Rebel dynamo

By Celine Gabriel

Enrique Y. Gonzalez is a busy, busy man. This dynamic chief executive of the esteemed company IPVG?oversees strategic direction and directly handles all investment-related activities. He has a successful track record in the Internet space; having founded a series of Internet start-ups that have been acquired by larger US-based firms. To date, his biggest achievement in the eyes of his peers is that he has brilliantly taken IPVG from garage to public.

Such is the public persona of Enrique that most people perceive him as THE force to be reckoned with. And he is. But there is also another side to Enrique that not a lot of people get to see; the "Renaissance Man" in him, so to speak.

This more private Enrique is not all about mergers and acquisitions. Instead, he is the man who took three of his really good friends on a tour of the Picasso Museum in Barcelona where he talked about the history and tidbits of trivia about the artist and explained in sagacious detail how his art evolved. He is also the man who can kick back and relax with a glass of excellent scotch (and I do emphasize the word excellent) while hamming it up with a bunch of really good friends at his best friend's bar (Distillery in Fort Bonifacio, in case you're wondering). He is also the romantic who... well, maybe there are some things that should be kept private.

Intense, astute and highly respected.

A visionary of his generation.

Get to know Enrique Y. Gonzalez in Twenty Questions.

Comments, questions, suggestions? Please e-mail me at Celine_gabriel_column@yahoo.com

1. ?How do you measure success??Success is typically associated with achieving one's goal. Business/career-wise, there are numerous quantitative and qualitative criteria. From a personal philosophical perspective, I don't think happiness can be measured. Happiness and fulfillment is unconditional and therefore cannot be measured.

2. Have you ever tasted failure??? Definitely. Failure is always relative to one's success. I have evangelized in my company the mantra that encountering failure is part of the process to finding success. The key is to use failure as building blocks to one's success.

3. What is the best thing you've ever done??Answering these questions for your article (1^st joke).

4. What is the best gift you've ever received? The bonds of friendship that I've been blessed with.

5. Nowadays there is no real definition for "work attire." Do you believe in power dressing (suit and tie) or do you encourage casual and comfortable. Why??In the Philippines dressing casual is acceptable, but during business trips to HK, Singapore and NYC which are a lot more formal; it's all about the suit and tie.

6. If you could go back to the age of 21, what would you change??If I knew then what I know now, I would: invent the ipod, the iphone, buy Apple stock and sell the invention to Apple! (joke... but seriously).

7. Can you list down your top three resolutions for 2009? Work harder, play less, and spend more time getting myself back to competitive shape (sports).

8. You travel quite a bit, what is the best trip you've ever taken and where did you go? Best trip in 2008 was Spain. Barcelona and Ibiza was an amazing experience.

9. What is your next destination?? Top Secret.

10. How do you deal with stress??? By focusing on resolving the root cause of my stress, and then celebrating after!

11. How do you maintain your health??Regular workout sessions, healthy diet and?trying to get as much good sleep as possible. ?

12. Your biggest mistake??Taking things for granted in my younger days.

13. Who is your mentor??My family?has been a big influence in my life and served as my role model(s). I have always been one to learn from self-experience and oftentimes I look inward to find the answer.

14. Who do you admire? I tend to empathize with anti-heroes. It could be the rebel in me.

15. In 10 years where do you hope to be?? If I had my way, on the Big Screen! (half-joke)

16. Describe the kind of woman that gets your attention? Someone who is passionate and intelligent. Beauty is a bonus!

17. Where would you take her on a date?? All I can say is; if the journey is good, the destination is even better!

18. Most romantic thing you've ever done? The answer might not be appropriate for this column ;-p

19. What is the best advice ever given to you that you want to pass on to people that aspire to achieve what you have??I've always believed that we make our own fate and we command our own destiny. And if you want to turn vision into reality, it is all within your grasp. You just have to believe in yourself and those around you. History has proven that nothing is impossible and one person can make an incredible difference in many people's lives. Strive to be that person, make a positive contribution to this world and at the end of it, give it all back to where it came from.

20. When will you retire? I'll retire when I can pass it all on to the next generation.