Historically, the business world has been dominated by men, with limited opportunities for women to achieve leadership positions. However, recent years have witnessed a surge in the number of women entrepreneurs and CEOs who are successfully overcoming economic and business challenges to excel in their roles. One such inspiring women founder revolutionizing the IT recruitment field is Natalia Zerda Mendez founder of NAEZ, a talent acquisition company. Natalia is on a mission to connect strategically both specialized professionals and high potential with IT projects that are adding global value through technology. In this interview, Natalia Zerda shares insight into her career journey and the way she is transforming IT recruitment.

Can you give a brief overview of your career journey?

Being from Bogota, Colombia, I'm inherently driven by a passion to achieve extraordinary things. After completing my industrial engineering degree from Colombia, I developed a strong interest in entrepreneurship. I took a year off to live in Israel, where I learned a lot about discipline and deepening my faith. Later, I worked as a junior project manager in a renowned company focused on exporting Colombian services globally. A female leader at the company became a significant mentor, teaching me about business and taking me to meet clients in places like San Francisco and New York. However, my mother, a university professor is a significant female influence in my life, and I admire her greatly.

What’s your responsibility as the CEO of NAEZ?

In addition to my role as CEO, I am also in charge of strategy and innovation at NAEZ. This involves anticipating market changes and adapting our business accordingly to ensure continued success. I’m also involved in generating new business and approving new projects. Also, I’m responsible for day-to-day decisions, identifying risks, and ensuring appropriate strategies are in place while ensuring the correct practices are being met. I also have to attend board meetings and other presentations and drive the profitability of the business. Our objective is to offer recruitment, onboarding, and hiring options to technology companies based mainly in the United States and Canada.

Could you share the key aspects that make NAEZ unique?

Our company has grown rapidly, forcing us to make quick decisions and adapt to a rapidly changing market. We've maintained a small company mentality while scaling, focusing on speed, problem-solving, and employee experience. We've successfully transitioned to a remote-first model and prioritized humanizing our processes. Our positivity and belief in our mission have also been key to our success.

Can you share the significant challenges you faced in your career & explain how you overcame them?

Last year was particularly tough for our industry. We had to let go of over 30 team members. This meant that, over the span of a year, we were laying off approximately three to four people each month. This was primarily due to a crisis affecting the industry in the United States. We had been very comfortable with a major client who initially hired many people but then had to start letting them go. This left us in a difficult position, trying to figure out our next steps.

I was deeply involved in operations and administrative contracts when we realized the need to diversify and find new clients. We began attending events, meeting potential clients, and creating new business agendas. We also developed our own platform, ZEAN, which streamlines remote contract administration and payment management.

It was especially challenging as a foreigner in the United States. Despite our initial focus on California and New York, we found great opportunities in Texas, where many people speak English and there's a significant Mexican population. We discovered we could work with various industries, not just technology companies. This led us to expand our services to digital marketing agencies and design firms.

Can you explain your association with Booni Jumps?

Booni Jumps in Bogota, Colombia, is a fitness and wellness center that specializes in rebounding exercise classes using Kangoo Jumps boots. We offer a fun and effective way for women to improve their health, fitness, and overall well-being. My passion for wellness and fitness led me to found Booni Jumps two years ago in Bogota along with NAEZ.

Booni Jumps is more than just a fitness center; it's a thriving community of over 600 women who support and inspire each other. Our rebounding classes provide various benefits for women, including low-impact cardio, improved cardiovascular health, increased muscle tone, enhanced balance and coordination, stress reduction, weight management, and a supportive community. Our classes are inclusive, catering to all fitness levels, from beginners to experienced athletes.

"Our Objective Is To Offer Recruitment, Onboarding & Hiring Options To Technology Companies Based Mainly In The United States & Canada"

We aim to inspire women to embrace an active lifestyle and prioritize their health and wellness. By offering rebounding classes, Booni Jumps provides a unique and enjoyable fitness experience for women in Bogota, empowering them to achieve their fitness goals and live healthier, happier lives.

Can you give a piece of advice for aspiring leaders, given your experience as a dynamic young leader?

Always believe in yourself and your dreams. There's a saying, "Fake it until you make it," and I’ve often had to remind myself of this.

Consistency is key. In the fitness industry, I see many students wanting immediate results, but real progress takes time and discipline. This applies to business as well. You must be disciplined, remain constant, and adapt your business model as needed while staying true to your dream.

Having a spiritual belief or love for something greater than yourself is important. For me, it’s love for God, but it could be the universe or any higher power you believe in. This belief helps you stay grounded and motivated. These three principles—belief, discipline, and spirituality—have been my guiding lights, and I hope they can inspire and guide other aspiring leaders as well.

Natalia Zerda Mendez, Founder & CEO, Naez International

Natalia Zerda Mendez is an accomplished Industrial Engineer with a Bachelor's degree in Industrial Engineering, proficient in both English and Spanish. Natalia holds degrees in innovation, international business, and entrepreneurship. Her hobby and passion are jumping for life! She is also a certified Kangoo Jumps instructor.