Name: Javier Manrique Nino

Title: Founder

Organisation: Go transport

As a 35-year-old lawyer specializing in healthcare institution management, I bring over 8 years of experience in the sector. Hailing from Bucaramanga, Colombia, I am the founder of Go Transport, a company that provides mobility and logistics solutions for healthcare businesses, particularly focusing on non-ambulance patient transportation.

Thank you to the 2,000 leaders who’ve generously done the 7 Questions on Leadership!

I hope Javier's answers will encourage you in your leadership journey. Enjoy!

Cheers,

Jonno White

1. What have you found most challenging as a leader?

As a leader, the most challenging experience I have faced is the responsibility that comes with having employees and being able to meet their current needs and their expectations as individuals and workers. We live in a society where there are increasingly more rights, but we tend to overlook our responsibilities.

2. How did you become a leader? Can you please briefly tell the story?

Leadership is something that is built day by day through the responsibility of our actions... The turning point where I had to take greater control of my life was when my twin children were born—I was only 24 and my wife was 23. We were not in an ideal position to build a perfect home for them. However, understanding that we must be responsible for our actions, I quickly began to take charge for myself...

The second pivotal moment was when I resigned from my job as a lawyer, thinking I would find a better one, but I didn't succeed. It was then that I understood that the true path is to build our own solutions... and that's how I began the journey of entrepreneurship... firmly convinced that I couldn't give up for the sake of my own family. The most challenging moments come to help us prove to ourselves that we are capable.

3. How do you structure your work days from waking up to going to sleep?

My real focus is on sales... Therefore, in my company, I have focused on being the star salesperson, which has been beneficial as we achieved a 90% growth in 2023. Due to a difficulty we faced the previous year, I made the irreversible decision to turn the company around (burn the boats).

It was a theory I had always heard, but I put it into practice last year. However, this creates organizational difficulties. Focusing on sales, networking, and innovation makes you a trailblazer... My day starts with a good-sized coffee while I review what I wrote in my agenda the night before. Most importantly, I always have a very important call to make or a visit to carry out.

4. What's a recent leadership lesson you've learned for the first time or been reminded of?

The most important lesson I have learned is that you can't give up, no matter what happens. Even if the plan changes, there is always a plan B, but only one dream.

5. What's one book that has had a profound impact on your leadership so far? Can you please briefly tell the story of how that book impacted your leadership?

Think and get rich of naopelon hill , never give up.

6. If you could only give one piece of advice to a young leader, what would you say to them?

The worst thing that can happen is to learn from what you've experienced... You will never remain the same unless you stop because of fear... Take the leap, don't be afraid.

7. What is one meaningful story that comes to mind from your time as a leader, so far?

Last year, my company suffered a significant economic setback... I was on the verge of closing it, but I decided not to give up and fought until the end... Nights and nights of sleepless thinking, writing, and organizing, until this year became the year with the biggest sales in the company's history... This was not solely thanks to me; I also spent a lot of time on my knees, asking the Lord for help.