"Remote work unlocks global talent and shapes the digital future of collaboration."
Sebastian Paredes, a 22-year-old entrepreneur, is the visionary founder of Interlix Staffing, a company revolutionizing the staffing industry. Born in Ecuador, Paredes embodies the essence of the American Dream, having overcome adversity to pursue his passion for entrepreneurship.
Prior to diving into the world of business, Paredes made a name for himself as a professional Spanish Rap Battler, traveling extensively throughout the United States. This journey, coupled with his upbringing in a challenging environment, instilled in him a resilient spirit and a drive for success.
Driven by a deep-rooted commitment to his heritage, Paredes seeks to create meaningful opportunities in Latin America through Interlix Staffing.
By connecting elite remote business professionals and software developers from the region with companies in the United States, he aims to redefine traditional notions of employment and foster economic growth in his homeland.
With a fervent dedication to his vision, Paredes is poised to leave an indelible mark on the world of entrepreneurship and remote work.
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Table of Contents
Introduce yourself and take us through what exactly your company does and what your vision is for its future?
Sebastian Paredes: I’m Sebastian Paredes, a 22-year-old entrepreneur and the founder of Interlix Staffing, where we are redefining the staffing and recruitment industry, by placing elite remote business professionals and software developers from Latin America to companies in the United States.
Growing up in Ecuador, I faced extreme adversity and poverty. My journey has made me acutely aware of the limited opportunities faced by many in Latin America. This awareness propels Interlix Staffing’s broader mission beyond just business growth. We are deeply committed to uplifting communities in the region by creating channels for remote work placements. By leveraging technology and connectivity, we aim to bridge the gap between talent in Latin America and companies in the United States.
Our services also offer significant advantages to our clients. We enable them to hire professionals with experience at multinational corporations such as IBM, Google, EY, and others for a fraction of the cost compared to traditional hiring methods. Despite the cost savings, we maintain the highest quality of talent, ensuring that our clients receive exceptional value while accessing a diverse pool of skilled professionals.
By incorporating this perspective, Interlix Staffing not only fulfills its mission of fostering job opportunities in Latin America but also delivers tangible benefits to our clients, creating a win-win scenario for all stakeholders involved.
NO child ever says I want to be a CEO/entrepreneur when I grow up. What did you want to be and how did you get where you are at today?
Sebastian Paredes: I never envisioned myself as a CEO or entrepreneur. Instead, my fascination lay in music and competition, particularly in the world of Rap Battles. From a young age, my love for rhyme fueled my ambition to become a professional rap battler. I was drawn to the art of expression through music and the competitive nature of Spanish Rap Battles.
I had the opportunity to travel across the United States, securing victories in various competitions and even earning our rap crew a sponsorship with Redbull. However, my journey took an unexpected turn when I recognized the transformative potential of entrepreneurship and the financial strain that accompanied relying solely on rap battling.
After receiving a private grant that covered my entire tuition, I was able to attend Babson College, renowned as the #1 entrepreneurship college globally. Here I delved into the world of business and entrepreneurship. Leveraging my background, I identified an untapped opportunity to revolutionize the staffing and recruitment industry.
During my senior year, I made my first placement, which was my cousin from Ecuador. This sparked the creation of Interlix Staffing, with a vision to redefine how companies access top-tier talent with multinational experience in Latin America.
While my childhood dreams may have taken a different path than anticipated, they have laid the foundation for my entrepreneurial endeavors. Through dedication, perseverance, and a willingness to embrace change, I’ve transformed my aspirations into reality.
Tell us something about yourself that others in your organization might be surprised to know.
Sebastian Paredes: One aspect of my background that might surprise others in the organization is my experience as a professional rap battler and my proximity to renowned Spanish artists.
Many readers may wonder how to become an entrepreneur but what is an entrepreneur? How would you define it?
Sebastian Paredes: An entrepreneur is someone who takes action, executes plans, and is capable of providing value to companies or customers through the delivery of a service or product.
They are individuals who identify opportunities, execute fast, and take calculated risks to create and grow businesses.
What is the importance of having a supportive and inclusive culture?
Sebastian Paredes: Having a supportive and inclusive culture is paramount for the success of our mission at Interlix Staffing. It fosters an environment where Latin American professionals feel valued, respected, and empowered to contribute their unique perspectives and talents.
A supportive culture ensures that individuals have the resources and encouragement they need to thrive, ultimately driving the success of our business in connecting Latin American professionals with companies in the United States.
Moreover, it aligns with our vision of bridging geographical and cultural barriers, creating a more equitable and interconnected global workforce.
How can a leader be dusruptive in the post covid world?
Sebastian Paredes: In the post-COVID world, it was clear and crystal for me that a leader can be disruptive by embracing and maximizing the potential of remote work.
Going all the way remote allows for the exploration of remote workplaces, teams, and the utilization of technological advancements.
Currently, our internal team is spread across Latin America, from Mexico to Argentina to Brazil.
By fully embracing remote work, leaders can tap into a global talent pool, foster collaboration across borders, and adapt to the evolving landscape of work in the digital age.
If a 5 year old asked you to describe your job, what would you tell them?
Sebastian Paredes: I help people in Latin America get jobs in the United States without having to leave their home country and stay home.
Share with us one of the most difficult decisions you had to make for your company that benefited your employees or customers. What made this decision so difficult and what were the positive impacts?
Sebastian Paredes: One of the most difficult decisions I made for Interlix Staffing was to increase the minimum hours per week for each placement from 5 to 20 hours.
This decision was challenging because it required a significant shift in our operational model and potentially risked losing clients who preferred shorter-term placements.
However, the decision was driven by our commitment to providing greater job security and stability for our remote professionals.
By increasing the minimum hours, we ensured that our professionals had more consistent income and could rely on long-term opportunities with our clients.
The positive impacts of this decision have been substantial. Currently, 80% of our placements are for full-time positions, offering our professionals a higher level of stability and loyalty to our client companies.
Additionally, this change has elevated the quality of our placements, as it attracts clients who are committed to long-term hires and are willing to invest in top-tier talent.
Overall, this decision has strengthened our relationships with both employees and clients, fostering a more sustainable and mutually beneficial business model.
Leaders are usually asked about their most useful qualities but let’s change things up a bit. What is your most useless talent?
Sebastian Paredes: One of my most useless talents would have to be my proficiency in Bachata dancing. Growing up in Washington Heights (New York City) after immigrating from Ecuador, I immersed myself in the vibrant dance culture of my community.
I competed for my school, performed at various events, and thoroughly enjoyed bachata dancing.
However, as life has evolved and my priorities have shifted, I find myself no longer actively participating in the dance scene. I rarely have the opportunity to indulge in my passion for Bachata dancing.
Thank you so much for your time but before we finish things off, we do have one more question. If you wrote a book about your life untill today, what would the title be?
Sebastian Paredes: Entrepreneur out of necessity
Jed Morley, VIP Contributor to ValiantCEO and the host of this interview would like to thank Sebastian Paredes for taking the time to do this interview and share his knowledge and experience with our readers.
If you would like to get in touch with Sebastian Paredes or his company, you can do it through his – Linkedin Page
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