International view If I said to you that the world is mad, how would you reply? That it isn’t. What the world has is a crisis of values. In other words, when Marxism falls as an ideology, and Christianity ceases to be in vogue as a religion, what remains is money and power. And normally, when things are left up to money and power alone, good things do not come about. A crisis of values that is ultimately leading us into chaos. No, not necessarily into chaos. What this is leading us to is more noise. What we need to see is what is left Does a country’s culture influence the type remaining after the noise. I enjoy cooking. When you of companies that exist in that country? cook, you have to see what’s left once the froth has gone, In theory, yes, but in practice, the workforce is becoming because the froth prevents you from seeing what you’re increasingly global in terms of mindset and increasingly cooking. There is a lot of noise in the world, but if you well-travelled. In other words, we have Spanish remove the froth, the outlook is not so bad. executives who are at the top of the world at Coca-Cola. How should one deal with a situation like the current Are Spanish executives different from those one: through order or improvisation? in other countries? It must be tackled with zero panic, zero overreaction, Technically, they are just as skilled and just as well calmly and making the necessary adjustments, but without trained as anyone else, and the only difference is that overreacting or overstating the issues. We must take it easy they are perhaps more rooted in their homeland and find and make the necessary adjustments, but not overreact. geographical mobility more difficult than an American. On the other hand, they have a bonus in creativity, If I were to tell you that I am going to draw up and this helps, although in my opinion there is an a 10-year business plan, what would you say? increasingly widespread pattern of global management. Good luck! If it’s for ten years, best of luck. I believe in having a vision for the company that will stand the test What do you look for in a manager when you have of time; however, a financial and sales plan should be to put together a team? for a maximum of five years, and you should readjust That’s easy. Technically very good, nice people who it every year. really know how to work as a team. There is a fourth element: that we try to share the vision as much as And what plan should be presented to an investor? possible. That doesn’t mean I’m looking for people The one you believe in. I have never submitted a ten- who think like me; diversity is very good. year one. I have only ever presented five-year ones, financial ones, the one you believe in. The thing about being a good person is relative, isn’t it? No, it’s important. You can’t measure it, but you can Throughout your career, you have worked for sense it. You can spot a pirate a mile off, and not just American and European companies, and now because he has an eye patch. an Emirati one... Are they similar in any way? There is a common pattern: companies value results What does diversity bring to teams? and how those results are achieved. Regardless of which Richness. country they are from. They value having teams that are on the same page, that they can trust, that do what they say Have you done the colour test? What colour are you? they will do, and that do it in an ethical manner. And I have No, I haven’t done it. But I’m navy blue, because it’s the seen this in all the companies I have worked for, whether colour that sells best in textiles, the one that gets the they are British, American, Emirati or venture capital firms. lowest discounts. And it goes with everything. 78