CEOInterviews.AISaber tomar buenas decisiones, con David Cabero

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Edu0:02

Welcome to Lunes Inspiradores. Today we have David Cabero, author of 'Deciding in Times of Peace and War'. We'll talk about decision-making.

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David Cabero1:15

Very well, very happy to be here with you.

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Edu1:19

It's a pleasure to have you. I've skipped the order a bit, but David Thomas is also here. David Thomas, how are you?

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David Thomas1:30

Fantastic. It's perfect that you skip the order, David Cabero deserves it. And look at this background – it represents your childhood. If you're listening on podcast, you'll want to see the video.

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Edu1:38

Today we'll talk about how to make good decisions. But first, the weekly challenge from David Thomas.

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David Thomas2:20

Imagine you wake up in your body knowing nothing about your past. What decisions would you make to maximize your life? That's the challenge.

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Edu3:13

Interesting perspective. David, what do you think?

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David Cabero3:34

If I had this current body, I would choose to take better care of myself. But let's get into the book.

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Edu3:47

The book is 'Deciding in Times of Peace and War', based on your 20+ years of experience. But first, what does Monday mean to you?

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David Cabero4:07

Monday is about reconnecting with work, looking at your agenda, and deciding if what's there is what you need. It's important to visualize the week and reconnect with people.

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Edu4:44

You're the General Manager for BIC in Europe and President of the Chamber of Commerce in Barcelona. You've had a busy life. Let's review your trajectory.

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David Cabero5:16

I've been at BIC for 17 years. My values come from family: thinking of others, being honest, responsible, ethical. I started playing handball for Barça, then went to business school, worked in Paris and Greece, and returned to Barcelona. I'm guided by the UN's Sustainable Development Goals, especially quality education and decent work. I try to develop people and help companies grow.

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Edu8:35

If you had to highlight a couple of values learned at home, what would they be?

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David Cabero8:40

Thinking of others, being honest and responsible, with an ethical background. And having a purpose.

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Edu9:20

Did family influence lead you to business rather than something more humanistic?

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David Cabero9:36

My uncle was a great salesman, and that gave me an idealistic view of business. My father told me to study at a business school, so at 16 I was already looking into that. I played handball and trained hard, and that push led me to business school and an international career.

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Edu10:51

You went to Paris and then Greece. How did that stage influence you?

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David Cabero11:01

It gave me expertise in internal audit and exposure to how companies work. I traveled to 15-16 countries at age 25, learning cultures and seeing how the same business can have different strategies. Then I worked at L'Oréal's luxury division, which opened my eyes to global marketing and strategy. Going abroad is always interesting.

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Edu12:49

What ideas from those executives did you take with you?

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David Cabero13:00

A CFO told me that as a financial person, your job isn't just to cut budgets; sometimes you need to say an investment of 500 million isn't enough, you need a billion. That made me rethink the role as one that calibrates possibilities and thinks long-term.

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Edu14:14

You joined BIC in 2005 and have been there 17 years. What makes you stay?

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David Cabero14:36

People stay for their boss, the project, and the culture. At BIC, I've had 5-6 different roles, each a challenge that forced me to evolve. The company supports growth and offers more responsibility. Also, the culture – how conflicts are resolved, the values – makes you feel comfortable.

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Edu17:19

What characteristics does someone need to succeed professionally?

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David Cabero17:41

Five elements: 1) Create a vision, 2) Communicate it to generate commitment, 3) Ability to decide and act, 4) Passion for what you do, 5) Genuine interest in people. The last one is often missing but crucial.

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Edu19:32

Let's talk about your book. It has a charitable cause. Tell us about it.

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David Cabero20:12

The book has two purposes: to share experience and knowledge so people can decide better, and to help an association called Netmentora that supports startups in Europe, creating jobs and economic growth.

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Edu21:48

There's a quote: 'Sometimes you make the right decision, sometimes the decision becomes right.' That summarizes the idea.

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David Cabero22:01

Exactly. Luck plays a role, but what you do with it matters. For example, if a school opens in front of your bar, you have luck. But you need to adapt your offer – serve breakfast, lunch, afternoon snacks – to take advantage. Decisions are about implementation and adaptation.

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Edu23:36

You talk about times of peace and war. In war times, you say give direction and hope, think of people first, and be transparent. Can you explain?

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David Cabero24:10

In crisis, the PEC (politics, emotions, culture) amplifies everything. Politics makes bosses nervous, emotions cause fear, culture matters more. Generating trust is crucial. You need to explain what each person gains, be transparent about what you can say, and maintain culture. In crisis, people imagine the worst, so you must occupy that space with honesty.

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Edu28:28

You also talk about team biases. How do we handle them?

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David Cabero29:11

Biases are hard to eliminate, but being aware helps. For example, a cautious person may delay risky decisions; an action-oriented person may decide too quickly. You can triangulate with people who have opposite biases. Also, always consider the long-term horizon – don't let short-term incentives trap you.

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Edu32:33

What decision are you most proud of?

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David Cabero33:22

Choosing the right university, influenced by my father, and deciding to go abroad to Paris. Those opened my world. I recommend going abroad to other countries and cultures.

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Edu34:52

Who or what inspires you?

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David Cabero35:21

Bill Gates. He visualized the world 30 years ago in his book 'The Road Ahead', created a great company, and built a team. He also started the Giving Pledge. He's a reference for me.

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Edu36:31

He's doing great work in Africa. Edu, how do you make decisions?

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David Thomas36:58

It's a constant mix of professional and personal. Sometimes you go by instinct. But reading David's book helps refine that.

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Edu37:06

We recommend 'Deciding in Times of Peace and War'. It's a result of 20 years of experience. Thank you, David, for your time.

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David Cabero37:37

Thank you, it was a pleasure.

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Edu37:58

Thank you to the community. Remember the challenge: imagine waking up in your body knowing nothing. Subscribe to our YouTube channel. Happy week!