The current economic recession is not only producing corporate winners and losers in the market as a result, among other reasons, of different management models previously followed, but also changes in the professional experiences and qualifications needed by corporate management. New professional profiles arise that are in increasing demand as this recession continues, and this very change should be one of the key factors that will, in the end, help contribute to the eventual upswing in the cycle.
So how are they changing from the profile valued during these last few years? Today, more than ever, organizations are looking for management with a strong capacity for leadership and negotiation that will help to restructure and reposition the company in its sector and different business lines, usually, although not exclusively, through acquisition, mergers or reduction. This also requires a higher level of specialty and concrete knowledge then in the past, in the area of costs as opposed to income. Clearly the motor that will power a company’s survival lies in rationalization and efficiency instead of expansion or constant pressure towards growth. Naturally no company asks its executives to ignore opportunities for Business growth that exist in the current context, but one must move ahead with the highest criteria of realism and caution. The irrefutable objective of maximization of fair and adequate profit must be attained today, more by controlling costs than maximizing income. Towards this end, executives need a very high capacity for change and integration in an economic environment radically different to that in which we have lived in the recent past.
The professionals that understand these changes and trends will emerge and adapt to the new sought after profiles in the market, for which they will most certainly have to make changes to their attitudes and mentalities molding them to closely fit with the business opportunities that arise. Among other things, this will mark a change in priorities and preferences giving more weight to factors such as institutional stability as well as in a company’s business model that will continue to favor professional development. Executives will also have to adapt to the emerging corporate winners, be who they may, understanding that in many cases these will not be the same corporate leaders as in years past.
Alfonso Rebuelta
Managing Partner
Bao Partners / Signium International