With over four decades of expertise as a Global Senior Executive, Mr. Honorio Padrón has included diverse responsibilities such as CIO/CTO and CEO, as well as a fruitful 15-year consultancy career. He has strong knowledge in areas such as Shared Services, Operations Management, Business Transformation, Information Technology, Artificial Intelligence, Sustainability, and Outsourcing/In-sourcing.
With a diverse portfolio, Mr. Padrón’s career encompasses engagements with both Fortune 500 companies, Government, and smaller enterprises. His influence extends to sectors including retail, hospitality, consumer products, aerospace, utilities, technology, life sciences, chemical, public sector, telecommunications, agriculture, and manufacturing.
A proactive contributor, he regularly shares his insights through published research on topics such as Shared Services, Globalization, G&A optimization, Enterprise Service Delivery Models, and the dynamic world of Information Technology. His accomplished journey and dedication to sharing knowledge marks him as a respected authority across a wide range of industries and disciplines.
About Pantaleon
Pantaleon is an Agroindustrial powerhouse dedicated to the responsible processing of sugarcane, yielding essential products like sugar, molasses, alcohol, and electric power derived from biomass. Operating across five nations—Mexico, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Chile, and the United States-, its headquarters are based in Guatemala. The company’s identity is rooted in a culture of high performance and unwavering commitment, firmly anchored in values and principles that have been honed over an impressive 174-year journey.
Pantaleon’s journey began in 1849 on the scenic South Coast of Guatemala, evolving from a local enterprise into a global frontrunner with significant influence in the international arena. Presently, it holds a prominent position as a leader in the Central American sugar production sector and proudly stand among the ten most influential sugarcane groups globally. The company’s yearly output of 1.2 million tons of sugar and its derivatives bears testament to its accomplishments. These products find their way to local markets and over 40 export destinations, serving food industries and refineries across the globe.
Harnessing substantial investments in innovation and unwavering dedication to enhancing efficiency in both agricultural and industrial processes, Pantaleon’s strategic focus rests on sustainable development and achieving operational excellence. It is committed to forging a path of progress, guided by the principles of responsible business and the pursuit of continual growth.
Leading Pantaleon’s Digital Transformation
Mr. Padrón had an impressive educational background, holding degrees in both electrical engineering and biomedical engineering. His professional journey took a fascinating turn as he embarked on a decade-long tenure at NASA, where he harnessed his expertise. However, his career path exhibited an eclectic shift as he ventured into the world of entrepreneurship, establishing and managing his own restaurants, bars, and nightclubs. These establishments were strategically located in the Cocoa Beach and Kennedy Space Center vicinity, gaining significance during the unfortunate Space Shuttle explosion in 1986.
Amid economic challenges, Mr. Padrón made a strategic decision to exit the restaurant business and transition back to corporate roles. This led him to work for prominent companies such as Burger King, PepsiCo, Excelon (a utility company), , CompUSA, and even start his own consulting firm. Throughout these diverse positions, he held various responsibilities ranging from engineering, Division CEO, Chief Information Officer (CIO), and Chief Technology Officer (CTO) roles.
In 2014, a significant turning point occurred when Mr. Padrón’s career led him to Latin America, where he met Pantaleon. This encounter was pivotal, as Pantaleon had a clear vision of undertaking a digital transformation within their company. Understanding the importance of innovation and future-oriented thinking in a competitive and challenging market like the sugar industry, Pantaleon’s board of directors sought an experienced individual to drive this digital shift.
In June 2019, Mr. Padrón officially joined Pantaleon as the Chief Technology Officer (CTO), marking a new chapter in his career. His primary objective was to spearhead the comprehensive digital transformation of Pantaleon’s sugar business. Recognizing the need to adapt to the rapidly changing landscape and to enhance operational efficiency despite the constraints of the sugar market, Mr. PadronPadróne held immense significance in reshaping the company’s technological strategies and ensuring a successful transition towards a digital future.
Steering Through Disruption
Mr. Padrón’s primary focus was not on expanding Pantaleon’s business footprint, but rather on optimizing its operations. To achieve this, he embarked on a comprehensive digital transformation initiative. Beginning with meticulous planning, his team conducted a thorough study of the company’s existing processes and future requirements. As a pivotal technology choice, SAP was selected as the core system, accompanied by other complementary technologies, such as Vistex, Solinftec, Arcgis, and C3.ai.
