First up is Alejandro Aivar, CEO and Co-Founder of IDR.  

Q. What inspired the founding of IDR? 

IDR was founded with a simple idea: bringing together talented people around the world to help businesses solve complex problems and navigate rapidly changing markets through fast, direct access to expert knowledge.  

Today, I lead a team of over 250 professionals across eight global offices who are passionate about empowering organizations through collaboration and knowledge sharing. 

Q. As you expanded IDR across multiple geographies, what challenges did you encounter? 

First, each market had its own legal frameworks and business practices, which meant we had to quickly understand and adapt to these local nuances. Balancing consistency in our core values with the realities of each market proved to be one of the most significant challenges. 

Equally critical was hiring the right leaders for each region to ensure effective execution and alignment with our culture. Alongside this, scaling our technology infrastructure to support new markets and expanded service lines presented another major hurdle. 

Q. How did you overcome those challenges?   

By staying flexible, listening deeply to local teams, and being prepared to adjust quickly. We focused heavily on creating a culture of trust. When you operate across multiple countries, trust becomes the glue that keeps the business aligned.  

Q. Looking back, can you share a key lesson you learned from past mistakes? 

One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is that scaling fast can hide weak foundations. In our early expansion, we prioritized speed—opening new offices, hiring quickly, and capturing demand. In hindsight, we underestimated how important it is to have consistent processes, culture, and leadership depth in place before scaling.  

We had cases where teams were productive in the short term but were not fully aligned with our standards, which created inefficiencies over time. It taught me that hiring the right leaders and investing in training and culture upfront is far more important than just growing headcount quickly. What began as rapid growth has since evolved into a far more disciplined approach to scaling; every new office is built around strong local leadership and clear operational playbooks. 

Q. What was the defining moment that shaped the company’s trajectory?  

It was the bold decision to grow the firm beyond a single region. It required investing in infrastructure, processes, and leadership capabilities while running the business as usual. It was a strategic leap (one taken with some faith!) that positioned us for long-term scale.  

  
Q. Reflecting on your journey, what leadership traits have been most critical to your success?  

There are three: curiosity, resilience and decisiveness. Curiosity keeps you learning; resilience keeps you moving when challenges arise; decisiveness ensures the organization continues progressing even when information is imperfect.  

Q. Are these traits still key to your leadership today? Have you found other skills or qualities that have become important as you’ve grown? 

The ability to delegate is key now, empowering leaders to take ownership of their functions, and build systems that can operate independently of my oversight. Today, my focus is on setting vision, removing obstacles, and creating a high-growth environment where teams can succeed and create new possibilities for themselves. This is honestly one of the most fulfilling aspects of my role.   

Q. How do you see the expert network services industry evolving over the next 5–10 years?  

The pace of change will continue to accelerate. Clients will expect faster delivery, deeper insights, and more integrated solutions across technology and operations. Global talent markets will become even more competitive, and companies that operate seamlessly across borders will hold a significant advantage.   

Q. And finally, do you have a book that inspires you?  

I’ve always been inspired by Shoe Dog, by Phil Knight. What resonates with me is how messy and uncertain the journey actually is behind a global company. It’s a great reminder that building something meaningful isn’t linear—it requires resilience, conviction, and a willingness to navigate ambiguity.