Uncertainty-proof companies. Does it exist?

“Uncertainty-proof companies. Does it exist? This was the central theme of the first Rund Table of the Refresh Trail, on September 29, during the ABES Conference 2020, organized in partnership with The Shift. The debate panel included the participation of Alexandre Fialho, Director and Professor at Saint Paul Escola de Negócios; Marcelo Braga, VP Enterprise & Commercial Sales IBM Brazil; and Edson Rigonatti, Investor, Entrepreneur and Partner at Astella Investimentos.

The statements made by the experts made it clear that facing crises and uncertainties is similar to fighting on a battlefield. Crises demand efforts and put to the test everything that was experienced and planned, when the scenario was still favorable to actions of growth, sale, creation of new products. And, if uncertainties were already important variables before the Covid-19 pandemic, today they have even more impacts.

“Corporations need to adapt to uncertain times. Companies clearly have a big challenge, as they need to leave this framework stronger, more competitive and more adapted to the new reality. They need to be much more agile and modern to keep up with the new pace. That is, old dogmas have to be revised, rethought and revamped. It's no use talking about digital transformation if the company is not willing to change”, argued Marcelo Braga.

For Alexandre Fialho, “those who are afraid of uncertainty cannot be in the corporate world. Everyone needs to understand that changes were already taking place in the world. The pandemic was a catalyst for this digital transformation process and made people aware of the changes taking place. And, they had to understand very quickly. We are experiencing the challenge of leaving a world designed for one that has to be invented. Today, discipline has given way to risk, verticality has given way to horizontality, alignment to responsibility, information to the essence and aspiration to inspiration. Exit the boss and enter the healer. The objective is not so important, it is necessary to have a purpose. It is necessary to be flexible to adapt to the great changes that are taking place. Vision cannot be short-sighted.”

“My role is to create uncertainties”. This was Edson Rigonatti's statement when answering the questioning of this debate. “We are experiencing the greatest revolution that humanity has ever faced. It is worth comparing our world to the guerrilla world. In 250 years of history, we have 380 guerrillas, of which 240 were won by incumbents and 120 by challengers. Today, 25% of the people in the world will be attacked and will lose the battle. In the digital transformation environment, I need to learn how to defend and how I will do it”, he highlighted.

Changes driven by new technologies, change from the workplace to the home environment, integration of the social network to choose qualified people, the horizontalization of offices without the hierarchical division of functions in companies are no longer trends. But, as these changes will continue to evolve and break paradigms, they are part of the uncertain scenario.