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In this feature with CIOReview Latin America, Vinicius Aloe, current Chief Technology Officer of Agibank, sheds light on the current landscape of adequate Risk Management a defensive tool and a strategic lever that drives and perpetuates the sustainable growth of winning companies. He explores the practices that, throughout his experience, have proven to be essential for differentiated Risk Management.
Are there any particular topics you have in mind that you would like to share or draw special focus on? The risk management team must maintain its independence to ensure objectivity, eliminate conflicts of interest, and stay closely integrated with the business. It’s crucial to pay attention to the practical details of processes and the day-to-day operations of other teams. Understanding and critically evaluating the company and customer reality are fundamental for any relevant assessment, as independence doesn’t mean detachment. Contrary to popular belief, diligent risk control doesn’t hinder accelerated growth, it is an essential enabler. The more powerful and faster a racing car is, the more important and necessary adequate traction and braking control will be. It is crucial to disseminate and share this approach within the company to reduce opposition and counterproductive conflict and to focus attention on the maximum diagnosis and response to different existing risks. Proper Risk Management is an asset for the entire company. Maintaining a high level of transparency is fundamental. Admitting and openly discussing problems, as well as making conscious decisions about risks, are essential practices for organizational health and institutional trust. Taking risks is part of the process, as long as it’s done consciously and within the appropriate decision-making frameworks. It's important to take risks, but failing to provide proper disclosure is a concern. As you mentioned, could you talk to me about the specialized teams that are the Heart of Risk Management? Maintaining a high standard of excellence is crucial for teams that will frequently deal with uncertainty and competent contradiction. Seeking and developing professionals who challenge themselves to evolve and learn continuously is essential for positions that deal with duality and different perspectives on the same problem, a crucial characteristic for adequate risk management. Finding, developing and retaining the right people is the most central issue of all. Setting high standards cannot entail a culture of suffering. On the contrary, to attract and retain the best professionals, it is essential to create an environment where employees feel challenged yet satisfied and committed to building a sustainable and pleasant environment. Fun and hard work should walk together. Taking about the approach, is there any particular method in risk management that you think would help companies in the industry? It's important to base diagnosis and decision-making on concrete data and rational analyses. To ensure maximum coverage and visibility of risk factors, as well as to minimize compliance costs, it is crucial to have a foundation of automated data and indicators with high coverage. Focus is essential. It's crucial to quickly differentiate between larger and smaller problems. Properly calibrated and proactive alerts allow scarce and highly specialized human resources to be directed in a focused manner, addressing the risks that truly require attention and decision-making. It's important to allocate energy to what is most important. On a final note, could you impart some advice to fellow peers and colleagues reading this piece on creating a seamless opportunity at their organization? Focusing on the most critical aspects and avoiding distractions is a vital part of risk management. Allocating resources and energy intelligently involves knowing what not to do. When executed correctly, risk management goes far beyond its primary function of protection and becomes a driving force for innovation and success. Establishing high-performing teams that thrive in a challenging environment, adopt a transparent and data-driven approach, and can distinguish between what should and should not be prioritized in risk management is crucial for navigating with the highest chance of success in an uncertain future. Companies that recognize and implement these practices not only ensure their survival but stand out as resilient, fast-growing enterprises in diverse contexts.