Backstage Pass: Ep. 22 - Felipe Gomez: The Universal Message of the Virtuoso Mindset
Felipe Gomez Bio
We call a supremely talented person in the arts and sports a virtuoso. Keynote pianist Felipe Gomez believes the term also applies to business. Felipe has an impressive decades-long business history as an entrepreneur and senior executive in multinational firms, but his passion has always been music. Obsessed with learning the habits of virtuoso musicians, Felipe believes applying the virtuoso mindset is the key to achieving breakthrough success in business and life. In 2014, Felipe combined his business experience with his passion for music and began his speaking career full time. He has gained worldwide recognition, inspiring audiences on five continents and in 33 countries with his dazzling musical interpretation of the traits that define a virtuoso. Charismatically commanding the audience from his grand piano, Felipe’s presentations are fun, interactive, and deliver great content in both English and Spanish. The author of two books on exceptional performance, Felipe uses his music and business insights to help unleash the individual and collective virtuosity in organizations.
Born in Colombia, Felipe began playing piano at the age of four. He came from a musical family – there was always music in the house. After graduating Universidad de Los Andes in Bogota, Felipe pursued a career in business, becoming known for his strategic vision and ability to innovate across diverse industries.
At Compass Group, the world's largest food-catering company, Felipe served as the Managing Director for the operation in Colombia. There he led initiatives that not only tripled the division’s revenue but also increased operating profits by 130% through keen strategic acquisitions and a focus on operational improvements and innovation. He later served as the Innovation and International Business Development Director for Latin America.
Felipe led the launch of Farmacity in Colombia, establishing it rapidly as a dominant force in the pharmacy retail sector by opening 12 stores in just 20 months and positioning the brand as a leader in the market.
He co-founded Azurian, a pioneering internet consulting firm in Latin America, guiding its expansion into seven countries and driving its rise as a significant regional consultancy firm.
Beyond his corporate success, Felipe founded Allegro, a non-profit organization that brings therapeutic live music to hospital settings like ICUs, delivery rooms, and cancer treatment areas.
Combining his corporate and entrepreneurial experience with his passion for music is Felipe’s greatest joy. He has a gift for empowering individuals and organizations to transform their behaviors, embrace risk, learn from failure, and achieve mastery.
Felipe has spoken at prestigious management and leadership conferences around the world, including TED, the Global Peter Drucker Forum, WOBI, the Oslo Business Forum, the World Business Forum, and many more. He has appeared at over 1,000 presentations for corporate, association, and global leadership events and consistently delivers unforgettable experiences that leave lasting impact.
Felipe’s first book, published in 2019 is Attitude-E, a bestseller that introduces a powerful framework for success through an entrepreneurial mindset, anchored in six levers: Envision, Energy, Endurance, Ensemble, Elasticity, and Engagement.
His second book, Bitacora De Una Pandemia En Quince Conversaciones, was published in Spanish in 2020 and is a collection of conversations he had during the pandemic with a number of thought leaders in different fields.
Felipe is now writing his third book, Virtuoso.
Felipe currently lives in Atlanta, Georgia with his family and holds an MBA from the International Institute for Management Development (IMD) in Switzerland, where he also completed a program on Leading Digital Business Transformation.
show notes
On this episode of Backstage Pass, Gail Davis sits down with Felipe Gomez to explore how adopting the virtuoso mindset is the key to achieving breakthrough success in business and life. By weaving grand piano performances into his presentations, Felipe taps into a universal language that transcends industries, cultures, and backgrounds, with insights that resonate deeply with audiences around the world.
Felipe discusses his journey from a corporate executive to a sought-after speaker, emphasizing the importance of continuous improvement and the unique concept of being a 'virtuoso' in business. He shares insights on how his diverse career experiences shape his approach to speaking and the universal appeal of his message, which resonates across cultures and industries. The conversation highlights the emotional connection created through music and the significance of audience engagement in his presentations. In this engaging conversation, Felipe discusses the transformative power of music in creating unity and emotional connections through his keynotes and performances. He emphasizes the importance of audience engagement, the role of humor in breaking down barriers, and the significance of humility in leadership. Felipe also shares insights into his journey as a speaker, having a grand piano for his performances, and his upcoming projects focused on enhancing listening skills through music.
Key topics in this episode include:
The importance of continuous improvement in his presentations.
The concept of being a 'virtuoso' relates to having virtues in business.
Felipe's diverse career background enhances his credibility as a speaker.
His presentations combine music and business insights for emotional impact.
Audience engagement is a key component of Felipe's speaking style.
He believes in the universal appeal of his message across cultures.
Felipe's approach is rooted in ancient philosophy relevant to modern challenges.
The emotional connection created through music enhances the audience experience. Music creates strong bonds and unity among people.
Humor helps to break down audience barriers.
Emotional connections lead to open-mindedness.
Feedback on authenticity is crucial for success.
Small stages are important for refining one's craft.
Humility is a key virtue in leadership.
The beauty of listening can enhance personal relationships.
Leadership is an art that combines insight and inspiration.
Visit gdaspeakers.com to learn more about bringing Felipe Gomez to your next event!
