhood<\/h2>\n
\nIt’s never too early to start a business<\/h2>\n
Study or Work?<\/h2>\n
\nHow Does a CEO Manage His Agenda?<\/h2>\n
Where There Are Problems, There Are Solutions<\/h2>\n