Federico Seineldin - Co-fundador y Director de Arbusta | Experiencia Endeavor Buenos Aires

Summary

This inspiring speech highlights the journey of a company that empowers young people from economically disadvantaged backgrounds by providing them with opportunities in the technology sector. The speaker discusses how they transformed from a socially responsible business model to one that combines economic sustainability with social impact. By offering training and real-world job opportunities, the company helps youth develop technical skills, gain employment, and elevate their self-esteem. The speaker emphasizes that the key to addressing inequality is not just education but creating pathways to employment, showcasing a replicable model for change in communities worldwide.

Takeaways

• 😀 The speaker reflects on starting a business during the 2001 economic crisis in Argentina, highlighting how the experience shaped their entrepreneurial journey.
• 😀 The initial focus was on corporate social responsibility (CSR), but the business model evolved into a hybrid one, blending economic sustainability with social impact.
• 😀 The company, Augusta, provides opportunities for young people from marginalized socio-economic backgrounds to enter the tech industry, which has a high demand for talent.
• 😀 The speaker emphasizes that talent is democratically distributed, but opportunities are not. The goal is to connect young people from disadvantaged neighborhoods to high-demand tech jobs.
• 😀 Augusta’s workforce consists of 93% people from socio-economically fragile situations, with offices in Argentina and Colombia, aiming to provide job opportunities on a large scale.
• 😀 One key mission of Augusta is to create a pathway for young people (ages 18-25) to enter the technology sector by offering real job opportunities, not just education or training.
• 😀 The speaker shares a success story of a young woman who entered Augusta with no prior tech knowledge and rose to become a project manager, eventually transitioning to a higher role in a prestigious company.
• 😀 The company’s model is based on revealing the potential of young people, providing them with the tools and opportunities to thrive in tech roles that they might not have previously considered accessible.
• 😀 The speaker stresses that young people from marginalized areas have unique skills, such as problem-solving, empathy, and self-management, which make them highly capable in tech roles.
• 😀 Augusta’s business model is scalable and replicable, and the speaker suggests it can be applied to other industries and regions to generate employment and combat poverty by providing opportunities for dignity and self-esteem.

Q & A

What was the significant turning point in the speaker's life in 2001?

In 2001, the speaker faced both the Argentine crisis and the opportunity of being selected by an organization, which reconfigured their mindset and led them to explore new avenues, including learning from social organizations during tough times.

How did the speaker’s business model evolve over time?

Initially focused on corporate social responsibility, the speaker's business later shifted towards creating hybrid models where economic sustainability drives social or environmental impact, blending traditional business with social initiatives.

What is the primary mission of Augusta, the speaker’s current company?

Augusta aims to provide opportunities to young people from vulnerable socioeconomic backgrounds, training them to work in the technology industry and connecting them with high-quality employment opportunities.

What sets Augusta apart from other companies in terms of its workforce?

Augusta employs 93% of its workforce from socioeconomically vulnerable backgrounds, providing them with opportunities in the tech industry, a sector traditionally hard to access for these communities.

How does Augusta ensure the quality of its work despite its unconventional recruitment process?

Augusta focuses on skills development and hands-on training, ensuring the quality of its services by leveraging young people from underserved areas and matching them with demanding tech projects. Their employees often outperform university graduates in real-world tasks.

What role does talent development play in Augusta’s strategy?

Talent development is central to Augusta's strategy. The company identifies potential in young people from marginalized areas, trains them in technical skills, and then integrates them into high-demand tech projects, thereby transforming their lives.

What social impact has Augusta achieved so far?

Augusta has had a significant social impact, providing quality job opportunities in the tech sector to young people who otherwise would have struggled to find employment, helping them escape poverty and gain dignity and self-esteem.

What is the importance of employment in Augusta’s approach to tackling poverty?

Augusta believes that the key to overcoming poverty is not just education, but providing real employment opportunities. Employment fosters dignity, self-esteem, and the chance to learn through work, which is vital for breaking cycles of poverty.

How does Augusta handle the training and development of its employees?

Augusta uses a systematic approach to train young employees, integrating them into the tech industry through a mentorship model, where they undergo technical, personal, and professional development, preparing them for high-quality jobs.

What potential does Augusta see in the transformation of young people in vulnerable neighborhoods?

Augusta sees immense potential in young people from vulnerable neighborhoods. They believe that with the right opportunities, these young people can excel, as demonstrated by employees who have risen from basic roles to leadership positions in a short time.