The purpose-driven workforce

Alfredo Castellanos is a testament to the potential within each of us, exemplifying how someone from Colombia could overcome seemingly insurmountable odds to become a highly successful entrepreneur. His innate problem-solving skills and efficient approaches to tasks distinguished him from his peers early in his life. Such characteristics enabled him to devise better and quicker solutions to problems, a trait that contributed to his illustrious academic record in high school.

Throughout his childhood, challenges and obstacles never hindered his path. Instead, they honed his clarity of purpose, helping him better understand his desired direction in life.

His curiosity and desire for knowledge only intensified as he matured. Known for his academic excellence, he secured the prestigious summa cum laude honor in his bachelor’s degree. His laureate thesis won him not only a full scholarship for his studies but also recognition from the Ministry of Education, the highest Colombian authority. His exceptional skills in quantitative analysis and research marked him as one of the top ten in the nation.

Upon entering the professional world, he joined the faculty at Universidad La Gran Colombia. His academic merit and ability to generate impactful ideas quickly earned him respect and strategic alliances within the university. Within a year, his distinctive talents led to his selection as a member of the advisory council to the university’s rector, chosen from a pool of over 1,500 faculty members.

In addition to his other accomplishments, Castellanos’ insatiable curiosity and passion for research resulted in the publication of four books within just three years. His immense drive for knowledge and continuous exploration has been a testament to his lifelong commitment to finding answers.

From zero to infinity

It might be tempting to trace an entrepreneur’s journey back to a single spark of inspiration, yet the reality is often far more complex. The entrepreneurial flame, for many, is a slow burn, stoked over years of experience and learning. For Alfredo Castellanos, this journey began in early childhood, when he experimented with group tutoring and mass sales processes. His life’s experiences molded him, culminating in the launch of his first venture, Editorial Derecho y Justicia, in 2014. 

Positioned as a solution to the challenges encountered by larger publishing houses, Editorial Derecho y Justicia progressively built its market presence. Through this venture, Alfredo gained invaluable insights into the intricacies of business operations and human relations within the entrepreneurial world. His success culminated in 2019, when he made his first successful exit. Today, the company continues its growth trajectory under new ownership.

Yet, as any seasoned entrepreneur knows, the hunger to create never subsides. This led to the inception of ITA in 2019, a publishing house with a global focus on the fiction genre. It was a humble beginning with just 70 USD in the pocket, but a resolute belief in its potential. During an enlightening conversation with a colleague, Alfredo was asked, “How many authors do you aspire to have by the end of the year?” His audacious reply, “500”, set a monumental goal for an independent publishing company to achieve in less than six months. And yet, he did it. ITA’s innovative approach has since attracted over 8,000 writers in just over three years, an achievement made more remarkable given the onset of the global pandemic in 2020.

Alfredo’s contributions to the entrepreneurial world haven’t gone unnoticed. Recognitions include being acknowledged as a Young Leader of the Americas by the US Department of State, YLAI, and IREX. The Colombian government’s Innpulsa has bestowed him an award, and he was chosen as a promising leader amongst the 51 most promising startups in the country for 2022. Further accomplishments include his selection as a representative of the Colombian State for an entrepreneurial mission to Israel, and an accolade from the women’s fund for his approach towards gender issues.”