In December 2019, the project received approval from the board of directors. The implementation process commenced in February 2020, with teams assembled, offices established, and project management procedures put in place. An unforeseen challenge emerged with the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, disrupting normal working conditions and introducing a unique set of difficulties.
Despite this hurdle, Mr. Padrón and his team opted to continue the project remotely. Each month, he presented progress updates to the Board of Directors and sought permission to sustain the project. The decision was made to persevere, provided the project could maintain its scheduled progress and risk management measures. This adaptive approach enabled them to navigate the complexities of the pandemic and advance toward their goals.
The first phase of the transformation was successfully completed in November 2020, with a strategic focus on Central America, specifically Guatemala and Nicaragua. The subsequent phase, targeting Mexico, encountered some delays due to the acquisition of a new sugar mill in the region. This acquisition necessitated attention to expansion efforts and operational adjustments before the digital transformation could fully take effect.
As of now, the project is nearing its completion, and Mr. Padrón’s leadership and strategic decisions have positioned the company on the cusp of technological evolution. The successful navigation through the challenges posed by COVID-19 highlights his commitment and expertise in guiding Pantaleon’s digital transformation journey.
Insights on Diversity, Integration, and Strategic Implementation
Mr. Padrón’s perspective on today’s technology leaders is that there is a remarkable pool of highly qualified individuals across various age groups and backgrounds. He recognizes the presence of a trend among the younger generation, which tends to lean more towards the development of technology rather than its practical application.
In Mr. Padrón’s view, it is for technology leaders, including those in roles such as CIOs and CTOs, to acknowledge and embrace the diversity of technology-related roles within companies. He notes that if you are part of a company that specializes in technology development, that is perfectly valid and contributes to the broader ecosystem.
This viewpoint underscores the importance of a balanced and collaborative approach to technology leadership, wherein both development and application play critical roles in driving innovation and progress.
Mr. Padrón shares his wisdom about the challenges that today’s technology leaders face, especially those working in non-tech companies. He talks openly about the potential pitfalls and the need for a different approach when it comes to integrating and using technology effectively.
Looking back, he remembers a time when integrating different systems, like ERP systems, resulted in complex and messy solutions known as “spaghetti code.” He explains how picking and combining various point solutions that don not fit well together can create expensive, hard-to-maintain systems that take a long time to show results.
He sees a similar situation in the AI field today, with many different AI solutions being released. Mr. Padrón stresses that the key to AI success is being centered around data. He points out that even though we have better technologies now, the challenge remains in integrating these solutions seamlessly to make sure data flows effectively into AI models.
He advises technology leaders to remember their main role in companies that aren not primarily tech-focused: applying existing technologies strategically instead of trying to reinvent the wheel. He acknowledges the appeal of new tools but emphasizes that successful implementation relies on a well-integrated approach to avoid the costly cycle of using disconnected solutions.
Mr. Padrón’s core message is the need for a shift in mindset among technology leaders. They need to recognize that their goal isn not to recreate technology, but to smartly utilize it to achieve business goals. His insights stress the importance of a cohesive and integrated approach to technology implementation, which he believes is crucial for success in today’s complex tech landscape.
Nurturing Systemic Thinking
Mr. Padrón wishes for more systemic thinking in society, arguing for actions that take into account the larger implications of a complex system. He notes that many decisions are frequently made in isolation, with little comprehension of how they affect the overall system. The lack of systemic thinkers in firms and leadership positions suboptimizes business performance and sustainability. He points out that this isn’t always due to a lack of capacity, but rather to short-term viewpoints often influenced by quarterly reporting and analyst expectations.
Mr. Padrón advocates for the preservation of a system in which equality exists on a human level, but distinction happens depending on conduct and contribution. He thinks that people who connect their behaviors with their obligations and thrive in their positions should be rewarded more than those who do not. He recognizes the diversity of human talents and behaviors, emphasizing that while everyone is unique and wonderful, not everyone excels in the same areas.
Mr. Padrón’s viewpoint is based on the premise that aiming for the common average might stifle innovation and societal advancement. Instead, he calls for recognizing and honoring individual strengths and achievements, as this approach encourages higher standards and greater creativity.
