From Chinchilla Care to Tech Flair: Rene Arias' Unique Journey

In this episode of the Plain Sight podcast, Stewart Alsop talks with Rene Arias, an indispensable team member serving as the Information Technologies Administrator at Invisible Technologies. Rene shares the roots of his nickname, 'Hermes', and how he earned it through his reliable and swift problem-solving skills from the early days of the company. He also details his unexpected journey to Invisible, moving from chinchilla rancher to tech expert. Rene delves into how the sense of community and shared goals in a startup such as Invisible Technologies fosters trust. He also outlines how an AI revolution has unfolded within the company during his time there. This episode provides glimpses into both the professional and personal lives of Rene, including his intriguing encounters with his African Grey parrot, Leia.

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Timestamps

00:02 Introduction and Guest Presentation

00:08 Rene's Role at Invisible Technologies

00:28 The Story Behind Rene's Nickname 'Hermes'

01:51 Rene's Journey to Invisible Technologies

03:39 Rene's Career Progression at Invisible Technologies

04:41 Rene's Experience of Becoming a Partner

07:15 Rene's Previous Work Experiences

07:33 Rene's Experience Working at a Chinchilla Ranch

14:59 The Role of Trust in Invisible Technologies

20:41 Rene's Role in the AI Revolution at Invisible Technologies

23:12 Rene's Unique Role and Trust in the Organization

33:27 Rene's Pet Parrot and Chinchilla

41:54 Conclusion and Contact Information

Key Insights

1. Role at Invisible Technologies: Rene Arias serves as an Information Technologies Administrator at Invisible Technologies. He plays a crucial role in resolving technical issues and is highly regarded for his efficiency and reliability, earning him the nickname "Hermes" after the Greek messenger of the gods.

2. Joining Invisible Technologies: Rene's journey to Invisible began through a Facebook post by Skylar Stevens, a former partner at Invisible. His pre-existing trust and reputation led to him being hired for a role initially termed as "the century role," reflecting his responsibility in guarding sensitive information and managing internal processes.

3. Career Evolution at Invisible: Rene has experienced significant growth in his career at Invisible Technologies, evolving from an agent to a specialist, and ultimately to a partner by the end of 2021. His promotion to partner was a recognition of his dedication and hard work, particularly his close collaboration with Francis Pedraza, the former CEO.

4. Work Experience Prior to Invisible: Before joining Invisible Technologies, Rene worked in various roles, including as a Lyft driver, a waiter, and interestingly, at a chinchilla ranch. His responsibilities at the chinchilla ranch included caring for the animals and ensuring they found good homes.

5. The Startup Environment: Rene's experience at Invisible Technologies marks his first foray into the startup world. He highlights the sense of community and collaboration at Invisible, despite being a remote company. The startup environment at Invisible is characterized by a shared goal and collective progression.

6. Remote Work Culture at Invisible: Rene discusses the successful implementation of a remote work culture at Invisible. He attributes this success to a strong emphasis on culture and community, allowing for open communication and creative freedom among employees.

7. Impact of AI on Invisible Technologies: Rene has witnessed the integration and evolution of AI within the company. He compares this experience to being part of a pioneering phase similar to the early days of the dot-com era, highlighting the potential of AI to transform processes and efficiencies within the company.

8. Rene's Personal Interests: Outside of his professional life, Rene has a passion for parrots, particularly his African Grey parrot named Leia. He shares interesting anecdotes about Leia's intelligence and personality, demonstrating his deep interest in and knowledge of animal behavior.

9. Trust and Dependability: Trust is a central theme in Rene's role at Invisible. He is seen as a dependable figure within the organization, with a unique ability to handle sensitive information and manage various internal systems effectively.

10. Unique Contributions and Job Satisfaction: Rene expresses a sense of pride and fulfillment in his role at Invisible, acknowledging the uniqueness of his contributions across different departments and the trust placed in him by his colleagues.