Home: Mexico City. Age: 70. Birthplace: Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Profession: Entrepreneur. Organization: TWS Worldwide. Title: Founder and CEO. Significant other: My wife, Amparo Arriaga.
Current project: Focusing on advisory work, private investing, and personal health optimization. Recent recognition: Informal industry recognition for long-term leadership. Latest accomplishment: Transitioned from day-to-day operator to strategic owner-advisor. Latest contribution to others: Mentoring entrepreneurs and advising family businesses on strategy and risk management. What’s been your big (or biggest leap)? Building a cross-border automotive platform before globalization became mainstream. Recent travel or adventure: Northern Finland to see the Northern Lights. Recent unique acquisition: A Rivamare 38.
Personality profile: Intelligent, decisive, and analytical. Moral compass: Would I stand behind the decision publicly. What is your greatest joy? Spending time with my family. What is your guilty pleasure? Fine wine, sports cars, private jet travel. What natural talent have you neglected? Writing. What occupation, other than your own, do you most admire? Surgeons. What is at the top of your bucket list? Worldwide travel by private yacht and private jet. How do you relieve stress? Walking and golf.
What movie have you repeatedly watched? The Godfather. Besides your parents, who has had the greatest influence on your life? My wife. What’s the best advice you received growing up? Be self-reliant. What’s the best advice you received in your career? Control risk before chasing reward. What modern technology innovation do you most appreciate? Global communications technology. What is your go-to source of creative inspiration? Real-world problem solving. What company or organization do you most admire? Berkshire Hathaway.
What change are you working on to effect in your profession or field?
Encouraging long-term thinking over short-term gains.
What change would you like to see in the world? Greater accountability and less noise. What message do you want to send out into the world? Build things that last. What widely held belief do you reject? Bigger is always better. What mega-trend most concerns you? Erosion of institutional trust.
Who would you like to spend an evening with, in heaven? My mother. As a kid, what did you first want to be when you grew up? A race car driver. After your loved ones, what object would you first save from your burning home? Pets. How would you choose to spend tomorrow, if you knew it was your last day on earth? Spend it quietly with my wife and family, by the water. What advice would you give your younger self? Trust your instincts sooner.
Personal mission: To build, protect, and pass on enduring value. Personal motto: Precision over noise. Favorite quote: “Vision without execution is hallucination” (Thomas Edison). Desired epitaph: True visionary with a heart of gold.
