Public Infrastructure: Claro Enterprise Solutions
Story by: Jacob Rivard
ORGANIZATIONAL SUSTAINABILITY AND TRANSFORMATIONAL LEADERSHIP
Jorge Rodriguez and his wife are the parents of seven children. Their approach to parenting is based on support and guidance rather than criticizing, and on listening, understanding and empathy. He has applied this philosophy to his professional career, and to his current role as President and CEO of IT and telecom services company Claro Enterprise Solutions.
Emotional intelligence is the foundation of leadership and distinction,” Rodríguez says. “It’s the most critical component of enabling organizational productivity and adaptability. As technology and globalization continue to transform the overall business environment, EI may be the key to enabling organizational sustainability.” Rodríguez has been the CEO of Claro Enterprise Solutions (formerly Telmex USA) for the past 15 years, and has 30 years of experience in the industry at AT&T, AT&T Latin America and Telmex. He attributes his success to a focus on a few core principles: driving a sound organizational culture; ensuring that diversity and inclusion initiatives are a strategic imperative; and a commitment to life-long learning.
Rodríguez says the biggest mistake businesses make is to fail to establish the appropriate enterprise architecture needed to support existing operations and guide future evolution. “If you don’t have a good foundation that encompasses the three critical pillars – people, process and technology – the organization will not be adequately prepared to respond to disruption.” Rodríguez and his team work extensively with customers on a global level to develop digital strategies aimed at redefining and transforming operational and customer engagement models. He has even developed a quantifiable formula to help organizations measure how foundation and culture impact the value a business creates. Agility is key, he says, and is “is what enables enterprises to evolve and succeed.” In today’s dynamic world of disruptive technology, Rodríguez believes awareness of evolving trends, constant learning and staying ahead of the curve are essential. He walks the talk, having earned several post-graduate degrees, including a Master of Science in Technology from Columbia University; he also serves as an executive mentor at Columbia’s Center for Technology Management. “The world is constantly changing, which means our customer needs are changing as well. To meet those needs, we must constantly research opportunities for growth and learn everything we can to provide the best service possible.”
“IF YOU DO NOT HAVE A GOOD FOUNDATION THAT ENCOMPASSES THE THREE CRITICAL PILLARS - PEOPLE, PROCESS AND TECHNOLOGY- THE ORGANIZATION WILL NOT BE ADEQUATELY PREPARED TO RESPOND TO DISRUPTION.”
Traditionally, telcos focused on connectivity, network capabilities and a product- centric approach. Claro Enterprise Solutions has evolved to deliver a broad range of business-to-business solutions that encompass an integrated and consultative approach to addressing customer needs. The company’s current portfolio is divided into three elements: Business-as-a-Service, the foundational elements of connectivity and business collaboration; Managed Services, or consultative services, designed to develop and manage new, digital operating models; and Internet of Things, or edge solutions, that leverage the power of connected networks of smart devices and the insights gleaned from data analytics. As the world has changed, and as the company’s foundational telecom services have evolved to a broader, services-oriented approach, Rodríguez has effectively shifted the conversation from a focus on technology to a focus on the customer and the overall customer experience.
In the future, Rodríguez believes that intelligent interfaces will continue to evolve and redefine how companies interact with their consumers, employees and their ecosystems. “The capability of real-time feedback will transform interactions between people, machines and data to create a superior customer experience. A new dimension of instant gratification will be upon us, while productivity and efficiencies will reach new levels.” To complement the technology foundation, Rodríguez believes forward-looking people and evolutionary talent acquisition strategies will be critical. “Many of the jobs of the future don’t even exist yet, so we will need to be creative in identifying and nurturing the specific skill sets that redefine the employee experience and enable organizational agility. Companies that think outside the box in terms of education and training, as well as those that are truly committed to diversity and inclusion, will have an edge.” Rodríguez views a comprehensive approach to the future of work as a strategic imperative that companies must embrace to ensure long-term competitiveness.
Like all things in Jorge Rodríguez’s life, embracing change and managing transformational initiatives are part of his daily routine. His commitment to excellence – both personally and professionally– drives his relentless dedication. As technology continues to evolve and define new capabilities, so will Jorge’s support of his customers’ strategies to ensure long-term organizational sustainability.
JORGE M. RODRÍGUEZ
Title: President & CEO of Claro Enterprise Solutions
Education: Bachelor of Arts in Biology/Molecular Biology, Colgate University Master of Business Administration, Rochester Institute of Technology Master of Science in Technology, Columbia University AMP International Business, Keenan-Flagler, UNC Chapel Hill
Background: Born to two Cuban immigrants in the 60s, Jorge Rodríguez has prided himself on his work ethic inherited from decades of family values. He initially went to school for molecular biology, but quickly found himself interested in the ins and outs of business; specifically, the world of technology and telecommunication. Rodríguez rose quickly through the ranks of AT&T and AT&T Latin America as he tackled challenging assignments with exceptional results. Now, Rodríguez serves as the CEO of Claro Enterprise Solutions, and manages the firm’s global corporate segment at the enterprise level.
“ORGANIZATIONAL AGILITY IS THE CRITICAL ELEMENT THAT WILL ENABLE ENTERPRISES TO EVOLVE AND SUCCEED.”
“AS TECHNOLOGY AND GLOBALIZATION
CONTINUE TO TRANSFORM THE OVERALL
BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT, EI MAY BE THE KEY TO
ENABLING ORGANIZATIONAL SUSTAINABILITY.”
Claro Enterprise Solutions: Evolve Together
Claro Enterprise Solutions, a global provider of IT and telecom services, was launched in June of 2018 as a re-brand of Telmex USA, the U.S.-based subsidiary of América Móvil. Through an extensive portfolio of services and solutions, Claro Enterprise Solutions delivers innovation and customer-driven solutions and services to existing and new markets across the Americas and Europe.
Solutions Portfolio
Business as a Service: foundational building blocks of communication, collaboration and security aligned to meet specific business requirements. Solutions include: UCaaS, SD-WAN, MPLS, DIA
Managed Services: cloud-based service delivery models, data analytics, process improvement, outsourcing and intelligent automation to support new ways of doing business. Solutions include: Digital Transformation, Retail & Hospitality, Contact Center Services
Internet of Things/Over the Top Solutions: innovation through the deployment of smart sensors and communications platforms to collect and analyze data. Solutions include: Temperature Monitoring, Fuel Analytics, Fleet Management, Location Services
Approach
Combine innovation with customer focus to help businesses evolve to new operational models. Optimize existing technology investments and integrate legacy systems and applications with digital capabilities. Tailor solutions to align to unique business requirements. Help customers drive operational improvement and deliver engaging customer experiences. +