Meet Gustavo Brunser | Director of Strategic Development, Runner and Amateur Musician.

We had the good fortune of connecting with Gustavo Brunser and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Gustavo, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
During my college years, I started to think about what I could do with some of the knowledge and language skills I had. Because I am fluently bilingual and love technology I started doing jobs as a freelance translator where I would translate product manuals from English to Spanish and vice versa. This also motivated me to start looking into how to do the design and layout. Remember, this is in the late 80s and so desktop publishing was just starting. I became fascinated with software that would allow you to design and layout documents and drawings using a computer. That is how I ended up learning about programs like Photoshop, Freehand, and Pagemaker. I also had to learn printing technics. I basically learned all of this on my own. I wanted to do something only a few people could master and put together a business around it.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I´ve always been attracted to technology and computers. Even in High School, I would skip class and go to my uncle’s computer store to learn on my own how to program in basic. During my college years, my father bought a PC, and I continued to learn and started doing maintenance and support for friends and small companies. My now wife went to a job interview and Apple where they needed someone technical to do tech support for graphic software. She thought she was not the right person for the job, but recommended me instead. That is how I got my first corporate job and move from there to become a Product Manager. During my stay at Apple, I was contacted by Aldus Corporation and Macromedia. I eventually took a job at Aldus, now Adobe Inc. where during the past 25 years I have done multiple roles from Solution Consultant, Business Development Manager, Enterprise Account Executive to today Director of Strategic Development.
I love working with customers and helping them make the most of the solutions we sell them. One of the most important lessons I´ve learned is to listen. It´s very easy to get carried away trying to present or sell something. But, if you listen to the other party you will be much more appreciated and become a better partner to them.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I would have to start by taking them to South Beach of course. Walk around ocean drive, and the beach, and have dinner at Joe´s Stone Crab. Another place I would recommend is Lincoln Road since it has a great variety of places to eat and have fun. Also, I would be visiting Calle Ocho and eating at a typical Cuban restaurant like Versailles or Havana Harrys. Coconut Grove is another place to go for nightlife, especially on weekends. Also, pay a visit to the everglades and do an airboat ride and visit the Keys.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Off course, my first shoutout has to go to my parents who encouraged me to follow my own path and always supported my choices (even though they didn´t always agree). My wife has always stirred me in the right direction and encouraged me. Also, some of the managers I´ve had during my career have taught me and mentored me like Javier Vargas, Marta Clark, Dave Helmly, and Simon Williams.

Instagram: gustavo_brunser

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gustavobrunser/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/gbrunser