About the Author

Luis J. Echarte Fern�ndez is chairman of the board of Azteca America, and is also the chairman of the board and CEO of Fundaci�3n Azteca America. He is currently director of international affairs for Grupo Salinas and serves on the boards of Azteca, Grupo Elektra, Banco Azteca, and Actinver Securities. He attended Memphis University, University of Florida, and completed the Executive Management Program at Stanford University. He was appointed director of financial strategy of Grupo Salinas, CEO of Azteca America, and CFO of Azteca and Grupo Elektra. In his early career, he was CEO of Bacardi Imports, where he developed a worldwide growth strategy. He travels throughout the United States to organize talks with university students.

Reviews

"Luis Echarte makes the reader reflect on the ups and downs in their own lives. It is a heroic journey with tragic humor as well as warm humanity from a leader willing to take time to look in the mirror and reflect on his life lessons."
--Noel Tichy

"An unusual book in which a top executive, who has run multinational corporations, tells of his personal and professional experiences. Far from a standard how to book, this one is full of valuable gems that convey a fascinating insight into the mechanisms of risk taking that great leaders of industry have to apply, by someone who was in the thick of it."
--David Konzevik

"With Cuba flowing in his veins, a workaholic young man becomes a business success in America as President and CEO of Bacardi Imports. After he is pushed out, he dabbles in London living and goes off to excursions in meditations Nirvana. He moves to Mexico as Chief Financial Officer of Elektra and becomes a trusted adviser and friend of Mexican billionaire Ricardo Salinas. He also finds the courage to defeat cancer. Luis Echarte's life history is not only an entertaining business course; it is a valuable lesson in humanity."
--Sergio Sarmiento

""Starting Over: A Way of Life" is a testimony that makes its marks and attests never to give up. It shows us a man, Luis Echarte, in flesh and blood: vulnerable and rebel, able to learn, to recognize his errors, to call into question and to pursue a vision. This fluent and seductive text combines mind and emotion. It is entertaining without pauses or excuses, and unveils life lessons. This zigzag story -between public and private-- caught me from the very beginning until the moment I -to my regret- got to the last page."
--Andres Roemer