Maik Schmalstich, VIRTU’s COO recently had the honor of presenting at the annual Latin America Day Conference at the Business Association for Latin America in the Chamber of Commerce in Hamburg, Germany. Participants of the conference were introduced to VIRTU’s mission to directly connect producers and consumers, while paying a living wage and simultaneously empowering local communities.
Key to Maik’s presentation were five points:
Participants learned not just from VIRTU but also from many young start-ups and ventures about the challenges of translating business and close relationships between Germany and South America, and how future paths can be built between the regions.
As VIRTU is still a young company, we are always looking for ways to grow and learn. At this conference Maik had the opportunity to connect with political institutions and established businesses in Germany and Latin America to explore growth possibilities and learning opportunities for VIRTU. The more we learn and grow, the more lives we are able to touch.
- We want to make a sustainable impact in a region of the world with some of the largest inequalities
- Key to our success is the excellent craftsmanship and highly talented workers in Latin America
- Fair wages are more than minimum wage - fair wage is a living wage that can support a family
- We aim to create a sustainable and continuous source of income for our producers
- Crucial to our success is the empowerment of local communities - we must invest into the future of the people to create long term gains
Participants learned not just from VIRTU but also from many young start-ups and ventures about the challenges of translating business and close relationships between Germany and South America, and how future paths can be built between the regions.
As VIRTU is still a young company, we are always looking for ways to grow and learn. At this conference Maik had the opportunity to connect with political institutions and established businesses in Germany and Latin America to explore growth possibilities and learning opportunities for VIRTU. The more we learn and grow, the more lives we are able to touch.
It’s always inspiring to meet with like minded people and see the positive changes that are in the works. A key finding between all the participants across varying levels of experience was that in order to change the world for the better, in order to bring Germany and Latin America together with positive change, we need to start. This is the time for change, this is the generation for change and this is the best opportunity for changes to established systems that only perpetuate poverty. We must be the change we wish to see in the world.