Thriving Connection with Technology in Sugar Cane Industry
Mr. Padrón highlights the normal tasks related to technology inside a company, including the whole design, development, and operation process. In the technological arena, where solutions are designed, deployed, and maintained as a cohesive unit, he underlines the need of this holistic approach.
Mr. Padrón’s “sweet spot” comes during the sugar harvesting season, revealing a look into his all-encompassing relationship with his business. His focus is the distinct character of the sugar cane sector, which harvests 24/7 from November to May. During the off-season, the emphasis changes to sugar cane cultivation and maintenance of the sugar mill’s equipment.
When harvesting season begins, though, a sense of urgency and rhythm takes over, similar to a marathon. The business operates nonstop until the sugar cane is gone, which normally takes around six months. Climate variables, such as rainfall patterns, determine the time of this season, which varies between nations.
Mr. Padrón receives enormous joy from observing the process’s optimization and accuracy. He enjoys seeing the sugar cane convoy arrive at the weighing station and the execution of different optimizations and complicated accounting systems. This includes deciding how to distribute payments, evaluating equipment performance, and closely monitoring different operational factors.
Mr. Padrón’s “happy spot” is essentially witnessing the culmination of his efforts and the applied technology match effortlessly to create efficiency and success in the sugar cane harvesting and milling processes. This demonstrates his commitment and the satisfaction he enjoys from seeing technology’s positive influence in a real-world, high-stakes scenario.
Views on AI, Evolution, and Society
According to Mr. Padrón, the most fundamental development in today’s organizations is the widespread adoption of technology including AI. Decisions can no longer be made without considering the potential influence of technology. Previously, business requirements would emerge, and technology would be added afterwards. However, due to the pervasiveness of technology, the surroundings have evolved into a mutually beneficial relationship in which technology and business are closely linked from the outset.
He sees the future transformation propelled by artificial intelligence (AI) as fascinating and extremely fast. Reflecting on the past, Mr. Padrón references a book written by Ray Kurzweil about two decades ago, titled “The Singularity Is Near.” In the book, Kurzweil discusses the convergence of various technological cycles, many of which were on the cusp of exponential growth. He anticipated that this convergence would end in a great technological boom, with the following ten years outperforming the preceding 100. The term “singularity” alludes to the moment at which technological advancement becomes unmanageable and irreversible, causing dramatic societal transformations.
Pantaleon, according to Mr. Padrón, is presently witnessing the fruition of this prophecy. The tremendous progress of AI is a tribute to Kurzweil’s insight. He emphasizes that we have passed the “near” stage and that the singularity has arrived. This fast improvement has been allowed by the convergence of many exponential technological curves, leading to astounding success in AI and other domains.
Mr. Padrón emphasizes that these exponential technical developments are allowing society to move forward quickly and effectively, and he predicts that the impact of AI will expand beyond businesses, transforming many facets of everyday life and society as a whole.
Embracing Risks
Mr. Padrón states that he has always been a risk taker and has had a broad and extended career. Among the countless risks he has taken, he recalls a watershed event in 2004, when he was offered the opportunity to purchase and become the CEO of an IBM Equipment Reseller and consulting firm. He made the decision to exchange his high-level corporate position in charge of a key business unit at Excelon Corporation to pursue his dream of owning and managing his own technology company. While this was a significant change, it presented Mr. Padrón with new perspectives and experiences. He admits that being a reseller and consultant forced him to demonstrate his talents and attributes in a different way than in a corporate context. He had to work hard to make his company´s presence and expertise known to potential customers.
Mr. Padrón describes the risks and advantages of taking this risk, highlighting how it changed his life outlook. He had to adapt, gain new skills, and deal with the reality of a new work environment. Despite the difficulties, he found the change to be extremely satisfying and fulfilling.
Aiming for Greatness
Mr. Padrón’s vision for Pantaleon’s future revolves around the company’s goal of being one of the top ten companies in the worldwide sugar sector. This aim will be met by concentrating on a number of techniques, including increasing the company’s attractiveness, deepening their sustainability initiatives, and growing its market reach. The company’s goal is to deliver a wide range of products to various customer categories while developing strategically and sustainably.
Written by Steve Sanchez.
