(Samuel Beckett, Irish writer and Nobel Prize winner, 1906\u20131989<\/span>)<\/p>\n Raised in Madrid as the son of a Spanish industrialist and a Swiss mother, I moved to Switzerland with my family after the early death of my father, where I completed secondary school and high school in Zurich. This was followed by business administration studies at the University of Zurich with a Master’s degree.<\/p>\n My professional career led me to a Swiss group, for which I traveled to and managed North, Central, and South America as well as several Central African states. In a sometimes difficult political and economic environment, the goal was to secure and conclude business legally and financially. During five exciting years, I learned how important fair, open, and personal interaction with customers is \u2013 regardless of nationality and culture.<\/p>\n Afterwards, I followed the call of an internationally active industrial SME in Eastern Switzerland. For 15 years, I was able to help shape and lead the company’s fortunes in strategic and operational terms. In the last ten years, also as its co-owner. After intensive and successful years with all the colors and facets characterized by the constant ups and downs of the global economy, I decided to leave my own company to gain new experiences. What remained were valuable impressions of an originally family-run SME, an exciting network of people from business and society, and the lessons and insights in leading an SME in a turbulent and economically difficult time.<\/p>\n After a short sabbatical, which again served to question the tried and tested, I decided to lead a company dedicated to professional football. A tingling, nervous, passionate, but also unstructured and loud environment. Great and impossible at the same time. I remained for nearly a year as Chairman of the Board and CEO. Since new structures became necessary when a major shareholder withdrew, I cleared the way for a new composition of the Board of Directors. Of course, I remain loyal to the football club in my head and heart!<\/p>\n Based on my rich and multi-layered experience as a former co-owner, Chairman of the Board, and CEO, I can empathize very well with the situation of many SME owners and executives. Especially in difficult and turbulent times, in economically tense moments, or even “when things are going well” \u2013 the themes are often similar. There are reasons for this! SME leaders are under pressure \u2013 and yes, it is important to handle this pressure successfully for the benefit of the company, but also for the benefit of private life! Often a balancing act in the life of an SME owner or Managing Director. Exciting and extremely motivating \u2013 sometimes also tiring and energy-sapping. That is precisely why it is good to exchange ideas, take a break, and permanently question even the tried and tested. That is what we are here for.<\/p>\n I am very pleased to be able to pass on my experiences of recent years and the quintessence thereof within the Grass network and with the outstanding tools of Grass & Partner and to be able to accompany you \u2013 whether through turbulent or calm times. I look forward to meeting you!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":7068,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"rank_math_title":"","rank_math_description":""},"class_list":["post-7822","team-member","type-team-member","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":{"job_title":"Owner \/ Delegate of the Board of Directors","office_location":"St. Gallen","linkedin_url":"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/stefan-hernandez\/","xing_url":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.grassgroup.ch\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/team-member\/7822","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.grassgroup.ch\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/team-member"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.grassgroup.ch\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/team-member"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.grassgroup.ch\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7068"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.grassgroup.ch\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7822"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}